Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff has addressed the alleged gang rape on campus, a case that has triggered widespread outrage over the university’s response.
Kotlikoff said his “heart aches” for the woman identified in court filings as Jane Doe. In a lawsuit filed earlier this month, she accuses seven male students of raping and sexually assaulting her while she was intoxicated at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024.
Cornell carried out its own investigation at the time and imposed disciplinary measures against several students. A separate criminal investigation led by the office of District Attorney Matthew Van Houten ended without charges being filed.
The lawsuit renewed attention on the case by presenting additional allegations. In response, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to examine the matter.
Kotlikoff said Cornell supports the governor’s decision and acknowledged the growing questions surrounding the university’s handling of the allegations nearly two years ago. He also conceded that the institution must “do better.”
The president’s remarks came one day after Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, told NBC News that his client was “hanging on by a thread” and “not doing well.”
“She comes from a small town. Her dream, from when she was a little girl, was to go to the Cornell Hotel School. This was her desire,” Giuffra said.
A Cornell University student alleges in a lawsuit that multiple fraternity members raped her in 2024 at the Chi Phi fraternity house
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said in a video message Saturday that the university welcomed a review of its handling of the 2024 sexual assault allegations
The lawsuit cites alleged Snapchat messages in which Chi Phi fraternity members appear to discuss the reported incident
Giuffra said the experience was so traumatic that Doe considered leaving Cornell but feared the financial consequences of withdrawing.
“She had to stay there, and then ultimately, she couldn’t take it anymore. Her mother was up there constantly, and she had to leave,” Giuffra said.
Doe ultimately left the university. Her lawsuit claims that only two of the seven students accused of attacking her were expelled, while others allegedly received lesser penalties, including being required to write essays.
Doe had previously spoken with investigators following the alleged incident, but Van Houten’s office did not bring criminal charges.
Van Houten defended that decision, pointing to differences between Doe’s initial account and the allegations described in the lawsuit. Giuffra has rejected the prosecutor’s characterization of those differences.
Kotlikoff said he “welcomed” an independent examination of Cornell’s response and backed Hochul’s decision to appoint James. He also said the university would support legislative efforts aimed at strengthening protections and laws involving sexual assault and intoxication.
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He described the period since the lawsuit became public as “one of the most difficult weeks” in Cornell’s history, saying he understood that students were “angry, sad and struggling.”
“What happened to Jane Doe in 2024 is deeply disturbing and will weigh heavily on our community for years to come,” Kotlikoff said.
“My heart aches when I think of what she experienced. It raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use.”
“We must do everything we can to prevent what happened to Jane Doe, and everyone before her, and anyone after her, from ever happening again.”
Cornell has backed the DA’s decision to revisit the case. Chi Phi has been banned from campus since 2024
Kotlikoff promised to improve campus culture and ensure students understand consent moving forward.
He added that campus administration would make a ‘greater effort’ to be transparent with students.
Kotlikoff said there will be announcements in the coming weeks for broader conversations, including the role that Greek life plays on campus.
The president concluded that Cornell was ‘listening, learning and committed to communicating more openly.’
‘This is a defining moment in Cornell’s history. We must lead the way. We owe it to Jane Doe and to survivors of assault to get this right, and we must keep each other safe,’ he said.
The governor has reiterated the public’s concerns about the initial handling of the case, saying in a statement that ‘newly released information continues to raise serious questions about the investigation,’ which has in turn ‘undercut my faith, and the public’s faith.’
Giuffra praised the decision to appoint James, adding he ‘had no faith in DA Van Houten’s ability or desire to actively investigate and prosecute this case.’
The lawsuit names the university, seven fraternity brothers and a local bar as defendants. None of the seven men have been criminally charged.
Jeremy Saland, an attorney for accused student Scott Kretzschmar, said his client denies the claims and warned against letting public outrage become a presumption of guilt.
Two other defendants, Scott Norris and Gillio Lopes, have also publicly denied participating in the alleged sexual assaults or drug use described in the complaint.
At the time of Cornell’s 2024 investigation, the other four defendants admitted to sexual contact with Jane Doe but insisted it was consensual.