Cornell Students Criticize University President Over Handling of Gang-Rape Allegations

ITHACA, N.Y. – Anger over Cornell University’s response to allegations of a gang rape at a fraternity house has increasingly focused on President Michael Kotlikoff, a longtime molecular physiology professor who has confronted a series of challenges since taking the university’s top post.

Kotlikoff had served as Cornell’s longest-tenured provost before becoming interim president in July 2024. He was appointed to the position permanently the following year.

His tenure quickly became complicated. Just two months after he took over, dining and custodial employees went on strike during a labor dispute that was resolved roughly two weeks later. Last fall, faculty members and students questioned his decision to approve a $60 million settlement ending civil rights investigations brought by the Trump administration. Earlier this year, Kotlikoff also rejected claims that he attempted to drive his car into demonstrators during a dispute over Israel and Palestinian rights, saying instead that he had been harassed.

Now, the university’s response to an alleged gang rape at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024—only months after Kotlikoff became president—has emerged as the most serious threat to his leadership.

Cornell’s faculty senate has signaled that it expects to consider a no-confidence resolution targeting university administrators. During a protest Monday, students called for Kotlikoff’s resignation or removal, while others demanded that the school abolish fraternities.

“Throughout his administration, he’s refused to take accountability for anything that has happened,” said sophomore Sophia Kong, who attended the protest. “He does not represent us.”

Kotlikoff, 75, has faced mounting criticism since a woman identified in court filings as Jane Doe sued Cornell last month. She alleges that multiple Chi Phi members sexually assaulted her two years ago after pressuring her to consume alcohol and drugs.

The woman told Cornell police about the alleged assault in November 2024, approximately three weeks after she said it occurred. Campus investigators later forwarded a summary of their findings to the district attorney, who relied on that information in deciding not to pursue criminal charges. Cornell separately carried out a Title IX inquiry.

As criticism intensified, Kotlikoff described the allegations over the weekend as “deeply disturbing.” In a video message that included an apology, he reiterated that Cornell would cooperate with an independent review requested by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. The governor has criticized campus police, saying they failed to provide prosecutors with the woman’s full account.

No criminal charges have been brought. Cornell closed the Chi Phi chapter and says it expelled some students while suspending others. The men accused in the case have either denied taking part or maintained that the sexual activity was consensual.

Experts disagree over whether Kotlikoff should be held responsible

Some experts argue that Kotlikoff’s options were constrained. With prosecutors declining to file charges, Cornell’s Title IX process became the only remaining formal investigation. Title IX, widely associated with equal opportunities for female college athletes, also covers allegations of sexual harassment and assault. At the same time, the law provides significant safeguards for accused students, including the right to cross-examine their accuser. Many survivors do not pursue such cases, and when they do, legal challenges from both the accused and the accuser over the result are common.

Universities also face restrictions on the discipline they can impose, particularly on students who may have been witnesses or bystanders, said Peter Lake, director of a higher education law and policy center at Stetson University College of Law in Florida.

Moving too aggressively can expose a university to serious consequences, Lake said, pointing to Duke University’s handling of a rape allegation two decades ago. A woman falsely accused three lacrosse players, and Duke suspended the students, canceled the team’s season and pressured the coach to resign before the accusations unraveled. The players later reached an undisclosed settlement with the university.

Others say university presidents still bear responsibility for the culture they help create. Cornell’s fraternities have faced previous allegations involving hazing and sexual misconduct, critics note, arguing that school leaders should have done more to promote consent education and establish clearer expectations.

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“If you are the leader of that campus and this is part of your portfolio of what happens on your campus, it’s not like ‘Oh well that only affects the members of that fraternity and the women that they’re attempting to sleep with,’” said Jane Stapleton, co-founder of the Prevention Innovations Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. “That impacts the entire fabric of the culture of, ‘How do men respect women? How safe is it to be a woman?’”

Kotlikoff has outlined Cornell’s response to the allegations

Within weeks of the reported assault, Kotlikoff released a statement describing the investigation and condemning the alleged conduct as “abhorrent.”

A sexual assault task force formed afterward recommended stronger instruction on Title IX and a concept it called “sexual citizenship.” Its report cited a 2025 survey indicating that 35% of Cornell’s undergraduate women and 8% of its undergraduate men said they had experienced sexual assault while attending the university.

Court filings from a lawsuit brought by one of the disciplined students have provided more detail about Cornell’s investigation. The university says investigators interviewed 50 people, including 32 witnesses, and reviewed evidence such as personal accounts, electronic communications and social media messages. The case eventually proceeded to a disciplinary hearing that lasted 12 days.

Kotlikoff has called for a “serious look” at Greek life, but the end of fraternities on campus is not being considered. Instead, Kotlikoff said Cornell would engage students, alumni and others in examining how to preserve the benefits of Greek life while strengthening accountability and transparency.

Not every president survives such situations

A little over a decade ago, former Baylor University President Ken Starr, best known for the probe that led to Bill Clinton’s presidential impeachment, lost his job amid allegations that the Texas Baptist school mishandled several cases in which football players were accused of attacking women. In 2021, Oregon State trustees accepted the resignation of university president F. King Alexander, concluding he was unable to rebuild trust at the school because of his role in the mishandling of sexual misconduct cases during his previous tenure at Louisiana State University.

More recently, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik was among several U.S. college leaders to resign under pressure for the handling of protests over the war in Gaza.

Soham Bera, a Cornell sophomore, said students have “incredibly low faith” in the university leadership.

“Now, with all this news, with all the attention, we can finally make change,” he said at Monday’s protest.

Lili Rose Mas, a junior who was also calling for Kotlikoff to step down, said she was encouraged by the number of students who joined the protest.

“It makes me have more faith in humanity,” Mas said. “I truly think that Gen Z might be the generation that changes the world, because, like, these old people in the admin are not doing anything, but all the students here care about this.” ___ Hollingsworth reported from Mission, Kansas. The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.