Cornell bans all fraternity parties over gang sex assault allegations

Cornell University is banning all parties at fraternity houses as it faces a backlash over its handling of an alleged sexual assault on campus two years ago.

Last month, a woman known as Jane Doe filed a lawsuit alleging she was plied with drugs and raped by several men in 2024 at a party at a Cornell fraternity house.

Cornell's president, Michael Kotlikoff, announced a series of measures responding to the alleged assault, including the end to fraternity parties for the remainder of the university year.

"I am deeply sorry for the harm Jane Doe suffered in 2024, and appalled that this act of sexual violence occurred within our Cornell community," he said.

"It is clear that women on our campus continue to question whether they are safe. We must meet this moment by acknowledging where we have fallen short and taking meaningful action," he added.

Doe's lawyer has said she dropped out after the alleged assault. In an interview with the New York Times, published on Tuesday, Kotlikoff said he had only learned that Jane Doe had withdrawn from the university after she filed a legal case over the alleged assault last month.

Members of the Cornell's Faculty Senate, a governing body composed of professors and other academic staff, were due on Wednesday to debate whether they have confidence in the Cornell leadership to "effectively address the ongoing crisis".

The issue is expected to be put to a vote in due course, though a majority no-confidence vote would be a largely symbolic gesture.

Paul Ortiz, a labour history professor who sponsored the resolution, told the BBC that he and the other sponsors have heard from scores of students, staff, faculty and alumni.

"These women testify that they were frightened to report assaults because they felt that Cornell has at times treated rape as more of a 'PR problem' than a heinous crime," he said.

Ortiz said a "climate of fear" on campus "exacerbates the ability of our community to stand united against all forms of violence".

He said that the administration "has failed to address these core issues" and more than 100 faculty members have signed the resolution so far.

Fraternities have existed at university campuses across the US for decades and function as all-male social clubs where students live, study and socialise. Over the years, the groups have become notorious for binge-drinking, partying and dangerous hazing rituals.

In a statement, a lawyer representing Doe said she filed a civil lawsuit "to achieve her aim of improving Cornell and its response to abuse claims".

"While the steps announced today are helpful to achieve this goal, they are too late to protect Ms Doe," said lawyer Thomas Giuffra.

Cornell's president said anyone who violated the new fraternity party policy at the New York university would be suspended.

The university also said it planned to improve support for survivors of sexual assault, including more staff to help people report sexual misconduct and navigate support systems as well.

Through Title IX, the federal law that governs how universities handle sexual assault claims, universities are required to provide measures of support to help survivors continue with their studies after assaults.

In his written statement, which was addressed to the Cornell community, Kotlikoff said the university would allow New York State Police's trauma-informed officers to investigate allegations of sexual assault on its campus.

These officers will interview survivors who want to pursue criminal charges and prepare "comprehensive investigative summaries for the appropriate law enforcement agency", the university president added.

Cornell has faced criticism over the information shared with the local district attorney's office about Jane Doe's allegations.

Out of hundreds of documents that US media outlets have obtained from Cornell's investigation into the assault, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said that in 2024, his office received only a six-page statement signed by the victim as well as Snapchat messages in which the men at the fraternity party advertised a free sexual encounter with Doe.

State officials have also criticised Van Houten's decision not to bring charges or interview victims and witnesses himself. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed the state's attorney general, Letitia James, to investigate the case.

Kotlikoff said Cornell would be bringing in national sexual violence prevention experts to examine "the factors leading to campus sexual violence and strategies to promote responsible sexual citizenship".

He said the steps were the first toward "systematic change" on campus.

Since Jane Doe filed her lawsuit earlier this month, text messages between her and members of the fraternity have provided a glimpse of the aftermath of the alleged October 2024 assault.

In a recent batch obtained by the BBC's US partner, CBS News, she initially tells a fraternity member that they should not feel shame. Days later she says that "90% of what happened that night was not consensual".

The man tells her that the situation "got out of hand" and that he "would've shut it down" had he been more coherent. He also apologises.

A text exchange with another man initially reads as friendly, but the tone shifts weeks later and Jane Doe accuses him of lying.

Jane Doe's lawyer told CBS that her messages reflect "classic symptoms of delayed recognition" and "a textbook response to sexual assault".

According to the New York Times and her lawyer, the men in those messages were found responsible for sexual assault and expelled but have not been charged with a crime.