Cornell bans fraternity parties after alleged 2024 gang rape

Summarised from 11 outlets · 12 reports · Updated 13 Oct, 22:14 · Archive

Cornell University has suspended all fraternity parties for the rest of the academic year following a lawsuit alleging a female student was gang-raped at a fraternity house in 2024.

Cornell University announced on Tuesday that it is suspending all parties and social events at fraternity houses for the remainder of the 2026-27 academic year. The ban follows a civil lawsuit filed in September by a woman identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was plied with alcohol and drugs and then gang-raped by seven men at the Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024.

University President Michael Kotlikoff said in a statement: "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 added that "it is clear that women on our campus continue to question whether they are safe" and that the university must acknowledge where it has fallen short.

The fraternity party ban is the most visible of several measures announced by Kotlikoff. The policy operates under a zero-tolerance framework, with any fraternity chapter found hosting a party or social event facing immediate emergency suspension. Kotlikoff said the suspension will "provide time for a thorough review of fraternity life at Cornell to determine whether and how it can safely continue."

Approximately one-third of Cornell students are part of Greek life. Kotlikoff told the New York Times that fraternity parties have become an even more central part of student social life since the pandemic, partly because many bars and venues in Ithaca closed and did not reopen.

In addition to the party ban, Cornell is making changes to how sexual assault allegations are investigated. The university will hire experienced, trauma-informed criminal investigators from New York State Police who are independent of Cornell to investigate sexual assault allegations and prepare investigative summaries for law enforcement. Previously, such investigations were handled by Cornell's campus police force. Kotlikoff also committed to adding a dedicated case manager to Cornell's Office of Civil Rights to help survivors navigate the reporting and support process.

The 2024 incident initially resulted in mixed outcomes. After Jane Doe first reported the assault, the Chi Phi fraternity was suspended and Cornell's Title IX office conducted a lengthy investigation in 2025, resulting in expulsions and suspensions for some of the men involved. However, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten declined to prosecute any of the seven men at that time. After Jane Doe's lawsuit became public, the district attorney reopened the criminal investigation, which has since been taken over by New York's attorney general, Letitia James.

Lawyer Thomas Giuffra, representing Jane Doe, said she filed the civil lawsuit "to achieve her aim of improving Cornell and its response to abuse claims". He added: "While the steps announced today are helpful to achieve this goal, they are too late to protect Ms. Doe." Kotlikoff also acknowledged that sexual violence extends beyond fraternities and pledged to address a broader campus culture of excessive drinking and drug use.

The backlash over Cornell's handling of the case has drawn national attention. State officials have criticised the university's response, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed the state attorney general's office as special prosecutor. Cornell has also hired former US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to conduct a comprehensive independent review of the university's response to the rape allegations.

How it is being reported

• Cornell University suspends fraternity parties for rest of the school yearCornell University's president said Tuesday that it will suspend all parties and social events at campus fraternity houses for the rest of the year.UPI · 13 Oct, 22:01
• Cornell University suspends frat parties over gang rape allegationsCornell has also appointed former US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to conduct a "comprehensive independent review" of the university's response to the rape allegations.Euronews · 13 Oct, 21:22
• Cornell University bans fraternity parties for the rest of the year after sex abuse lawsuitCornell President Michael Kotlikoff suspended all fraternity parties after a Jane Doe lawsuit alleged gang rape at the Chi Phi house in 2024.Fox News · 13 Oct, 21:21
• Cornell University bans frat parties, vows to address 'disturbing' campus cultureIn a letter, Cornell's president apologized for what happened to the student who alleges she was raped by seven men at a fraternity house in 2024 and promised 'meaningful action.'NPR · 13 Oct, 20:23
• Cornell suspends fraternity parties after alleged campus gang rape caseFraternities face immediate emergency suspensions for violations amid sweeping ban tackling parties at US university.Al Jazeera · 13 Oct, 19:45
• Cornell suspends fraternity parties amid backlash over alleged sexual assaultUniversity bans parties at frat houses for rest of academic year to conduct ‘thorough review’ of campus Greek life Cornell University has announced that it is suspending parties and other social gatherings at fraternity houses for the rest of the academic year amid intensifying backlash over its handling of allegations that a female student was sexually assaulted at a fraternity house in 2024. The university has also said that Cornell will involve New York state police in investigating sex crimes on campus. Continue reading...The Guardian · 13 Oct, 19:16
• Cornell bans all fraternity parties over gang sex assault allegationsThe school has faced an uproar over how it handled assault allegations brought by a woman known as Jane Doe.BBC News · 13 Oct, 18:59
• Cornell bans all frat parties as campus makes sweeping changes after alleged gang rapeRoughly one-third of Cornell students are part of Greek life.New York Post · 13 Oct, 18:56
• Cornell bans all fraternity parties in wake of Jane Doe's gang-rape allegationsThe ban on parties at frat houses affiliated with the Ivy League college will be in place until the end of the academic year, Cornell announced on Tuesday.Daily Mail · 13 Oct, 18:43
• Cornell bans frat parties and adds sexual assault investigators after gang rape allegations‘It is clear that women on our campus continue to question whether they are safe,’ the university president said in a statementIndependent World · 13 Oct, 18:34
• Cornell University bans frat parties after alleged campus gang rapeThe president of a US university has suspended fraternity parties after a female student alleged she was drugged and gang-raped at a party two years ago.Sky News · 13 Oct, 18:24
• Fraternities are the most likely place for US campus rapes. Should they be shut down?As an alleged 2024 gang-rape at Cornell comes to light, universities are grappling with a choice: student safety or alumni donations Daniel R Schwarz, an 85-year-old English literature emeritus professor, still works at Cornell University after 59 years because he loves teaching and “watching young people grow”, he said. Most of his students, he also said, have not been part of fraternities at Cornell in Ithaca, New York, where seven men allegedly gang-raped a woman in 2024. Continue reading...The Guardian · 12 Oct, 12:00

In this story: Cornell University · Jane Doe · Michael Kotlikoff · Chi Phi · Ithaca · New York State Police · Letitia James · Sally Yates

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