Student Programming Council officers received instructions from Campus Activities staff to immediately stop posting on the social media accounts for their SPC organizations “until further notice,” according to a Monday afternoon email obtained by The Sun.
The guidance comes amid a series of comments made on SPC Instagram posts that reference the alleged Chi Phi gang rape, with users commenting the defendants’ names and criticizing the University’s response to the alleged assault.
SPC is an umbrella organization comprising 10 major programming councils on campus, including Cornell University Program Board, Cornell Concert Commission and the Slope Day Programming Board. Also included are funding councils such as Student Activities Funding Commission and CU Tonight Funding Commission.
Unlike other student organizations, these groups are directly advised by Campus Activities, an office run by Cornell administration.
An initial email sent by Blake Ricketts ’30, SPC vice president of programming, on Monday afternoon instructed SPC officers to “immediately pause all social media posts, stories, announcements, and other promotional activities” until SPC receives “further guidance from Campus Activities.”
When asked by The Sun to clarify the timeline and reasoning behind the hiatus, Ricketts pointed to a follow up email he sent to SPC officers on Monday evening.
“Many of the SPC accounts have been receiving an influx of comments mistaking us for official university accounts,” the email reads. “This is a very sensitive situation that we are all trying to navigate, not just as student leaders but as humans.”
Ricketts did not immediately respond when asked by The Sun to elaborate on the “sensitive situation” he mentioned.
The email came hours before Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo M.A. ’20 called for an immediate moratorium “on all student event and special event permits,” applying to events hosted by organizations both in and outside of Greek Life. Cantelmo wrote that the proposed moratorium was in response to the University’s “appalling” conduct regarding the alleged gang rape of a former Cornell student at the Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024.
SPC organizations are responsible for hosting many celebrities at Cornell. The Slope Day Programming Board hosted the Chainsmokers and Daya in May 2026, CUPB brought Eric Andre in April 2026 and Rainn Wilson in February 2026 and CCC and the Multicultural Community-Fueled Activities Board collaborated to host Ken Carson at a sold-out concert in April 2025.
A second email sent by Ricketts on Monday evening stated that organization leaders should follow the guidance he conveyed at their own discretion.
“I want to send a follow-up to the last email that was sent earlier today and apologize for any confusion it caused,” Ricketts wrote. “As organizations and leaders, you have the agency to manage your social media accounts in a way that best represents your organization.”
He further encouraged SPC officers to consult with their advisors and executive boards about how each of their organizations wanted to continue, or halt, their social media usage.
The comment section of a Wednesday post promoting a visit from comedian Preacher Lawson — co-posted by CUPB, MCFAB and Campus Activities — is filled with comments referencing the alleged gang rape and critiquing the University’s response.
“so you’ll post this bs but not the crime committed?” wrote one commenter.
"Is protecting [grape emoji] on the activity list?" wrote another.
The grape emoji is often used to reference rape or sexual assault on social media platforms.
Many other comments listed the names of the seven defendants accused of sexual assault and rape in the lawsuit.
With the social media hiatus in effect, these organizations will lose their primary means for promoting their events and encouraging attendance.
CCC announced that they will be hosting DJ-duo BETWEEN FRIENDS for their annual homecoming concert in a Friday Instagram post. This post has also been the subject of multiple comments regarding the alleged gang rape.
“LOCK CORNELL GRAPISTS UP,” reads one comment. Another again lists the names of the seven defendants.
The initial email to SPC officers acknowledged that the order “presents new challenges” for SPC organizations, but ensures officers that they will be notified as soon as they are “cleared to resume posting.”
Ricketts concluded the second email by encouraging the SPC officers to take care of themselves and prioritize their own well-being over their roles as student leaders.
The University did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reasoning behind the social media hiatus or its estimated duration when asked by The Sun.
Giselle Redmond is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She is an assistant news editor for the 144th Editorial Board and can be reached at gredmond@cornellsun.com.
