Editor’s note: This article references sexual assault.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) called for a “transparent, independent review” of the University’s response to the allegations of sexual assault and rape at Cornell’s Chi Phi house in 2024, in a Tuesday statement.
This comes after a former Cornell student, identified as a Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against the University, Chi Phi and others on Sept. 14, alleging that she was sexually assaulted and gang raped after being coerced into consuming drugs at Cornell’s Chi Phi house in 2024.
The lawsuit claims that the University failed to “exercise reasonable care” to prevent the defendants from allegedly assaulting Doe while she was a full-time student at Cornell.
“No student should ever be left wondering whether the institutions meant to protect them will listen and act,” Hochul wrote. “There are also serious questions about Cornell’s campus culture and its systems for prevention, reporting, and response.”
In addition to voicing her support for the Tompkins County District Attorney reopening the investigation into the allegations, Hochul called for “outside counsel” to “determine whether Cornell met every obligation to protect its students and pursue justice.”
In a Monday statement, Kyle Kimball, vice president for university relations, cast light on the University’s investigation after previously declining to provide further information. He stated that the University issued expulsions and suspensions following a Title IX investigation and hearing panel, in addition to enforcing temporary suspensions and “restrictive” measures during the proceedings.
Doe’s attorney has claimed that two of the seven defendants were expelled, according to CBS News. Kimball did not clarify how many students were expelled or suspended.
The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell closed in 2024 and currently remains closed, Kimball added.
The lawsuit claims that several of the defendants “were afforded the opportunity to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays” to the University. In his Monday statement, Kimball wrote that essay-writing was not offered as a “sole consequence” to any of the defendants.
In a Monday move to establish an immediate moratorium on student event permits, including Greek Life event permits, because of the Chi Phi lawsuit, Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo M.A. ’20 criticized Cornell.
“The University failed to hold the perpetrators to account,” Cantelmo wrote.
He added that the University did not contact the Ithaca Police Department despite “the severity of the crimes.” IPD confirmed that it was not contacted in a Monday statement, while the lawsuit claimed that "upon information and belief," the incident was still under IPD investigation.
“Cornell shares Governor Hochul’s commitment to addressing campus culture issues, which affect universities across the nation and New York,” a University spokesperson wrote in a statement sent to The Sun after publication. “We are committed to continuing to work with state officials to advance student safety and wellbeing.”
Hochul opened her statement by addressing the alleged actions outlined in the case, calling them “nothing short of horrifying.”
“For any student to come forward after an experience like this takes extraordinary courage,” she wrote.
Update, Sept. 29, 1:40 p.m.: This article has been updated to include a statement sent post-publication from the University and to include that Kathy Hochul’s voiced her support for the D.A. reopening the case.
Varsha Bhargava is a member of the Class of 2027 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She is the managing editor of the 144th Editorial Board and was a news editor for the 143rd Editorial Board. She can be reached at vbhargava@cornellsun.com.
