Editor's note: This article references sexual assault.
Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo M.A. ’20 called for an immediate moratorium on all student event and special event permits, including Greek Life events, in a Monday statement. He attributed his decision to the University administration’s “appalling response” to the alleged 2024 Chi Phi gang rape.
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.
“I have no choice but to declare a new policy directive and corresponding Common Council resolution … until such time that the University conducts an accounting of its protocols to prevent and prosecute crimes of sexual violence and publicly releases new standards and practices to keep our community safe,” Cantelmo wrote.
The directive will not come into effect until the Ithaca Common Council passes the resolution.
Common Council alderpersons Ducson Nguyen (D-2nd Ward), Hannah Shvets (D-5th Ward) and Pat Sewell (D-3rd Ward) told The Sun that they would vote in favor of the moratorium alongside Cantelmo. Sewell acknowledged that he based his decision off the currently available information.
Alderperson Robin Trumble (D-4th Ward) told The Sun that he needs more information from student groups in order to make his decision. The other five members of the council did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cornell has faced scrutiny for allegedly administering essays as punishment in the case. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) spoke about the lawsuit and criticized the University for temporarily suspending protestors while “mak[ing] rapists write an essay in private,” during an Ithaca town hall on Sunday.
In a Monday statement, the University denied that essay-writing was the “sole consequence” offered to any of the defendants and confirmed that Cornell issued expulsions and suspensions following a Title IX investigation and hearing panel.
Doe’s attorney has claimed that two of the seven defendants were expelled, according to CBS News. The University did not clarify how many students were expelled or suspended.
Cantelmo wrote that Cornell “failed to hold the perpetrators to account.”
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.
The mayor’s statement comes after Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced on Monday that his office would be re-opening a criminal investigation into the incident.
“[The University’s response] is a miscarriage of justice and continues to pose a significant threat to students and residents who may be victimized at unsafe and under-monitored on- or off-campus student events,” Cantelmo wrote.
Shubha Gautam ’28 and Atticus Johnson ’28 contributed reporting.
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.
