Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates to lead an independent review following a civil lawsuit filed by a former student alleging a 2024 gang rape at a campus fraternity house, triggering widespread student protests, a faculty no-confidence vote resolution, and intervention by New York officials.
A civil lawsuit filed on September 14 by a former student identifying as Jane Doe has thrust Cornell University into national scrutiny. The plaintiff alleges that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted her after she was coerced into consuming drugs at the fraternity house in 2024. The lawsuit names the university, the fraternity, her sorority, and seven individual current and former students as defendants.
The allegations remained largely out of the public eye until campus reporting by NPR brought the matter to light, followed by the civil filings. In response to the growing crisis, the university’s Board of Trustees formed a special committee and retained Sally Q. Yates, a partner at King & Spalding LLP and former U.S. Deputy Attorney General, to conduct an independent investigation.
Sally Yates Leads Special Committee Review into Sexual Misconduct Handling
The special committee announced that Yates and her team will examine how Cornell prevents and responds to sexual harassment, assault, and related misconduct. The review will specifically assess the university’s handling of the Jane Doe matter, alongside broader oversight by the Board of Trustees. The Special Committee itself is comprised of Anne Meinig Smalling, Chair of the Board of Trustees, and fellow trustees Jennifer L. Davis, Tara Holm, Howard L. Morgan Ph.D., Beckie Robertson, Stephen C. Robinson, Esq., Martin F. Scheinman, Esq., and Robert W. Selander.
University President Michael Kotlikoff released a video statement promising further review and answers for the community, saying Doe’s alleged experiences raise heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization, and aspects of party culture, alcohol, and drug use.
Cornell officials also pointed to their support for a reexamination of the case by law enforcement. The university has also stated that any suggestion it failed to impose consequential punishments for those involved is false.
Faculty Senate Introduces No-Confidence Resolution Amid Campus Protests
The administration’s response has faced severe backlash from the campus community. Members of the Cornell Faculty Senate introduced a resolution for a no-confidence vote against the university administration, with approximately 40 senators expressing initial support out of over 75 voting members. The resolution is set to be debated at the Senate’s October 14 meeting.
Meanwhile, thousands of students, faculty, and Ithaca community members flooded Ho Plaza for a Justice for Survivors
rally. Student organizations—including Students for a Democratic Cornell, Planned Parenthood Generation Action at Cornell, Cornell NAACP, Mecha de Cornell, and Black Students United—took part in organizing the demonstrations.
New York Attorney General Oversees Case After District Attorney Declined Charges
In the initial aftermath of the 2024 incident, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten declined to bring criminal charges against the accused students, a decision that has drawn renewed criticism. Van Houten, who has served as district attorney since 2017, and Cornell have both defended their original 2024 inquiries.
The legal landscape shifted when New York Gov. Kathy Hochul effectively replaced Van Houten as lead investigator by appointing state Attorney General Letitia James to oversee the case. Both Cornell and Van Houten publicly welcomed the state-level intervention, with Van Houten stating that he trusts James to examine the facts and apply the law.
Legal representation for the accused students has also drawn high-profile attention. One of the male students involved has hired defense attorney Teny Geragos. The men named in the civil lawsuit have denied wrongdoing, with some asserting the sexual activity was consensual and others disputing their participation.
