'My Heart Aches': Cornell President Addresses Sexual Assault Allegations, Says University Must Do Better

Cornell University president Michael Kotlikoff said the university 'must do better' in its response to sexual assault allegations as he addressed criticism of its handling of a case involving a former student and seven men. 'My heart aches when I think of what she experienced,' he said in an eight-minute video message released on Saturday, 3 October 2026.

His statement followed New York Governor Kathy Hochul's decision to appoint Attorney General Letitia James's office as special prosecutor for the criminal investigation.

Lawsuit Names Cornell and Seven Former Students

A former student identified as Jane Doe alleges in a civil lawsuit filed on 16 September 2026 that she was drugged and sexually assaulted at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024, when she was 20. The lawsuit names Cornell and seven former students as defendants.

None of the seven men has been criminally charged, and lawyers for several defendants have denied wrongdoing. The seven men have been referred to online as the 'Cornell 7', although the allegations and university disciplinary findings differ among them.

Dispute Over Police Interview Records

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said Jane Doe's signed statement in November 2024 described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as 'voluntary, conscious, and consensual'. His office initially declined to bring criminal charges.

However, a New York television station reported that a transcript of her interview with Cornell police included the statement: 'I can say with 100% confidence I was raped.' Separate reporting on her signed statement said she described refusing some sexual conduct and feeling coerced.

Van Houten said on 30 September that his office had not received the interview transcript. Cornell said its police department had shared all investigatory information with prosecutors, but did not specifically clarify whether that included the transcript.

Jane Doe's lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, has criticised the district attorney's handling of the investigation and questioned his decision not to bring criminal charges.

Students Call for Kotlikoff's Resignation

Kotlikoff described the past week as 'one of the most difficult weeks in our history' and the allegations as 'deeply disturbing'. He acknowledged distrust within the Cornell community and pledged greater transparency.

About 100 people attended a public hearing on Thursday, 1 October. Some spoke through tears about assaults they had experienced, while others criticised administrators and called for Kotlikoff's resignation. He did not attend.

Kotlikoff said Cornell's board of trustees would announce details during the week beginning 5 October of an independent review by an outside law firm into the university's handling of the case. He also supported the appointment of the attorney general's office as special prosecutor.

Disciplinary Sanctions Under Scrutiny

Disciplinary summaries obtained by a US national newspaper show that Cornell expelled two of the men, suspended two and imposed lesser sanctions on three. One of the three had already graduated and was barred from campus.

The lightest sanctions required a reflection paper and training. Cornell has denied that essays were the sole consequence imposed on any of the men.

Jeremy Saland, a lawyer for Scott Kretzschmar, said his client was 'never accused of, nor found responsible for, rape'. Reporting on Kretzschmar's separate lawsuit against Cornell states that the university found him responsible for attempted sexual exploitation, not sexual assault.

Cornell said it conducted a months-long Title IX investigation and a multi-day hearing. Those disciplinary proceedings were separate from the criminal investigation.

Survey Records Higher Reported Sexual Misconduct

Cornell's 2025 survey found that 35% of undergraduate women respondents reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact since entering the university, compared with 23% in 2023.

The survey was sent to 6,000 students and received 926 responses from undergraduate, graduate and professional students, an overall participation rate of about 15%. Cornell cautioned that the findings should be interpreted carefully because of the low response rate.