The president of Cornell University supports an external review of the gang rape case and reopening the investigation

Today (Sunday), the president of Cornell University expressed his support for conducting an external review of the prestigious educational institution that is facing a widespread wave of discontent over allegations related to a gang rape of one of its students in 2024.

“In coordination with the Board of Trustees, I welcome the independent review by an outside law firm into all aspects of Cornell’s handling of the 2024 case,” university president Michael Kotlikoff said in a video clip posted on the university’s website, according to what Reuters reported.

The details of the incident were revealed following the filing of a lawsuit last month that shook the foundations of the prestigious university, and sparked harsh reactions towards New York prosecutors for not bringing any criminal charges against the defendants so far.

The plaintiff said in the civil lawsuit that she was drugged with ketamine before she was assaulted and raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity, a social club for male students.

Kotlikov added: “This week has been one of the most difficult weeks in our history, and I know that many of you feel angry and sad.”

He continued: “What happened to Jane Doe in 2024 is deeply disturbing, and will weigh on our society for years to come.”

New York Governor: The victim was let down by people who were obligated to protect her

A criminal investigation into the gang rape case was reopened on Monday, with New York State Governor Kathy Hokul assigning State Attorney General Letitia James to take over the case.

Hokul criticized the way in which the preliminary investigation into the complainant's allegation was conducted at Cornell University, located in Ithaca, in central New York State.

Matthew Van Houten, Tompkins County District Attorney, said that Cornell University police omitted substantive information that would have influenced his decision on whether to file criminal charges, according to what the Associated Press reported.

The woman who accused members of a fraternity at Cornell University of gang rape was “let down” by people who were obligated to protect her, including police and the district attorney, Hokul said. “At every turn, she was let down by people and institutions who should have been protecting her,” Hokul said.

Jane “sat down for hours and told (the police) exactly what happened to her,” Hokul said. “According to new reports, she was very clear that she was 100 percent certain that she had been raped.”

The governor explained that she made this decision after learning of “disturbing details” about the way the authorities have dealt with the woman’s allegations so far, including that the district attorney closed the case without anyone interviewing the victim or anyone else involved in the alleged attack.

In the video, Kotlikoff confirmed that the university supported the decision to reopen a criminal investigation, but added that Cornell “will not wait for the investigation or review to be completed before we take action.”

He continued: “We will continue to take all necessary steps to make Cornell a leading institution, not only in what we say about these issues, but also in the practical efforts we make to address them.”