“A major turning point in the history of Cornell University”… Follow-up appointment
Support for external law firm fact-finding investigation and special prosecutor investigation... Reexamination of the role of clubs on campus
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Song Jin-won = The president of Cornell University in the United States made a public statement for the first time regarding the suspicion of gang rape that occurred on campus in 2024 and announced that he would strengthen measures for transparency and student safety at the university.
In an 8-minute video posted on the university website on the 3rd (local time), Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff promised follow-up measures, saying, "What happened to Jane Doe (anonymous victim) in 2024 is very shocking and will remain a heavy burden on our community for years to come," according to the New York Times and AFP.
President Kotlikoff said, “I know very well that many people are angry, sad, and in pain,” and pledged that the university, which has been criticized for the way it handled the incident, will be more transparent in the future.
Jane Doe, who was a student at Cornell University in October 2024, filed a lawsuit last month, claiming that she was sexually assaulted by seven male students in the Chi Phi building, a male students' social club on campus.
About a month after the incident, Jane Doe reported the incident to the Cornell University police, saying, "I am 100% certain that I was raped," but for some reason, this information was reportedly omitted from the victim's statement delivered to the prosecution.
In fact, no criminal punishment was taken against the offending students at the time, and only two students were expelled from the university, and the rest were reportedly suspended or ordered to write essays. The victim dropped out of school after the incident.
As these facts were revealed in media reports and public outrage erupted across the United States, Cornell University announced on the 30th of last month that it would conduct an independent fact-finding investigation through an outside law firm.
On the 1st, Governor Cathy Hocal of New York, where Cornell University is located, appointed New York State Attorney General and Prosecutor General Letitia James as a special prosecutor and ordered her to reinvestigate the case.
In the video, Kotlikoff said he supported the decision to conduct an external fact-finding investigation and a special prosecutor's investigation and said, "We will take action immediately without waiting for the investigation or investigation to be completed." At the same time, the university promised to strengthen the prevention of sexual crimes on campus, support for victims, and support for mental health and substance abuse.
President Kotlikoff said there should also be a "serious review" of the role of student clubs on campus. He said that while these groups provide a sense of community and belonging, "being part of a group in no way relieves one's personal responsibility."
He promised to work with students, alumni and community members to discuss ways to strengthen accountability while preserving valuable aspects of student club activities. The Kai Pai Club, which started this suspicion, has been banned from on-campus activities from 2024 to the present.
President Kotlikoff called this a "major turning point in Cornell University's history" and said the university does not have all the answers the community wants, but will do its best to find a solution.
However, the reaction of school members to the president's message was cold.
Michelle Fan, a second-year student at the university, said she was "disappointed" that the president did not speak in a stronger tone. "I'm glad the university is addressing this, but there still hasn't been an apology. That's what we were most looking forward to."
