Cornell: Lawyer Sally Yates is supposed to examine the university's handling of the "Jane Doe" case

In response to the protests, the university has now announced that it has commissioned the prominent US lawyer and former top Justice Department official Sally Yates to conduct a “detailed review of the university’s response.” Yates served, among other roles, as deputy attorney general and deputy attorney general under President Barack Obama.

It is "imperative that Cornell is prepared to examine itself with the same rigor that we expect of others," said University Council Chairwoman Anne Meinig Smalling. It's not just about understanding what happened in 2024, "but also understanding how Cornell can lead the way in preventing sexual violence, supporting those who come forward, and responding to allegations rigorously, fairly and compassionately," Smalling added.

At the center of the case is the allegation by a former student that she was raped by several men in the house of a student association in October 2024. There were initially no criminal consequences. Following a new civil lawsuit and growing public criticism, the case is now being investigated by New York Attorney General Letitia James. You can read a detailed overview of the case here.

In recent days, numerous women have expressed their outrage in an online campaign about the way the judiciary, university and society have handled the case.

You can read here what the “Cornell Seven” are accused of and what they say about it.