Cornell President Kotlikoff addresses allegations against Chi Phi fraternity

The past week was one of the most difficult in the university's history, said Kotlikoff. And: “It hurts me deeply when I think about what she went through.”

Kotlikoff was referring to a former student at the university who is only known by the pseudonym “Jane Doe.” She accuses seven men of sexually abusing her in October 2024 under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The mass rape is said to have occurred in the Chi Phi fraternity house on the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, New York. At that time, no one was prosecuted.

Criticism of Kotlikoff has increased massively in the past few days. Hochul was asked at a news conference Friday whether she thought he should resign because of the university's handling of the case; However, she declined to comment, saying she did not yet have enough information.

In the video, the university president calls for a “serious examination of the role of student associations in campus life.” The connections could provide students with friendships, mentorship and a sense of belonging. However, they must also promote a culture of individual responsibility and accountability: "Belonging to a group should never diminish individual responsibility for our own actions, for how we treat others, or for speaking out when someone might be in danger."

Cornell is a private university and belongs to the so-called Ivy League, a group of renowned elite universities in the northeast of the USA. The Cornell chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity was disbanded in 2024 and is still not allowed on campus, according to the university's website. It was said that this was the result of an investigation that had been ongoing for several months. In addition, de-registrations and suspensions were imposed. The university did not say who these were directed against. The university rejected as false the claim that the accused were merely ordered to write an essay as punishment.

The fact that the case is now occupying the judiciary again is due to the civil lawsuit that “Jane Doe” filed in September. The case subsequently spread across social media and was picked up by US national media. The case is causing a stir because of the shocking details - such as the vulgar messages in the fraternity members' Snapchat group - and because it has not yet resulted in any criminal consequences. The local authorities in particular came under criticism.

At the same time, the case touches on a debate that has been going on for years about sexual violence at US universities and the role of student associations. “These men wrote about it in a group chat,” said New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Democrat called the case an example of “rape culture”: “That means it was normal for her.”