Cornell suspends frat parties after gang rape case

Cornell University has suspended all parties at frat houses until the end of the 2026/27 academic year, the university announced on Tuesday.

This comes after the case in which a woman alleged to have been drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024, with the university's reaction to the gang rape allegations now attracting criticizm from around the nation and overseas.

The new measures include a new "zero tolerance" policy for violations, which would result in an immediate suspension of a chapter.

University President Michael Kotlikoff said these measures were to "provide time for a thorough review of fraternity life" at Cornell, while also determining how it can safely continue. The university has more than 20 active fraternities that are organized under its Interfraternity Council.

It is not clear whether the suspension also includes parties that take place outside the campus.

More support for victims

As part of the measures, Cornell is to hold talks with students and faculty experts about the "the development of safe social alternatives" to Greek life party culture, as well as investing the money needed to support the initiatives' establishment, Kotlikoff said.

The Cornell president also said the institution will be adding a case manager to its Office of Civil Rights to support people that report sexual misconduct to help in navigating the process.

Campus police, which has full law enforcement authority but is controlled by Cornell, are largely the ones responsible for looking into crimes committed at the university. However, Kotlikoff announced that Cornell will work closely with New York State Police to allow an investigation independent of the school.

Decision not to prosecute criticized

The 2024 gang rape allegations were initially investigated by the campus police, which then passed its initial findings to the Tompkins County district attorney, who did not prosecute — a decision that was lader met with widespread criticizm.

The woman filed a lawsuit in September, in which she claimed she had been drugged and sexually assaulted by several fraternity members after attending a party at the Chi Phi house in October 2024.

According to the lawsuit, messages saying she was sexually available were sent among fraternity members without her knowledge.

After learning about the case, Cornell closed the fraternity chapter and disciplined several students, without any criminal charges being filed.

All seven men mentioned in the lawsuit have denied the allegations.

After the case was made public and triggered wide-scale criticism, the investigation is now in the hands of New York Attorney General Letitia James. The university's response will be reviewed by former Deputy US Attorney General Sally Yates.

Edited by: Zac Crellin