Cornell bans frat parties for the rest of year after gang rape claims

2 hours ago 8

A Cornell University sign is seen on the campus after a student was sexually assaulted at a campus fraternity house in 2024, on October 7, 2026 in Ithaca, New York. The University is facing backlash for its handling of a sexual assault case where a student alleged she was gang-raped inside the Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024. Gov. Kathy Hochul has appointed Attorney General Letita James as a special prosecutor to examine the school's initial investigation into the incident. (Photo by Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)

The university will issue immediate suspensions to anyone in breach (Picture: Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)

Cornell University has announced that all fraternity house parties will be suspended for the rest of the academic year.

The university’s president announced measures to improve campus safety and culture yesterday after spending weeks listening to ‘anger and frustration’ from students, staff and trustees.

A breach of the ban will result in an immediate emergency suspension.

This comes after a woman – identified only by the generic name Jane Doe – filed a lawsuit last month, alleging she was drugged and raped by several men at a frat party in 2024.

Michael Kotlikoff, Cornell President, said: ‘I am deeply sorry for the harm Jane Doe suffered in 2024, and appalled that this act of sexual violence [allegedly] occurred within our Cornell community.

‘I have spent the past weeks listening to students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and trustees who have shared their feelings of deep connection and sympathy with Jane Doe, anger and frustration that this could happen at Cornell, and outrage at the broader prevalence of sexual violence against women in our society.

‘These conversations, and campus protests, have underscored my deep conviction that we must do better.’

Jane Doe’s lawyer said she filed a civil lawsuit ‘to achieve her aim of improving Cornell and its response to abuse claims’.

Lawyer Thomas Giuffra said: ‘While the steps announced today are helpful to achieve this goal, they are too late to protect Ms Doe’

Cornell students expressed their anger at a public hearing hosted by the student assembly.

Jane Wang, a Cornell student, described her experience of suffering a sexual assault at the hearing, describing a ‘total lack of agency and accountability’ in Cornell’s response.

She said: ‘I’m also speaking as a fellow Jane Doe. One of the biggest factors in my healing and our healing as a whole is knowing that a broader system is in place for us to be able to find support and seek justice.

‘I was also met with an abundance of paperwork, very little instruction on how to navigate it, and no follow-up on an outcome.

‘Clearly, this is a historical and institutional problem where Cornell has not built a culture within our leadership or within the offices that handle misconduct.’

Alongside the banning of social events, the announcement also implemented better support for sexual assault survivors and actions to change the social culture on campus.

A dedicated case manager will help individuals who report sexual misconduct navigate the university process. Cornell is also working with the New York State Police to investigate future allegations.