Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff has rejected accusations that the school is concealing information as he faces mounting criticism from faculty and students over the university’s response to an alleged gang rape case.
Protests swept across the Ivy League campus this week after a New York civil lawsuit alleged that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted a student during a seven-hour period in October 2024.
The lawsuit has reignited a national debate over Cornell’s handling of the allegations. In 2024, the university expelled two of the men named in the case and suspended two others, while several of the remaining students were permitted to stay enrolled.
None of the fraternity members accused in the lawsuit has been arrested, and the local district attorney chose not to pursue criminal charges. Cornell administrators have since faced claims that the university mishandled its investigation.
During a student assembly on Monday, Kotlikoff defended the university’s response as students criticized his leadership and demanded his resignation. He said he believed Cornell had been “pretty clear” about the steps it was taking in response to the controversy.
“We’re not hiding anything at Cornell,” he told those attending the meeting, according to the Cornell Daily Sun.
He added that university officials would soon present proposals aimed at improving campus culture and addressing sexual misconduct concerns.
The anger surrounding Cornell’s response has spread beyond student demonstrations. On Monday, the university’s faculty senate announced plans to consider an unusual vote of no confidence in the administration.
Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff said the school is “hiding nothing” as he confronts fierce criticism over its handling of an alleged gang rape case.
The Ivy League campus was rocked by protests after a New York lawsuit accused seven Chi Phi fraternity members of sexually assaulting a student over seven hours in October 2024.
Demonstrators carried signs reading “Fire Kotlikoff” and “Ban the Frats” during protests at Cornell this week.
Although the proposed faculty resolution would not remove Kotlikoff or any other administrator, it would increase pressure on Cornell’s leadership as the controversy continues.
A draft of the measure states that “the faculty senate has no confidence in the ability of the central administration to effectively address the ongoing crisis of sexual assault at Cornell University,” according to The New York Times.
At Monday’s assembly, Kotlikoff also rejected suggestions that Cornell had obscured or compromised its investigation into the alleged assault at the fraternity house.
The student identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe initially described the encounter as consensual. She later said that, after reflecting on what happened, she believed she had been sexually assaulted.
Kotlikoff maintained that the university’s Title IX inquiry, which resulted in the expulsion of two fraternity members, was “very professional.” He said expulsion represented the strongest punishment available to Cornell under its disciplinary system.
As the president spoke inside, protesters gathered outside on Cornell’s Ho Plaza, rallying in support of the student who has alleged she was assaulted.
Signs at the demonstration demanded that Kotlikoff be fired and that fraternities be banned. One message read: “Put rapists in jail – not in our classes.”
Organizers also presented Cornell administrators with a series of demands, including the immediate expulsion of all seven Chi Phi members named in the lawsuit.
Their proposals further called for Cornell to revise its sexual assault policies, commission an independent review of the case, require sexual assault prevention training across campus and comply with New York’s Enough Is Enough law.
The Enough Is Enough law requires New York universities and colleges to adopt strict policies on issues including sexual violence and stalking.
When a student reportedly confronted Kotlikoff over whether he had ‘any reaction’ to the fierce protests on his campus, the Cornell President said he was hearing concerns of many people, reports the Cornell Daily Sun.
‘We’re all angry. I understand that anger,’ Kotlikoff responded. ‘People want easy answers to this.’
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Protests erupted on the Cornell campus amid scrutiny on the Ivy League college’s handling of the controversial case
Demonstrators holding signs at the Cornell protest on Monday
A group of organizers put forward a list of demands to Cornell administrators to respond to the controversy, including the immediate expulsion of all seven accused Chi Phi brothers
At the demonstrations on Cornell this week, some speakers demanded that Cornell’s fraternities be kicked off campus, while many called for Kotlikoff to resign
At the demonstrations on Cornell this week, some speakers demanded that Cornell’s fraternities be kicked off campus, while many called for Kotlikoff to resign.
Kotlikoff shared a response to criticisms about the case over the weekend, where he said he supported New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to appoint Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor in the case.
Kotlikoff admitted that questions have been raised about the university’s handling of the case two years ago as he insisted the college must ‘do better’, and said his ‘heart aches’ for the woman who brought forward the allegations.
He called the days following the lawsuit ‘one of the most difficult weeks’ in Cornell history, adding that he acknowledged students were ‘angry, sad and struggling.’
‘What happened to Jane Doe in 2024 is deeply disturbing and will weigh heavily on our community for years to come,’ the president continued.
‘My heart aches when I think of what she experienced. It raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use.’
‘We must do everything we can to prevent what happened to Jane Doe, and everyone before her, and anyone after her, from ever happening again.’
The alleged assault unfolded in the Chi Phi fraternity house on October 19, 2024
Hundreds of Cornell students participated in a rally against the university
A woman and a child attend a Justice for Survivors rally at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, US, October 5, 2026
The woman who brought the allegations, under the pseudonym Jane Doe, claimed in her civil lawsuit last month that she arrived at the Chi Phi fraternity house on October 19, 2024, already heavily intoxicated following a night of drinking in Ithaca.
She alleges she was pressured to take ketamine and given marijuana and high-proof alcohol before being repeatedly sexually assaulted as additional fraternity members entered the room.
The complaint alleges seven men eventually participated and that Doe became ‘completely incapacitated.’ She says the ordeal continued until around 5.45am, when she lost consciousness.
It also claims that during the assault, one fraternity member posted to a ‘Chi Phi Actives’ Snapchat group that there was ‘free p***y’ upstairs, referring to Doe.
‘Like you can walk in and whip it out,’ another member allegedly responded, according to a screenshot described in the filing.
Doe reported the allegations to Cornell University Police on November 8 after friends encouraged her to come forward, according to the lawsuit.
But none of the alleged attackers were ever charged with any wrongdoing, and only two were expelled from the school in the aftermath.
Lawyers for two of the former students denied they participated in a sexual assault. Court records show that some of the accused students, when interviewed by Cornell investigators, described the sexual activity as consensual.
