Cornell agrees to outside probe

Cornell University will hire independent counsel to investigate how it handled an alleged gang rape in October 2024 involving students at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca, New York.

Governor calls for investigation

New York Governor Kathy Hochul called for Cornell to open an outside investigation on Tuesday. In a video posted Wednesday evening, she said she spoke with Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff about making it happen.

“They have agreed. They understand the importance of this.”

Hochul considers new legislation

Governor Hochul said she is considering new legislation to tighten sexual assault laws across New York State. She said the state has tough laws on college campuses but believes it can do better.

“While we have some of the toughest laws on sexual assault on college campuses right here in New York, I think we can do better.”

Prosecutors reopen the case

New York prosecutors announced they are reopening an investigation into the alleged gang rape. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten assigned a senior prosecutor with sex crimes experience to prepare the case for grand jury review.

Victim files lawsuit this month

The alleged victim, referred to as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York this month. She claims multiple men drugged and brutally raped her for more than four hours at Chi Phi in October 2024.

Hochul calls allegations horrifying

Governor Hochul said she supports the district attorney's decision to revisit the case, describing the allegations as nothing short of horrifying. She also raised serious questions about Cornell's campus culture and its systems for prevention, reporting and response.

“But there are also serious questions about Cornell's campus culture and its systems for prevention, reporting, and response.”

Cornell defends its 2024 response

Cornell said it conducted a thorough Title IX investigation lasting several months. Kyle Kimball, vice president for university relations, said the school held a hearing where trained faculty and staff heard evidence over multiple days from all sides.

Cornell issued expulsions and suspensions

At the end of the Title IX hearing, expulsions and suspensions were issued, though Cornell did not specify which individuals faced those consequences. Kimball said any suggestion the university did not impose consequential punishments is false.

“Any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false.”

Chi Phi chapter banned from campus

The Xi chapter of Chi Phi fraternity was banned from campus two years ago when details of the alleged assault first emerged. No criminal charges were ever filed in the original 2024 investigation.

Doe sues multiple defendants

Jane Doe is suing seven alleged rapists, the Chi Phi fraternity, Cornell University, her sorority Delta Delta Delta and Moonies nightclub, which allegedly served her alcohol as a minor. She was twenty years old at the time of the alleged attack.

District attorney explains 2024 decision

District Attorney Van Houten said Jane Doe's sworn statement in November 2024 did not allege she was drugged against her will or gang raped. He said her statement described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as voluntary, conscious and consensual.

“Jane Doe's sworn statement in November of 2024 did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang raped.”

Van Houten never contacted by attorneys

Van Houten said his office had never been contacted by Jane Doe's attorneys to inform him the original statement was inaccurate or to ask him to reconsider his decision. He said he reached out to her attorneys to understand the discrepancy.

“Not to inform me the original statement was inaccurate and not to ask me to reconsider our decision.”

Students express anger and disappointment

Cornell students walking to classes on Tuesday expressed anger over the case. Graduate student You Chung said she is disappointed the men involved have not faced more severe punishment and worries about the victim's welfare.

“It must be very brutal for the victim to go through all the processes.”

Student criticizes essay punishment

Student Omoye Imoisili said she feels really disappointed in Cornell, questioning how a gang rape could be swept under the rug with essays. Her comment refers to a claim in the civil lawsuit that some men were allowed to write essays to mitigate disciplinary action.

“I don't know how a whole gang rape can be swept under the rug with essays.”

Snapchat message invites assault

The lawsuit includes a Snapchat conversation between Chi Phi members that appeared to invite other students to assault the alleged victim. One of the men sent the message shortly after the initial assault began, according to court documents.

Defendant's attorney addresses Snapchat

Attorney Jeremy Saland represents Scott Kretzschmar, one of the accused men. Saland said Kretzschmar acknowledges taking part in the Snapchat exchange and called the communication regrettable and ugly, but denies participating in sexual assault.

“Scott, I think, would say that responding to that Snap thread that people have seen, moving with and continuing the ugly communication and conversation, was regrettable and ugly.”

Former student describes normalized violence

Kat Martin, who graduated from Cornell in 2025, told NPR that heavy alcohol and drug use remained central to Cornell's social culture after 2024. She volunteered for a campus sexual safety organization after being sexually assaulted her freshman year.

“It was normalized to experience violence. It was normalized to worry about being drugged.”

Mayor calls for moratorium on Greek life

Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo, an alumnus of Cornell, called Monday for an immediate moratorium on student group activities including Greek life gatherings. He wants Cornell to review its protocols for preventing and prosecuting sexual violence and publicly release new guidelines.

Ocasio-Cortez speaks out on culture

New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke at an event in Ithaca on Sunday, saying the culture of sexual violence endemic in elite institutions like Cornell has to stop. She noted the men posted in a group chat, meaning it was normal and acceptable to them.

“Those men posted in a group chat. That means it was normal to them. That means it was acceptable to them.”