Cornell Halts Fraternity Parties After Jane Doe's Lawsuit

In addition to suspending social events at Greek houses, the university is allowing state police to investigate reported sexual assaults on campus.

Cornell University announced Tuesday that it will ban fraternity houses from hosting parties for the remainder of the academic year to bolster "campus safety" after the school faced widespread backlash over its handling of a gang rape by fraternity members in 2024.

Cornell President Michael I. Kotlikoff announced the news in a letter to the university community, saying the ban will take effect immediately. He also outlined ways the university will work to improve how sexual assault allegations are handled in the future. In addition to strengthening campus safety, he cited the need to provide better support for survivors — including allowing the New York State Police to independently investigate allegations of sexual assault — and changing the social culture on campus.

Cornell did not immediately respond to questions about the new measures.

The announcement comes about a month after a woman named Jane filed two civil suits against several entities, including Cornell, the Chi Phi fraternity and seven Chi Phi members, alleging he sexually assaulted her in 2024. Hundreds of students and staff demonstrated on campus earlier this month, some calling for Kotlikoff's resignation and others chanting slogans like "Ban the frats!"

Kotlikoff addressed the reactions in his letter Tuesday, saying his conversations with various members of the university community and the campus protests "have underscored my deep conviction that we must do better: The time for meaningful and lasting change at Cornell and at universities across the country is now."

"I am deeply sorry for the harm Jane Doe suffered in 2024 and horrified that this sexual violence has occurred in our Cornell community," Kotlikoff said. Clearly, women on our campuses continue to question whether they are safe.

Amid mounting pressure, Cornell's board of trustees announced earlier this month that former U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates would conduct an independent review of the school's handling of the case. Kotlikoff also addressed the issue in his letter, but said, "Clearly, we cannot wait for these findings to be acted upon." Cooperation with the New York State Police will coincide with the independent investigation. Kotlikoff said in his letter that investigators will interview survivors who decide to pursue criminal charges and "will prepare comprehensive investigative summaries for the appropriate law enforcement agency."

Interfraternity council houses will be banned from holding parties and social events, Kotlikoff said, which will "provide time for a thorough review of fraternity life at Cornell to determine if and how it can be safely continued." He added that the university will have a "zero tolerance" policy if fraternities violate the new law, and that any fraternity hosting "an intramural party or social event" will receive an immediate emergency suspension. Cornell previously said the Chi Phi fraternity on campus "was closed in 2024 and remains banned from campus."

Other actions Kotlikoff announced include strengthening support for survivors, such as adding staff to Cornell's Office of Civil Rights, and "changing the social culture at Cornell" through several initiatives, such as increasing "the training and programming available to deal with bystander influence."

"These are the first steps toward systemic change on our campus," Kotlikoff said. We will take all necessary steps to address the circumstances that led to the experiences of Jane Doe and other survivors. Cornell should be a place where safety is not an open question."