In an interview with The New York Times that ran Wednesday, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff, who runs the Ivy League school in Ithaca, said he was “personally sorry” for what the former student known as Jane Doe went through.
“The fact that Jane Doe experienced what she experienced at Cornell is something that I am personally sorry for,” Kotlikoff told the outlet. “And I think this entire campus is sorry that occurred.”
As we previously reported, Doe is the woman who alleges she was drugged and raped by multiple members of a fraternity on campus in October 2024. Her lawsuit names seven current and former Chi Phi members, the sorority where she lived, a local bar, and the university itself.
Now Kotlikoff admitted he heard about her report not long after she came forward in November 2024, but he never followed up with her and didn’t know she had left Cornell until she sued last month. He acknowledged that “People are angry. I understand that anger.” He also told the Times “A horrible event happened at Cornell University.” Despite this, he did not do is hint at stepping down, and reports say he doesn’t plan to resign.
The paper trail is messy. Cornell ran its own Title IX investigation, and it expelled two students, handed out suspensions, and permanently barred Chi Phi’s chapter from campus. But the Tompkins County District Attorney, Matthew Van Houten, reviewed Doe’s initial statement in November 2024, declined to pursue charges, and has since said he would reopen the investigation. He’s also told CBS News he was never given the full transcripts of Doe’s initial interviews with Cornell police.
The accused have denied wrongdoing, and no one has been criminally charged.
Now the heavy hitters are stepping in. Cornell appointed former Justice Department official Sally Yates to review how it handles sexual misconduct allegations, and Governor Kathy Hochul named Attorney General Letitia James special prosecutor to take over the case from the local DA, a move some of the former fraternity members are fighting in court. When Letitia James is coming through your campus, you already know the vibe has changed.
On the home front, Kotlikoff announced Tuesday that fraternities are prohibited from holding parties for the rest of the academic year. That covers houses tied to the Interfraternity Council, which represents more than 20 active fraternities. Some students aren’t thrilled and are pushing back, but a party ban doesn’t answer the bigger question.
Kotlikoff himself admitted Cornell needs to regain the trust of its community. Trust comes from action, not interviews. Doe’s attorneys, the new prosecutors, and a lot of watching eyes will decide whether this apology is a turning point or just a well-timed headline.