Cornell University announced sweeping disciplinary measures on Tuesday in response to a civil lawsuit filed by a former student alleging she was drugged and gang-raped by Chi Phi fraternity members in October 2024. The university will prohibit fraternities from hosting parties and social events for the remainder of the academic year and plans to embed sexual assault investigators from law enforcement into its police operations. University President Michael I. Kotlikoff acknowledged the institution’s failures in a campus-wide letter, stating that women on campus have legitimate concerns about their safety and that the university must take meaningful action to address systemic issues.
The lawsuit, filed nearly one month before these announcements, detailed allegations that the former student was given ketamine at a fraternity party and subsequently assaulted. Snapchat communications between fraternity members discussing the incident drew national attention and public outrage. The complainant has reportedly faced death threats and police activity at her family’s residence since filing the lawsuit, according to her legal representative.
The university’s response follows campus-wide student protests organized in the preceding week and comes amid faculty consideration of a no-confidence vote in the administration—a rare institutional action reflecting deep organizational discord. Critics, including student organizers and campus observers, characterized the measures as insufficient and questioned why the university waited two years after learning of the allegations to implement formal policy changes. The Title IX office had conducted an investigation in 2025, which resulted in disciplinary panels recommending expulsion or suspension for some individuals involved, though other men received only written assignments as consequences.
Additional measures include expanded staffing in the civil rights office to assist sexual assault survivors, enhanced bystander intervention training, and collaboration with the New York State Police on campus sexual assault investigations. The university plans to convene faculty experts on sexual assault and rape culture to reform its Presidential Task Force on Sexual Assault. Kotlikoff acknowledged that Greek life culture at Cornell has contributed to a toxic campus environment requiring significant institutional correction, though he noted the problem extends beyond Cornell alone.
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