Cornell president apologizes after rape case sparks campus backlash

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff apologized after disclosing that he learned in November 2024 that a student had reported a gang rape at a Chi Phi fraternity party, but did not follow up with her or check whether the accused students were punished. The case, laid out in a lawsuit against seven Chi Phi members, has fueled campus outrage and a likely no-confidence vote over Cornell’s handling of the Title IX matter. In response, the university banned fraternity-house parties for the rest of the year, added sexual assault investigators and asked Sally Yates to lead an independent review and recommend reforms.