Cornell protest over alleged 2024 gang rape draws thousands

Thousands of students protested at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, on Oct. 5 over the school’s handling of an alleged 2024 gang rape, escalating pressure on President Michael Kotlikoff and the administration. The demonstrations backed the accuser, identified in court filings as Jane Doe, who sued Cornell on Sept. 16, alleging the university failed to protect her and did not adequately punish the accused. Protesters have demanded an outside investigation, independent hearings, stronger campus sanctions for sexual assault and the resignation of senior administrators. The backlash has widened beyond students: Cornell’s Faculty Senate introduced a resolution calling for a no-confidence vote in the administration’s handling of what it called an ongoing sexual-assault crisis.