Governor Kathy Hochul is weighing in on the allegations of an October 2024 rape at a Cornell University fraternity.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is weighing in on the allegations of an October 2024 rape at a Cornell University fraternity.
On Tuesday, in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Hochul said she is seeking outside counsel to conduct an independent review of the university's response to the rape allegation to ascertain whether it met its obligations to protect students and hold the accused accountable.
The allegations in the Cornell University sexual assault case are nothing short of horrifying. For any student to come forward after an experience like this takes extraordinary courage. No student should ever be left wondering whether the institutions meant to protect them will listen and act.
I support the district attorney’s decision to reopen the criminal investigation. But there are also serious questions about Cornell’s campus culture and its systems for prevention, reporting, and response.
That is why I am calling for outside counsel to conduct a transparent, independent review of the university’s response to determine whether Cornell met every obligation to protect its students and pursue justice
The university is facing scrutiny after a former student filed a civil lawsuit alleging she was gang-raped at the Chi Phi fraternity in 2024 and that her case was mishandled. Seven men are accused of drugging and sexually assaulting her. The civil lawsuit by "Jane Doe" was filed in mid-September this year.
In response, Cornell University said it conducted its own investigation into the accusation at the time. The university said its hearing panel concluded that expulsions and suspensions were handed out as a result. However, the university did not identify which of the seven men were expelled.
The university noted that none of the men were criminally charged.
Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo said the university's response was appalling. He called for the city's common council to push for a resolution that would implement a moratorium on Greek Life activities until the university releases new standards on addressing and rectifying sexual assaults on campus.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said Jane Doe's initial statement to his office in 2024 did not allege she was drugged against her will or gang-raped. He said her initial statement described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as voluntary, conscious and consensual.
However, Van Houten said his office will reopen the investigation following the new civil lawsuit.
He said that to bring charges, he would need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a sexual act was committed without the victim’s consent, either through physical force, mental incapacitation, physical helplessness, or no consent.
The district attorney said he stands by his decision not to prosecute the men two years ago, but is reopening the investigation, saying he recognizes it can take years of therapy and healing for victims of sexual assault to fully process and understand what happened to them.
His office will now present the case to a grand jury to consider whether criminal charges should be filed.
Cornell University said the Chi Phi fraternity was shut down in 2024 and remains barred from campus.
