BUZZ
Sorority and fraternity life clarifies policy
Sorority sisters and fraternity brothers are allowed to host parties at off-campus annexes, Cornell University’s Greek Life office confirmed.
Soon after Jane Doe filed a lawsuit earlier this year alleging a gangrape in 2024, Cornell officials sought to restrict social events. Ithaca city officials also voted to make it harder for Cornell students to host events. The quick fallout led to innocuous events, like a homecoming drone show, being canceled.
However, while parties at fraternity houses are banned for the rest of the year, students can meet off-campus at homes leased by members, according to the Cornell Daily Sun.
“The University recognizes that students will continue to gather and socialize in personal residences,” the Greek life website reads. “While the University does not control events in personal residences, we encourage students to register any activity at their personal residence per the social event policies.”
A university spokesperson gave a similar comment to the student newspaper.
“Annexes are considered private residences, and the university does not control what happens within them,” a media rep told the student newspaper. “We encourage students to register any organization activity held at a private residence per the social event policies and treat such gatherings with the same attention to safety and care for one another that is expected across our community.”
A national free-speech group has criticized the “blanket ban” on social events.
“Cornell has no legitimate interest in punishing students or groups who have not even been accused of wrongdoing,” the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression wrote in an Oct. 16 letter to President Michael Kotlikoff. “A blanket ban on all social events only at [Greek] houses, regardless of event duration, type of activity, or group disciplinary history, simply is not narrowly tailored to any safety interest.”
FIRE urged the Ivy League university to focus on only punishing those found guilty of misconduct:
Sexual violence is a serious harm, and students who commit it should be held accountable. But accountability means punishing wrongdoers after due process, not punishing students who have been accused of nothing. A policy that penalizes every fraternity member cannot be squared with Cornell’s own commitments and will not improve campus safety. Instead, Cornell must reverse course and punish only those who have committed misconduct.
The group does not appear to have received a response yet.
MORE: Cornell activists trash admin. building in solidarity with alleged rape victim
