BUZZ
President pledges to ‘strengthen prevention and education,’ expand student support
The “deeply disturbing” sexual assault allegations rocking Cornell University’s campus are a “defining moment” in the school’s history, President Michael Kotlikoff said, breaking his silence on the matter in a video statement on Saturday.
“What happened to Jane Doe in 2024 is deeply disturbing and will weigh heavily on our community for years to come,” Kotlikoff said.
“It raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization, and aspects of party culture, alcohol, and drug use. It also raises questions about the investigations conducted after the allegations were reported,” he said.
He assured viewers that the university is committed to uncovering the truth in this case, although it does not yet have all the answers.
Kotlikoff said he “welcomes the independent review by an outside law firm into all aspects of Cornell’s handling of the 2024 matter.”
Further, he expressed support for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to give the state attorney general jurisdiction over the criminal investigation.
“But we will not wait on the investigation or the review to be completed before we act,” he said, adding that the university will work to “strengthen prevention and education” and expand student support.
He also called on the school administration and campus community to “do better.”
“We must do everything we can to prevent what happened to Jane Doe and everyone before her … from ever happening again,” he said.
“This has been one of the most difficult weeks in our history, and I know many of you are angry, saddened, and struggling,” the president said.
Cornell is facing a negligence lawsuit over allegations that campus officials failed to act after a female student was allegedly drugged and assaulted by multiple men at a fraternity house in 2024.
Last week, “New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed an executive order to appoint state Attorney General Letitia James (D) as the special prosecutor in this case, citing “serious concerns” with how Cornell’s police department and Van Houten handled the original investigation,” The Hill reported.
The situation has even impacted campus events.
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi abruptly canceled her appearance at a Cornell Institute of Politics and Global Affairs event due to the allegations, The College Fix reported.
MORE: Columbia’s ‘satire’ student paper apologizes for land acknowledgment joke
