Cornell brings in ex-Justice official to review school's handling of sex assault claims
Summary
Cornell University trustees announced Tuesday that Sally Yates, a former deputy attorney general, will lead an independent review in Ithaca, N.Y., of the university’s handling of sexual misconduct complaints. The review follows protests and anger over allegations involving a 2024 assault at a Chi Phi fraternity house and Cornell’s response. It will examine investigations, student support, discipline, campus police, and oversight of student organizations.
Key Facts
- The review will assess Cornell’s procedures for sexual assault and harassment reports, disciplinary processes, campus police responses, student support, and oversight of fraternities, sororities and other organizations.
- Jane Doe reported to campus police in November 2024 that she had been sexually assaulted by multiple Chi Phi fraternity members the previous month after being pressured into drinking and taking drugs.
- Cornell said it expelled some students and suspended others, while the Chi Phi chapter was shut down.
- New York’s attorney general is conducting a criminal investigation, and the state governor had called for an independent review of Cornell’s handling of the matter.
A student wears a Jane Doe name tag during a Justice for Survivors rally at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, Monday. Reuters-Yonhap
ITHACA, N.Y. — A former high-ranking Department of Justice official will look at how Cornell handles sexual misconduct complaints, university trustees announced Tuesday as they tried to address an outpouring of anger over allegations of a 2024 gang rape at a fraternity house.
Sally Yates, who was a deputy attorney general in the Obama administration, will spearhead the review, the trustees said in an announcement. The assessment is to include how the Ivy League university investigates reports of sexual assault and sexual harassment, what support students get, how the disciplinary process works, campus police responses and oversight of fraternities, sororities and other student organizations.
The announcement comes after days of outrage and demonstrations over Cornell’s response to a complaint from a woman known publicly only as Jane Doe, who told campus police in November 2024 that she had been sexually assaulted by multiple Chi Phi fraternity brothers the month before after being pressured into drinking and taking drugs.
No criminal charges have been filed. The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell was shut down, and the Ivy League university has said it expelled some students and suspended others.
She sued the university, seven former students, the fraternity and others last month. The suit put a new, nationwide spotlight on the allegations and how the campus police, university and local prosecutor had reacted.
New York’s attorney general is now conducting a criminal investigation, and the state’s governor called for an independent review of Cornell’s handling of the matter — the review that Yates now will lead.
Cornell students, professors and others thronged a campus plaza Monday to protest the university’s response to the matter.
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