Thousands of students and faculty gathered at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, on Monday to protest the Ivy League school's handling of an alleged gang rape at a fraternity house in 2024. Many demanded that President Michael Kotlikoff resign. The demonstration followed overnight vandalism at Day Hall, the administration building that houses the president's office. A glass door was smashed and red-painted messages were left on the walls, including "SMASH THE PATRIARCHY" and "At Cornell rapists are protected, protestors are expelled." The university removed the graffiti and boarded up the door.
The protests were sparked by a lawsuit filed on 16 September by a former student identified in court papers as Jane Doe. She alleges that she was pressured into drinking and given drugs, and was then assaulted over several hours by members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024. She says she was incapacitated and that one man messaged others inviting them to join. She sued the university, seven former students, the fraternity and others. Lawyers for two of the men deny that they took part in a sexual assault, and the accused have denied wrongdoing. Court records show that some described the sexual activity as consensual to university investigators. Jane Doe left Cornell after the incident.
Disciplinary summaries obtained by The New York Times show how a three-member university panel assigned responsibility in 2025. Two men were expelled and a graduate was barred from campus for three years. Two others were suspended and placed on disciplinary probation. The remaining two were told not to contact her and were required to study sexual harassment and bystander intervention and write reflection papers. Her lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, said the sanctions did not reflect the gravity of the allegations. The university has rejected what it calls a "false narrative" of minimal consequences, and said the lawsuit's claim that the men were allowed to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays was inaccurate. A lawyer for one man said he was never found responsible for rape.
At the rally, speakers criticised fraternities, trustees and Kotlikoff, saying the administration put the university's reputation ahead of student safety. Protesters chanted "Ban the frats." "How much does it take for our university to stand with survivors?" student Athena Holloway asked the crowd. Professor Julia Chang said: "Rape should not be inevitable." Some pointed to the suspension of four pro-Palestinian protesters in 2024 as evidence of unequal treatment. A university spokesperson condemned the vandalism, saying damaging property "is not the answer."
No criminal charges have been filed, and the Chi Phi chapter has been shut down. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the case last week, saying the lawsuit's allegations differed markedly from her 2024 police statement, which her lawyer disputes. Governor Kathy Hochul said Jane Doe was failed by institutions including Cornell police and the district attorney. She appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor and called for an independent review of Cornell's conduct. In a video on Saturday, Kotlikoff apologised, backed the review and promised a "serious look" at the role of fraternities and sororities. Further protests are expected this week.