Former Cornell Student Accuses University President of Doubting Rape Claim
(MENAFN) A former student at Cornell University has accused its president of responding with skepticism after she reported an alleged gang rape at a fraternity house, saying she felt "unsupported and disbelieved" by the university leader.
The woman, who uses the pseudonym Jane Doe, outlined her concerns in a letter alleging that President Michael Kotlikoff questioned why she had taken several weeks to report the incident. Cornell has rejected her account, describing her characterization of the president's response as "incorrect".
Doe sent the letter to members of the university's faculty, who are scheduled to take part in an uncommon vote on Kotlikoff's leadership later this month. Last month, she filed a lawsuit alleging that several men raped her at a Chi Phi fraternity party in October 2024.
The seven former fraternity members named in the allegations have denied any wrongdoing, according to reports. No criminal charges have been filed against them.
The alleged assault was reported to campus police, while the local prosecutor initially decided not to pursue charges. However, the investigation has since been reopened.
Following Doe's original allegations, Cornell announced that it had launched an internal investigation alongside a separate inquiry into potential civil rights violations.
In a two-page letter dated 14 October, Doe told the faculty senate that she learned about Kotlikoff's response through "a second-hand account". She described his "initial response" as being "along the lines of, 'Why did she wait so long to report it?'"
Doe contacted campus police on 8 November, approximately three weeks after the alleged incident at the fraternity party.
She also explained that Kotlikoff had spoken with the woman who was then president of her sorority during a conversation attended by other university staff. According to Doe, at least one person present "appeared distressed" by the university president's question.
The woman, who uses the pseudonym Jane Doe, outlined her concerns in a letter alleging that President Michael Kotlikoff questioned why she had taken several weeks to report the incident. Cornell has rejected her account, describing her characterization of the president's response as "incorrect".
Doe sent the letter to members of the university's faculty, who are scheduled to take part in an uncommon vote on Kotlikoff's leadership later this month. Last month, she filed a lawsuit alleging that several men raped her at a Chi Phi fraternity party in October 2024.
The seven former fraternity members named in the allegations have denied any wrongdoing, according to reports. No criminal charges have been filed against them.
The alleged assault was reported to campus police, while the local prosecutor initially decided not to pursue charges. However, the investigation has since been reopened.
Following Doe's original allegations, Cornell announced that it had launched an internal investigation alongside a separate inquiry into potential civil rights violations.
In a two-page letter dated 14 October, Doe told the faculty senate that she learned about Kotlikoff's response through "a second-hand account". She described his "initial response" as being "along the lines of, 'Why did she wait so long to report it?'"
Doe contacted campus police on 8 November, approximately three weeks after the alleged incident at the fraternity party.
She also explained that Kotlikoff had spoken with the woman who was then president of her sorority during a conversation attended by other university staff. According to Doe, at least one person present "appeared distressed" by the university president's question.
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