New York State Police will take responsibility for investigating future sexual assault complaints at Cornell University under an agreement announced Thursday by Governor Kathy Hochul. The change comes amid criticism of the university’s response to an alleged gang rape and questions about why the case did not result in criminal charges.
Under the agreement signed by Cornell and state police, sexual offense complaints ordinarily handled by campus police will be referred to state authorities for criminal investigation. An exception will apply when the person making the complaint requests otherwise, Hochul said in a statement announcing the arrangement.
Hochul said people reporting sexual assault should receive compassionate treatment and have confidence that their allegations will be investigated thoroughly. Describing the allegations brought by a woman identified as Jane Doe as “horrifying,” the governor said institutions responsible for protecting survivors must earn their trust.
The complaint concerns an October 2024 visit to Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house. In a civil lawsuit filed this year, Jane Doe alleges that fraternity members pressured her to take ketamine and sexually assaulted her over several hours while she was too intoxicated to consent. The lawsuit names seven former students.
Lawyers representing the fraternity members have denied the allegations. Some have said the sexual activity was consensual, while others have challenged claims that their clients participated in the events described in the suit. Cornell expelled or otherwise disciplined several students involved in the incident, but no criminal charges were filed.
The case has prompted scrutiny beyond the new policing agreement. Hochul previously appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to reopen the criminal investigation into Jane Doe’s complaint. Separately, a committee of Cornell’s board of trustees selected former US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to review the university’s response to sexual assault claims.
Students, alumni and advocates have called for more transparency from the university in Ithaca, New York, following the lawsuit. Their criticism has focused on how Cornell handles sexual assault complaints, adding to the pressure on its administration over the case.
Cornell’s Faculty Senate is also proceeding with a non-binding vote of no confidence in the administration, the Cornell Daily Sun reported. About 135 members are eligible to vote from Friday, October 30, through November 6. The resolution expresses a lack of confidence in the central administration’s ability to address the university’s ongoing sexual assault crisis.
