Cornell Students Rally Against Campus Sexual Violence

The demonstration, which drew roughly 1,000 participants, targeted what activists describe as a systemic failure to address sexual violence. Protesters gathered in the central plaza before marching to the administration building, demanding the resignation of President Michael Kotlikoff and calling for mandatory expulsion for students found complicit in sexual assault. Tensions escalated following reports of vandalism at the administration building, where slogans were spray-painted onto the entryway.

Jane Doe’s lawsuit alleges she was incapacitated by drugs and alcohol before being assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024. While Cornell officials shuttered the fraternity chapter and imposed internal sanctions, the plaintiff argues the university’s response was insufficient, specifically criticizing a policy that allowed perpetrators to mitigate penalties through written assignments. The case has gained renewed momentum after New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to reopen the criminal investigation, citing concerns over how local authorities originally managed the case.