Cornell president says school "must do better" amid criticism of its investigation into rape allegations
Updated on: October 4, 2026 / 12:04 AM EDT / CBS New York
TL;DR
- Cornell University President Martha Pollack acknowledged the need for improvement in handling sexual assault allegations.
- A former student, identified as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit alleging she was drugged and raped in October 2024 at the Chi Phi fraternity.
- The Tompkins County District Attorney's office initially found insufficient evidence for criminal charges but has since reopened the investigation.
- The District Attorney stated he did not receive the full transcript of the victim's interview with campus police.
- Cornell University announced an independent review of its handling of the 2024 incident.
- New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor for the case.
- Cornell's Title IX investigation resulted in expulsions and suspensions for some accused students.
- The university plans to increase transparency and community engagement regarding its response to the allegations.