Cornell University Agrees to Independent Probe Into 2024 Gang Rape Lawsuit, Gov. Hochul Announces
Cornell University will hire outside counsel for an independent investigation into a 2024 alleged gang rape case following a directive from Gov. Hochul.
POLICY WIRE — New York, United States — Cornell University has committed to retaining outside legal counsel to execute an independent probe into an alleged 2024 gang rape case, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday.
In a published social media update, Governor Hochul stated that she personally initiated the call for the external inquiry, which the institution’s president ultimately accepted. She added that she anticipates the university will formally publicize the development shortly.
Alongside the university’s decision, Hochul noted that she has instructed her administration to examine additional measures to enhance safety nets for survivors. Acknowledging existing protocols, she remarked that while New York maintains some of the most rigorous legislation governing campus sexual assault nationwide, further improvements are attainable.
The announcement follows a civil lawsuit filed by a former Cornell student against both the university and seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity. The plaintiff alleges she was given drugs and subjected to a multi-perpetrator rape at a fraternity residence in October 2024.
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Court filings outline that an internal university inquiry led to the expulsion of two accused students, whereas other participants received milder disciplinary actions including suspensions and written assignments, with zero criminal arrests executed at the time.
The legal complaint targets Cornell alongside the other defendants for allegedly neglecting to safeguard the survivor and failing to avert the purported attack. Meanwhile, Cornell University maintained that its campus police department handed over findings from the institution’s probe directly to prosecutors.
The Tompkins County District Attorney’s office previously stated that a comprehensive evaluation of the police files yielded inadequate proof to pursue criminal counts. However, following the submission of the lawsuit, the district attorney confirmed that the inquiry would be actively reviewed once more.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
