Cornell suspends fraternity house parties through the 2026-27 academic year
In short
Cornell University said Tuesday it is suspending parties and social events at fraternity houses for the rest of the 2026-27 academic year amid scrutiny of its handling of 2024 sexual assault allegations. President Michael Kotlikoff also announced measures involving independent criminal investigators and support for people reporting sexual misconduct.
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Cornell University announced Tuesday that parties and social events at its Interfraternity Council houses will be suspended through the end of the 2026-27 academic year. President Michael Kotlikoff said the suspension would allow a thorough review of whether and how fraternity life can safely continue at Cornell. A fraternity that holds an in-house party or social event will receive an immediate emergency suspension, he said. [ 2 , 5 , 12 ]
The announcement comes amid scrutiny of how Cornell handled a student's allegations of sexual assault at a fraternity house in 2024. The former student, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit last month against Cornell, the fraternity, her sorority Tri Delta and seven former Chi Phi members, NBC News reported. She alleges she was sexually assaulted and given drugs on October 19-20, 2024. [ 8 ]
Attorneys for four of the men said their clients deny sexually assaulting Jane Doe or coercing her with drugs, according to NBC News. The three other men had not responded to requests for comment, and none of the seven had been criminally charged. Cornell and Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten have defended their investigations. Van Houten said his office had not been provided with all the materials from the campus police investigation. [ 8 ]
Kotlikoff also committed to adding a case manager to the university's Office of Civil Rights to help people reporting sexual misconduct navigate the process. Cornell plans to work with New York State Police criminal investigators, who are independent of the university, to investigate allegations. Campus crimes are generally investigated by Cornell's police department, which has full law enforcement powers and is controlled by the university. [ 5 , 12 ]
The university will discuss safe social alternatives with students and faculty experts and invest money in those initiatives, Kotlikoff said. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Attorney General Letitia James to oversee the case going forward, NBC News reported. Cornell has separately retained Sally Yates to review how the university prevents and responds to sexual harassment, sexual assault and related misconduct on campus, CNN reported. [ 2 , 5 , 8 , 12 ]
Why it matters
The suspension gives Cornell time to review whether and how fraternity life can safely continue, Kotlikoff said. The university also plans to give New York State Police investigators a role in investigating campus allegations and add a case manager to help people navigate sexual misconduct reporting.
Key facts
- Parties and social events at Cornell's Interfraternity Council houses are suspended through the end of the 2026-27 academic year. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 12 ]
- A fraternity holding an in-house party or social event faces immediate emergency suspension. [ 2 , 5 , 12 ]
- Cornell plans to work with the New York State Police to investigate campus sexual misconduct allegations. [ 5 , 12 ]
- Kotlikoff committed to adding a case manager to Cornell's Office of Civil Rights. [ 5 , 12 ]
- A former student identified as Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit last month over alleged sexual assault in 2024. [ 2 , 8 ]
- None of the seven former Chi Phi members named in the lawsuit have been criminally charged, NBC News reported. [ 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Cornell suspended parties and social events at fraternity houses for the remainder of the academic year. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 13 ]
- Violations of the suspension will result in an immediate emergency suspension of the fraternity chapter. [ 2 , 5 , 12 ]
- Cornell announced measures involving criminal investigators for campus sexual assault allegations. [ 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 , 12 ]
Still unclear
- Whether and how fraternity life can safely continue at Cornell remains under review. Kotlikoff said the suspension would give the university time to review this question.
- The sexual assault allegations against the seven former fraternity members remain disputed. NBC News reported that attorneys for four of the men denied the allegations on their clients' behalf; none of the seven had been criminally charged.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CNN reported Cornell's suspension of fraternity house parties and social events for the remainder of the academic year. [ 2 ]
- The Seattle Times reported the suspension and plans to give New York State Police a role in investigating campus sex crimes. [ 5 ]
- NBC News reported the suspension, the civil lawsuit and denials by attorneys for four of the accused men. [ 8 ]