Cornell Student Says President Questioned Her Gang‑Rape Allegations

A former Cornell University student, who remains anonymous as "Jane Doe," said the university president’s response to her gang‑rape claim was dismissive, saying the pope’s question about her delay in reporting made her feel "disbelieved" and unsupported.

Doe’s letter, delivered on 14 October, tells faculty that after she reported the alleged rape to campus police on 8 November—a week after a Chi Phi fraternity party—she heard that President Michael Kotlikoff asked, “Why did you wait so long to report it?” The letter calls the question “along the lines of, ‘Why did she wait so long to report it?’” and claims it lowered the student’s confidence in the campus response.

Kotlikoff has led Cornell for 26 years, but faculty slam the handling of the case in a recent meeting, describing it as a “systemic problem” that demands “systemic attention.” The faculty senate is scheduled to vote no confidence in the president on 28 October.

The university, however, says the president’s question was directed to bystanders who did not use the anonymous tip line, not to Doe herself, and that the original statement was “incorrect.” A spokesperson added that the president highlighted policy changes prompted by the allegations, including the ban on fraternity parties.

All seven men named in Doe’s lawsuit have denied wrongdoing, and none has been charged. The local prosecutor had initially declined to bring charges, but the case has since reopened, and Cornell is conducting an internal investigation and a civil‑rights inquiry.

Doe’s letter, received by Cornell’s legal team, is aimed at informing faculty before the upcoming vote, as she stresses the need for understanding, sensitivity, and fairness in handling claims of sexual violence on campus.