HOUSTON: Cornell University has banned parties and social events organised by male fraternities for the remainder of the 2026–2027 academic year following a high-profile alleged gang rape case that has sparked widespread concern on campus.
University president Michael Kotlikoff announced on Tuesday that all parties and social events at fraternity houses affiliated with the Interfraternity Council (IFC) would be suspended.
He said the restriction would allow the university to conduct a comprehensive review of fraternity activities and determine whether they could continue safely and under what conditions.
Kotlikoff stressed that the university would not tolerate violations of the new policy as part of broader efforts to address sexual assault and rape culture, including incidents allegedly involving drugs and alcohol.
The university also plans to hire experienced criminal investigators with expertise in trauma-informed investigations and no affiliation with Cornell to examine sexual assault allegations. Their findings will be compiled into comprehensive reports for relevant law enforcement agencies.
Thomas Giuffra, a lawyer representing a woman identified as Jane Doe in a civil lawsuit against seven members of Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity, welcomed the move but said it came too late to protect his client.
In the lawsuit, Doe alleged that she was forced to take ketamine and consume alcohol before consensual sexual activity with two fraternity members allegedly escalated into a gang rape while she was under the influence.
She also accused the university of failing to impose adequate disciplinary measures. Two of the seven students were expelled, while none faced criminal charges, according to the report.
Giuffra expressed hope that the university’s latest measures would help prevent similar cases in the future.
-AWANI
