Cornell University has moved to suspend all fraternity parties and social gatherings through the end of the 2026-27 academic year following intense public backlash over how the Ivy League school handled allegations that a female student was gang raped at a fraternity house in 2024.
University President Michael Kotlikoff announced the sweeping measures Tuesday in a letter to the campus community. The new policy also establishes a zero tolerance standard for violations that would trigger the immediate emergency suspension of any fraternity chapter found to be in breach.
Kotlikoff wrote that the restrictions would allow the university time to conduct a thorough review of fraternity life and determine whether it can continue safely going forward. The suspension applies to all houses under the Interfraternity Council.
As part of the reforms Cornell will also bring in New York State Police to independently investigate sexual misconduct allegations on campus. Previously those cases were handled by the university’s own campus police force which reported findings internally before presenting them to local prosecutors.
The Tompkins County district attorney declined to pursue charges shortly after the alleged victim first came forward. New York Governor Kathy Hochul subsequently removed that district attorney from the case amid a wave of public outrage over the decision not to prosecute.
New York Attorney General Letitia James is now leading the criminal investigation into the matter. Cornell separately hired former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates to conduct an independent review of how the university itself responded to the allegations.
Cornell also committed to adding a dedicated case manager within its Office of Civil Rights to help students who report sexual misconduct navigate the reporting and investigative process. The move comes after the alleged victim’s attorney publicly stated that her client was misled about the status of the criminal investigation.
The university’s campus police department holds full law enforcement authority but operates under the control of the administration rather than the city of Ithaca where Cornell is located. Critics have long argued that arrangement creates a conflict of interest when the school itself is under scrutiny.
Student protests erupted on campus in the days leading up to Tuesday’s announcement as demonstrators demanded accountability and stronger protections for survivors of sexual violence. The case has drawn national attention and sparked widespread calls for reform in how universities handle serious criminal allegations involving their own students and Greek life organizations.