Cornell rape accuser criticises university president ahead of faculty vote

A former Cornell University student known as Jane Doe has written a letter to faculty leaders stating that University President Michael Kotlikoff made her feel unsupported and disbelieved. The letter comes as faculty prepare for a potential vote of no confidence in the university leadership. The New York Post, UPI, BBC News, and The New York Times all reported on the letter, which was sent to the faculty senate ahead of the meeting. [1][2][4][5][7]

In the letter dated 14 October, Doe shared a secondhand account of Kotlikoff asking why she waited so long to report the alleged assault, according to BBC News and the Independent. Doe reported the alleged gang rape at the Chi Phi fraternity house to campus police on 8 November 2024, approximately three weeks after the party. BBC News reported that Cornell called the characterisation of Kotlikoff's reaction incorrect. [1][2][4][10]

Separately, Doe dropped Orazio Petito from her civil complaint via a notice of discontinuance, the Daily Mail and ABC News reported. Petito was mistakenly identified in the lawsuit as the president of the Chi Phi fraternity at the time of the alleged assault, but he was not accused of sexual assault. [3][9]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Doe filed her civil lawsuit on 16 September 2026 against Cornell, the fraternity chapter, and seven student members. She alleges that she was drugged and sexually assaulted at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. [12][13][14]

Faculty members began debating a resolution last Wednesday during a meeting where Kotlikoff faced questions regarding the university's handling of sexual assault allegations and oversight of fraternities, the New York Post reported. [1]