Cornell University held a public forum Thursday to address student concerns following recent sexual assault allegations that have drawn national attention. Approximately 100 attendees gathered in a student union auditorium at the Ithaca campus to share personal testimonies and call for changes in the university’s handling of sexual violence cases.
The forum was convened by the Cornell student government and featured a range of emotions, with several participants breaking down in tears as they recounted their experiences. Sophia Riley, a junior, reflected on the impact of the allegations, recalling how as a freshman in 2024 she was devastated to learn of an assault claim involving a fraternity house. “I cried about it then, and I’m still equally devastated now,” she said.
The event came days after a lawsuit and subsequent allegations of sexual assault focused on the Chi Phi fraternity led the Tompkins County district attorney to reopen an investigation. The accusation involves a woman known only as Jane Doe, who claims she was assaulted by seven men at the fraternity. None of the accused have been criminally charged, and all have denied wrongdoing. Four men acknowledged consensual sexual contact with the woman, while others denied involvement. University disciplinary actions included the expulsion of two individuals and lesser penalties for others.
Several students criticized the university administration for what they described as mishandling of assault cases, although few school leaders attended the forum. University President Michael Kotlikoff was notably absent. Officials have defended their disciplinary measures and cautioned against narratives they say could undermine survivors’ safety and willingness to report incidents.
The forum also included participation from faculty members and some parents. Student body president Eshaan Chaudhuri opened the meeting by expressing shame over the events and emphasizing campus solidarity with survivors of sexual violence. “We as a campus community stand with victims of sexual violence,” he stated.
Students used the opportunity to propose a series of reforms, emphasizing the need for improved education on consent and stronger support systems for those affected. They called on the administration to enhance required workshops and trainings on consensual sex. There were also appeals for academic accommodations, recognizing the mental health toll the case has taken on the student body. Riley described the campus as experiencing a “mental health crisis” and urged that students should not have to “choose between grieving and keeping up with their academic responsibilities.”
While most of the forum was off the record to encourage open dialogue, several participants spoke on the record. Jane Wang, a junior who also reported a sexual assault through Cornell’s Title IX process, described a frustrating experience with what she called bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of follow-up from the university’s office overseeing such complaints. “When I filed my Title IX case in the midst of all of my mental, physical and emotional recovery from the assault, I was also met with an abundance of paperwork, very little instruction on how to navigate it and no follow-up from our Title IX office of an outcome,” she said. Wang argued that institutional responsiveness is vital for survivors to feel safe coming forward, a standard she said the university has yet to meet.
The forum highlighted ongoing tensions on campus as students, faculty and families grapple with the aftermath of the allegations and seek concrete steps to address sexual violence at Cornell.