Cornell agrees to outside review into university’s handling of gang rape allegation, Hochul says

NEW YORK (WABC) — Cornell University agreed Wednesday to initiate an independent investigation into how the Ivy League school handled what a former student now alleges was fraternity house gang rape, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Wednesday.

Hochul discussed the case during an exclusive interview Wednesday afternoon at her Midtown offices. The governor sits on the Cornell University board.

The governor called for the outside review, saying what happened raised “serious questions about Cornell campus culture” and whether the university is doing all it can to protect students.

“I wanted to make sure they knew how important this was, and they absolutely agreed. And they’re acting on this this afternoon. So, they’ll be reporting on what the details are, but they will be conducting what I asked for, which is an independent outside investigation of what happened,” Hochul said.

“People need to know the truth and I think it’s important for the public, for the victim, her family and the university community to know that their university did everything that they’re supposed to do.”

Cornell’s internal data show 35% of undergraduate women reported experiencing sexual assault during their time on campus but Hochul said the problem acute on every campus.

“There’s been a culture of this kind of treatment of young women on campuses for as long as I’ve been in college, and it has to change. There has to be an awakening and an awareness that says enough is enough,” Hochul said.

Earlier this week, as outrage over the allegations grew, the Tompkins County district attorney decided to reopen a criminal investigation into what happened. The move followed an earlier decision not to pursue a prosecution.

District Attorney Matthew Van Houten previously explained the legal reasoning behind that decision.

“If you are voluntarily intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, such that your judgement is impaired, that does not legally, under the penal law, constitute your inability to consent,” Van Houten said.

An attorney for the woman who made the allegation welcomed the decision to reopen the case.

“I think the D.A. reopening this case is long overdue. Part of this issue I had with this case all along from a criminal standpoint is my client was traumatized,” attorney Thomas P. Giuffra said.

The accuser, who was a 20-year-old Cornell student at the time, described some of that trauma in a text message exchange with a Chi Phi fraternity brother who she said invited her to the house in October 2024.

In messages obtained by ABC News, the woman, identified as “Jane Doe,” wrote: “I will also say this is f-king RUINING my life temporarily. My reputation is destroyed and I’m utterly ashamed.”

(ABC News contributed to this report.)

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