Cornell Responds as Jane Doe Questions Leadership’s Handling of Her Report

Letter raises concerns about leadership

Jane Doe sent a one-page letter earlier this month to Cornell’s Faculty Senate, which is considering whether to hold a no-confidence vote in President Michael Kotlikoff’s administration. She described a conversation between Kotlikoff and the then-president of the university’s Tri Delta chapter as a second-hand account.

Doe wrote that learning about the comment reduced her trust in the administration’s ability to treat her experience with sensitivity and fairness. She said those were qualities she had expected from Cornell, which she had considered her dream school.

Cornell explains the question

Cornell said Kotlikoff’s question about why reporting took so long was directed at bystanders who had not used the university’s anonymous tip line, despite social media activity in October 2024. The university said he was not questioning Doe’s report.

Lawsuit continues against university

Cornell’s handling of Doe’s original report is among the issues in a civil lawsuit she filed last month. The defendants include the university, Chi Phi, seven people who were members at the time, and others, including Delta Delta Delta, her sorority then.

A court filing Tuesday removed a former Chi Phi president from the lawsuit. His attorney, Eric Bernstein, told CBS News that his client was not the fraternity’s president when the alleged assault took place.