Cornell University has brought in former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates to investigate how the Ivy League school handles sexual assault claims.
Yates, who was fired by President Trump in 2020 after refusing to defend his travel ban, will lead an independent review of the Ithaca, New York, institution’s prevention and response procedures, student support systems, and disciplinary processes, the university announced Tuesday. Her probe will also examine campus police coordination with other law enforcement agencies and fraternity oversight.
The investigation will include a “detailed review” of Cornell’s response to a lawsuit brought by a student identified as Jane Doe against the school and seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity. Doe alleged that in October 2024, she was drugged with ketamine and gang-raped by fraternity members, with one commanding her to snort the drug off his erect genitalia while another texted the frat’s Snapchat group that there was “free p—y” as she lay unconscious.
“The questions raised by the Jane Doe matter warrant a rigorous examination of Cornell’s response to that case, but our responsibility is broader,” said Anne Meinig Smalling, Chair of the Special Committee, in a statement. Smalling’s committee, newly formed by the school’s Board of Trustees, said Yates will have “full independence” to conduct her review.
Yates’ mandate extends beyond the specific allegations to scrutinize the board’s “oversight of these issues” and policies governing fraternities, sororities, and other student organizations.
The lawsuit claims Cornell failed to adequately investigate and punish the Chi Phi members allegedly involved. Two of the seven men were expelled after a Cornell disciplinary board found them responsible for sexual misconduct, and several others faced lengthy suspensions, though no criminal charges were ever brought against any of them.
Cornell has pushed back against Doe’s claims, calling the accuser “irresponsible” for suggesting the school merely required the young men to write punishment essays. The university’s response has done little to quell campus outrage.
More than 1,000 protesters marched on campus Monday demanding the resignation of Cornell president Michael Kotlikoff and calling for firmer action against sexual violence. The demonstration followed a tumultuous period that has seen student government hearings and sustained pressure on administrators.
Kotlikoff addressed the controversy last week, calling the alleged gang-rape case a “defining moment” in the school’s history and insisting the university “must do better.” His remarks came as the administration scrambled to respond to mounting criticism over its handling of the October 2024 incident and subsequent disciplinary proceedings.
Yates brings relevant experience to the role. She was previously hired by the U.S. Soccer Federation to investigate the National Women’s Soccer League following allegations of harassment and sexual coercion brought forward by two former NWSL players. Her work examining institutional responses to sexual misconduct will now be applied to one of the nation’s most prestigious universities.
The Yates review represents Cornell’s most significant institutional response to date as it attempts to demonstrate accountability while fending off calls for leadership changes. Whether her findings will satisfy protesters demanding Kotlikoff’s ouster remains an open question as the campus braces for what could be a months-long examination of its culture and procedures.