Cornell Student Says University President Made Her Feel Unsupported After Reporting Alleged Sexual Assault
Publication date: October 20, 2026
Category: U.S. News / Education
Source: CNN
Location: Ithaca, New York
A former Cornell University student identified as Jane Doe has said she felt unsupported by university President Michael Kotlikoff following her report of an alleged sexual assault involving members of the Chi Phi fraternity in 2024.
In a letter sent through her attorneys to two senior faculty leaders, Doe described how a reported conversation between Kotlikoff and her sorority’s president affected her trust in the university’s leadership.
What the letter says
According to Doe’s letter, the sorority president told her that Kotlikoff had asked a question along the lines of why she had waited so long to report the alleged assault. Doe acknowledged that this was a second-hand account rather than a conversation she had personally witnessed.
She said the reported question made her less confident that the administration would approach her experience with sensitivity and fairness.
Cornell disputes the account
Cornell University disputed Doe’s description of the conversation. A university spokesperson told CNN that, according to a documented first-hand account, Kotlikoff’s question concerned bystanders who had not used the university’s anonymous reporting system.
The university said the question was not directed at Doe or intended to question her decision to report the alleged assault.
Faculty members raise concerns
The letter emerged as Cornell faculty members considered a possible vote of no confidence in the university president’s leadership. Doe said she wanted faculty members to have the information so they could make their own informed decisions.
Cornell’s Dean of Faculty, Chris Schaffer, confirmed receiving the letter on October 14 and said it had been forwarded to the university’s general counsel and the investigative team led by former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates.
The case has intensified discussions about campus safety, sexual-assault reporting and how universities should support people who report allegations of sexual misconduct.
The allegations remain subject to investigation, and the accounts of the reported conversation differ.
Original CNN report: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/20/us/cornell-jane-doe-letter-president
This is a rewritten summary of reporting, not the full original CNN article.
Publication date: October 20, 2026
Category: U.S. News / Education
Source: CNN
Location: Ithaca, New York
