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Ithaca council passes moratorium on new Cornell events permits, calls for city police to handle sexual violence cases
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- The Ithaca Common Council passed a temporary moratorium on special events permits at Cornell University, effective immediately and lasting until Nov. 5, to address safety concerns related to sexual violence on campus.
- The moratorium applies to Cornell and its affiliated organizations, preventing the issuance of new permits for assemblies, parades, special events, and noise, with monthly renewal options.
- The council also demanded that Cornell hand over investigations of violent sex crimes to the Ithaca Police Department, criticizing the university's handling of such cases, particularly following a recent civil lawsuit alleging a gang rape by fraternity members.
- The moratorium and calls for transparency come amid widespread student protests and a 2025 survey revealing high rates of sexual assault and harassment on campus, with many incidents occurring in fraternity houses and residence halls.
- Some students oppose the moratorium, arguing it unfairly punishes uninvolved students, while others support it as a necessary measure to pressure Cornell into making structural changes to better protect survivors.
