Jane Doe says Cornell president appeared to question her allegations in letter to faculty senate

Key Points:

• Jane Doe, who accused Cornell University fraternity members of sexual assault in 2024, sent a letter to the faculty senate alleging that President Michael Kotlikoff questioned the timing of her report, implying doubt about her story.
• Cornell disputed this, stating Kotlikoff’s question during a January 2025 meeting was directed at bystanders who failed to report the incident, not at Doe herself, and emphasized ongoing efforts to improve sexual misconduct policies.
• Doe’s letter has intensified scrutiny of Cornell’s handling of the case and sparked debate over a potential no-confidence vote in Kotlikoff’s administration, while an independent review led by former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates is underway.
• The letter also raised concerns about transparency, as the dean of faculty, Chris Schaffer, received the letter shortly before a senate meeting but did not disclose it at that time, later forwarding it to the university’s legal counsel and independent review team.
• Doe expressed feeling unsupported and disbelieved by the administration, urging the faculty senate to consider her account in their deliberations on the university’s response to sexual assault allegations.