Jane Doe, a former Cornell University student who alleges she was gang‑raped at a Chi Phi fraternity party in October 2024, has written a letter to the campus faculty senate accusing President Michael Kotlikoff of questioning why she waited several weeks to report the incident. Doe says she felt “unsupported and disbelieved” by the university’s top executive and that his reaction diminished her confidence in the administration’s ability to handle her case with sensitivity.
The letter, dated 14 October and obtained by the BBC, details how Doe received a second‑hand account of Kotlikoff’s question, “Why did she wait so long to report it?” She filed her lawsuit last month and has since seen the case reopened after an initial decision by the local prosecutor to decline charges. Cornell’s spokesperson has disputed the accuracy of Doe’s account, stating the president’s question was directed at bystanders who did not use the anonymous tip line and that he was not questioning Doe herself.
In a faculty senate meeting last Wednesday, staff members expressed deep concern over Kotlikoff’s handling of the matter, citing a lack of emotional response and a perception that the university treated the alleged rape as a “PR problem.” The senate, composed of professors and academic staff, has scheduled a no‑confidence vote for 28 October. Kotlikoff, who has led the Ithaca‑based institution for 26 years, has highlighted policy changes such as banning fraternity parties in response to Doe’s allegations.
Doe’s letter urges faculty to make an informed choice ahead of the vote, noting that students have reported feeling unsafe walking to the library after dark. The case has drawn attention to systemic issues of sexual misconduct on campus and the need for comprehensive institutional reform.
