Cornell trustees tap Sally Yates to review handling of sex assault claims
Version 2: Later coverage added the New York attorney general’s contact with the Tompkins County district attorney and Jane Doe’s attorney, an attorney for one accused student welcoming the review, a possible faculty no-confidence vote, and the differing accounts of the encounter recorded in Cornell’s Title IX investigation.
In short
Cornell University trustees announced Tuesday that Sally Yates, a former deputy U.S. attorney general, will lead an independent review of how the university handles sexual misconduct complaints, including the alleged 2024 assault of a former student known publicly as Jane Doe. The announcement followed days of outrage and a Monday campus protest, a lawsuit by the woman against the university and others, and a criminal investigation opened by New York’s attorney general. No criminal charges have been filed; the Chi Phi chapter was shut down and the university has said it expelled some students and suspended others.
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Cornell University’s trustees announced Tuesday that Sally Yates, a former deputy attorney general in the Obama administration, will lead an independent review of how the university handles sexual misconduct complaints. The New York Times described Yates as a career federal prosecutor and former interim U.S. attorney general; the Associated Press, ABC News, PBS NewsHour and The Boston Globe described her as a deputy attorney general under President Obama, and NBC News and The Hill called her a former acting attorney general. The trustees said the move was intended to address an outpouring of anger over allegations of a 2024 gang rape at a fraternity house. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 14 , 17 ]
According to the trustees’ announcement, the assessment is to include how the Ivy League university investigates reports of sexual assault and sexual harassment, what support students get, how hearings and the disciplinary process work, campus police responses and coordination with other law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, and oversight of fraternities, sororities and other student organizations. CBS News reported that Yates will report findings to a special committee of the Board of Trustees, which expects to share the results and recommendations with the wider Cornell community. [ 3 , 4 , 11 , 17 ]
“It is imperative that Cornell be willing to examine itself with the same rigor we expect of others,” trustee Chair Anne Meinig Smalling said in a statement. She added, according to CBS News, that “the questions raised by the Jane Doe matter warrant a rigorous examination of Cornell’s response to that case, but our responsibility is broader.” [ 2 , 4 , 11 , 12 , 17 ]
The announcement followed days of outrage over Cornell’s response to a complaint from a woman known publicly only as Jane Doe, who told campus police in November 2024 that she had been sexually assaulted by multiple Chi Phi fraternity brothers the month before after being pressured into drinking and taking drugs. No criminal charges have been filed. The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell was shut down, and the university has said it expelled some students and suspended others. She sued the university, seven former students, the fraternity and others last month, a suit the reports say put a new, nationwide spotlight on the allegations and on how campus police, the university and the local prosecutor had reacted. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 12 ]
New York’s attorney general is conducting a criminal investigation, and the state’s governor called for an independent review of Cornell’s handling of the matter — the review that Yates now will lead. NBC News identified the attorney general as Letitia James and reported that a spokesperson said staff from her office have “spoken with the Tompkins County District Attorney, Jane Doe’s attorney, and several candidates for outside counsel to support the investigation.” [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 17 ]
Cornell students, professors and others thronged a campus plaza on Monday to protest the university’s response, the Associated Press reported, and the school’s main administration building was splashed with graffiti and damaged overnight. The Washington Post reported that university leaders may face a no-confidence vote by the Faculty Senate over their response. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 17 ]
Reaction to the appointment was mixed. Attorney Andrew Miltenberg, representing accused Chi Phi member Gillio Lopes, said they welcome the independent investigation and that “Sally Yates has tremendous experience as a prosecutor and investigator, and she and her team should have access to the full record and the freedom to follow the facts wherever they lead,” according to NBC News; Lopes denies sexually assaulting the former student. The Guardian US reported that lawyers for two of the former students denied they participated in a sexual assault, that attempts by the Associated Press to reach the other men or their representatives were unsuccessful, and that court records from Cornell’s Title IX investigation show some accused students contended the sexual activity was consensual. [ 12 , 17 ]
Why it matters
The appointment puts Cornell’s sexual misconduct procedures, disciplinary process and oversight of fraternities and sororities under an outside review after a lawsuit and a state criminal investigation drew national attention to the case. Documents also point to pressure on university leaders, including a possible faculty no-confidence vote, meaning the outcome could affect how the administration is judged. How Cornell responds may be read as a test of how universities handle such complaints.
Key facts
- Cornell University trustees announced that Sally Yates will lead an independent review of how the university handles sexual misconduct complaints. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 14 , 17 ]
- The review is to cover how Cornell investigates reports of sexual assault and harassment, what support students get, how hearings and disciplinary decisions are handled, campus police responses and coordination with other law enforcement, and oversight of fraternities, sororities and other student organizations. [ 3 , 4 , 11 , 17 ]
- The announcement followed a complaint from a woman known publicly only as Jane Doe, who told campus police in November 2024 that she had been sexually assaulted by multiple Chi Phi fraternity brothers the month before after being pressured into drinking and taking drugs. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 12 ]
- No criminal charges have been filed, the Chi Phi chapter at Cornell was shut down, and the university has said it expelled some students and suspended others. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 12 ]
- Jane Doe sued the university, seven former students, the fraternity and others last month. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 12 ]
- New York’s attorney general is conducting a criminal investigation, and the state’s governor called for an independent review of Cornell’s handling of the matter. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 17 ]
- Cornell students, professors and others protested at a campus plaza on Monday over the university’s response to the allegations. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 17 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Cornell University trustees announced that Sally Yates will lead a review of how Cornell handles sexual misconduct complaints. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 14 , 17 ]
- Yates served as deputy attorney general in the Obama administration. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 12 , 17 ]
- The assessment is to include how Cornell investigates reports of sexual assault and harassment, student support, the disciplinary process, campus police responses and oversight of student organizations including fraternities and sororities. [ 3 , 4 , 11 , 17 ]
- The announcement came after days of outrage and a campus demonstration over Cornell’s response to the allegations. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- No criminal charges have been filed in the case. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 12 ]
- The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell was shut down, and the university has said it expelled some students and suspended others. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 12 ]
- New York’s attorney general is conducting a criminal investigation, and the state’s governor called for an independent review of Cornell’s handling of the matter. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Jane Doe sued the university, seven former students, the fraternity and others last month. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 12 ]
Still unclear
- Yates’ former federal title The New York Times describes her as a former interim U.S. attorney general and a career federal prosecutor, while the Associated Press, ABC News, PBS NewsHour and The Boston Globe describe her as a deputy attorney general in the Obama administration; NBC News and The Hill say she is a former acting attorney general.
- The timetable and reporting requirements of Yates’ review The documents describe the scope of the assessment but give no start date, deadline or completion date.
- Findings or progress of the New York attorney general’s criminal investigation The documents state that an investigation is underway, and one says the attorney general’s office has spoken with the district attorney and Jane Doe’s attorney, but give no results.
- Damage and graffiti reported at Cornell’s main administration building Only the Associated Press mentions overnight graffiti and damage; no other outlet in the set reports it.
- How the accused students describe the encounter Only The Guardian US reports that lawyers for two former students denied they participated in a sexual assault and that court records from Cornell’s Title IX investigation show some accused students contended the sexual activity was consensual.
- Whether university leaders will face a no-confidence vote The Washington Post reports that Cornell leaders may face a no-confidence vote by the Faculty Senate, but no other document mentions a vote or its timing.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Demonstrators protest at a Cornell campus plaza over the university’s handling of the 2024 fraternity-house assault allegations; Cornell’s main administration building is splashed with graffiti and damaged overnight, the Associated Press reports. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 17 ]
- The New York Times reports that Cornell hired Sally Yates to lead an independent investigation into how the university handled a former student’s 2024 rape allegation. [ 1 ]
- The Associated Press reports that university trustees announced the review by Yates, saying the assessment will cover investigations, discipline, campus police responses and more. [ 2 ]
- ABC News reports the trustees’ announcement and details of the 2024 complaint, the lawsuit, the state criminal investigation and the governor’s call for an independent review. [ 3 ]
- The Boston Globe reports the announcement and notes Yates’ decades-long Justice Department career, including service as the top federal prosecutor in Atlanta. [ 5 ]
- CBS News reports the review will cover how reports are received and investigated, student support, hearings and disciplinary decisions, campus police, coordination with other agencies and fraternity and sorority oversight. [ 11 ]
- The Washington Post reports that Cornell leaders may face a no-confidence vote by the Faculty Senate over their response to the allegations. [ 16 ]
- NBC News reports that the attorney general’s office has spoken with the Tompkins County district attorney, Jane Doe’s attorney and candidates for outside counsel, and that an attorney for accused Chi Phi member Gillio Lopes welcomed the review. [ 17 ]