Story perspectives

Cornell bans fraternity parties for 2026-27 amid assault review

By Drooid · Oct 15, 2026, 2:27 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff banned all fraternity parties for the 2026-27 academic year.
He added staff and a case manager to Cornell’s Office of Civil Rights to support assault survivors.
He appointed former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent review of Cornell’s sexual-assault policies.
Governor Kathy Hochul named Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to re-examine the 2024 Chi Phi rape case.

History

Historical Context

Cornell’s decision to ban fraternity parties mirrors the Title IX enforcement wave that began with the 2011 Dear Colleague letter from the U.S. Department of Education. A 2014 Senate survey found over 40 % of colleges had not investigated a single rape in five years, spurring Obama’s White House Task Force and the “It’s on Us” campaign. The ban extends that push for stricter campus accountability.

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Story summary

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff banned all fraternity parties for the 2026-27 academic year.
He added staff and a case manager to Cornell’s Office of Civil Rights to support assault survivors.
He appointed former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent review of Cornell’s sexual-assault policies.
Governor Kathy Hochul named Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to re-examine the 2024 Chi Phi rape case.

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