Hundreds of Cornell University students, faculty, and others gathered in a campus plaza on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, to protest the institution's handling of a 2024 sexual assault report. The demonstration follows a lawsuit filed by a former student, identified in court papers as Jane Doe, who alleges she was sexually assaulted by multiple members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024 after being pressured to consume drugs and alcohol. During the protest, participants presented a list of demands, including the expulsion or degree revocation of all students involved and changes to the university's definitions of sexual consent.
The protest occurred hours after the university’s main administration building, Day Hall, was found damaged. Overnight, glass doors were broken and walls were marked with red graffiti criticizing the school's response to sexual assault. Cornell spokesperson Kyle Kimball stated that the university is investigating the property damage and maintained that damaging property is not the appropriate response to the community's "frustration and strong emotions." By Monday afternoon, the graffiti had been removed and the damaged door was boarded up.
Speakers at the rally called for the resignation of Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff, alleging that the administration prioritized the school’s reputation over student safety. In response to the growing criticism, Kotlikoff released an apologetic video on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, describing the account as "heartbreaking" and reaffirming his support for an independent review of the university’s actions. The university previously stated it had expelled some students and suspended others, though it has not released specific names regarding those disciplinary actions.
No criminal charges have been filed since the incident was first reported to campus police in November 2024. New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently stated that Jane Doe had been "failed by people and institutions." Last week, Hochul appointed the state attorney general to take over the criminal investigation from local District Attorney Matthew Van Houten. The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell has since been shut down.
Legal representatives for two of the accused former students have denied that their clients participated in a sexual assault, according to court records. Some of the accused men told Cornell investigators that the sexual activity was consensual. ABC News broadcast portions of a recorded phone call Monday between the accuser and one of the men, in which she said the event would be classified as "gang rape." The man on the recording suggested that both parties might be misremembering the events of that night.