Cornell University said Tuesday it is bringing on a former Justice Department official to review its handling of sexual misconduct claims, including the alleged 2024 sexual assault of a former student at a fraternity house.
The review will look not just at that specific incident, but also more broadly at “how the University prevents and responds to sexual harassment, sexual assault and related misconduct on campus.”
Sally Yates tapped to review Cornell’s policies, response
Former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates will lead what the university is calling a “comprehensive independent review,” the university said in its announcement.
The university said Yates’ review will cover “Cornell’s policies, practices and resources across the full range of prevention and response.”
That includes:
- how reports are received and investigated
- student support systems
- looking into how hearings, disciplinary decisions are handled
- the role and response of campus police
- how coordination takes place with other law enforcement agencies and prosecutors
- fraternity and sorority oversight
“Sally Yates brings extraordinary experience, independence and judgment to this work,” said Anne Meinig Smalling, chair of Cornell’s Board of Trustees. “The questions raised by the Jane Doe matter warrant a rigorous examination of Cornell’s response to that case, but our responsibility is broader. We have asked Ms. Yates and her team to examine Cornell’s overall approach to preventing and responding to sexual misconduct, identify where we are doing things well and where we can do better, and recommend changes that will help make our community safer.”
Yates and her review will report their findings to a special committee of the Board of Trustees, which then expects to share the results and recommendations with the broader Cornell community, according to the university.
About Sally Yates
Yates served in the Justice Department for decades and as deputy U.S. attorney general under President Obama. She was acting U.S. attorney general for 10 days during President Trump’s first term before she was fired for “refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States,” the White House said at the time. Yates’ firing came after she said she was “not convinced” an immigration order by Mr. Trump was “lawful,” and that the Justice Department would not defend it in court “until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.”
In private practice, she investigated allegations of abuse, misconduct and harassment at the National Women’s Soccer League.
Yates and Letitia James will conduct different investigations
Yates’ review is separate from Letitia James’ criminal investigation as special prosecutor.
A spokesperson for James’ office said New York’s attorney general has already spoken with several of the key people involved, including “the Tompkins County District Attorney, Jane Doe’s attorney, and several candidates for outside counsel to support the investigation. The DA has agreed to cooperate, and OAG remains committed to a thorough and independent investigation guided only by the facts and the law.”
University’s president meets with students
The announcement comes as Cornell is facing intense scrutiny and on-campus protests over how the school responded to the alleged gang rape in which nobody was criminally charged.
CBS News New York has learned Cornell’s President Michael Kotlikoff met with the graduate and professional student assembly Monday. He fielded questions from students about the school’s Title IX procedures and the future of Greek life on campus.
One student present at the meeting said Kotlikoff spoke of forthcoming short-term and long-term actions to mitigate party culture at the university.
“We stand with Jane Doe, but also we stand with taking more measures to prevent this from happening in the future,” student Emma McDermott said.
Faculty considers no-confidence vote
Some professors are now calling for Kotlikoff’s resignation.
“I hope it can be a truly impartial and external investigation,” professor Ariana Kim said.
Monday night, Kim introduced a resolution of no confidence in the ability of the administration to effectively address sexual assault at the university. The Faculty Senate, made up of dozens of Cornell professors including Kim, will vote on the resolution next week.
“It would be a massive statement to the upper administration and hopefully signal to them you need to resign, step down, make room for new leadership who can better understand and more holistically lead this institution,” Kim said.
“We understand the frustration and concern being expressed by members of our community, and we are listening and engaging directly with them. Shared governance is an important part of Cornell, and President Kotlikoff and members of the administration are scheduled to meet with the Faculty Senate next week. We look forward to that conversation and to continuing to engage constructively with faculty and others across the Cornell community,” a Cornell spokesperson said.
“It is imperative that Cornell be willing to examine itself with the same rigor we expect of others. We want to understand not just what happened in 2024, but how Cornell can become a leader in preventing sexual violence, supporting those who come forward and responding to allegations rigorously, fairly and compassionately,” Smalling said.
Attorney for one of the accused supports independent review
Andrew Miltenberg, an attorney for one of the men named in Jane Doe’s lawsuit, says he welcomes the review.
“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,” Miltenberg said. “There has been a tremendous amount of public discussion and pressure surrounding this case. That makes it even more important that the review focus on the evidence and take an honest look at what happened, how Cornell handled it, and whether its policies and procedures were followed. Cornell should be held to the same standard it expects of its students: a process that is rigorous, fair and consistent with due process.
“At the end of the day, the facts should speak for themselves,” Miltenberg added.
CBS News has reached out to all seven of the men named in the lawsuit. Two of their attorneys have responded, saying their clients deny the allegations.
