Cornell Administration Building Vandalized Amid Uproar Over Rape Allegation Handling

Cornell University's main administration building was defaced with graffiti and a glass door was broken overnight, an incident occurring as student groups organized protests against the university's handling of an alleged 2024 fraternity gang rape.

Red-painted messages condemning patriarchy and the Ivy League school's response to sexual assaults covered the walls next to the damaged glass door, according to news media photos. Campus police have referred inquiries to the university spokesperson's office, which stated that damaging property is not a solution to the expressed frustrations.

A coalition of student organizations planned a demonstration to advocate for changes in the university's procedures for addressing sexual assault complaints and to call for greater accountability related to an incident that followed a party at the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024.

The lawsuit, filed by a former student identified as Jane Doe, alleges that she was sexually assaulted by multiple men after being pressured into consuming alcohol and drugs. The suit claims that Doe became incapacitated, and that one of the accused sent a message inviting others to participate in the assault.

Lawyers for two of the former students have denied their clients' involvement in a sexual assault. Efforts by the Associated Press to contact other accused students or their representatives have been unsuccessful. Court records indicate that some of the students interviewed by Cornell investigators described the sexual activity as consensual.

The lawsuit has drawn national attention to the actions taken by Cornell University, its police force, and the local district attorney after Doe reported the alleged assault to campus police in November 2024. No criminal charges have been filed.

The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell was shut down. The university has stated that it expelled some students and suspended others. In a recent statement, the administration pushed back against what it termed a "false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case."

However, students have continued to demand more accountability and transparency. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has stated that Jane Doe was "failed by people and institutions," including Cornell police and District Attorney Matthew Van Houten. Hochul appointed the state attorney general to oversee a criminal investigation, which Van Houten had reopened days earlier after initially appearing to have closed it. The governor has also called for an independent review of Cornell's handling of the matter.

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff released an apology video on Saturday, acknowledging that Doe's account "raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use." Kotlikoff reiterated his support for an independent review of the university's actions and pledged greater transparency and a commitment to finding answers for the campus community.