Cornell to allow state police to handle sexual assault investigations
Aisha Patel is a dedicated education reporter with a Master’s degree in Education from Columbia University. She has spent the last four years covering public education issues for local radio and print outlets, passionately advocating for the needs of students and teachers in the Ithaca area.
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A new agreement between Cornell University and New York State Police allows individuals reporting sexual assault to choose the agency that will lead the investigation. Effective immediately, state police can conduct those investigations independently of Cornell if selected as the lead agency, according to a Thursday announcement from university President Michael Kotlikoff. The agreement comes amid weeks of mounting backlash over Cornell’s handling of sexual assault allegations, specifically its response to the alleged drugging and rape of a former student by seven former fraternity members in October 2024. The woman, identified only as Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit in September detailing the alleged assault and has accused the university and Cornell police of mishandling their response to her initial allegations two years ago. The case has since drawn national attention. The criticism centers on questions about the initial police investigation and the evidence provided to