On October 6, 2026, in a report by Epoch Times, it was mentioned that in Cornell University in the United States, hundreds of students, faculty members, and community members held a rally on Monday, October 5, to support a woman who accused members of a fraternity of gang rape. Protesters demanded reforms to the campus sexual assault handling system and some even called for the resignation of the university president, Michael Kotlikoff.
The sexual assault allegations from 2024 have recently sparked nationwide attention in the United States. The controversy not only involves how the university handled the situation and disciplinary actions but has also led to the reopening of criminal investigations. New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed the state attorney general to take over the investigation and called for an independent review of Cornell University’s handling of the case.
On Monday, hundreds of students, faculty members supporting the students, and community activists participated in a march. According to Reuters, the total number of participants may have exceeded 1,000 people. Associated Press reporters noted that the plaza in front of the student center was packed with people, and others watched from nearby sidewalks, windows, and hillsides.
Demonstrators chanted slogans like “No justice, no peace” and “Kotlikoff, resign” while holding signs that read “Justice for Jane Doe” and “We stand with survivors.” “Jane Doe” is a commonly used pseudonym in American legal documents to withhold a person’s real name.
Protesters called for an external investigation into the university’s handling of the case, reforms in student disciplinary systems, and changes to the definition of “sexual consent” in university regulations. They also demanded consistent minimum penalties for campus sexual assault cases and additional training for campus police in handling complaints of sexual violence and harassment.
Furthermore, demonstrators demanded that all students identified in connection with the alleged gang rape incident should be expelled or have their degrees revoked.
Student Athena Holloway said during the rally, “Too often, what we face is silence, what we face is statements, what we face are procedures, but the support we receive is not enough. How far does our university need to go to stand with survivors?”
In the early morning on the day of the rally, the main administrative building of Cornell University was vandalized. Media photos showed broken glass at the entrance of the building and graffiti on the walls, including phrases like “In Cornell, rapists are protected.”
The identity of the vandals remains unknown, according to Reuters. The independent student newspaper Cornell Daily Sun reported that activists sent a statement to the paper, stating that the vandalism was a protest against the sexual assault allegations and the “global power structures that enabled this incident to occur.”
University spokesperson Kyle Kimball stated that the university is investigating the matter. In a statement, he said that “vandalizing property is not the answer” in response to the “frustration and intense emotions” felt by members of the Cornell community.
The woman alleges that in October 2024, under pressure from others, she consumed alcohol and drugs, subsequently lost the ability to act, and was then sexually assaulted by several members of the Chi Phi fraternity. At the time, she was a 20-year-old student at Cornell University.
Several weeks later, she reported the incident to campus police, leading to investigations by university officials and law enforcement. However, the local prosecutor did not file criminal charges at the time. Cornell later shut down the Chi Phi chapter and stated that some students involved were expelled while others faced disciplinary actions such as suspension.
The accused men have denied any wrongdoing. Some claim the sexual activities were consensual, while others deny involvement altogether.
Last month, the woman filed a lawsuit naming seven former students, the Chi Phi fraternity chapter, Cornell University, and others as defendants.
Last Friday, Governor Hochul appointed New York State Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to oversee the recently reopened criminal investigation. Hochul expressed deep concern over the way local authorities initially handled the case.
President Kotlikoff released a video on Saturday, promising to review the role of fraternities and sororities on campus and support an independent review of the university’s handling of the case.
He stated, “Being a member of any group cannot absolve individual responsibility.”