Cornell found more than a dozen students responsible for sexual assault. Just two were expelled.
Cornell found more than a dozen students responsible for sexual assault
Healfromzero.com – Cornell found more than a dozen students responsible for sexual assault between mid-2020 and mid-2024, but only two were expelled, according to the university’s most recent data. A CNN review found that many students who were found responsible received measures such as additional educational programs or written reprimands rather than suspension or expulsion.
During that period, Cornell reviewed 51 formal sexual-assault complaints and found students responsible in 16 cases. Five current and former students who filed sexual-misconduct complaints told CNN that the outcomes left them believing the university had minimized accounts of abuse, even when its process found a respondent responsible.
Kacey Lee said Cornell found the student she accused responsible for assaulting her, but that the 2023 sanctions included a reflection paper and other requirements rather than suspension or expulsion. She said the result made her feel “betrayed” after completing the university’s investigation process.
“To know that I went through it all for this illusion of accountability felt even worse,” Lee said.
Students question Cornell’s disciplinary outcomes
Another Cornell alum, who asked not to be named because of concerns about retaliation, said her alleged attacker was allowed to graduate after her complaint. Other students told CNN they believed Cornell’s Title IX process failed to fully weigh important evidence and, in some instances, did not prevent further harm.
Cornell found more than a dozen students responsible in the four-year period, a figure now receiving renewed attention after a former student identified as Jane Doe filed a lawsuit last month. The 101-page suit alleges that she was drugged and gang raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. Attorneys for some men named in the lawsuit have denied the allegations.
A Cornell spokesperson said the university treats sexual-misconduct allegations “extremely seriously” and investigates reports through established procedures while providing support and resources to people who come forward. The university also said it expanded in-person sexual-violence prevention education to all first-year students this year.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said in a video released last week that the university must improve its handling of sexual misconduct. “We don’t have all the answers, but we are committed to investigating and finding the answers our community deserves,” he said.
Why serious sanctions can be uncommon
Peter Lake, a Stetson University professor who studies higher-education law, said colleges face competing pressures when handling internal sexual-assault cases. Accused students may retain lawyers and challenge severe penalties, particularly long-term suspensions or expulsions. Still, advocates and students who spoke to CNN said Cornell found more than a dozen students responsible and should impose stronger consequences when its process reaches that conclusion.
Nicole Bedera, a researcher who has written about sexual violence among college students, said that meaningful accountability is central to preventing harm. Because universities generally do not release detailed Title IX case records, the public often cannot see the full evidence or reasoning behind individual outcomes.
FAQ for Cornell students and community members
What should a student do after reporting sexual misconduct?
Students can seek support and information about available options through Cornell’s Title IX process and campus resources. A report to the university may proceed alongside a law-enforcement investigation, as occurred while officials evaluated the allegations described in Jane Doe’s lawsuit.
What do Cornell’s reported figures show?
The available university data show 51 formal sexual-assault complaints reviewed from mid-2020 through mid-2024, with findings of responsibility in 16 cases and expulsions in two. Cornell found more than a dozen students responsible during that period, though the published figures do not provide the full details of every case.