Cornell Bans Frat Parties

Cornell halted fraternity parties amid scrutiny of its handling of rape allegations.

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Updated 4:44pm ET

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What happened

Cornell banned parties and other social events at fraternity houses through the rest of the academic year, saying the pause would let it review Greek life and consider a safer restart. It said New York State Police would independently investigate on-campus sexual-assault allegations for survivors seeking criminal charges, while its civil rights office adds support staff. A former student identified as Jane Doe alleges seven Chi Phi members drugged and gang-raped her at a 2024 party; the men deny wrongdoing, and none has been criminally charged. Cornell president Michael Kotlikoff expressed regret but refused to resign. About 150 faculty members support a no-confidence resolution due for debate before a later vote.

How each side covered it

From the left

Left-leaning outlets framed the ban as a test of Cornell leadership, campus accountability and fraternity safety. The New York Times emphasized Michael Kotlikoff’s remorse while noting he would not resign despite shaken confidence. CNN centered students who said Cornell minimized abuse and imposed light punishments. PBS NewsHour led with the fraternity-party ban as a campus-safety reassessment.

From the right

Only one right-leaning outlet we track covered this: World News Group, under the headline “Cornell bans frat parties amid rape case fallout”.

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