Cornell president defends handling of alleged gang rape case

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff acknowledged missteps made by himself and the university when Jane Doe originally came forward with sexual assault allegations in 2024 but defended actions taken since and his role as president in an interview with The New York Times. 

Kotlikoff said he learned about the alleged gang rape on campus in November 2024 but did not reach out to the woman, did not learn what punishments were handed down and did not know Doe dropped out of school until the lawsuit was filed. 

“The fact that Jane Doe experienced what she experienced at Cornell is something that I am personally sorry for,” Kotlikoff told the Times. “And I think this entire campus is sorry that occurred.” 

“I do think it’s important to understand we have more information now than we had at that time,” he added at another point in........

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