New York Governor Kathy Hochul said state police will now investigate all future sexual offense complaints at Cornell University. Under an agreement between New York State Police and the university, complaints that had historically fallen under university police jurisdiction will be referred to state police immediately.
Hochul said on Thursday that people who report sexual assault "deserve to know their allegations will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated by law enforcement trained to support survivors."
The announcement follows the handling of an alleged 2024 campus rape. A student known as Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit in mid-September alleging she was drugged and raped by seven men at a fraternity house at the university. She claims Cornell failed to protect her or adequately punish the men, who have become known as the Cornell Seven. The university initially defended its disciplinary measures, then acknowledged it fell short in handling her case.
Hochul said she was "deeply disturbed" by how the investigation was handled. She appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor earlier this month to oversee a reopened investigation into whether criminal charges are warranted.
Cornell's Faculty Senate met behind closed doors on Wednesday and decided to proceed with a no-confidence resolution against the administration and President Michael Kotlikoff. Faculty voting opens Friday and runs until November 6. The source describes the vote as largely symbolic but says it could increase pressure on the university's leadership.
Earlier this month, the university announced measures in response to the alleged assault, including adding sexual assault investigators to its police force.