Cornell bans fraternity parties for rest of academic year after alleged gang rape

By Maria Tsvetkova NEW YORK, Oct 13 (Reuters) — Cornell University will ban parties and social events at fraternity houses until the end of the academic year, its president said on Tuesday, responding to the outcry over an alleged gang rape on campus in 2024. The measure is the strongest reaction yet from Cornell's leadership to a lawsuit filed by a former undergraduate, Jane Doe, alleging that seven men sexually assaulted her during a party two years ago. Over the last several weeks, the Ivy League school in Ithaca, New York, and its president, Michael Kotlikoff, have come under heavy criticism from students, faculty and donors over its response to the allegations. The suspension of parties and social events will apply to Interfraternity Council houses. The Council website says Cornell currently has 34 fraternity houses. "These measures will provide time for a thorough review of fraternity life at Cornell to determine whether and how it can safely continue," Kotlikoff said in the statement. The Cornell Interfraternity Council did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Since the lawsuit against seven fraternity members, the university and others was filed in September, the