Cornell University is suspending parties and other social events at fraternity houses for the rest of the academic year and will give the New York State Police a role in investigating sex crimes on campus, university officials announced Tuesday, amid mounting outrage over its handling of allegations that a female student was sexually assaulted at a fraternity house in 2024.
The measures announced by Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff include a suspension of all parties and social events at Interfraternity Council houses through the end of the 2026-27 academic year and a new “zero tolerance” policy for violations that would result in the immediate emergency suspension of a chapter.
“These measures will provide time for a thorough review of fraternity life at Cornell to determine whether and how it can safely continue,” Kotlikoff wrote in a letter to the campus community.
Friend mentioned that when a similar thing happened at his University, the frats just had “gatherings” instead of “parties” and that was ok with the administration… (probably decades ago, so a slightly different environment)
It’s not different. You’re not going to stop college kids from partying. They’ll just go to an unaffiliated house and continue.
I know Cornell wants to be seen as doing something, but this is actually counterproductive. It pushes the parties underground, where there’s less safety and oversight.