Cornell found 16 students responsible for sexual assault, expelled just two

Cornell University found 16 students responsible for sexual assault between mid-2020 and mid-2024, but expelled only two, with others receiving suspensions or lighter penalties, including written reprimands and reflective assignments, a CNN review of university records found.

The findings have come under renewed scrutiny after a former student alleged she was gang-raped at a fraternity house in 2024, raising fresh questions about the university’s response to sexual misconduct.

Five current and former students who spoke to CNN said the university’s disciplinary process often left survivors feeling ignored and denied meaningful accountability.

Kacey Lee, whose complaint led to a finding of responsibility against another student in 2023, said she felt “betrayed” when the university imposed a written reprimand, disciplinary probation, a no-contact order and a reflection paper instead of suspension or expulsion.

“To know that I went through it all for this illusion of accountability felt even worse,” Lee said.

Another former student, who requested anonymity, said her alleged attacker faced no punishment despite her complaint. Others accused the university’s Title IX office of overlooking evidence, delaying investigations and failing to communicate clearly.

A Cornell spokesperson said the university takes sexual misconduct allegations “extremely seriously” and investigates complaints through established procedures. The university has also expanded in-person sexual violence prevention education for first-year students.

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff acknowledged the need for improvement, saying the administration was committed to investigating concerns and doing better.

Disciplinary outcomes under scrutiny

Of 51 formal complaints involving sexual assault or attempted sexual assault filed over the four academic years beginning in mid-2020, 16 resulted in findings of responsibility, according to university data. In 15 cases, the accused was found not responsible, while 19 complaints were dismissed or withdrawn. One case involved a finding of responsibility for a lesser offence, and one remained under appeal.

Among the 16 students found responsible, two were expelled and six suspended. Seven received other sanctions, including written reprimands, disciplinary probation, directed study or no-contact orders.

Directed study can require students to review relevant material and explain how it relates to their conduct. In some cases where complaints were withdrawn before a hearing, students were assigned reflection papers or apology letters.

The university has not yet released comparable data for the academic year beginning in fall 2024, when the former student’s alleged assault occurred.

Experts say universities face a difficult balance when investigating sexual misconduct, particularly because accused students may challenge severe disciplinary decisions in court. However, survivor advocates argue that light penalties can undermine accountability and discourage others from reporting abuse.

Jennifer Brownell, executive director of the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County, questioned whether the punishments were adequate.

“Should they be expelled? I don’t know. But should there be harsher punishments? Yes,” she said.

In the former student’s case, Cornell expelled two of the seven men she accused of involvement in the alleged assault, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times. Two others were suspended and assigned directed study, while another student who had graduated was barred from campus for three years. Two received directed study and reflection assignments. Attorneys for some of the men have denied the allegations, and one student is challenging the university’s disciplinary finding.

Cornell said the sanctions reflected the findings and circumstances of each student’s case.

Survivors describe a flawed process

Lee said she accused a fellow student of engaging in sexual acts without her consent in April 2022, an allegation he denied. A university panel later found him responsible after reviewing testimony and evidence, including her search history and her call to a rape hotline shortly after the incident.

Despite requesting expulsion, Lee said she felt the penalty reduced her experience to an academic exercise.

“In a way, they were telling me it just wasn’t bad enough,” she said. “Why is my pain only worth an essay?”

Other former students described similar frustrations. One woman said she reported being assaulted by a classmate who had previously faced another sexual misconduct complaint. The first complainant alleged repeated assaults but said no disciplinary action followed. The second woman said a university panel found the accused student not responsible.

She later described severe emotional distress and criticised the investigation’s length and lack of transparency.

Another student, who reported sexual harassment by a staff member in summer 2026, told CNN she had yet to receive clarity on whether an investigation had begun or whether any action had been taken. She said the uncertainty had also affected her ability to attend required events.

Cornell student Jane Wang said she eventually withdrew her own sexual assault complaint because she felt officials were unresponsive and failed to treat the matter with urgency.

Survivors said such experiences risk discouraging others from seeking justice through the university’s system.

Fraternity concerns persist

The controversy has also renewed attention on Cornell’s handling of fraternity-related misconduct. University records show that fraternities have faced suspensions and other disciplinary measures over hazing and rule violations for years.

In 2022, Cornell’s Interfraternity Council temporarily suspended all fraternity parties and social events after reports that several students had been drugged and another sexually assaulted at fraternity houses over roughly a month.

The Chi Phi fraternity, where the former student alleged she was assaulted in 2024, had not faced recent sexual misconduct sanctions. However, a university crime log recorded a drug-related arrest at the house one day before the alleged gang rape.

The woman’s attorney argued that the university should have acted sooner. Cornell’s Chi Phi chapter was shut down in 2024 after her complaint.

A university task force report released in March found that decades of initiatives had failed to significantly reduce sexual assaults on campus. More than one in three undergraduate women reported experiencing sexual assault during their time at Cornell in 2025, according to the report.

Despite years of prevention efforts, the report concluded, sexual assault rates remained persistently high.

Survivor advocates say the university must strengthen prevention measures alongside disciplinary procedures. Students who helped draft a 2023 resolution demanding stronger action said recurring complaints and limited consequences had left them frustrated.

Lucia Balestrieri, one of the resolution’s authors, criticised the use of essays as punishment, calling them “a slap on the wrist if anything.”

The growing criticism leaves Cornell facing renewed pressure to demonstrate that its policies protect students, respond promptly to complaints and deliver meaningful accountability when misconduct is established.