Cornell faculty member alleges "silencing of Jane Doe's voice," says her letter was not shared with Faculty Senate before crucial meeting
Updated on: October 20, 2026 / 7:27 PM EDT / CBS New York
TL;DR
- A letter from Jane Doe, alleging she felt "unsupported and disbelieved" by Cornell president Michael Kotlikoff, was reportedly not shared with the Faculty Senate.
- Faculty members described the alleged failure to share the letter as a "silencing of Jane Doe's voice."
- Doe has filed a lawsuit alleging gang rape at a 2024 fraternity party, prompting controversy, a criminal investigation, and an independent review at Cornell.
- The university stated the letter was sent to general counsel for verification and shared with the independent review.
- Cornell disputes the letter's interpretation of Kotlikoff's comments, claiming he was questioning why bystanders didn't report the incident sooner, not Doe.
- An independent review led by Sally Yates will examine the university's response to Doe's allegations and its policies on sexual harassment and assault.