Cornell University has appointed Sally Yates, a former acting U.S. attorney general and seasoned federal prosecutor, to head an independent internal investigation into the institution’s handling of sexual misconduct allegations brought by a former student.
The announcement was made Tuesday by a newly established special committee within the Cornell University Board of Trustees. Yates, currently a partner at King & Spalding and the former U.S. deputy attorney general under President Barack Obama, will examine both the specific case and the university’s broader policies on preventing and responding to sexual harassment and assault.
This development occurs against a backdrop of significant outrage on campus and nationally following a civil lawsuit filed in mid-September by a woman identified in court documents as Jane Doe. The lawsuit alleges that seven men drugged and gang-raped her over several hours in October 2024 at the Chi Phi fraternity house. No criminal charges have been filed against the accused individuals, who have denied all wrongdoing. Cornell University is also named as a defendant in the suit.
Doe’s complaint asserts that the university failed adequately in its handling of her report and the subsequent aftermath. In response, university officials have maintained that the Cornell University Police conducted a thorough investigation and that a separate Title IX proceeding resulted in suspensions and expulsions for those found responsible.
Anne Meinig Smalling, chair of the special committee, emphasized the need for a comprehensive examination. “Sally Yates brings extraordinary experience, independence and judgment to this work,” Smalling said in the university’s statement. “The questions raised by the Jane Doe matter warrant a rigorous examination of Cornell’s response to that case, but our responsibility is broader. We have asked Ms. Yates and her team to examine Cornell’s overall approach to preventing and responding to sexual misconduct, identify where we are doing things well and where we can do better, and recommend changes that will help make our community safer.”
Following the filing of the lawsuit, students have organized protests regarding the school’s handling of the 2024 allegations, intensifying pressure on university leadership to address systemic issues.
Sally Yates has serious legal gravitas. This review needs to scrutinize both the specific incident and systemic flaws.
Will the findings actually lead to change, or just another report gathering dust? Skeptical but hoping.
Good to see an independent figure leading this. Trust is crucial after such a high-profile case.