Cornell students demand reforms after heated public hearing on sexual assault

Cornell’s student government convened a public hearing on sexual assault that drew roughly a hundred attendees to the student union auditorium. Attendees, including students like junior Sophia Riley and student-body president Eeshaan Chaudhuri, delivered raw, emotional testimonies, condemning the university’s response to a lawsuit alleging assault at the Chi Phi fraternity house. The hearing featured criticism of internal investigators and the Title IX office, with speakers such as Jane Wang describing bureaucratic obstacles and lack of follow-up.

President Michael Kotlikoff and other senior leaders were largely absent, intensifying frustration. Students called for improved consent workshops, mental-health resources, and academic accommodations for those traumatized by the case. The forum also highlighted the reopening of the investigation by the Tompkins County district attorney after the lawsuit brought national attention to the campus.