Sally Yates Named to Review Cornell's Response to Gang Rape Allegations

Cornell University trustees hired former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates on Tuesday to lead an independent review of the school's sexual misconduct policies and response. The move follows a lawsuit alleging a 2024 gang rape at the Chi Phi fraternity house.

• 7 former students are named in the lawsuit; all have denied wrongdoing.
• No criminal charges have been filed against any of the accused men.
• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul designated Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor last week.
• The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell has been shut down; some students were expelled or suspended.

Why it matters: The faculty senate's draft resolution states it has "no confidence in the ability of the central administration to effectively address the ongoing crisis of sexual assault at Cornell University." The vote, if passed, cannot remove any administrator but carries significant political weight.

• Associate music professor Ariana Kim said the vote signals "we don't believe you're fit to run this institution."
• Thousands of students and faculty marched to Cornell's main administrative building Monday to demand accountability and transparency.

How 22 sources split on this story

Where they split: Coverage divides on whether institutional accountability measures — the Yates review, the AG investigation, and the faculty vote — are adequate responses or belated ones.

What’s next: Yates will examine policies, disciplinary processes, campus police responses, and fraternity oversight.

• The attorney general's office will direct the criminal probe and may present evidence to a grand jury.
• Will the faculty no-confidence vote pass, and how will Cornell's administration respond if it does?
• Will the attorney general's investigation result in criminal charges against any of the accused men?
• How long will the Yates review take, and will her findings prompt structural changes at the university?