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Published October 13, 2026 12:55 PM CDT
Ithaca council halts Cornell event permits
The Ithaca Common Council voted late Wednesday night to stop issuing city permits to Cornell University and affiliated student groups, including fraternities, following widespread criticism of the Ivy League school's handling of rape allegations made by a former student.
Cornell University is suspending all parties and other social events at fraternity houses for the rest of the academic year.
The ban comes amid mounting outrage over the school’s handling of allegations made by a female student who said she was gang raped at a fraternity house in 2024.
Fraternity parties banned
Dig deeper:
The university announced the ban Tuesday morning.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff also implemented a new "zero tolerance" policy for violations. Any violations will result in an immediate emergency suspension of the chapter.
What they're saying:
"These measures will provide time for a thorough review of fraternity life at Cornell to determine whether and how it can safely continue," Kotlikoff wrote in a letter to the campus community.
The president also said he is committed to adding a case manager to the school’s Office of Civil Rights to help those who report sexual misconduct on campus and to work with the New York State Police to allow their trauma-informed criminal investigators to assist.
FILE - A Cornell University sign is seen on the campus after a student was sexually assaulted at a campus fraternity house in 2024, on Oct. 7, 2026 in Ithaca, New York. (Photo by Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
RELATED: Cornell rape probe updates: Sally Yates review, protests and no-confidence push
Gang rape allegations
The backstory:
The victim, only identified as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit last month, saying she was sexually assaulted at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024.
Her suit claimed the assault occurred after she was pressured into snorting ketamine, smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol, to the point where she was incapable of consenting to sex.
The woman reported the incident to Cornell’s campus police department, but the local district attorney’s office opted not to prosecute anyone at the time.
After public outrage spread over news of the victim’s allegations, a criminal investigation was reopened.
RELATED: Cornell fraternity gang rape allegations: Gov. Hochul calls for independent investigation
New York’s governor removed the district attorney from the case this month after a public outcry over the lack of charges.
The investigation is now being led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, while Cornell has hired former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates to conduct an independent review of the university’s response.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from reporting by The Associated Press and previous reporting by FOX Local. This story was reported from San Jose.
Crime and Public SafetyNew York
