Ithaca:New York New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced an agreement enabling state police to investigate sexual assault complaints at Cornell University. This decision follows criticism of the university's handling of an allegation by a former student who reported being gang-raped at a fraternity house.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the agreement, signed by Cornell University and New York State Police, allows survivors pursuing criminal charges to choose whether state police or Cornell University Police will lead their investigations. They may also request that Ithaca Police or the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office handle their cases.

Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of safety for students on campus, stating, "Every student deserves to feel safe on their campus. And when someone reports sexual assault, they deserve to be heard, treated with compassion, and know their allegations will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated by law enforcement trained to support survivors."

The agreement comes amid renewed scrutiny of Cornell's response to allegations involving a former student, referred to as Jane Doe in a civil lawsuit. She claims she was coerced into consuming drugs and sexually assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024. While the local district attorney initially declined to press charges, the criminal investigation was reopened in September 2026. Lawyers for some of the accused have denied the allegations, which have not been proven in court yet.

Governor Hochul has appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to oversee the criminal investigation. Additionally, former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates will conduct an independent review of Cornell's handling of sexual misconduct complaints. The university stated that the agreement is effective immediately and will remain in place during the independent review.