Cornell Pulls the Plug on Fraternity Parties, but ‘Cornell Seven’ Attorney Calls Out University’s Response

The party is over at Cornell, at least for its fraternities.

Cornell University is pulling the plug on fraternity house parties for the remainder of the academic year. The decision comes amid the mounting fallout from sexual assault allegations involving seven men known as the “Cornell Seven” by the media.

In a letter to the university community on Tuesday, President Michael Kotlikoff announced that all parties and social events inside Interfraternity Council fraternity houses (IFC) are suspended for the rest of the 2026-27 academic year.

Any fraternity caught violating the directive will face immediate emergency suspension.

“I am deeply sorry for the harm Jane Doe suffered in 2024, and appalled that this act of sexual violence occurred within our Cornell community,” Kotlikoff wrote. “It is clear that women on our campus continue to question whether they are safe. We must meet this moment by acknowledging where we have fallen short and taking meaningful action.”

The announcement comes amid allegations made by a former Cornell student who says she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple men at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. The woman, identified in court papers as Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit in September against seven men, Cornell University and several other defendants.

The allegations have also prompted a ‘reopened’ criminal investigation, with New York Attorney General Letitia James appointed as special prosecutor. Two defendants, Gillio Lopes and Winston Lee, have since filed separate petitions challenging James’ involvement, citing concerns over her public statements and allegations of political motivation behind her appointment (by Lee’s team). Meanwhile, Cornell has enlisted former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent review of the university’s policies, practices and handling of sexual misconduct allegations.

But Cornell’s decision to crack down on fraternity social life has drawn criticism of its own.

Attorney Andrew Miltenberg, who represents defendant Gillio Lopes, argues that suspending fraternity parties does little to address the actual problems.

“Something serious is alleged, the public demands action, and the university announces a sweeping measure that makes it appear the problem is being addressed,” Miltenberg said in a statement to Los Angeles.

Miltenberg, who has spent 15 years representing students and faculty in Title IX and university disciplinary proceedings, said problems involving alcohol, consent and sexual misconduct extend well beyond fraternity houses.

“Shutting down fraternity and sorority social activities won’t solve the underlying problems,” he said. “Students won’t stop getting together. Some gatherings may simply move off campus, where oversight is more limited. Changing the address doesn’t change the behavior.”

Miltenberg also warned against treating the seven men named in Doe’s lawsuit as a single group.

“Gillio maintains that his encounter was consensual. He deserves to have the allegations against him evaluated on their own facts, not based on his fraternity affiliation, the conduct attributed to others, or the pressure surrounding this case,” he said.

“They are seven individuals, not one defendant, and each deserves to be judged on the evidence concerning him.”

Beyond the fraternity restrictions, Cornell is taking several additional steps per the University President’s statement on their website.

Kotlikoff announced that the university is working with New York State Police to bring in independent investigators trained to handle sexual assault allegations. Those investigators would interview students who choose to pursue criminal charges and prepare reports for law enforcement. Cornell also plans to expand services for sexual assault survivors, including additional staff, a dedicated case manager and more victim advocates.

As aforementioned, former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates is leading an independent review of Cornell’s policies and practices. Kotlikoff said the university could not afford to wait for the review’s findings before acting. The president also acknowledged that sexual violence is not limited to fraternities and pointed to alcohol and drug abuse as larger concerns across campus.

“Research has shown that campus sexual assault is not limited to the fraternity system,” Kotlikoff wrote.

But Miltenberg said that acknowledgment makes the university’s decision to single out fraternity houses particularly troubling. He argued that Cornell should enforce consistent safety standards across campus, improve education about consent and bystander responsibility, and hold individuals accountable based on evidence rather than group affiliation.

He also criticized universities for promoting Greek life as part of the college experience while distancing themselves from it when controversies arise. “Universities benefit from that culture until something goes wrong. Then suddenly it’s someone else’s problem,” he said.

Kotlikoff described the new measures as the beginning of a larger effort to change campus culture.

“Cornell must be a place where safety is not an open question,” he wrote. “I am committed to doing that work, and to seeing it through.”

For Miltenberg, the real test will be whether the university addresses problems beyond fraternity houses.

“If Cornell wants to make students safer, it needs to examine the entire campus, including its own shortcomings,” he said. “Shutting down Greek social life is no substitute for doing that work.”

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