Furious Hochul demands probe into Cornell’s handling of ‘horrifying’ alleged gang rape, while local mayor wants to nix permits

Gov. Kathy Hochul is demanding a probe into how Cornell University responded to “horrifying” gang-rape accusations against seven frat brothers — while Ithaca’s mayor wants to nix city permits for the Ivy League school’s Greek life and other student activities.

“The allegations in the Cornell University sexual assault case are nothing short of horrifying,” Hochul said in a statement Tuesday.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday calls for an independent investigation into how Cornell University responded to shocking gang-rape allegations. Matthew McDermott for NY Post

She said that while she supports the local district attorney’s move to re-open the criminal investigation into the case, she also wants an independent review of the Ivy League school’s response to the incident. Her office did not respond to a Post question about who might conduct the probe.

“For any student to come forward after an experience like this takes extraordinary courage. No student should ever be left wondering whether the institutions meant to protect them will listen and act,” Hochul said.

“There are also serious questions about Cornell’s campus culture and its systems for prevention, reporting, and response.”

Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo calls Cornell’s response “appalling” and “a miscarriage of justice.” Robert G. Cantelmo

Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo blasted the university’s “appalling” response to the allegations, too, as he announced his push to ban the issuance of city permits for the Ithaca, New York, school’s Greek and student activities.

A 20-year-old Cornell student told campus cops in early November 2024 that she had been drugged and gang-raped by mutliple members of the school’s Chi Phi fraternity the week before. The Ithaca Police Department was never contacted.

The DA’s office said it declined to press charges at the time because of a lack of evidence — but recently announced it was reopening its investigation after the woman filed a lawsuit earlier this month full of excruciating details of the alleged attack. Prosecutors said they were unware of the details at the time.

The school meanwhile allowed the accused men to “mitigate their conduct by submitting essays to Cornell,” the woman’s lawsuit said.

The school did not deny that claim — but it insisted it also held internal disciplinary hearings involving the men and suspended and expelled some of them. Still, it refused to even say many fell into either camp, much less who got what punishment.

“Despite the severity of these crimes, Cornell University administrators and police failed to contact or coordinate any response with the Ithaca Police Department,” Cantelmo said in a statement, adding that the school’s response was “appalling” and “a miscarriage of justice.

“I have no choice but to declare a new policy directive and corresponding Common Council resolution, implementing an immediate moratorium on all student event and special event permits, including, but not limited to Greek life and other student group gatherings.”

The policy would need to be approved by local council members, several of whom have already told the Cornell Sun, the school’s student-run paper, that they would support the measure.

“Cornell shares the mayor’s interest in student well-being and safety,” a school rep told the Cornell Sun. “We will work with him to address his concerns.”