Ithaca, New York, has temporarily paused events involving Cornell University and affiliated fraternities and sororities after allegations of a fraternity gang rape have drawn national attention.
Under a resolution approved by the city’s Common Council, Ithaca will temporarily stop issuing new permits for certain Cornell-affiliated events and activities, including special events, assemblies and parades, Commons permits, and noise permits. The moratorium applies to Cornell, university-affiliated fraternities and sororities, and student organizations.
The resolution does not apply to constitutionally protected activities, such as religious exercise, free speech, peaceful assembly, and petitioning. The city also said it “is not making findings regarding the merits of those allegations” since they “remain the subject of ongoing legal and investigative processes.”
Mayor Robert Cantelmo said the measure is intended to address concerns about community safety and accountability following the allegations.
“The allegations that have recently come to light are deeply disturbing and have shaken confidence in the systems that are supposed to protect students and hold offenders accountable,” Cantelmo said.
“The City has a responsibility to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of everyone who lives in, works in, and visits Ithaca.”
Cantelmo said the city is also seeking greater transparency from Cornell about its policies and procedures for preventing and responding to sexual violence.
“Students, families, and community members deserve confidence that allegations of sexual violence will be handled appropriately, that perpetrators will be held accountable, and that every reasonable step is being taken to prevent future harm,” he said.
The resolution says the temporary moratorium will give the city an opportunity to evaluate additional public-safety measures, support victims of sexual violence, and determine whether existing permitting policies adequately address community concerns.
The rape allegations involve a former student, identified as Jane Doe for privacy reasons, who filed a lawsuit alleging she was drugged and gang-raped at a Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024.
A TIMELINE OF JANE DOE’S ALLEGATIONS OF CORNELL GANG RAPE
The lawsuit alleged that Doe was severely intoxicated throughout the night and thus never in a condition to consent to sexual activity. The allegations have also drawn scrutiny because of changes in Doe’s account of the incident since the night it allegedly occurred.
After the lawsuit was filed and details of the allegations became public, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to review the case.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
