Cornell University's Board of Trustees announced on October 13 (local time) that it has appointed Sally Yates, a former U.S. Deputy Attorney General, to conduct an independent internal review of how the university handles allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment. The decision follows sustained criticism over Cornell's response to a complaint filed by a former student.
According to the board's announcement, Yates will examine how Cornell investigates reports of sexual misconduct and abuse, the university's disciplinary procedures, how campus police respond, and the school's oversight of fraternities.
Yates previously served as Deputy Attorney General under former President Barack Obama and as Acting Attorney General at the start of President Donald Trump's first term. In 2017, Trump fired her after she directed Justice Department lawyers not to defend his first travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries.
"It is essential that Cornell be prepared to examine itself with the same rigor we demand elsewhere," Cornell Board of Trustees Chair Anne Meinig Smalling said in a statement.
Yates's appointment comes after renewed public criticism of Cornell's handling of allegations by a woman identified in court records as Jane Doe. She says she was sexually assaulted by multiple members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024.
The case resurfaced after Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit in September 2026 against the university, the Chi Phi fraternity and seven former students. No criminal charges have been filed in the case to date.
Cornell said that following its own investigation, it expelled some students and suspended others accused of involvement, and that the Chi Phi chapter has been closed.
"We don't have all the answers, but we are committed to investigating and finding the answers our community deserves," Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said in a video message on October 10.
Yates is currently a partner at the law firm King & Spalding, where she specializes in conducting independent investigations. She previously led a 2022 investigation into abuse and sexual misconduct in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), which uncovered systemic failures.
Alongside Cornell's review, New York Attorney General Letitia James is conducting a separate criminal investigation into the allegations, after Governor Kathy Hochul appointed her as special prosecutor last week. Hochul had previously called for an independent review of Cornell's handling of the case amid criticism from students, faculty and others.
