The handling of a serious crime at Cornell University has come under scrutiny as dissatisfaction with the campus police department grows. Concerns are mounting about the effectiveness and accountability of the Cornell University Police Department’s investigation into an alleged gang rape incident from two years ago.
Investigation Oversight
At a recent press conference, New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her lack of confidence in both the Cornell University Police Department and the local district attorney. Governor Hochul has appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to take over the investigation, citing concerns that critical information was not adequately handled.
KATHY HOCHUL: “Somebody knew more than they were letting people know.”
The governor’s decision follows revelations that the alleged victim had reported the incident to university police in 2024. However, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten revealed he never received a full transcript of her interview, relying instead on a brief report from campus police, which led to no charges being filed.
HOCHUL: “In what world would the police learn from a victim that she’d been literally gang raped while intoxicated by five men in a fraternity house and not elevate those allegations to the district attorney?”
Next Steps in the Investigation
Attorney General Letitia James has acknowledged the public’s demand for answers about the 2024 incident but indicated that her office requires time to thoroughly review the facts, gather evidence, and interview witnesses before deciding on potential prosecutions.
The university has expressed support for the appointment of a special prosecutor and committed to an independent external review of its handling of the case. District Attorney Van Houten also supported James’ appointment, stating, “It has become clear that we were not provided the full picture by the university.”
Student Reactions and Campus Police Accountability
Hannah Shvets, a senior at Cornell and a member of Ithaca’s Common Council, shared her frustration with the situation, noting that students assumed the university was pursuing justice when they first learned of the incident.
HANNAH SHVETS: “Two years ago, we knew that this happened, and a lot of the emotional, like, horror stuff – we’ve already felt it. We felt it two years ago. But now it’s turned into mostly anger because nothing was done, is what it feels like.”
The distinction between campus police and city police raises questions about information sharing and accountability. According to John Sloan from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, private university police often answer to university administrators rather than public officials, affecting their accountability.
Cornell University has denied a public records request from WSKG for information from the University Police Department, citing the private nature of the institution’s records.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
