Cornell hires Sally Yates to lead review of sexual misconduct response

Cornell University has hired former acting U.S. attorney general Sally Q. Yates to lead an independent review of how the university prevents and responds to sexual harassment, sexual assault and related misconduct on campus, according to The Hill. The Special Committee of the Cornell University Board of Trustees announced Yates' appointment on Tuesday, 6 October.

The Hill reported the review will include a detailed examination of allegations that a former student was raped by several men at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. It will also examine Cornell's overall approach to preventing and responding to claims, and its practices under Title IX, the Clery Act, the Campus SaVE Act and New York state law, as well as recognised higher education best practices. Yates and law firm King & Spalding will report their findings and recommendations directly to the Special Committee, and Cornell's Board of Trustees said it intends to share them with the university community.

"It is imperative that Cornell be willing to examine itself with the same rigor we expect of others," Special Committee Chair Anne Meinig Smalling said, according to The Hill. "We want to understand not just what happened in 2024, but how Cornell can become a leader in preventing sexual violence, supporting those who come forward and responding to allegations rigorously, fairly and compassionately," she added.

Der Spiegel reported the university announced the review in response to protests on campus. The outlet reported that several media outlets reported broken windows, and that unknown persons sprayed graffiti on the walls of a campus building accusing the university of protecting rapists. Der Spiegel also reported that numerous women had expressed outrage in an online campaign over how the justice system, the university and society handled the case.

At the centre of the case is an allegation by a former student that she was raped by several men in October 2024 at the house of a student fraternity, according to Der Spiegel. The outlet reported there were initially no criminal consequences. It reported that New York Attorney General Letitia James is now investigating the case, after a new civil lawsuit and growing public criticism.

The Hill described Yates as a former acting U.S. attorney general, deputy attorney general and longtime federal prosecutor, now a partner at King & Spalding LLP. Der Spiegel described her as a former deputy attorney general and deputy justice minister under President Barack Obama. The Hill reported she previously led U.S. Soccer's independent investigation into allegations of abusive behaviour and sexual misconduct in women's professional soccer.