Cornell University has enlisted former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Q. Yates to conduct an independent review of the institution's policies and response to sexual misconduct, a move that comes amid intense scrutiny over allegations of a gang rape at a campus fraternity in late 2024.
The newly formed Special Committee of Cornell's Board of Trustees announced Yates's appointment on Tuesday. Yates, now a partner at the law firm King & Spalding LLP, will lead a comprehensive assessment of Cornell's sexual misconduct prevention efforts, resources, and procedures, according to a university statement.
The review will include a detailed examination of the October 2024 allegations involving the Chi Phi fraternity house, where a female student reported being sexually assaulted by multiple men. The inquiry will not be limited to that incident, however. Yates and her team will also evaluate Cornell's broader compliance with Title IX, the Clery Act, the Campus SaVE Act, and New York state law, as well as industry-recognized best practices for higher education institutions.
Cornell has emphasized that the review will be fully independent. Yates and King & Spalding will report directly to the Special Committee, with unrestricted access to relevant policies, records, case files, personnel, and university leadership, subject to legal and privacy constraints.
“It is imperative that Cornell be willing to examine itself with the same rigor we expect of others,” said Anne Meinig Smalling, chair of the Special Committee. “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.”
Yates brings a distinguished legal background to the task. She served as acting U.S. attorney general under the Obama administration and previously held the role of deputy attorney general. She is now a partner in King & Spalding's Special Matters and Investigations practice, where she has led independent probes for boards and institutions. Notably, she headed U.S. Soccer's investigation into abusive behavior and sexual misconduct in women's professional soccer.
The appointment follows a series of developments that have put Cornell's handling of sexual assault under the microscope. The university's president had already pledged a sweeping overhaul after the gang rape allegations emerged, and a subsequent survey found that 35% of female undergraduates reported experiencing sexual assault, a figure that has fueled bipartisan calls for stricter campus sexual assault laws. The case has also reignited debates about fraternity accountability and drawn political attention, including from former President Donald Trump, who criticized New York Attorney General Letitia James's involvement as a special prosecutor.
The Special Committee has asked Yates to conduct the review as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Cornell's Board of Trustees says it intends to share the findings and recommendations with the university community once the review is complete.
