ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — Ithaca’s mayor is expressing his frustrating with Cornell.
Mayor Robert Cantelmo says in a statement the university and campus police both failed to work with IPD after an alleged sexual assault at a fraternity party in 2024. Cantelmo adds Cornell also failed to hold the alleged suspects accountable.
“This is a miscarriage of justice and continues to pose a significant threat to students and residents who may be victimized at unsafe and under-monitored on- or off-campus student events,” Cantelmo said.
The mayor is presenting a Common Council resolution that places a moratorium on all student event and special event permits by Cornell students, “including, but not limited to Greek life and other student group gatherings, until such time that the University conducts an accounting of its protocols to prevent and prosecute crimes of sexual violence and publicly releases new standards and practices to keep our community safe.”
Tompkins County District Attorney Matt Van Houten said he has re-opened the case of 7 students accused of sexually assaulting a female undergraduate student in Oct. 2024. Meantime, Cornell says there were “expulsions and suspensions” handed down during a Title IX investigation.
