Cornell’s Failure of Transparency and Accountability

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Beginning in 2017, The Sophie Fund repeatedly warned Cornell University administrators about the need for robust new policies to end the cycle of sexual assault on their campus. We pointed to Cornell’s own student survey statistics that amply demonstrated their failure to curb the school’s persistent prevalence of sexual violence.

Cornell University administration headquarters

On September 14, a former student sued Cornell, alleging that she was gang raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house on the Cornell campus in 2024. The lawsuit, which also seeks a jury trial for seven men accused of committing “heinous criminal sexual acts,” argues that Cornell breached its duty to protect her from foreseeable dangers. On September 28, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced he would reopen a criminal investigation into the allegations.

Specifically, the civil lawsuit accuses Cornell of:

“Failure to protect Plaintiff from a known danger; failure to have sufficient policies and procedures in place to prevent sex abuse and assault being committed by any of their students; failure to properly implement policies and procedures to prevent sex abuse and assault; failure to take reasonable measures to ensure that policies and procedures to prevent sex abuse and assault were working; failure to investigate risks of sexual assault; failure to properly train the employees at their facilities; failed [sic] to have any outside agency test their safety procedures; and failure to train its employees properly to identify signs of sexual abuse and sexual assault.”

The lawsuit’s narrative echoes the lack of transparency and failure of accountability that The Sophie Fund has witnessed in the Cornell administration’s handling of student mental health. 

The Sophie Fund strongly advocated for a task force to comprehensively review Cornell’s mental health policies and practices and make recommendations for improvement.

In an April 2017 letter asking then-President Martha Pollack to appoint a task force, we noted:

“[Cornell’s] failure to develop a policy and strategy that addresses the disturbing mental health-related problem of sexual violence against Cornell students and provides effective support for victims of sexual violence.”

—“A lack of institutional accountability for Cornell’s mental health policies, programs, and practices.”

—“An institutional mindset reflecting complacency and defensiveness that appears to prioritize Cornell’s public image over the welfare of students struggling with mental disorders.”

—“A system of accountability would include a zero-tolerance program with robust measures to fight against rape and sexual violence, and hazing, and equally robust legal and psychological support services for victims.”

—“31.6 percent—nearly 1 in 3—reported being victims of rape or sexual battery during their years in college; 9.8 percent of undergraduate female students participating in a recent campus climate survey reported having been the victims of rape or attempted rape since enrolling at Cornell.”

Pollack finally commissioned a Mental Health Review task force in 2018, and the task force issued its report with recommendations in 2020.

A year ago this week, The Sophie Fund published a blog post about current Cornell President Kotlikoff’s refusal of its request to inform the Cornell and Ithaca communities about the outcome of those recommendations. Kotlikoff was interim president at the time of the alleged gang rape in October 2024; Pollack had abruptly resigned her post effective June 30 of that year.

In a presentation to the Mental Health Review task force in 2019, The Sophie Fund urged:

“The review teams should consider recommendations aimed at forcefully ending the cycle of sexual assault and hazing violence in the Cornell community and ensuring the maximum mental health support for victims at risk of life-long psychological disorders as a result of their trauma.”

 In a 2020 presentation to the task force, The Sophie Fund called on Cornell leadership to “develop new and effective strategies to combat the serious problems of sexual assault and hazing within its student body.”

The presentation added:

“Research indicates that victims of sexual assault and hazing are at risk of life-long mental health problems. Data indicates that the prevalence of sexual assault and hazing at Cornell has reached levels that no civilized institution should accept. Past and present strategies have failed to eliminate or even reduce the problems. To allow these problems to continue without a robust and effective response is a serious abrogation of responsibility.”

Among some 130 recommendations, the Mental Health Review report encouraged the Cornell administration to continue what it endorsed to be the university’s unspecified “substantive reforms”—at the time—to address sexual assault and “usher in positive changes that will provide a safer environment for students.”

In The Sophie Fund’s post-report presentation in 2021 to the Cornell Executive Accountability Committee then charged with implementing recommendations but since disbanded, The Sophie Fund urged Cornell to:

“Introduce new zero-tolerance university regulations and implement robust new campus education and awareness programs with the publicly stated goal of terminating the stubborn normalization of sexual assault and hazing violence among Cornell students, in recognition that previous initiatives have failed to stem student sexual violence or end the destructive hazing culture; ensure that perpetrators of violence, intimidation, and criminal recklessness are held strictly accountable under university regulations, and ensure perpetrators are also held accountable under applicable local, state, and federal laws; mandate the vice president for Student & Campus Life to issue annual reports on steps addressing sexual assault and hazing violence, the results of those efforts, and identifying necessary further steps to be taken.”

In April 2025, after waiting for Cornell to honor its stated commitment to inform the Cornell and Ithaca communities about the implementation of the task force’s recommendations, we wrote to President Kotlikoff asking him to issue a report detailing the results of the implementation work.

We wrote: 

“Transparently fulfilling a commitment to hold itself accountable will enhance confidence and respect in how Cornell is supporting its students’ well-being and acting as a responsible and valued part of the greater community.”

Kotlikoff rejected our request, arguing that the Cornell administration had moved on from the 2020 recommendations in favor of a “Health Promoting Campus initiative.”

* * * * *

On September 24, The Sophie Fund requested information on the Chi Phi gang rape investigation from relevant campus and community authorities. Here are our questions and their responses.

Kyle Kimball, Cornell University Vice President for Community Relations (No response to The Sophie Fund as of September 29; Kimball issued a statement on September 21 and a statement on September 28)

1. What is Cornell’s response to the allegations contained in the lawsuit?

2. After “Jane Doe” reported the gang rape to the Cornell University Police Department on or about November 8, 2024, what actions has Cornell taken from November 8, 2024 to date in response to her allegations, specifically:

2a. To investigate the allegations?

2b. To address the alleged perpetrators and their alleged actions?

2c. To address the alleged behavior of the Xi Chapter of Chi Phi Fraternity?

3. What is the current status and/or outcome of Cornell’s actions related to the above 2a, 2b, and 2c questions?

4. Can you provide the number of sexual violence incidents reported to Cornell authorities in the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026?

5. Does Cornell assure Cornell students that actions such as alleged in the gang rape lawsuit will not occur in the future?

6. What steps has Cornell taken in the aftermath of the alleged gang rape at the Xi Chapter of Chi Phi Fraternity to ensure that sexual violence include rape will no longer occur at Cornell?

Eric Stickel, Chief of the Cornell University Police Department (No response to The Sophie Fund as of September 29)

1. What steps has the Cornell Police Department taken to investigate the alleged gang rape reported by a Cornell undergraduate student to the Cornell University Police Department on or about November 8, 2024?

2. What is the current status and/or outcome of any steps the Cornell Police Department has taken to investigate the alleged gang rape?

3. Can you provide the number of sexual violence incidents reported to the Cornell Police Department in the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026?

Katie King, Assistant Vice President, Cornell Office of Civil Rights (No response to The Sophie Fund as of September 29)

1. What were the findings of the Office of Civil Rights’ investigation?

2. What conclusions or recommendations did the Office of Civil Rights make based on its investigation?

3. What actions were taken by the university in response to the investigation by the Office of Civil Rights?

4. Why has the Formal Complaints page of the Office of Civil Rights not been updated for the 2024-2025 or 2025-2026 academic years when the outcome of this case would have been recorded?

Thomas J. Kelly, Chief of Ithaca Police Department (No response to The Sophie Fund as of September 29; IPD issued a statement on Facebook on September 28)

1. Was the alleged gang rape reported to the Ithaca Police Department; and if so, when, and by whom?

2. What specific steps if any has the Ithaca Police Department taken to investigate the alleged gang rape?

3. What is the current status and/or outcome of any steps the Ithaca Police Department has taken to investigate the alleged gang rape?

4. Can you provide the number of sexual violence incidents involving Cornell University students reported directly to the Ithaca Police Department in the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026?

Matthew Van Houten, Tompkins County District Attorney (Van Houten provided a statement on September 28)

1. It is reported in the media that the “Tompkins County District Attorney said his office ‘conducted a thorough review of the police investigation,’ but ‘there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges.’ Is this statement attributed to the District Attorney correct?

2. The new civil lawsuit contains a significant amount of detail regarding the alleged gang rape—including the names of the alleged perpetrators and their specific alleged acts, and a screenshot of a text message inviting fraternity members to join the alleged sexual assault. If it is correct that the District Attorney reviewed the Ithaca Police Department’s investigation, can you explain what was lacking in its available evidence that prompted the District Attorney’s decision not to bring criminal charges against any of the defendants identified in the new civil lawsuit? Put another way, what evidence from the investigating police department would be required for the District Attorney to bring charges following the alleged victim’s sexual assault police report?

3. The lawsuit also states that “the matter is also still being investigated by the Ithaca Police Department.” If this is correct, and in light of the details of the alleged rape contained in the new lawsuit, has or will the District Attorney’s office reopen its review of the matter?

—By Scott MacLeod and Susan Hack

Scott MacLeod and Susan Hack are co-founders of The Sophie Fund, established in memory of their daughter Sophie, who died by suicide in Ithaca in 2016 during a health leave of absence from Cornell.

Ithaca Hosts State’s Suicide Prevention Conference

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New York State’s annual suicide prevention conference will take place this year in Ithaca, next week at the Ithaca Conference Center: “Rooted in Action: Innovative Approaches for Rural Suicide Prevention.”

The conference is hosted by the Office of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention Center of New York (SPCNY) on September 29-30. Due to strong demand the conference is at capacity with hundreds of attendees and registration is closed.

Besides being the venue for the event, Ithaca features prominently in the program.

An entire panel will discuss Tompkins County’s steps toward strengthening its suicide prevention practices: “Implementing the Zero Suicide Model: the Tompkins County Experience.” Zero Suicide is a framework of systematic screening, assessment, and specialized treatment used by healthcare providers to prevent suicide deaths among their patients.

The panelists include:

Andreia deLima, Chief Medical Officer, Cayuga Health/Centralus Health

Laura Sidari, Program Director and Consulting Psychiatrist, Cayuga Integrated Behavioral Health, Cayuga Health

Tiffany Bloss, Executive Director, Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service of Tompkins County

Harmony Ayers-Friedlander, Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health Services, Tompkins County Whole Health

The panel will be moderated by SPCNY Director Jay Carruthers.

Laura Sidari will also participate in a panel called “Collaborative Care: Integrating Behavioral Health into Primary Care.” She will be joined by Amy L. Jones-Renaud, Director, Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration, Office of Mental Health.

Tiffany Bloss will also speak at a panel titled “LOSS Teams: Support for Recently Bereaved Suicide Survivors.”

The conference features 18 breakout sessions in addition to several plenary sessions. Among the topics covered are suicide prevention programming in rural schools, the role of faith leaders, firearms safety, and engaging rural veterans in mental health services.

The conference keynote address will be given by Vernon E. Davis II, an army veteran and comedian who has experienced suicidal thoughts.

DOWNLOAD Tompkins County Suicide Prevention

“Tompkins County is honored and excited to welcome colleagues from across New York State to the 2026 New York State Suicide Prevention Conference. As a rural county, we are eager to learn from one another, share innovative approaches, and build on the important work happening in communities across our state,” said Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health Services Harmony Ayers-Friedlander.

“We are proud to share the strategies we have developed locally through the Tompkins County Suicide Prevention Coalition, including our coordinated implementation of the Zero Suicide Model across the healthcare system, spanning higher education, primary care, and mental health treatment services.

“We have also made supporting first responders and creating more trauma-informed approaches to crisis response a community priority through our Crisis Alternative Response and Engagement Team, or CARE, co-response model, bringing mental health and law enforcement together, as well as the City of Ithaca’s new Responders Offering Outreach, Trust and Support, or ROOTS, unarmed responder program.

“Tompkins County is also home to a regional 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline call center at Suicide Prevention & Crisis Services, providing a range of support through its hotline, warm line, and text services.

“Together, these efforts reflect what is possible when a community comes together with compassion, collaboration, and a shared commitment to saving lives. We have made meaningful progress, and there is still more work ahead.”

Cayuga Health: Advancing Suicide Prevention

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Centralus Health is recognizing September as National Suicide Prevention Month, joining organizations and communities across the country in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging meaningful conversations about mental health and suicide prevention.

Throughout the month, team members are helping bring greater visibility to suicide prevention and the importance of connection. During Suicide Prevention Week, staff across the health system hosted resource tables and shared mental health and suicide prevention resources with patients, visitors, and colleagues.

Centralus Health is a collaborative network uniting Cayuga Health in Ithaca and Arnot Health in Elmira. As part of its focus on strengthening suicide prevention in clinical care, Centralus Health welcomed Dr. Virna Little, a nationally recognized leader in suicide prevention, on September 11 for a Grand Rounds presentation, “Optimizing Suicide Care.”

The presentation focused on evidence-based approaches to suicide risk screening and assessment, strategies for integrating suicide care into clinical workflows, and best practices for improving continuity and follow-up for individuals at risk for suicide.

Our health system has endorsed the Zero Suicide Model, a framework that recognizes suicide prevention as a core responsibility of healthcare. Through this commitment, the health system continues to foster an environment where suicide risk is recognized, concerns are taken seriously and individuals experiencing a mental health crisis receive compassionate, coordinated care.

We have made systemic improvements in suicide care since 2018. We formed a system-wide Zero Suicide Implementation Team, sub-teams for component units, and conducted a Zero Suicide Self-Study and a Workforce Survey. We have implemented core Zero Suicide practices within the Emergency Department, inpatient Behavioral Health Unit, and the Cayuga Integrated Behavioral Health (CIBH) program which embeds behavioral health clinicians within primary care practices.

New York State’s Office of Mental Health recognized our efforts for systemic improvement with a Spotlight Story in “1,700 Too Many: New York State’s Strategy for Suicide Prevention 2026-2030,” announced on September 10 by Governor Kathy Hochul.

Centralus Health is also supporting suicide prevention efforts in the communities it serves, including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Greater Ithaca Walk. The September 12 event in Lansing’s Myers Park brought community members together to raise awareness, honor those affected by suicide and support suicide prevention research, education, and advocacy.

National Suicide Prevention Month is an important reminder that suicide prevention is a shared responsibility. Through education, awareness, compassionate care and community partnership, Centralus Health remains committed to helping create communities where people feel seen, supported and connected to help when they need it.

—By Andreia de Lima, MD

Andreia de Lima is Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs at Centralus Health’s Cayuga Medical Center and Schuyler Hospital

If you or someone you know feels the need to speak with a mental health professional, you can call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741-741.

Supporting Mental Health in Tompkins Schools

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Five Ithaca-based mental health organizations have released the 2026-27 edition of their resource guide, “Mental Health Support & Suicide Prevention for Schools in Tompkins County.”

National and local surveys document the seriousness of a mental health crisis affecting young people. In a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40 percent of high schoolers said they experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Twenty-nine percent reported poor mental health, and 20 percent said they had considered taking their own lives.

A survey of high school and middle school students in Tompkins County showed similar patterns although lower than the national data. Forty-four percent said they felt anxious or worried on most days, 32 percent felt sad or depressed on most days, 28 percent said that “sometimes I think life is not worth it,” and 11 percent reported thoughts of suicide.

DOWNLOAD: Mental Health Support & Suicide Prevention for Schools in Tompkins County

To support Tompkins County schools, the resources guide was first launched in 2024 by the Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Greater Central New York, National Alliance on Mental Illness Finger Lakes, Mental Health Association in Tompkins County, and The Sophie Fund.

“Statistically, mental health education in schools is one of the most important initiatives, based on suicide rates and other youth mental health statistics,” said Sandra Sorensen, executive director of NAMI Finger Lakes. “Creating, finding, and presenting curriculum can add an extra burden to educators.”

“This booklet outlines the free programs and services available to students, parents, and teachers offered by local mental health nonprofit organizations. Participants also benefit from learning about external, local resources and community connections. This creates a broader, more diverse, supportive network,” Sorensen added. 

If you have a comment, concern, or suggestion about mental health in Tompkins schools, please feel free to email it to The Sophie Fund: thesophiefund2016@gmail.com.

After a brief “Mental Health & Suicide 101” introduction, the guide details the mental health and suicide prevention education and training that the organizations are ready to present to Tompkins school administrators, teachers, students, and parents.

The guide compiles handbooks and toolkits to assist Tompkins schools in developing mental health promotion and bullying prevention programming as well as suicide prevention strategies in their school communities. The guide points to recommendations for youth use of social media issued by the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Psychological Association.

DOWNLOAD: 5 Simple Steps

The guide also includes 5 Simple Steps, a downloadable “safety plan” young people (or adults) can consult if they are feeling overwhelmed with a deteriorating mood.

The five organizations requested an opportunity to meet directly with the seven Tompkins County school superintendents and their leadership teams to provide a presentation on the support services available and respond to any concerns or questions they may have. The organizations have met with the Ithaca, Trumansburg, and Lansing districts, but Groton, Dryden, and Newfield have not yet scheduled a meeting.

Administrators, teachers, families: REQUEST A FREE TRAINING for assemblies, classes, or parent meetings

When You Reeaally Don’t Feel Like Cooking

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Mental health challenges can sometimes make performing daily activities incredibly difficult for college students. Cooking and eating a meal can feel like an impossible task if you are having trouble getting out of bed.

While studying for my Masters in Public Health at Cornell University, I wanted to create something that would bridge mental health and physical health. I chose to create a cookbook that combines easy-to-make, healthy recipes with mental health tips and encouragement. The result is Recipes to Make When You Reeaally Don’t Feel Like Cooking, which I produced for The Sophie Fund.

DOWNLOAD Recipes to Make When You Reeaally Don’t Feel Like Cooking

Filled with nutritious, heart-warming recipes submitted by fellow Cornell students, the cookbook is designed to support students in preparing and eating healthy meals during periods of depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions. (Of course, the recipes are good for all students regardless of the current state of their mental health!)

Recipes to Make was made possible with the help of all the Cornell students who kindly shared their recipes and the incredible support from mentors who guided me along the way. I’m deeply grateful for everyone’s willingness to participate in this project, whether it be through a recipe submission or a piece of advice.

I would love to see my Cornell peers engage with the cookbook by trying out the recipes, sharing their own favorite recipes with friends, or even submitting a recipe themselves for future editions! I hope that when Cornell students use this cookbook, they remember that they are not alone in their experience and that they think of each recipe as a sign of support from a fellow student. 

—By Emily Lui

Emily Lui is a 2026 graduate of Cornell Public Health’s Master of Public Health program.