Cornell University trustees have hired former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and her team at King & Spalding to conduct an independent review of how the university prevents and responds to sexual misconduct.
The trustees announced the review October 6. It includes Cornell’s response to allegations involving a woman identified as Jane Doe and members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024, including whether the university followed its policies and procedures.
The mandate also extends beyond that case. Trustees say the team will review university policies, student support, investigative and adjudicative processes, discipline, staffing and resources. It will also examine relationships with outside support organizations and coordination with law enforcement.
Yates and the firm will report their findings and recommendations directly to a special committee of trustees chaired by Anne Meinig Smalling. Cornell says the review will operate independently and the university will provide access to relevant records, personnel and leadership, consistent with law and privacy requirements.
The review will assess Cornell’s practices against applicable federal and state requirements and recognized practices in higher education. Trustees say the purpose is to examine the university’s response to allegations and identify improvements in prevention, support and institutional oversight.
Yates is a longtime federal prosecutor and former acting U.S. attorney general. She previously led U.S. Soccer’s independent investigation into allegations of abusive behavior and sexual misconduct in women’s professional soccer.
The committee has asked for the review to be conducted thoroughly and as quickly as possible. The board intends to share findings and recommendations with the Cornell community; the statement does not announce a completion date.
