A former Cornell University student who alleged she was gang-raped in 2024 stated she felt "unsupported and disbelieved" by the school's president, Michael Kotlikoff, according to a letter she sent to the faculty senate.

The student, identified as Jane Doe, shared a second-hand account of a conversation President Kotlikoff had with her sorority president shortly after Doe reported the alleged assault to campus police. This account emerged as the faculty senate was set to consider a resolution of no confidence in Kotlikoff and the university administration.

According to Doe's letter, obtained by ABC News, President Kotlikoff's initial remark about her report was along the lines of, "Why did she wait so long to report it?" Doe stated that her sorority sister interpreted this question as an expression of doubt regarding the veracity of her story. The alleged assault occurred over the night of October 19-20, 2024, and Doe reported it to campus police on November 8, 2024.

When the Tri Delta President relayed Kotlikoff's question, Jane Doe wrote in her letter, "I felt unsupported and disbelieved by President Kotlikoff." She added that it diminished her confidence in the administration's ability to handle her experience with the "understanding, sensitivity, and fairness" she expected from her "dream school."

A spokesperson for Cornell University disputed the characterization of President Kotlikoff's remark in Doe's letter. The university stated that the question "why did it take so long for the assault to be reported" was directed at bystanders who had not used Cornell's anonymous tip line, despite social media activity about the incident in October 2024. The spokesperson asserted that Kotlikoff was not questioning Jane Doe's reporting and that the letter's account was incorrect, based on a documented first-hand account from a January 2025 meeting.

Jane Doe, now 22 and who has since dropped out of Cornell, stated in her letter that she wanted to share the information for awareness, without offering an opinion on how the faculty senate should vote on the no-confidence resolution. She emphasized the importance of the Faculty Senate being aware of the letter for an informed decision.

Doe has filed a civil suit against the individuals accused of the assault and the university, alleging she was drugged and raped. The seven fraternity brothers named in the suit have denied any wrongdoing, and no criminal charges have been filed in the case to date. The incident has also drawn attention through chalk messages on campus, with phrases like "1300 reports in residence halls" and "No Justice" appearing in October 2026.

This situation highlights ongoing concerns about campus safety and the administration's response to allegations of sexual assault, as reflected in the faculty senate's consideration of a no-confidence vote. The differing accounts of Kotlikoff's statements underscore the complexities and sensitivities surrounding such investigations and the trust placed in university leadership.