Ithaca Mayor Moves to Halt City Permits for Cornell Student Events Over Sexual Assault Response

Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo is seeking to halt city permits for Cornell University student events, including Greek life gatherings, as scrutiny intensifies over the university’s handling of sexual assault allegations involving members of the Chi Phi fraternity.

Cantelmo announced the proposed moratorium on September 28, 2026, calling for all student event and special event permits to be suspended until Cornell reviews its protocols for preventing and responding to sexual violence and publicly releases new safety standards. The measure requires approval from the Ithaca Common Council before it can take effect.

The proposal extends beyond the fraternity at the center of the allegations. If approved, the moratorium could affect city permits for events organized by other Cornell student groups, broadening its reach across the university community.

In announcing the measure, Cantelmo said Cornell administrators and campus police failed to contact or coordinate with the Ithaca Police Department after the allegations were reported. He also accused the university of failing to adequately hold those involved accountable.

Ithaca controls municipal permits required for certain events, giving city officials authority over whether affected student gatherings can proceed. Several Common Council members have indicated that they would support the moratorium, according to The Cornell Daily Sun, while others said they wanted additional information before taking a position.

The latest action follows a civil lawsuit filed September 14 by a former Cornell student identified as Jane Doe. She accuses seven current or former students of drugging and sexually assaulting her at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. The complaint also names Cornell, fraternity organizations, and other defendants and alleges institutional failures surrounding the incident. The allegations remain unproven in court, and no criminal charges have been filed against the seven men.

That lawsuit has already prompted Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten to reopen the criminal investigation and announce plans to present the allegations to a grand jury. Van Houten has said the civil complaint contains an account that differs substantially from information authorities received in 2024, a characterization Jane Doe’s attorneys dispute.

University officials have rejected Cantelmo’s assertion that Cornell failed to hold students accountable. Cornell says its investigation resulted in sanctions including expulsions and suspensions, while the Chi Phi chapter has remained barred from campus since 2024.

The university had also begun a broader examination of campus sexual violence before the current lawsuit was filed. Its Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault issued final recommendations on March 17 addressing prevention, student resources, communications and physical safety after a campus survey showed increases across measures of sexual assault and misconduct.

The dispute over Cornell’s response has now expanded beyond Ithaca.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday called for outside counsel to conduct a “transparent, independent review” of the university’s handling of the allegations and its broader systems for preventing and responding to sexual violence.

Hochul said the review should examine whether Cornell met its obligations to protect students and pursue accountability. Cornell said it shares the governor’s concerns about campus safety and will continue working with state officials.

The Common Council must approve Cantelmo’s proposal before Ithaca can suspend the affected permits. If adopted, the moratorium could reach student organizations beyond Chi Phi and remain in place until Cornell completes the review demanded by the mayor and publicly releases new standards for campus and community safety.