Email from Kara Miller McCarty regarding the extension of IFC activity suspension to the end of the Fall 2022 semester
On Wednesday morning, Cornell’s director of Sorority and Fraternity life—Kara Miller McCarty—sent an email addressed to “IFC chapter presidents and advisors.” Within, McCarty announced the extension of the earlier suspension of IFC activities through the end of the semester. “Due to the ongoing investigations of … drugging and sexual assault incidents” the suspension will “remain in place through the end of the fall semester.”
In the email obtained by the Review, McCarty stated that any Greek life organizations “noncompliant with this directive … will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards” for violations of the Student Code. Included in the cessation of activities are “fraternity parties and social events, including formals.”
The statement directed to IFC chapters insisted that, while disappointing, reinstating activity in the absence of “new measures that will ensure a safer environment” moving forward would be reckless. McCarty closed the email by encouraging officers and advisors to share any information related to the incidents of several weeks ago with the Cornell University Police Department.
The Interfraternity Council (IFC) had originally placed a pause on fraternity social events on November 7th, following a series of alleged druggings and sexual assaults. To date, the Cornell crime log shows seven incidents of drugging or sexual assault reported to the Cornell University Police Department between October 28th and November 19th. One incident report specifically mentioned the alleged use of Rohypnol, a powerful incapacitant.
According to the Crime Alert sent to the Cornell community via emergency email broadcast, four of the incidents occurred on the “800 block of University Avenue,” which is near the Theta Delta Chi Fraternity. The issue was brought up at a University Assembly meeting, where President Pollack expressed outrage at the assaults and disappointment in Cornell’s Fraternities. Numerous articles in the Cornell Daily Sun have attacked Greek Life at Cornell over the alleged assaults.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Cullen O’Hara also contributed to this reporting of this article.
