Cornell University temporarily suspended several fraternities due to anonymous hazing allegations. Which fraternities were suspended was not disclosed by the school.
Cornell has a long history of a fraternity system that dates back to 1868, Cornell’s first year of operation. About 30% of Cornell students join Greek organizations. Each fraternity operates independently, with the right to select its own members. Each fraternity also answers to an alumni corporation, and in most cases, to a national fraternity office.
The fraternities have joined together to address common interests in an Interfraternity Council (IFC). The IFC, in turn, participates in a national North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) that has a large professional staff to monitor and advise each campus’ IFC. In recent years, NIC has caused controversy by recognizing and supporting IFCs that are independent from their host institutions, such as at Duke and the University of Southern California.
Cornell operates an Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life (OSFL) to coordinate between Cornell and the fraternities and sororities. Currently, there are three vacancies in that office, including the Director and Associate Director.
OSFL is funded in part by an endowment donated by various fraternity alumni. OSFL also regulates sororities as well as Multicultural Fraternal Organizations, which are fraternities or sororities that focus upon Latino, Black, or Asian-American associations.
OSFL requires each chapter to file “new member education plans” which is a detailed plan for the four-week long onboarding process. Each chapter’s plan is reviewed by the fraternity’s live-in advisor, alumni advisor, national office, and an OSFL staff member.
In addition to this high degree of supervision, and mandatory anti-hazing training, Cornell operates a hotline to receive anonymous hazing complaints.
Hazing is a crime in New York State. The Campus Code of Conduct that was in effect until August 2021 defined hazing in a manner very similar to New York law. However, the new Student Code of Conduct adopted a much broader and subjective definition of hazing to include “any activity that could reasonably be perceived as likely to create a risk of mental, physical, or emotional distress or harm.”
The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) is responsible for investigating hazing allegations. Within a two day period this semester, OSCCS received anonymous hazing allegations about five different houses and have since received anonymous allegations about two others.
Based on these anonymous contacts, OSCCS has temporarily suspended seven different houses. During the suspensions, members can continue to live in the house and operate their meal plans, but cannot have other activities, including the onboarding of new members or allowing those joining freshmen to use the fraternity meal plan for which they paid.
The fraternities suspended were all members of the Cornell IFC. No sororities or multicultural fraternal organizations were suspended.
Speaking to the Review, a university spokesman stated that, “Cornell University does not tolerate hazing or other forms of mentally and physically coercive activities. When the University receives reports that concern the health and safety of our students, we must take them seriously and act swiftly. During this time, organizations on temporary suspension are required to pause all activity.”
Cornell University Media Relations confirmed the suspension, also noting that “the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards [has begun investigating] hazing allegations.”
The OSCCS can only impose temporary suspensions if a heavy burden is met. The Code Procedures require:
Since the underlying allegation of prohibited conduct has not yet been adjudicated on the merits, a Temporary Suspension may be imposed only when available less restrictive measures are reasonably deemed insufficient to protect the Complainant or the University community. Further, the form of Temporary Suspension imposed shall be the least restrictive option that reasonably affords the necessary protections.
All allegations, whether anonymous or not, must be proven at a hearing following due process. All accused persons or organizations are presumed innocent.
This is hardly the first instance of alleged misbehavior from Cornell’s greek life institutions in recent years. Most infamously, then-Cornell freshman Anthony Tsialas ‘23 died in October 2019 after an alleged hazing incident. In November 2022, all fraternity activities were shut down after several sexual assault complaints.
Following each instance, Cornell amended its fraternity policies and – in many cases – issued yearslong suspensions for the offending organizations.
