One student accused in the Cornell University sexual assault case has transferred to Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Florida after being expelled from Cornell, raising concerns about the effectiveness of disciplinary information sharing between universities. Students at NSU have demanded the university expel the student, and voices in Congress are calling for the reintroduction of related legislation.
According to a report by the Washington Post on October 15, rumors began circulating on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram that a student involved in the Cornell sexual assault allegations had re-enrolled at NSU near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In response, NSU students protested and emailed President Harry Moon, urging him to expel the student.
In a statement to students on October 4, Moon acknowledged that a student who transferred to NSU may have been involved in the allegations from the October 2024 incident at Cornell. He added that the university was unaware of the allegations at the time of admission and took necessary actions to ensure the safety and welfare of students and the NSU community as soon as they became aware of the reported incident.
However, this controversy has raised questions about whether the system for sharing disciplinary records between universities is functioning properly. Internal documents obtained by the New York Times indicate that the student was expelled from Cornell after undergoing several months of internal investigation related to the sexual assault allegations.
New York state law requires universities to note any disciplinary actions, such as suspension or expulsion for sexual assault, on a student's transcript. However, even if such actions are recorded, the specific violations may not be detailed, meaning that the accepting university may need to request additional information.
Campus safety expert Daniel Carter told the Washington Post, "Given the lengthy investigation at Cornell, it is possible that the system did not work as intended." He suggested that the student may have applied to NSU while the disciplinary process at Cornell was still ongoing. If the application was submitted before the disciplinary action was finalized, it is possible that no relevant records were included on the transcript. He emphasized that in such cases, NSU should have requested additional information from Cornell.
Legislative discussions aimed at addressing these systemic gaps are gaining renewed attention. Jackie Speier, a former California congresswoman who served from 2008 to 2023, criticized that many institutions operate under a kind of unwritten rule that allows issues to be swept under the rug without accountability. She previously introduced the Safe Transfer Act in 2016, which would require universities to disclose disciplinary information related to sexual offenses to the accepting institution, but the bill failed to pass as Congress opted for the status quo.
Speier stated that she plans to reach out to former colleagues to request the reintroduction of the bill and will urge congressional leadership to consider it. She believes that if the Democrats gain a majority in the upcoming midterm elections, the bill could be passed.
The controversy stems from a group sexual assault incident that occurred in October 2024 at the Chi Phi fraternity at Cornell, where seven male students are accused of sexually assaulting a female student who was incapacitated by ketamine and alcohol. Local prosecutors did not pursue criminal charges after receiving the victim's report. However, following a civil lawsuit filed by the victim last month, questions about the handling of the case have arisen, leading to increased public criticism. In response, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Letitia James, the New York Attorney General, as a special prosecutor to initiate grand jury proceedings on October 1.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff announced additional measures, including a complete ban on fraternity parties and social events, amid growing criticism of the university's response to the incident. This case has sparked a broader debate within the U.S. higher education system regarding how disciplinary information should be communicated when students transfer to other institutions.
Additionally, the case has drawn significant attention in South Korea, as Winston Lee, a Korean student and grandson of former Prime Minister Lee Hong-koo, is reportedly one of the defendants.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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