Fraternities have existed at university campuses across the US for decades and function as all-male social clubs where students live, study and socialise. Over the years, the groups have become notorious for binge-drinking, partying and dangerous hazing rituals.
In a statement, a lawyer representing Doe said she filed a civil lawsuit “to achieve her aim of improving Cornell and its response to abuse claims”.
“While the steps announced today are helpful to achieve this goal, they are too late to protect Ms Doe,” said lawyer Thomas Giuffra.
Cornell’s president said anyone who violated the new fraternity party policy at the New York university would be suspended.
The university also said it planned to improve support for survivors of sexual assault, including more staff to help people report sexual misconduct and navigate support systems as well.
Through Title IX, the federal law that governs how universities handle sexual assault claims, universities are required to provide measures of support to help survivors continue with their studies after assaults.
Doe’s lawyer has said she dropped out after the alleged assault. In an interview with the New York Times, published on Tuesday, Kotlikoff said he had only learned that Jane Doe had withdrawn from the university after she filed a legal case over the alleged assault last month.
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