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Ithaca’s Common Council voted Thursday to require Cornell University to forward all sexual‑assault investigations to the Ithaca Police Department. The motion came after a former student told a reporter she was gang‑raped on campus, but the university’s internal investigation never shared the details with local law enforcement. The council’s resolution, passed by a 7‑to‑2 margin, mandates that Cornell report such cases within 48 hours of an internal inquiry and cooperate fully with police investigations.

The decision reflects growing pressure on colleges to align their safety protocols with community standards. Ithaca has a history of campus‑related crime complaints, and the city’s police have long argued that they should be involved in serious sexual‑violence cases. The university’s policy, which has traditionally kept most investigations within campus jurisdiction, has been criticized for lack of transparency and for potentially shielding perpetrators. The resolution also taps into national scrutiny after the 2019 “Harvard scandal” and the 2021 “UCLA” campus‑police debate, where universities faced backlash for inadequate reporting and cooperation with police.

Under the new rule, Cornell must submit a written report to the police within 48 hours of any internal investigation into sexual assault and share all evidence, including victim statements and forensic findings. The university’s legal counsel said the policy will be reviewed for compliance with Title IX and state law. Students and faculty groups welcomed the move, saying it will help victims feel safer and hold offenders accountable. Some faculty members cautioned that the change could strain the university’s resources and create bureaucratic delays. City officials emphasized that the measure would not replace campus police but would provide an additional layer of oversight.

If approved, Cornell will begin the reporting process next month, with a pilot phase that includes training for campus officers and a joint task force with Ithaca Police. The university’s administration has indicated it will work with the city to refine the protocol. The resolution could set a precedent for other universities in upstate New York and beyond. The outcome will be watched closely as higher‑education institutions grapple with balancing campus autonomy against community safety and the legal obligation to report violent crimes.