2026-09-29 · Toronto Star
🔮 No student should ever be left wondering whether the institutions meant to protect them will listen and act.”
An email seeking comment was sent to Cornell on Tuesday.
Prosecutor defends decision not to bring charges
In several media interviews on Tuesday, Van Houten argued that while the male students involved did things that were “morally wrong,” the woman’s initial account of the incident to police didn’t include allegations that she was drugged, incapacitated beyond the ability to consent, or forced into sex.
“She went to the police because she knew it wasn’t right,” Van Houten told CNN. assertive