Robert Cantelmo

The Ithaca Common Council voted 9-1 Wednesday in favor of a moratorium on permits for certain Cornell University and student events.

The action was proposed by Mayor Robert Cantelmo following revelations about the handling of an allegation of gang rape by fraternity members at a campus party in 2024.

Before the council voted, about a dozen residents spoke about the proposal.

Cecily Cox is concerned the proposal is too broad.

The Yates investigation felt closer to being genuinely independent, but still did not address faculty and student concerns, according to Bateman.

"I, I don't know Sally Yates," he said, "but it doesn't look like it's gonna be an investigation that is run by people, including faculty, who have a deep understanding of how universities ought to run, rather than simply how a large organization ought to respond." Ithaca's mayor, Robert G.

Cantelmo, has slammed the university for failing to loop in local police and adequately discipline the alleged perpetrators, calling the school's response appalling in a statement.

"This is a miscarriage of justice and continues to pose a significant threat to students and residents who may be victimized at unsafe and under-monitored on or off-campus student events," Cantelmo said, calling for a ban on student and special event permits until the school's sexual violence policies are updated.

Yeah.

So that local response, you know, from Mayor Robert Cantelmo, he's also come in with a policy proposal.

So he proposed an immediate moratorium on city permits for student events.

Some of these larger events, like these big parties that fraternities hold, they require a permit from the city.

And about 20 states have this loophole.

Also, the mayor of Ithaca, Robert Cantelmo, in a statement released last week, has proposed imposing suspension of Greek life—that's fraternities—and other student events, saying, despite the severity of these crimes, Cornell University administrators and police failed to contact or coordinate any response with the Ithaca Police Department.

Furthermore, the university failed to hold the perpetrators to account.

Contrast that with Cornell University and the president breaking his silence this weekend and saying he supports an independent investigation?

And about 20 states have this loophole.

Also, the mayor of Ithaca, uh, Robert Cantelmo, in a statement released last week, has proposed imposing suspension of Greek life, that's fraternities, and other student events saying, "Despite the severity of these crimes, Cornell University administrators and police failed to contact or coordinate any response with the Ithaca Police Department.

Furthermore, the university failed to hold the perpetrators to account." Contrast that with Cornell University and the president breaking his silence this weekend and saying he supports an independent investigation.

Well, I think the case has brought back to the surface the culture of impunity on college campuses and, and beyond.

And about 20 states have this loophole.

Also, the mayor of Ithaca, Robert Cantelmo, in a statement released last week, has proposed imposing suspension of Greek life—that's fraternities—and other student events, saying, despite the severity of these crimes, Cornell University administration police failed to contact or coordinate any response with the Ithaca Police Department.

Furthermore, the university failed to hold the perpetrators to account.

Contrast that with— with Cornell University and the president breaking his silence this weekend and saying he supports an independent investigation.