Michael Smerconish Podcast - Cornell Scandal: Here's What Went Wrong
The allegations involving Cornell University's Chi Phi fraternity have sparked outrage, but are we overlooking a larger problem?
Michael Smerconish speaks with educational crisis consultant Hanna Stotland, who has worked with 363 students involved in campus sexual misconduct proceedings, including both accusers and accused students.
Stotland, who previously advised one of the seven defendants in the Cornell civil case, explains why she believes the public must distinguish between allegations and established facts while taking the seriousness of the accusations into account.
The conversation examines Cornell's Title IX proceedings, whether the identities of accused students should remain confidential before a verdict, and the limitations of campus investigations.
But Stotland argues there's another issue that deserves greater attention: excessive alcohol and drug consumption on college campuses.
She says substance use was involved in more than 90% of the campus sexual misconduct cases she has handled and believes universities need to confront dangerous drinking cultures without blaming victims.
Is the conversation surrounding Cornell focused on the right issues?
