A 20-year-old former Cornell University student who alleges she was drugged and gang-raped at a campus fraternity house on October 19, 2024, has filed a civil lawsuit against the school and seven men, triggering an escalating legal battle and the appointment of a special prosecutor.
Cornell Disciplines Seven Men
The legal filing centers on an incident at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca, New York, on October 19, 2024. The plaintiff, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, subsequently dropped out of Cornell University.
Internal university disciplinary records obtained by the New York Times and published by Yahoo show that Cornell expelled two of the seven accused men. The remaining five received lesser penalties, including suspensions, mandatory sexual harassment workshops, and required reflection papers
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Police records indicate that campus law enforcement responded to the Chi Phi fraternity house shortly after 1 a.m. on October 19, 2024—just 22 hours prior to the alleged assault—and made a drug-related arrest while referring an individual to the university’s Office of Student Conduct.
The archived police log does not identify the individual or the specific substances involved, and Cornell University declined to comment on the matter.
Messages Revealed in Court
Evidence unsealed through the legal proceedings includes a photo of Jane Doe smiling with another man, which was shared in a Snapchat group chat with dozens of Chi Phi fraternity brothers on the night of the assault.
According to CBS News, the photo was preceded by a message from a fraternity member stating, Like you can walk in and whip it out.
Another member immediately asked if the shop still open?
to which someone responded, Yeah.
During a university hearing in May 2025, Jane Doe described her harrowing state that night, stating she felt like bait
and adding, I felt like lions around me. It just was a totally debilitating place to be in.
She recounted that multiple individuals entered and exited the room during the ordeal, describing her experience as feeling cornered and functioning as a sex doll before being ushered into a closet by two of the men, where she was in and out of consciousness during what she termed purely a rape.
Special Prosecutor Takes Over
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten initially reviewed the case in November 2024 and declined to bring criminal charges, arguing that Jane Doe’s initial six-page statement did not meet the legal definition of a crime. That decision brought public criticism, with observers noting prosecutors did not interview the victim or review full transcripts at the time.
Van Houten later stated he was not provided with a transcript of her November 14, 2024, police interview, where she asserted she could speak with 100 percent confidence that she was raped.
The Guardian reported that Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order naming state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to lead an active criminal investigation into the allegations.
Donald Trump publicly criticized the appointment of James, prompting attorney Thomas Giuffra to emphasize that the legal proceedings should not be politicized.
University Responds to Outcry
Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff addressed the controversy in a video message, stating that the institution will examine the role of fraternities and sororities on campus.
Kotlikoff acknowledged that while Greek organizations can offer friendship and mentorship, being part of a group can never diminish individual responsibility.
He added that the administration and community must do better in light of the profound outcry.
The unfolding case has exposed institutional vulnerabilities as the special prosecutor’s office prepares to interview witnesses and gather evidence, marked by fiery student town halls organized by groups such as the campus American Civil Liberties Union chapter.
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