A 20-year-old Cornell University student alleges she was drugged and gang-raped over several hours at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024, sparking a reopened criminal investigation and national outrage. The case, involving seven men dubbed “the Cornell 7,” centers on a lawsuit detailing sexual assault, drug use, and alleged dismissive university responses.
The Allegations in the Lawsuit
Jane Doe, identified in court documents, claims she was intoxicated and drugged with ketamine at the Chi Phi fraternity house on October 19, 2024, after arriving to visit a friend. The lawsuit alleges she was pressured to snort ketamine, plied with cannabis and rum, and sexually assaulted without consent. Multiple fraternity members allegedly entered the room, with one sending a Snapchat message referencing “free pussy” at 1:42 a.m. The incident allegedly lasted until 5:45 a.m., with the woman alleging repeated sexual acts while incapacitated.
She alleges two men took her to another room, where they allegedly assaulted her again. The incident began around 1:40 a.m. and ended just before 6 a.m. on October 20, according to the suit. Doe reported the incident to campus police on November 8, claiming her attackers were merely suspended before being allowed to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays.
University and DA Responses
Cornell University stated in a statement that the Chi Phi chapter was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus. Kyle Kimball, vice-president for university relations, called claims of inadequate punishment “false,” emphasizing the fraternity’s closure.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced a reopened investigation, stating the case would be reviewed by a grand jury. He cited a 2024 campus police statement from Jane Doe that did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang-raped,
though the lawsuit disputes this. Van Houten said the case would be prosecuted in the most objective and impartial means available.
The review follows pressure from alumni threatening to withdraw funding and public backlash over the university’s actions.
Conflicting Accounts and Legal Proceedings
The lawsuit alleges Doe was visibly intoxicated
after consuming about 10 standard drinks and that a nightclub served her alcohol despite marking her hand as underage. Doe’s attorney argues the university and prosecutors ignored key evidence, while the district attorney’s office maintains the initial investigation lacked sufficient claims of non-consensual drug use.
Alumni are threatening to pull funding, celebrities are lashing out, and people are boycotting institutions associated with an alleged gang rape at Cornell University.
The Cornell case raises questions that go far beyond the alleged sexual assault itself,
said Sarah Klein, a prominent civil attorney who specializes in representing survivors of sexual abuse. A photo of a portion of the chat is included in the filing, showing the message referencing “free p–sy.”
The Tompkins County grand jury will determine whether to pursue criminal charges against the seven men. The lawsuit seeks damages for negligence, breach of contract, sexual assault and battery, and violations of New York’s Human Rights Law.