A former Cornell University student who has accused seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity of sexually assaulting her at a party in October 2024 has dropped an individual from her ongoing civil lawsuit after mistakenly identifying him as the fraternity’s president.
The plaintiff, known as the “Cornell 7” Jane Doe, initially named Orazio Petito in her complaint filed last month. However, Petito, who was incorrectly listed as the chapter president, was not alleged to have participated in the assault. A court filing on Tuesday confirmed his removal from the lawsuit.
Petito’s attorney, Eric Bernstein, expressed satisfaction with the dismissal, stating that justice had been served. The true identity of the Chi Phi chapter president at the time of the incident has not been publicly confirmed.
The development comes amid growing scrutiny of Cornell University’s handling of the case. Jane Doe recently issued a letter criticizing the response of Cornell’s president, Michael Kotlikoff, to her reported assault. Kotlikoff acknowledged shortcomings during a meeting held last Wednesday but defended his overall leadership. Meanwhile, the university’s faculty Senate is debating a no-confidence resolution against Kotlikoff in connection with the matter.
The case continues to highlight ongoing challenges universities face in addressing allegations of sexual misconduct and ensuring accountability within their communities.