ITHACA, N.Y. — Hundreds of Cornell University students and faculty gathered Monday to protest the university’s handling of a 2024 sexual assault allegation involving members of the Chi Phi fraternity. The demonstration followed overnight vandalism at the university’s main administration building, Day Hall, where glass doors were broken and graffiti condemning the university and the fraternity system was painted.
The allegation centers on a woman identified in court documents as Jane Doe, who alleges she was coerced into drug use and alcohol consumption at a Chi Phi fraternity party in October 2024 before being sexually assaulted by multiple men over several hours. The woman filed a lawsuit last month against several former students, the fraternity, Cornell University, and other parties. According to the suit, one man sent a message inviting others to participate in the assault. The accused men have denied the allegations, and no criminal charges have been filed to date.
The university suspended the Chi Phi fraternity chapter, expelled two students in 2025, suspended others, and took additional disciplinary actions against several accused individuals. Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff released a video apology Saturday acknowledging the “heartbreaking and troubling issues” raised by the case and expressed support for an independent review of the university’s response. His statement challenged narratives suggesting minimal consequences, affirming that sanctions had been imposed.
Despite these measures, students and faculty expressed widespread dissatisfaction with the university’s handling of the case. Protesters condemned what they described as the prioritization of the institution’s reputation over survivor support and safety. Many called for the abolition of fraternities, the establishment of minimum sanctions, clearer timelines for investigations, and improvements in trauma-informed training for university police. Speakers also demanded the reinstatement of an independent judicial system removed during the pandemic, which previously oversaw disciplinary matters outside of university administrators’ control.
Governor Kathy Hochul publicly criticized both Cornell’s police and the local district attorney’s office, appointing the state attorney general to lead a criminal investigation after the initial prosecutor reopened but then did not pursue charges. Students expressed frustration over perceived lapses by law enforcement and university officials, as well as the continued presence of some accused individuals on campus.
Student-led groups, including Students for a Democratic Cornell, organized Monday’s “Justice for Survivors” protest, which saw participants wearing purple ribbons and carrying signs bearing slogans such as “Support survivors, expel rapists” and “Justice 4 every Jane Doe.” The protest was largely peaceful, though a masked individual attempted to damage the administration building’s doors during the march before being restrained by organizers.
The unrest marks one of several actions planned on campus this week, including a campus-wide town hall and a seven-hour sit-in scheduled by student organizations in solidarity with sexual assault survivors. The administration has acknowledged the community’s frustration but condemned the vandalism, pledging to address it through university channels and applicable law.
The incident, officials and students agree, has spotlighted broader concerns about fraternity culture and institutional responses to sexual assault, prompting ongoing debate about policy reforms and accountability measures at Cornell University.