A New York state judge has allowed a woman filing a lawsuit alleging she was gang-raped by Cornell University students to continue using a pseudonym to protect her identity. Judge Phaedra Perry-Bond ruled on Friday that the woman’s privacy and safety concerns outweigh the public’s interest in disclosing her real name during court proceedings.
The plaintiff, referred to by the placeholder name “Jane Doe,” alleges that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple students at a fraternity house at the university in 2024. At the time of the incident, she was 20 years old. The lawsuit was filed on September 16, which led prosecutors to reopen a criminal investigation that had previously been closed without charges.
The woman's lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, has indicated that she has faced threats since coming forward with her allegations. The defendants have not opposed the request for anonymity, allowing the plaintiff to maintain confidentiality as the case progresses. In her ruling, Judge Perry-Bond noted that some individuals had actively sought to identify Jane Doe and warned that cyberstalking, threats, or encouraging such behavior across state lines could constitute federal crimes subject to prosecution.
The case has sparked significant unrest on Cornell’s Ithaca campus. Earlier this month, mass protests called attention to concerns over how university officials handled the allegations. Demonstrators expressed frustration with the institution’s response, demanding the resignation of Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff. Protesters carried signs with messages such as “Ban the frats,” “At Cornell, rapists are safer than women,” and “Stop rape culture,” while chanting slogans including “Kotlikoff, resign!”
The campus unrest highlights ongoing national debates about sexual assault on college campuses, fraternity culture, and institutional accountability. University officials have yet to comment publicly on the judge’s ruling or the protests that have unfolded in its wake. The legal proceedings stemming from the allegations are expected to continue in the coming months.