A lawsuit filed last month has brought renewed national attention to allegations of a sexual assault involving seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity at Cornell University. The accuser, identified only as “Jane Doe” in court documents, claims she was sexually assaulted in October 2024 during an incident that unfolded over several hours at the fraternity house in Ithaca, New York.
According to the civil complaint, Jane Doe, then a 20-year-old sophomore, had spent the evening at local bars with sorority sisters before arriving at the Chi Phi house in an intoxicated state. The lawsuit alleges that after agreeing to a threesome with two fraternity members she considered friends, Doe was pressured into consuming additional alcohol and drugs, including ketamine and marijuana, which she said left her unable to consent or escape. It further alleges that following this, several fraternity members sexually assaulted her over the course of the night. Evidence cited in the complaint includes Snapchat messages among fraternity members that appeared to encourage and coordinate the assault. One message read, “Free p---y upstairs,” while another said, “Shop still open?”
Following the incident, Doe reported to Cornell campus police in November 2024 and underwent a Title IX investigation, which resulted in a range of sanctions against some of the implicated students, including suspensions and expulsions. The Chi Phi fraternity’s Xi chapter was suspended and remains barred from campus, with the national fraternity expelling the accused members. Cornell University has stated that it conducted a thorough investigation and imposed consequential disciplinary actions in line with federal regulations.
Despite these actions, the case initially did not result in criminal charges. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten declined to prosecute in 2024, citing an absence of sufficient evidence at the time and stating that key pieces of information, such as the Snapchat messages, had not been provided to his office. Van Houten also noted that Jane Doe’s initial police statement described voluntary participation in drug use and sexual conduct. However, transcripts and interviews released later indicate that Doe experienced significant trauma, memory gaps, and asserted that she was raped. The complexity of delayed victim reporting and evolving understanding of the assault was acknowledged by Van Houten.
The case intensified public scrutiny after Jane Doe filed the civil lawsuit, prompting New York Governor Kathy Hochul to appoint Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor, citing loss of confidence in the local district attorney’s handling of the case. The special prosecutor’s office has pledged to conduct a comprehensive investigation and pursue charges if warranted.
Students and community members at Cornell have expressed deep outrage over the allegations and the university’s response. Protests and public forums have highlighted broader concerns about campus culture and sexual violence. A 2025 survey at Cornell indicated that 35% of undergraduate women reported experiencing non-consensual sexual contact, up from 23% the previous year. Campus leaders and advocacy groups are calling for increased transparency and accountability.
Cornell has announced plans to review and strengthen its policies related to sexual misconduct. At the same time, the civil lawsuit filed by Jane Doe is proceeding independently of the criminal investigation, providing a legal avenue for seeking accountability and damages.
The unfolding case continues to raise questions about institutional responses, legal standards for prosecution, and the broader context of sexual violence within collegiate fraternities.