Alumni are considering withdrawing financial support, celebrities are withdrawing their endorsements, and individuals are boycotting organizations linked to an alleged gang rape incident at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., which has caused a stir online. The case gained attention when the victim, identified as Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit on Sept. 16, accusing the prestigious Ivy League institution of shielding seven men, referred to as the “Cornell 7,” who she claims drugged and assaulted her at a fraternity house in October 2024.
According to the lawsuit, the assault occurred at the Chi Phi Fraternity house on campus, with one of the fraternity brothers allegedly sending a Snapchat message inviting others to join them for “free pussy.” The accused were reportedly given temporary suspensions and asked to write essays to address their behavior, a claim Cornell disputes.
Despite no criminal charges being filed against the fraternity members, the case has sparked online outrage, drawing parallels to last year’s Hockey Canada sexual assault trial in London, Ont., where all five players were acquitted.
The Tompkins County district attorney announced on Monday the reopening of the investigation. Cornell supported this decision but refuted the allegations made in the lawsuit regarding the university’s response to the accused. The university clarified that the Chi Phi chapter on campus was shut down in 2024 and remains banned.
The lawsuit details the events of the night of Oct. 19, 2024, when Jane Doe, intoxicated after consuming alcohol, was allegedly assaulted at the fraternity house. The suit claims she was coerced into drug use and sexual acts without her consent, resulting in physical and psychological harm. She reported the incident to the campus police a few weeks later.
The backlash online has been swift, with alumni urging each other to halt donations and individuals denouncing acceptance offers from the university. Celebrities, including actors and a former South Park writer, have condemned the alleged assault and criticized the university’s handling of the situation.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke out against what she described as a “culture of rape” at elite institutions while addressing the incident at a town hall in Ithaca.
Cornell University stated that it had conducted its own investigation and imposed sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions, on the students involved. The university denied offering the accused the opportunity to write essays as a consequence of their actions.
The district attorney explained that the initial investigation did not lead to criminal charges as the victim’s initial statement did not mention gang rape or drugging. Jane Doe’s lawyer criticized the university police investigation, highlighting the lack of contact with trained investigators, while the accused men have sought legal representation and denied the allegations.
