Ex-Cornell student sues fraternity members and college over alleged gang rape and claims several were punished with essay-writing

Ex-Cornell student sues fraternity members and college over alleged gang rape and claims several were punished with essay-writing WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT: Civil lawsuit alleges that an hours-long sexual assault inside a fraternity house resulted in no criminal charges as campus police, local bars and Greek organizations face claims of systemic negligence - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in A former Cornell University student is suing the college and seven male fraternity members, alleging she was drugged and gang-raped for hours in a brutal attack, and that the university failed to protect her or adequately punish those responsible. In a 101-page civil complaint, filed September 14 in New York County Supreme Court, the plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, alleges the assault occurred in October 2024 at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca, New York. According to the documents, obtained by The Independent, Jane Doe was 20 years old at the time and a member of a campus sorority. The suit alleges she was visiting a friend at the house and was intoxicated when two male students pressured her into snorting a substance they claimed was ketamine. The lawsuit states that after an initial sexual assault, one of the men sent a message to the fraternity’s active Snapchat group chat stating there was “free p****” and inviting additional members to join. Multiple male students later arrived, and Doe was subjected to an hours-long assault by seven of them, according to the complaint. The filing details graphic abuse including men snorting lines of ketamine off her body, moving her between rooms, and continuing to rape and sexually assault her while she was incapacitated, before she finally lost consciousness around 5:45 a.m. The lawsuit identifies the alleged perpetrators and the national and local sorority chapter. It also names two local bars, and several university-affiliated individuals as co-defendants for their alleged roles in failing to monitor, supervise or protect the plaintiff. As the exchange unfolded in the Snapchat thread, one of the accused members allegedly sent a message celebrating the encounter, writing: “I f****** love chi phi.” Doe reported the incident to the Cornell University Police Department approximately three weeks later on November 8, 2024. An internal Title IX investigation was launched in January 2025, and at least 12 hearings followed. But Doe’s attorney Thomas Giuffra said that the university’s response was severely lacking. Giuffra told The Independent that graduating from Cornell was his client’s dream from childhood after years of hard work. “Her dreams were destroyed by a group of men who sought to abuse and humiliate her,” Giuffra said. “She was subjected to unspeakable horrors that I have not seen in my 30 years of handling abuse cases.” He pointed to the fraternity’s group chat messages as evidence of their cruelty. “The arrogance and cruelty of these men was demonstrated in the fraternity group message which went to every single member of the fraternity inviting them to rape Ms. Doe,” Giuffra said. “It is truly disheartening that nobody tried to help her and instead laughing comments were made. The lack of humanity displayed was surprising for a group of men who are supposed to be the best and brightest.” Of the seven male students named in the civil filing, only two were ultimately expelled by Cornell, according to Doe’s legal team. The remaining students received lesser administrative sanctions, such as temporary suspensions, required workshops or essay-writing assignments. Court filings show that around November 8, 2024, temporary suspensions were issued for several male students who “were afforded the opportunity to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays to CORNELL.” Giuffra also pointed to a series of law enforcement failures in Doe’s case, noting that she never received a call back from the Cornell Police Department for further information after filing her report. “Based on the group chat evidence, it was obvious that the complaint warranted an investigation and criminal charges against the involved abusers,” Giuffra told The Independent. “Instead Ms. Doe heard nothing.” The Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office stated that after conducting “a thorough review of the police investigation,” officials determined “there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges.” The lawsuit has drawn intense criticism toward the university’s handling of sexual misconduct cases, particularly given prior police responses to drug-related incidents reported at the fraternity house shortly before the alleged assault. In an editorial published by The Cornell Daily Sun, the student newspaper’s editorial board condemned the administration’s response, questioning why students accused of severe misconduct were allowed to write essays as part of their discipline. “Tackling sexual assault as an academic matter — complete with its charts and facts and figures — offers no respite to the victims who have undergone physical and mental abuse,” The Sun wrote. “Academic ‘solutions,’ like the essays, allegedly offered to the defendants to mitigate their suspensions, is belittling to the severity of the crime.” The editorial board also pointed to institutional delays and transparency failures, noting that a task force convened by the university months after the incident did little to address systemic risks. “Only those who perpetrate sexual violence benefit from its concealment,” The Sun quoted from a November 2024 university letter, adding that “Cornell has failed to protect its students.” In a September 21 statement, Cornell University defended its administrative procedures and cited federal privacy laws regarding student records. “The Cornell Office of Civil Rights and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards investigated and adjudicated the allegations consistent with university policies,” the university said. “The Xi chapter of Chi Phi fraternity remains barred from our campus. Federal privacy law prohibits Cornell from disclosing specific information regarding individual students and we therefore are unable to make a public statement on any other disciplinary response. “Violations of university policies could lead to sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion. We will respond in detail through the legal process.” The national headquarters of Chi Phi also addressed the lawsuit in a statement to CBS News, calling the allegations “deeply concerning.” “Chi Phi unequivocally condemns sexual violence,” the organization said. “Our founding principles of Truth, Honor, and Personal Integrity, and our mission of Building Better Men, call on every brother to demonstrate character through his actions and respect for the dignity and safety of others. Sexual violence is fundamentally incompatible with those expectations. “We are aware of the lawsuit concerning an alleged incident in 2024. While we cannot discuss the specific allegations during pending litigation, we take this matter seriously.” Doe, who dropped out of the university following the incident, is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive monetary damages, alleging breach of contract, negligence, negligent supervision, premises liability and state law violations. Though she voluntarily participated in the university’s Title IX investigation, Giuffra said the outcome left her with no alternative. “The anemic response led her to conclude that the only avenue for justice was to file a lawsuit against the involved parties,” Giuffra said. Following the filing of the lawsuit, an employer associated with one of the accused students addressed the allegations on social media on September 27, stating they were aware of the situation, actively reviewing his status and investigating whether any company standards were violated. The Independent has contacted Cornell University for further comment. For those affected by rape and sexual abuse, if you are in the United States, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673). Rape Crisis also offers support.You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments