Cornell students reveal heart-wrenching sex assault ordeals at emotional campus meeting: ‘I am also speaking as Jane Doe’

Cornell students reveal heart-wrenching sex assault ordeals at emotional campus meeting: ‘I am also speaking as Jane Doe’ Speakers criticized the university’s leadership, called for changes in its handling of complaints, and voiced anger over fraternity culture - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Cornell University students shared emotional testimony about sexual assault at a town hall Thursday, as a civil lawsuit alleging that a woman was gang-raped on campus thrust the Ivy League school into the national spotlight. Around 100 students, family members and faculty filled an auditorium on the Ithaca campus for the public forum. Speakers criticized the university’s leadership, called for changes in its handling of complaints, voiced anger over fraternity culture, and recounted their own painful experiences with sexual violence. Some shared accounts of their own sexual assaults. “I am also speaking as Jane Doe,” one woman said. A civil lawsuit — filed last month by a plaintiff identified only as Jane Doe — alleges that a group of fraternity members gang-raped her in October 2024, when she was a 20-year-old sophomore. The lawsuit says she was drunk, drugged and unable to consent. None of the seven men named in the suit has been criminally charged. All have denied wrongdoing. Developments in the case have moved swiftly this week: After initially declining to pursue criminal charges, the local district attorney’s office reopened its investigation. On Friday, NY Governor Kathy Hochul appointed state Attorney General Letitia James to lead the case, who said it is now an “active criminal investigation.” Also this week, documents obtained from Cornell’s own Title IX investigation revealed how Jane Doe’s perception of what occurred at the October fraternity party changed over time — and newly uncovered messages show how fraternity members talked about Jane Doe. At the town hall Thursday, some of which was off the record, attendees who opted to speak publicly expressed being overwhelmed with a range of emotions. “We demand accountability, full support for students, appropriate disciplinary action for those involved and transparency from Cornell administration,” one student said, according to CBS News footage. “I cannot pretend this is a normal Thursday,” Sophia Riley, a junior, said during the town hall, according to The New York Times. “I cried about it then, and I’m still equally devastated now.” “We’re absolutely ashamed of the events that happened on campus,” Eeshaan Chaudhuri, the student body president, said. “I think we’ve made it abundantly clear for the past couple of days that we as a campus community stand with victims of sexual violence.” Others voiced anger over fraternity culture and shared accounts of their own sexual assaults. “I am also speaking as Jane Doe,” one woman said. At one point in the forum, a Cornell junior Jane Wang came forward and said that she had also reported a sexual assault on campus and was dismayed by the school’s Title IX process. “When I filed my Title IX case in the midst of all of my mental, physical and emotional recovery from the assault, I was also met with an abundance of paperwork, very little instruction on how to navigate it and no follow-up from our Title IX office of an outcome,” Wang said, according to the Times. She added that students will only feel comfortable reporting instances of assault if they are confident the university will take action. “Through this event, we have witnessed the complete opposite,” she said. Cornell launched its own months-long investigation after Jane Doe spoke to police in November 2024. The process resulted in suspensions and expulsions for students involved in the case. The fraternity was also closed. “Any suggestion that the University did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false,” the university said in a statement this week. “A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault.” Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said that his office declined to bring charges in 2024 because Jane Doe’s statement to police did not allege that she was unable to consent or had been drugged without her knowledge. “She admits to taking drugs and alcohol voluntarily and with knowledge,” Van Houten said. “She does not allege that she was forced to engage in any acts.” On Friday, Kathy Hochul said local prosecutors and police “failed” the accuser. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments