One of the most upsetting news stories affecting America right now is the case of the anonymous Jane Doe who recently sued Cornell University, claiming that she was gang raped at a fraternity party in 2024 and that the university failed to protect her or hold her alleged attackers accountable. After Jane Doe filed this lawsuit, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul called for an independent review of the college’s response, appointing state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor. As a result of this story, the student-run Cornell Concert Commission canceled a planned comeback concert with Los Angeles-based alternative pop duo Between Friends.
Jane Doe reported the attack to police and university authorities in 2024, resulting in the fraternity being banned and two of its members expelled. But other alleged participants only had to take classes and write reflection papers. Based on a summary of Doe’s claims from campus police, Tompkins County Prosecutor Matthew Van Houten decided not to pursue criminal charges. Last month, prosecutors reopened the investigation. The story has become a subject of culture war around issues such as sexual consent, campus drunkenness and elite institutions operating with impunity.
Last week, like Cornell’s Daily Sun According to reports, the Common Council of the City of Ithaca, New York, has voted to place a temporary moratorium on all event permits for Cornell and its affiliated student organizations. The move reportedly aims to pressure Cornell to change how it handles sexual misconduct complaints. This is expected to last until November 5.
The Cornell Concert Commission had previously announced plans to host an event on October 17, headlined by a Between Friends DJ set. Sibling duo Brandon and Savannah Hudson have gained streaming popularity since competing on America’s Got Talent in 2013 and released their debut EP in 2018, and they have opened for artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Grey. Last year, the Cornell Concert Commission booked Ravyn Lenae for the same event, and it had about 1,500 attendees, according to Cornell’s Daily Sun.
On Friday, the Cornell Concert Commission announced it was canceling the Between Friends show. (Scott Lapatine of Stereogum is a Cornell alumnus who was part of the Concert Commission as a student.) In its announcement on Instagram, the Concert Commission wrote: “The Cornell Concert Commission is a student-run organization, and as students, we stand with Jane Doe and all survivors of sexual violence…It is essential that we stand up for and advocate for those who have been failed by the university administration.” They say they are “working to create a charity concert supporting sexual violence prevention and showcasing the talents of our own community, featuring student bands and DJs.”
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