Former Cornell student sues his fraternity and college members for alleged gang rape, claims several were punished by writing essay
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A former Cornell University student is suing the university and seven male fraternity members, alleging she was drugged and gang raped for hours during 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 that the assault took place in October 2024 at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca, New York.
According to documents obtained by The IndependentJane Doe was 20 years old at the time and a member of a campus sorority. The suit alleges she was visiting a friend at home and was intoxicated when two students pressured her into snorting a substance they claimed was ketamine.
The lawsuit says that after an initial sexual assault, one of the men sent a message to the fraternity’s active group chat on Snapchat, saying there was “free p****” and inviting other members to join. Several male students arrived later and Doe was assaulted for hours by seven of them, according to the complaint.
The filing details explicit abuse, including men snorting lines of ketamine on 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 sorority’s state and local chapter. It also names two local bar associations 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 on the Snapchat thread, one of the accused members allegedly sent a message celebrating the encounter, writing: “I 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 the university’s response was sorely lacking.
Giuffra said The Independent that graduating from Cornell was his client’s dream since 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 proof of their cruelty.
“The arrogance and cruelty of these men was demonstrated in the fraternity group’s message sent to each fraternity member urging them to rape Ms. Doe,” Giuffra said. “It’s truly disheartening that no one tried to help him and that 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, mandatory workshops, or essay writing assignments.
Court records show that around November 8, 2024, temporary suspensions were issued to several male students who “were given the opportunity to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays to CORNELL.”
Giuffra cited law enforcement failures, explaining that Doe never received a call back from the Cornell Police Department after filing his initial report.
“Based on the evidence from the group chat, it was evident that the complaint warranted an investigation and criminal charges against the perpetrators involved,” Giuffra said. The Independent. “Instead, Ms. Doe heard nothing.”
The Tompkins County Prosecutor’s Office said that after conducting “a thorough review of the police investigation,” officials determined “there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges.”
The lawsuit has drawn sharp criticism of the university’s handling of sexual misconduct cases, particularly given previous police responses to drug-related incidents reported at the fraternity house shortly before the alleged assault.
In an editorial published by Cornell’s Daily Sunthe student newspaper’s editorial board condemned the administration’s response, questioning why students accused of serious misconduct were allowed to write essays as part of their discipline.
“Approaching sexual assault as an academic matter – with its tables, facts and figures – offers no respite to victims who have suffered physical and mental violence. » The Sun wrote. “Academic ‘solutions,’ such as trials, that were allegedly offered to defendants to mitigate their suspensions downplay the seriousness of the crime. »
The editorial board also highlighted institutional delays and lacks of transparency, noting that a task force convened by the university months after the incident did little to address systemic risks.
“Only those who commit sexual violence benefit from their cover-up. » The Sun cited in 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.
“Cornell’s Office for Civil Rights and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards investigated and adjudicated the allegations in accordance with university policies,” the university said. “The Xi Chapter of Chi Phi Fraternity remains excluded from our campus. Federal privacy law prohibits Cornell from disclosing specific information regarding individual students and we are therefore unable to make a public statement on any further disciplinary response.
“Violations of university policies could result in sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion. We will respond in detail through the legal process.”
Chi Phi National Headquarters 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 to build better men, call on every brother to demonstrate character through his actions and to respect the dignity and safety of others. Sexual violence is fundamentally inconsistent with these expectations.
“We are aware of the lawsuit regarding an alleged incident that occurred in 2024. Although we cannot discuss the specific allegations during ongoing litigation, we take this matter seriously.”
Doe, who dropped out of college following the incident, is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, alleging breach of contract, negligence, negligent supervision, premises liability and violations of state law.
Giuffra said that although Doe voluntarily participated in the university’s Title IX investigation, the institution’s response left him with no alternative.
“The anemic response led her to conclude that the only path to justice was to take legal action against the parties involved,” Giuffra said.
Following the filing of the complaint, an employer associated with one of the accused students addressed the allegations on social media on September 27, stating that it was aware of the situation, actively reviewing its status and investigating whether company standards had been violated.
The Independent has contacted Cornell University for further comment.
For those affected by rape or sexual abuse, if you are in the United States, you can call Rainn at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
Rape Crisis also offers support. You can call them at 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.
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