Investigation reopened into allegations of gang rape at Cornell University fraternity house | American universities

New York prosecutors announced Monday that they have reopened an investigation into the alleged gang rape of a Cornell University student after an outcry over the “leniency” shown by seven fraternity members named as the perpetrators.

According to lawyers for the student, who filed a civil suit against the university and her alleged attackers earlier in September, only two members of the Chi Phi fraternity were expelled after the October 2024 incident, in which she said she was drugged and repeatedly raped for seven hours.

None of the seven were arrested, they said, and the others were forced to write essays, participate in workshops or serve short suspensions.

On Monday, Tompkins County Prosecutor Matthew Van Houten said his office was reviewing the case after the woman, who was 20 at the time of the alleged assault, presented allegations in her trial that were “drastically different” from the statement she made to police two years ago.

“We intend to present the case to the Tompkins County grand jury with the cooperation of Jane Doe,” Van Houten told ABC News, using the name of the lawsuit to identify the woman.

“We want to reconsider whether there is additional evidence now that we were not aware of in November 2024 that would change our assessment of the case and lead the grand jury to conclude that there was criminal conduct.”

Outrage over the treatment of the alleged offenders has grown since the trial became public. The woman, who later dropped out of college, said she went to visit a friend at Chi Phi fraternity in an intoxicated state – and was forced to snort a drug she was told was ketamine.

While they were sexually assaulting her, she claims, a message was sent to a fraternity Snapchat group called Chi Phi Actives, which stated there was “a loose pussy upstairs.”

At least five other fraternity members showed up and joined in, she said, and her ordeal lasted until about 5:45 a.m. She made a report to campus police about three weeks later.

Cornell Vice President for University Relations Kyle Kimball issued a statement Sept. 21 calling the allegations “deeply troubling.” Kimball’s statement asserted that the Ivy League institution’s offices of Civil Rights, Student Conduct and Community Standards conducted a number of investigations at the time.

“The Xi Chapter of Chi Phi Fraternity remains excluded from our campus,” Kimball’s statement also said. “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.”

An attorney for the student told CBS News that none of the alleged perpetrators faced legal consequences for their conduct and that no one in the fraternity who saw the post did anything to stop the rapes from taking place.

“None of these guys have been arrested,” attorney Thomas Giuffra said. “Not one. That I can tell you with certainty.

“There were so many people who could have stopped it and they didn’t. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Giuffra also contradicted the statement by Van Houten, the Tompkins County district attorney, who laid out what he said the alleged victim said in her initial November 2024 police complaint.

“She never says she was drugged without her knowledge,” Van Houten said.

“She admits to using drugs and alcohol voluntarily and knowingly. She does not allege that she was forced to engage in any acts. She does not say that she was physically helpless, unconscious or incapacitated at any time during her stay at the fraternity house.”

Giuffra told ABC News that neither the prosecutor nor Cornell police ever followed up on his client.

“In my experience, speaking with an abuse survivor requires sensitivity, understanding and specialized training,” he said.

“An average college police officer would not have these skills. This would be the role of a specially trained detective or prosecutor. However, Ms. Doe has never been contacted by anyone with these skills.”

On Sunday, Oscar-nominated actress Florence Pugh posted a lengthy statement on Instagram about Giuffra’s client, praising the “incredibly powerful” victim and her “strong will.”

“This is truly the time when we need our men to be as horrified and sickened as we are,” Pugh wrote. “You need to have conversations, as much as we do, about how we change tolerance and complicity in this behavior. »

• Information and support for anyone affected by issues of rape or sexual abuse is available from the following organisations. In the United States, Rainn offers support at 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available on 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines are available at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html