Cornell Title IX investigation reveals conflicting accounts in alleged fraternity gang rape
A former Cornell student alleges she was drugged and assaulted at a fraternity house, while several accused men dispute the claims; the university’s Title IX probe led to expulsions and a special prosecutor has been appointed for a renewed criminal review.
A former Cornell University student, identified in court filings as Jane Doe, has sued the university and seven former fraternity members, alleging she was given ketamine and other substances before being repeatedly assaulted at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. The woman reported the incident to campus police three weeks later, but the local district attorney declined to pursue criminal charges. The university’s Title IX investigation continued, producing a 99-page disciplinary report that was partially released in a lawsuit filed by one of the accused students.
The investigation included more than 50 interviews with 32 witnesses and a twelve-day hearing process. According to the documents, the woman initially consented to sexual activity with a fraternity member who had invited her, but later claimed she was pressured to ingest ketamine, marijuana and alcohol, leaving her unable to consent. She described feeling “like bait” and “like lions around me” during the encounter.
Several of the accused men provided differing accounts. One student said he entered the room briefly to check on the woman’s well-being and did not engage in sexual activity or drug use, asserting he never saw her naked. A disciplinary panel later cleared him of sexual assault but found him responsible for attempted sexual exploitation. Other men were accused of performing sex acts without consent, kissing the woman, or acting as voyeurs. The university’s findings led to expulsions for some students, while the man challenging his punishment was allowed to remain at Cornell under conditions that include a sexual-harassment course and a reflective paper.
In response to concerns about the handling of the case, Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to conduct a renewed criminal investigation, expressing a loss of confidence in the local district attorney. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and aims to hold all seven men liable for rape.