Former Cornell fraternity member files lawsuit to overturn Title IX findings

A former member of Cornell University's Chi Phi fraternity has filed a lawsuit seeking to have the university’s Title IX findings and related disciplinary actions expunged from his academic record. The plaintiff, identified in court documents as John Doe, argues that Cornell violated its own policies by charging him with attempted sexual exploitation without giving him a proper opportunity to defend himself.

Doe contends that during the appeal hearing a panel member was distracted, participating in the Zoom testimony while driving a vehicle, which he says compromised the fairness of the process. The appeal panel rejected his argument, stating the distraction was brief and did not affect the overall hearing, and upheld the original decision on January 14, 2026.

The university’s original investigation, conducted under its Title IX policy (Policy 6.4), charged Doe with one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual exploitation related to an incident on October 20, 2024, in the fraternity house. While the hearing panel found him not responsible for sexual assault, it concluded he was responsible for attempted sexual exploitation, citing his entry into a room after receiving a Snapchat message indicating a sexual situation might be occurring.

Sanctions imposed included a one-way no-contact order, mandatory coursework on social-media use and sexual harassment, and a required reflection paper proposing educational materials on these topics. Doe’s lawsuit seeks a declaration that Cornell misapplied its policies, a vacating of all penalties, and the removal of any references to the charges from his academic record.

"Cornell cannot simply add on lesser-included offenses after the hearing is concluded," the filing states.

The case highlights ongoing disputes over university disciplinary procedures and the standards applied in Title IX investigations.