Cornell students protest handling of sexual assault case involving former sorority resident

Students at Cornell University have organized a series of protests, including a seven-hour sit-in at the Toni Morrison Dining Hall, to demand an external investigation into the university’s handling of a civil lawsuit alleging a prolonged sexual assault at the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024. The plaintiff, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, claims she was drugged with ketamine and repeatedly assaulted by fraternity members after leaving a nearby sorority house.

The lawsuit also names the Tri Delta sorority, several local bars, and Cornell itself as defendants. According to the complaint, the assault lasted seven hours and was coordinated through a fraternity group chat. Doe reported the incident to the Cornell University Police Department, and the university subsequently suspended the seven accused students, expelled two, and shuttered the fraternity house.

Protest organizers, including student Emely Gutierrez, have called for the expulsion and revocation of degrees for the alleged assailants, independent hearings for sexual assault cases, an external review of university administration, mandatory training for campus police, and compliance with New York’s “Enough Is Enough” law governing campus assault policies. > "I think Cornell gets a lot of attention because it is Cornell, but this happens at every university," Gutierrez said.

The demonstrations have drawn participation from students, faculty, and community members, with some protesters urging the university to halt alumni donations until their demands are met. Faculty member Victoria Xaka, an associate professor of music, also joined the sit-in, citing concerns about broader institutional responses to student activism.

Cornell has previously faced multiple reports of drugging and sexual assault incidents involving fraternities. The university issued a multi-point response to the allegations but has not provided further comment to the press.

The protests occur amid ongoing national debates over Title IX policies, which were revised in 2020 under the Trump administration to raise the burden of proof for survivors and require live hearings with cross-examination. Critics argue that these changes have made it more difficult for victims to seek redress on campus.