A lawsuit filed September 16th against Cornell University, the Chi Phi fraternity and seven of its members is raising hard questions about how colleges discipline sexual assault allegations. A former student identified as Jane Doe claims she was gang raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024 when she was 20 years old. According to the lawsuit, she was found unconscious around 5:45 a.m. She reported the incident to Cornell University Police in November 2024, which led to temporary suspensions and at least 12 Title IX hearings.
Of the seven fraternity members accused, only two were expelled. The lawsuit claims the others received lesser punishments, with some reportedly offered essay-writing to mitigate their conduct. Her attorney, Thomas Giuffra, says none of the men were arrested. Cornell maintains the allegations were investigated and the discipline followed university policy, and the Chi Phi Xi chapter remains barred from campus.
The criminal case may not be closed after all. The Tompkins County district attorney initially cited insufficient evidence for charges, but now says the plan is to reopen the investigation and present the case to a grand jury with Jane Doe’s cooperation. She is seeking damages from Cornell, the fraternity and the seven men named. What do you think real accountability should look like in a case like this? Let us know in the comments.
