Cornell students rally over alleged sexual assault case

Students at Cornell University in New York held a large campus rally on Monday in support of a student who has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by several fraternity members.

The demonstration called for stronger measures against sexual violence and greater accountability in the university’s handling of assault complaints. Students and supporters also demanded an independent review of the administration’s response to the case, independent hearings and consistent disciplinary measures for sexual assault allegations.

The student, identified in legal proceedings by the pseudonym Jane Doe, has accused members of the Chi Phi fraternity of sexually assaulting her after she allegedly became incapacitated by drugs and alcohol in October 2024. She was 20 at the time.

Doe later reported the incident to police. The complaint prompted investigations by both university officials and law enforcement, but prosecutors initially decided not to file criminal charges.

She filed a lawsuit last month against seven fraternity members as well as the fraternity chapter, a local bar, her sorority and Cornell University. The defendants have denied wrongdoing, with some maintaining that the sexual activity was consensual and others disputing their involvement.

Cornell has defended its handling of the case. The university closed the Chi Phi chapter and imposed disciplinary measures on students involved, including expulsions and other penalties.

Protesters, however, criticized some of the disciplinary procedures and called for students found responsible for the alleged assault to face expulsion or have their degrees revoked.

Several hundred students, faculty members and community activists took part in the march, with organizers estimating that the crowd reached around 1,000 people. Demonstrators chanted slogans calling for justice and carried signs supporting survivors of sexual violence.

The protest ended outside Cornell’s main administration building. Earlier in the day, unknown individuals damaged two glass panels at the building’s entrance and spray-painted messages criticizing the university’s handling of sexual assault allegations.

The case has drawn renewed attention after New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to oversee a reopened criminal investigation. Hochul said she was concerned about how the original investigation had been handled.

The controversy has also generated widespread discussion online, including support for Doe and criticism from people who have questioned the decision to keep her identity private.

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff has said the university will examine the role of fraternities and sororities on campus and stressed that membership in an organization does not remove individual responsibility for misconduct.