Cornell University Sexual Assault Case Investigation and Legal Actions

Members of the Chi Phi fraternity shared a picture of the alleged victim on Snapchat during the night of the purported gang rape at Cornell University, according to social media evidence held by CBS News.

The photograph, provided by Jane Doe’s attorney, shows her smiling with another individual. This image circulated in a Snapchat group with numerous Chi Phi fraternity members on the night Jane Doe claims to have been assaulted at the Chi Phi house in October 2024.

Shortly before the image was shared, a group member commented, “Like you can walk in and whip it out.” Following the photo, another member queried, “Shop still open?” with a response affirming, “Yeah.”

The alleged victim, Jane Doe, who was 20 at the time, initiated a lawsuit against seven Cornell students and the university. Among the accused, two were expelled, another two received at least two-semester suspensions, one had graduated before disciplinary actions were taken, and two were found not liable for sexual misconduct, stated Cornell President Michael I. Kotlikoff on September 29. No arrests have been made.

Two accused individuals have refuted the allegations through their legal representatives. Others have not commented. The Chi Phi fraternity at Cornell was disbanded in 2024.

The Tompkins County District Attorney decided against filing charges initially but chose to reopen the case last month following the lawsuit. New York Governor Kathy Hochul subsequently appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor amid criticisms of the case management.

CBS News obtained results from Cornell University’s extensive Title IX investigation regarding the events of that night. At a university hearing in May 2025, Jane Doe, then a sophomore, expressed feeling “like bait.” She described her environment as “debilitating,” comparing herself to being surrounded by lions.

In her testimony to campus investigators, she stated she consumed ketamine, feeling as if “the lights are on, but nobody’s home,” suggesting impaired cognitive functioning.

CBS News New York reviewed extensive interview records with Jane Doe, 20 witnesses, and six of the accused men. There are conflicting narratives from both Jane Doe and the men involved, with some stating she did not appear intoxicated and provided consent. However, Jane Doe recalls a terrifying experience with multiple men entering and exiting the room, feeling “cornered,” and describing herself as “a sex doll for all intents and purposes.”

Later, she recounted being taken to a closet by two men, describing it as the worst moment, saying, “It was just raping,” and recalling lapses in consciousness.

According to the Title IX report, a student present at the fraternity house the night of the alleged assault received a call the next day from an accused man instructing her to ensure a friend “didn’t say anything she thinks might’ve happened last night.”

Days following the incident, Jane Doe mentioned receiving apologies from three of the accused men. Per an interview transcript, she collected evidence, including the dress worn that night. Two days post-assault, she sought treatment for a urinary tract infection at a campus clinic, per her lawsuit. Her attorney indicates she informed doctors it was acquired in a “traumatic way” but was advised to “speak with somebody” instead of receiving a rape kit referral.

During a heated town hall Thursday night, Cornell students demanded institutional reform. Jane Wang from the Cornell American Civil Liberties Union chapter remarked, “Survivors need to know that when they come forward with their stories, somebody will listen and a broader institution will act upon it. Through this event, we have witnessed the complete opposite.”