‘Support survivors,’ Cornell students rally for ‘Jane Doe’
The protest followed a lawsuit filed last month by Jane Doe, who alleged that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by several members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024 after becoming incapacitated. Doe reported the alleged assault to Cornell police in November 2024. ABC News reported Monday that Doe had recorded a phone call with one of the men she accused before approaching Cornell police.
The university has said some students were expelled and others received suspensions or other disciplinary measures. During the call, she challenged him over what she said had happened, telling him, “What y’all did would be classified as gang rape.” The protesters called for an independent inquiry into Cornell’s response, uniform minimum sanctions for sexual assault cases, independent hearings and better training for campus police. Some also demanded the resignation of university president Michael Kotlikoff and other administrators. No criminal charges were filed at the time, though Cornell conducted its own investigation and later shut down the Chi Phi chapter.
The case has drawn renewed scrutiny after New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to take over a reopened criminal investigation. Hochul has also called for an independent review of Cornell’s handling of the case. The investigation into the allegations remains ongoing.