Cornell Defends Handling of Rape Allegations, Criticizes Accuser

Cornell University has issued a strong defense of its disciplinary actions concerning allegations of rape against seven fraternity brothers, directly challenging the accuser's assertion that the students faced only minor consequences, such as writing essays. The university stated that none of the accused were offered essay-writing as a sole punishment.

In a statement released Monday, Cornell declared its support for the district attorney's decision to launch a new criminal investigation into the alleged incident and to present the case to a grand jury. However, the university also sharply criticized the accuser's lawsuit, deeming it "irresponsible" for suggesting that the accused fraternity members received minimal repercussions.

"A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault," the university's statement read. It further claimed that some of the students involved faced suspension and expulsion following an internal disciplinary review.

This stance marks a shift from a previous statement by the university, which had cited federal privacy law as a reason for not commenting publicly on disciplinary outcomes. While Cornell now acknowledges that some students were expelled, it has not disclosed the exact number of expelled students versus those suspended, nor has it confirmed whether any of the accused are still enrolled in classes. The university did not respond to further questions seeking clarification on these points.

The accuser filed a civil lawsuit against the seven fraternity brothers after the district attorney's office initially declined to press charges.

![A phone screen displaying an alleged Chi Phi fraternity group chat discussing "free py."]( "A phone screen displaying an alleged Chi Phi fraternity group chat discussing "free py."")