Cornell Student Described Fraternity Encounter as 'Coercion' in 2024 Police Statement

In a statement provided to campus police in November 2024, a Cornell University student described an encounter at the Chi Phi fraternity house as feeling like "coercion," according to documents obtained by ABC News. The student's sworn statement, dated Nov. 15, 2024, provides a detailed account of the events that she later characterized in a civil lawsuit as a "gang rape."

In her statement to police, the student did not use the term "rape" but recounted multiple instances where she declined to participate in specific sexual acts suggested by fraternity members. She stated that she said "no to the foursome" proposed by one brother and recalled a group of men entering a room where she was naked, prompting her to "squeal out loud and run across the room and hide under the covers on another bed."

The statement also noted her extreme intoxication during the incident, estimating her level at "8 out of 10." She stated, "I felt like I was unable to make any decision because of how intoxicated I was." This level of intoxication, she wrote, made the situation feel like coercion, and she believed the fraternity members should have recognized her state.

The student's statement to police was a key factor in the Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten's decision not to pursue criminal charges in 2024. In a recent interview, Van Houten described the allegations as "morally disturbing" but stated that the student's 2024 account suggested she consented to the sexual activity and did not withdraw consent. He added that when she raised concerns, the fraternity members stopped their actions.

The only instance the word "rape" appeared in the student's 2024 statement was in reference to her motive for taking an additional dose of ketamine. She stated, "My thought was that if I passed out and these men had sex with me, then they could be charged with Rape."

She also recounted being asked by a group of men to snort ketamine off her body, to which she responded "Sure" due to extreme tiredness. She described men pouring "various things" over her body, unable to identify them as she covered her face.

Upon waking the following morning, the student learned that the events at the Chi Phi house had become widely known. She stated friends informed her that fraternity members were bragging about an "eightsome" with her, with rumors circulating that as many as ten people were involved.

The civil lawsuit, filed earlier this month, alleges that the woman was drugged, assaulted, and gang-raped by seven current and former members of the Chi Phi fraternity at Cornell. The lawsuit has generated significant public outcry and calls for an independent investigation.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has since reopened the criminal case, noting that the allegations in the civil lawsuit differ significantly from the student's 2024 statement to police. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has also called for an external investigation into Cornell University's campus culture and its handling of the student's allegations.

The Cornell chapter of Chi Phi was suspended from campus following the alleged incident on Oct. 19, 2024. The university stated that its Office of Civil Rights and Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards investigated the allegations under Title IX policies. The university reported that the investigation, which included hearings with faculty and staff, resulted in sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions. Cornell has stated it is committed to learning from the incident and preventing future occurrences. Attorneys for the fraternity brothers named in the civil lawsuit have denied the allegations.