Cornell Student Files Lawsuit Alleging Gang Rape, Cites Lingering Trauma

A Cornell University student, identified as Jane Doe, has filed a lawsuit alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted over several hours during a party at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. The lawsuit claims that she was given alcohol and ketamine before the alleged attack, which involved seven then-Cornell students and Chi Phi members.

According to the complaint, during the alleged assault, one of the accused men sent a message to the fraternity's active-members Snapchat group stating there was ‘free p***y’ upstairs, referring to Doe. The lawsuit asserts that this message was intended to encourage other fraternity members to participate in what it describes as a gang rape.

Doe alleges that the attack concluded around 5:45 a.m. when she lost consciousness. Nearly three weeks later, on November 8, 2024, she reported the incident to Cornell University Police. The university subsequently suspended the Chi Phi fraternity's Xi chapter from campus and initiated a Title IX investigation. The lawsuit states that this investigation included at least 12 hearings in May 2025.

However, an investigation by the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office did not result in any criminal charges being filed against the accused students. An attorney for one of the defendants stated that his client was never contacted by law enforcement and asserted his client's innocence, claiming the evidence did not meet the standard for probable cause.

Doe's attorney, Thomas Giuffre, has expressed skepticism about the thoroughness of the criminal investigation, noting that law enforcement allegedly did not interview one of the accused men and questioning whether they were aware of the Snapchat message. Giuffre stated that the civil lawsuit is Doe's only remaining avenue for seeking accountability.

Giuffre described Doe as being deeply traumatized by the alleged attack, reporting that she struggles with anxiety, depression, and sleepless nights, and has been unable to return to her studies at Cornell. He highlighted that Doe, who came from a small town and achieved admission to an Ivy League university, has had her life significantly impacted, while the accused individuals are reportedly continuing their lives and studies.

Cornell University has stated that it takes allegations of sexual violence seriously and that the Chi Phi chapter remains barred from campus. The university indicated that privacy laws prevent the disclosure of disciplinary actions against individual students but noted that violations of university policies can lead to sanctions up to expulsion. The national office of Chi Phi has called the allegations concerning and affirmed that sexual violence is incompatible with their values.

Doe filed the lawsuit in New York, seeking accountability for the alleged assault. Her attorney emphasized that even a successful outcome in the civil suit cannot undo the alleged events or fully restore the life she had prior to the incident.