New York state prosecutors have reopened an investigation into an alleged rape at Cornell University in 2024. The development follows a civil lawsuit filed by a woman against the Ivy League institution on September 16. In her lawsuit, she claims she was drugged and assaulted at a fraternity house on campus.
The woman also alleged that Cornell University failed to provide adequate protection and did not sufficiently punish those involved in the incident. In response, Cornell has stated that it supported presenting the case to a grand jury. The university has also rejected the claims that it failed to punish the individuals implicated in the assault as "false."
Students in Washington D.C. expressed shock and concern when asked by the BBC about the allegations and the reopening of the investigation. The BBC spoke with several students about the details emerging from the case, including the alleged drugging and assault at a fraternity house.