NY Prosecutors Reopen Cornell University Rape Inquiry
The state is reopening a criminal inquiry into an alleged 2024 rape at Cornell University, a case that has drawn widespread public attention and criticism of the university's response.
New York state prosecutors have announced they will reopen a criminal inquiry into an alleged rape at Cornell University that occurred in 2024. The woman involved, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, claims in a lawsuit that seven men from the university's Chi Phi fraternity chapter assaulted her. The alleged assault involved alcohol and the drug ketamine.
The case was previously investigated by university police. It will now proceed to a grand jury. The incident has garnered significant attention online, with many public figures, including actress Florence Pugh, expressing outrage over the university's reported disciplinary actions.
Nada Tawfik, BBC North American correspondent, and Tracey Vitchers, Executive Director of It's On Us, a non-profit organization focused on college sexual assault prevention, discussed the case with Anita Rani. It's On Us works to prevent sexual assault on college campuses.
Separately, the program also addressed the recent death of broadcaster and campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen, 86. Rantzen was known for hosting the BBC television program "That's Life." She also founded Childline, a telephone helpline for children facing abuse or neglect, and actively advocated for older people and assisted dying. Guardian journalist Zoe Williams reflected on Rantzen's life and her influence on women.
Additionally, the broadcast touched upon Australia's new Endometriosis Management Plan, which aims to enhance the role of general practitioners and patients in managing endometriosis. Professor Danielle Mazza from Monash University, who was involved in developing the plan, spoke with Dr. Sylvia Kama-Kieghe, a GP in Sheffield and Vice President of Membership and Workforce at the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, about potential benefits for the UK.
Finally, the program examined a resurgence in the popularity of sunbeds, which some experts believe is contributing to a rise in skin cancer cases, particularly among young people. Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is now among the most common cancers in individuals aged 15 to 34 in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK. Research from the Teenage Cancer Trust indicates that approximately 48% of UK adults aged 18 to 34 use sunbeds, the highest proportion of any age group. Marine Saint, an Observer journalist, and Rosie Vare from the Teenage Cancer Trust provided insights into this trend.