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Cornell 7

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Cornell 7 scandal
Chi Phi Lodge on a 1908 postcard; the building looks largely the same in the present day
Map
DateOctober 19–20, 2024 (incident)
September 2026 (lawsuit)
Location
ParticipantsJane Doe (unnamed female student), Cornell University, Chi Phi fraternity, Tompkins County District Attorney's Office
OutcomeActive; criminal investigation reopened for grand jury review
InquiriesCornell University Title IX office investigation
LitigationCivil lawsuit filed by Doe against Cornell University and seven Chi Phi members (ongoing)

The Cornell 7 refers to a group of seven Cornell University students and members of the university's Chi Phi chapter who are accused of drugging and gang-raping an unnamed female student, known as Jane Doe, in 2024.[1][2]

On September 14, 2026, Doe sued the university and seven male Chi Phi fraternity members, alleging that she was drugged and gang-raped on campus in 2024, and that Cornell failed to protect her or punish the perpetrators. Two of the seven students had been expelled following an internal investigation in 2024 and the remaining five were allegedly given an "opportunity to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays to Cornell," though Cornell has denied the latter.[3][4][5][1] Messages were allegedly sent in a Snapchat group named "Chi Phi Actives", while the female student was in the fraternity house, including "free pussy in alum pu" and "Shop still open?".[6][7]

The district attorney said he would consider presenting the case to a grand jury even though in 2024 he had declined to do so.[8] The DA's initial decision to decline to press charges was attributable to the female student's initial testimony in 2024 stating that "her participation" was "voluntary, conscious, and consensual."[9] The case was subsequently handled by Cornell's Title IX office, whose investigation, consisting of 12 panel hearings, culminated in the expulsion of two students and the Chi Phi chapter being closed in 2024.[8] Institutional Title IX offices typically do not have the legal authority to issue subpoenas for evidence or witness testimony to support their decision-making process, nor forward their evidence to higher legal authority.[10]

On September 28, 2026, prosecutors stated they would reopen the investigation.[11][12][13][14] The next day, New York Governor Kathy Hochul called for a transparent and independent review of Cornell's response.[11] Ithaca Mayor Robert G. Cantelmo called for an "immediate moratorium on all student event and special event permits"[15] due to the ongoing case of the Chi Phi gang-rape scandal.[16] The office of New York Attorney General Letitia James is reviewing the University’s response to the allegations.[17]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "'Cornell 7': What happened with the case? What to know as prosecutor reopens investigation". NBC Chicago. Associated Press. September 29, 2026. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Michigan man among 7 accused in alleged Cornell fraternity gang rape". www.msn.com.
  3. ↑ Fernández, Jasmine (September 28, 2026). "Ex-Cornell student sues fraternity members and college over alleged gang rape and claims several were punished with essay-writing". The Independent. Archived from the original on September 29, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  4. ↑ Kyc, Brandon (September 22, 2026). "Cornell University, fraternity sued by former student after alleged gang rape and drugging in 2024". WBNG. Archived from the original on September 28, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Former Cornell student sues school, frat members over rape allegations". CBS News. September 22, 2026. Archived from the original on September 28, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  6. ↑ Luscombe, Richard (September 29, 2026). "Texts about alleged Cornell gang-rape released after investigation reopened". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  7. ↑ Stechyson, Natalie (September 29, 2026). "What to know about Cornell's alleged frat house gang-rape case and the 'Cornell 7'". CBC News. Archived from the original on September 30, 2026. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  8. 1 2 Otterman, Sharon (September 29, 2026). "What We Know About the Cornell Rape Investigation". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 29, 2026. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  9. ↑ "District Attorney statement re: Jane Doe v. Cornell University, et al". Tompkins County, New York. September 28, 2026. Archived from the original on September 29, 2026. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  10. ↑ "The Title IX Process". Equal Rights Advocates. Archived from the original on June 25, 2026. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  11. 1 2 Papuckoski, Spiro (September 29, 2026). "New York governor calls for 'transparent, independent review' of Cornell rape allegations". Toronto Sun. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  12. ↑ Charalambous, Peter; Rubin, Olivia; Wilson, Courtney; Katersky, Aaron (September 29, 2026). "District attorney reopens case of alleged Cornell University 'gang rape'". ABC News. Archived from the original on September 29, 2026. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  13. ↑ Hussain, Zoe (September 27, 2026). "DA reopens probe into 7 Cornell frat bros who allegedly drugged, gang-raped student — and were given essay to 'mitigate conduct'". The New York Post. Archived from the original on September 29, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  14. ↑ Brooks, Abigail; Reiss, Adam; Lozano, Alicia Victoria (September 29, 2026). "Cornell rape accuser's attorney says the school and law enforcement failed a young woman". NBC News. Archived from the original on September 29, 2026. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Statement from Mayor Cantelmo on Campus Sexual Violence & Future Community Safety" (Press release). City of Ithaca. September 28, 2026. Archived from the original on September 29, 2026. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  16. ↑ Bhargava, Varsha (September 29, 2026). "Ithaca Mayor Calls for Moratorium on All Student Event Permits, Including Greek Life, Amid Chi Phi Lawsuit". The Cornell Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 29, 2026. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  17. ↑ Gainor, Danya; Yan, Holly (September 29, 2026). "New York attorney general to review Cornell's response to rape allegations as local DA reopens investigation". CNN.
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