New York officials and advocates are calling for an independent investigation into Cornell University’s handling of a 2024 sexual assault report involving a former student and members of the Chi Phi fraternity. The demands follow a civil lawsuit filed on September 16, 2026, by a woman identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was drugged and raped by seven men at the fraternity house in October 2024. New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have both called for outside counsel to review the university’s response, citing concerns over campus culture and transparency.
The civil complaint names more than a dozen defendants, including Cornell, the fraternity, and seven individual students. It alleges the victim was pressured into consuming ketamine while already intoxicated and was subsequently assaulted by multiple men who shared a Snapchat message inviting others to the room. Cornell University has defended its actions, stating it held 12 Title IX hearings and issued sanctions including suspensions and expulsions. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools that receive federal funding.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced on Monday, September 28, 2026, that his office would reopen the criminal case and present evidence to a grand jury. Van Houten had previously declined to bring charges in November 2024, stating the victim’s initial police statement described the encounters as consensual. However, he noted that the new civil complaint contains significantly different allegations. The Ithaca Police Department stated it only learned of the 2024 incident through recent media reports, as it was not reported to their agency at the time.
Internal Title IX records obtained by CBS News New York include testimony from a witness who alleged one of the accused men asked her to ensure others did not "say anything that she thinks might've happened." The records also indicate that while the university initially claimed to have shared all investigatory information with the district attorney, the prosecutor stated he only received a 2024 victim statement and a Snapchat video. Cornell has since updated its online information to clarify that it shared the victim's sworn statement and the screenshot.
The scale of the case involves seven named defendants and a 101-page civil complaint seeking unspecified monetary damages for negligence, breach of contract, and sexual assault. If a grand jury finds sufficient evidence, the seven men could face criminal charges carrying significant prison time under New York penal law. For the broader student body, the university's Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault, created in 2025, is currently implementing new safety recommendations on campus, though the specific day-to-day changes in security or reporting protocols have not been fully detailed to the public.
The next steps in the legal process include the grand jury review directed by District Attorney Van Houten. While no specific date for the grand jury proceeding was reported, Governor Hochul has also called for an independent review of the university’s obligations to protect students. The civil lawsuit filed by Jane Doe is pending in court, where a jury trial has been requested. Cornell University has stated it will not release its six-page internal report to the public, citing federal privacy laws, though it continues to defend its 2024 adjudication process as extensive.