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The Cornell University gang rape case in the United States has attracted much attention, and the New York State prosecutor has decided to reopen a criminal investigation.
The incident occurred in 2024, when a female student at the school reported to the university police that she was drugged and gang-raped in a fraternity house on campus.
The female victim filed a civil lawsuit against the Ivy League school on September 16 this year, claiming that Cornell University failed to protect her and failed to appropriately punish the man involved.
The men are known as the "Cornell Seven" and the woman is referred to as "Jane Doe" in court documents.
Cornell University said it supports submitting the case to a grand jury for consideration, but denied outside accusations that the school failed to punish those involved. The school has also agreed to have independent investigators review the case.
Here's what's known so far.
What accusations does she make?
In a 101-page civil lawsuit, the woman alleged that on the evening of October 19, 2024, seven men from Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity chapter raped her for several hours in an incident involving alcohol and ketamine.
At the time of the incident, she was a 20-year-old undergraduate student at Cornell University.
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Jane Doe said in the lawsuit that she was intoxicated and incapable of giving consent during the alleged incident.
She said she left after drinking with sorority members that night and "stumbled alone" to the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca to meet a male friend.
The lawsuit alleges sexual assault and battery, negligence, breach of contract and violations of the New York State Human Rights Law.
The defendants include universities, fraternities and sororities, as well as men allegedly involved in the incident.
The lawsuit includes a screenshot purportedly from a fraternity group chat in which a member used vulgar language to warn other members that Jane Doe might have sexual contact with someone.
Her lawyer said that in the days after the alleged assault she was "traumatized, numb and unable to function normally or come to terms with the horror of her experience". She reported the crime to Cornell University police on November 8, 2024.
Public outrage has grown in recent weeks after Jane Doe's lawsuit alleges that the school gave the man involved "an opportunity to mitigate the consequences of his actions by submitting an essay."
Jane Doe's attorney said two of those involved have been fired. He told CBS the woman had dropped out of school after the alleged assault.
The editorial board of the Cornell Daily Sun published an article titled "Cornell Won't, We Will" on September 21, disclosing the names of the defendants in the lawsuit, triggering a strong backlash on social media.
What is the content of fraternity Snapchat and text messages?
Cornell University said the Cornell University Police Department submitted a screenshot of a Snapchat group called "Chi Phi Actives" to prosecutors in November 2024 as evidence.
Group member names are displayed in the conversation. According to the screenshot, shortly before 2 a.m. on October 20, 2024, members discussed the possibility of a "free" sexual encounter with Jane Doe in vulgar language.
CBS News New York also published additional excerpts of text messages allegedly exchanged between one of the defendants and a woman who appeared to be making the accusation.
The messages were reportedly sent two days after the alleged rape.
In one message, a man appeared to apologize "for the way things went down."
He said his memory was "a little fuzzy" and he and the other man both felt guilty because they were too drunk at the time to "stop things and get the other guys out" before it got out of hand.
In the text message, the woman replied that her memory was "very blurry" and that everyone was drunk at the time.
She also wrote that "nothing sexual is illegal" and said she enjoyed spending time with him and another man.
Jane Doe also suggested that the two smoke marijuana together some other time, but without "five billion other men and ketamine."
How did Cornell University respond?
The woman said she reported the incident to Cornell University police two weeks after it occurred.
Soon after, Cornell issued a public statement regarding "serious and deeply disturbing allegations of substance abuse and sexual violence within the Chi Phi fraternity house."
The school said campus police are investigating and have suspended the local chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity, as well as "several students."
Cornell University also said it has launched an internal investigation and a civil rights investigation under Title IX. The legislation prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex at schools that receive federal funding, including most universities.
The latest lawsuit comes as the school disputes Jane Doe's allegations that the university failed to adequately investigate or punish alleged perpetrators.
The school said in a statement that the case had been reviewed by a "team of trained faculty and staff" and a "range of sanctions, including expulsion and suspension" had been imposed.
Cornell University did not deny that some of the people involved were punished, including for writing the article. The school said: "Of all the people accused, no one involved only wrote articles as the only disciplinary measure."
Cornell issued a statement on Tuesday (September 29) saying that after the school received relevant reports, it had implemented "temporary suspension and other restrictive measures."
The school also stated that the incident that occurred on campus in 2024 was "shocking at the time and still is today." "We are making every effort to build a culture that will not tolerate sexual misconduct."
On Wednesday (September 30), Governor Hochul said she had spoken to the university president, who agreed to conduct an "independent external investigation" into the incident.
"They understand the importance of this matter," Huo Chu posted on the social platform X, adding: "This culture must stop." Cornell University confirmed to the BBC that it would conduct an independent investigation.
The Xi chapter of Chi Phi fraternity was shut down in 2024 and is still banned from campus.
How did the fraternity respond?
Jane Doe names the Chi Phi fraternity as a defendant in her civil lawsuit, alleging that she suffered physical and emotional harm as a result of her actions.
Chi Phi fraternity interim executive director Trey Robb said in a statement that the organization has expelled the accused member of the Cornell University chapter.
"Our records confirm that just three days after 'Jane Doe' reported the incident to police, the fraternity's Xi chapter voted unanimously to remove the accused member," Robb said.
"The chapter also recommended that the national fraternity permanently expel them, and our General Council subsequently made this decision at a meeting."
Robb said the fraternity "does not comment on matters pending before the courts or under investigation."
Why was the case reinvestigated?
The Tompkins County District Attorney said on Monday (September 28) that his office will reopen a criminal investigation into the alleged sexual assault.
Prosecutor Matthew Van Houten said that once appropriate charges are determined, the case will be handled by the grand jury in the "most objective and fair manner."
In the U.S. judicial system, prosecutors convene a grand jury to review evidence and testimony and decide whether there is sufficient basis for criminal charges.
The prosecutor said that at the time of the case two years ago, his office determined that the victim's statements to law enforcement did not meet the legal threshold required to file criminal charges.
He said he had contacted Jane Doe and her attorney to obtain more information before preparing to submit the case to the grand jury.
In a statement, prosecutor Van Houten outlined a statement Jane Doe made to the Cornell University Police Department after the alleged attack in 2024, noting that its contents differed from the allegations in the lawsuit.
"Jane Doe's sworn statement in November 2024 did not allege that she was drugged against her will or that she was sexually assaulted in a group," Van Houten said in a statement on Monday.
"In contrast, Jane Doe's statement described her participation in drug use and sexual activity as consensual, sober and consensual conduct," he said.
A spokesperson for Cornell University told the BBC that the school's police department submitted a "detailed police investigation report" to the Tompkins County District Attorney's Office.
The latest reports reveal information Jane Doe provided to Cornell University police after the incident.
The BBC has contacted prosecutor Van Houten's office and Jane Doe's lawyer.
Van Houten told CBS News that he had never seen the transcript of the campus police interview before.
He also told the New York Times on Wednesday that he wanted to talk to Jane Doe "to discuss the new evidence that has become available."
Van Houten told the New York Times that he did not believe the allegations in the civil lawsuit met the legal threshold for criminal prosecution.
"The importance of this is that she believes a crime was committed and we want to find out the truth," he said.
If you feel distressed, hopeless, and in need of support, please consider seeking help from a medical professional or support organization. If you are in the UK, you can visit BBC Action Line.
Other support organization information:
Mainland China (+86): All-China Women’s Federation hotline 12338; White Ribbon charity hotline 4000110391
Taiwan (+886): Ministry of Health and Welfare Protective Services Department Hotline 113; Modern Women’s Foundation Taipei Sexual Assault Prevention Service Hotline (02) 77285098 Extension 7
Hong Kong (+852): Feng Yulan hotline 2375 5322; Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Chi Ruo Yuan 18281; Caritas Bright Sky Project 3104 1221
Macau (+853): Anglican Communion 24-hour Sexual Assault Support and Counseling Hotline 6533 9608
AI Disclaimer
We used artificial intelligence to help translate this article, which is originally in English. Before publication, BBC reporters checked the translated content.
