Anger at Cornell University after abuse allegations

Claus Hecking, SPIEGEL:

"I'm standing here in the rooms of Cornell University and a large student meeting has just taken place in the room, and you can see that the initial shock at these revelations is increasingly giving way to a wave of anger."

Eeshaan Chaudhuri, Chairman of the Student Council:

“The way students interact with one another must change profoundly, especially in student associations.”

Claus Hecking, SPIEGEL:

»The students are particularly angry at three groups: firstly, at the young men who may have abused the young woman. Secondly: on the university management, because the university management initially reacted very hesitantly and, among other things, forced the young men to write essays about their behavior. The university management now says that other punitive measures have also been taken. She doesn’t say what they are.”

Eeshaan Chaudhuri, Chairman of the Student Council:

"But honestly, I don't think that really plays a role in this case, and I think the more important question is why it got so bad in the first place and what we can do now to change this culture here on campus."

Claus Hecking, SPIEGEL:

»Thirdly, the anger is also directed against the judiciary. There was an investigator here who was presented with the files two years ago and who decided not to pursue the case because he said that Jane Doe, the young woman, had stated that at the beginning of that night the sexual acts were consensual and that she had agreed to them. But the young lady also said two years ago that towards the end of these sexual acts, when more men joined in, it felt like rape. And he still didn't start the investigation.

Then you also have to know that a survey was carried out here in 2025. 15 percent of participants said they had ever witnessed non-consensual sexual acts. This means that one in seven people has witnessed such non-consensual sexual acts. What's next? It may well be that the young men get away with it unpunished because they claim, probably across the board, that it was consensual. Jane Doe claims it was non-consensual. Then it may be a case of statement against statement unless further evidence emerges. A demonstration is planned here for Monday. Now the students want to take to the streets in large numbers and express their outrage.”