Full Breakdown
Former Cornell Student Sues University and Chi Phi Fraternity Over Alleged 2024 Gang Rape
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Jane Doe, a 20-year-old former Cornell University student, filed a civil lawsuit in New York state court on September 16, alleging that seven members of the Xi chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity drugged and sexually assaulted her at the fraternity house in Ithaca on the night of October 19, 2024. The complaint names Cornell, the national Chi Phi organization, the seven accused students, a former chapter president, Tri Delta sorority, the Alpha Beta House Corporation, and a local nightclub as defendants. Doe asserts that the men pressured her to snort a substance they described as ketamine, administered marijuana and high-proof liquor, and continued the assault for several hours while she was severely impaired. She reports that a Snapchat message posted to the “Chi Phi Actives” group described her as “free p***y” and encouraged additional participants to join the assault.
Background & Context
Greek life at Cornell has faced scrutiny for alleged drug use and sexual misconduct. Prior to the October 2024 incident, the university received reports of drug-related activity at Chi Phi, prompting internal monitoring. After the alleged assault, Cornell temporarily suspended the fraternity and the seven students on November 8, 2024, the same day Doe filed a police report. The university launched a Title IX investigation that included at least 12 hearings in 2025 and concluded without public disclosure of individual outcomes. The Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the police investigation and declined to file criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence.
Data & Statistics
- Defendants: Seven current or former Chi Phi members, the national Chi Phi organization, Cornell University, Tri Delta sorority, Alpha Beta House Corporation, and an Ithaca nightclub.
- Disciplinary outcomes: According to Doe’s attorney, two of the accused were expelled, while the remaining five received suspensions or mandatory workshops.
- Survey findings: Cornell’s 2025 campus-climate survey reported that 35 % of undergraduate women respondents experienced non-consensual sexual contact, up from 23 % in the 2023 survey.
Official Statements & Responses
Cornell University said its Office of Civil Rights and Office of Student Conduct investigated the allegations consistent with university policy and that the Xi chapter of Chi Phi remains barred from campus. The university cited federal privacy law as the reason it cannot disclose individual disciplinary actions.
The national Chi Phi organization issued a statement condemning sexual violence, emphasizing its founding principles of “Truth, Honor, and Personal Integrity,” and noting that pending litigation limits further comment.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said the office conducted a thorough review of the police investigation but found insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.
Criticism & Opposition
Thomas Giuffra, representing Doe, criticized the university’s handling of the case, asserting that “Not one of these guys was arrested. Not one. That I can tell you for a fact,” and that “There were so many people that could have prevented it and they didn’t.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No criminal charges were filed, and the district attorney’s office has not released the evidentiary basis for its decision, leaving a gap in public understanding of why the investigation concluded without prosecution.
What’s Next
Cornell has indicated it will respond to the lawsuit through the legal process. The case proceeds under a preponderance-of-evidence standard, and the plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages, though the complaint does not specify an amount.