Story perspectives

Cornell backs grand jury in 2024 Chi Phi assault probe

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 11:22 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Cornell Reopens Probe

Cornell University supports reopening the criminal probe into the 2024 Chi Phi assault.
A Title IX hearing panel expelled and suspended the accused students.
Cornell says the Chi Phi chapter closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced on September 28 2026 that evidence will go to a grand jury.
Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit on September 14 2026 alleging drugging and gang-rape on October 20 2024.

Summary

Morton Launches Allegations Site

Toby Morton, former South Park writer, launched TheCornell7.org to document assault allegations.
Morton bought dozens of domain names linked to the seven accused and plans nationwide billboards.
On September 27 Morton posted on Instagram that he has photos, documents and will verify identities before publishing.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned the case as evidence of a culture of rape protected by elite institutions.

History

Historical Context

When the U.S. Department of Education issued Title IX regulations in 1972, it mandated gender-equity enforcement across all federally funded educational programs. In 1991, the University of Virginia paid a $2.5 million settlement to 12 survivors after a Title IX discrimination lawsuit exposed systemic sexual assault. Today, Cornell University’s 2024 Chi Phi assault investigation, pursued by District Attorney Matthew Van Houten and publicized by activist Toby Morton, echoes the earlier university failures. The recurrence underscores Title IX’s unfinished mandate, prompting Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to demand stricter federal oversight and campus-wide accountability for future generations.

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Cornell Reopens Probe

Cornell University supports reopening the criminal probe into the 2024 Chi Phi assault.
A Title IX hearing panel expelled and suspended the accused students.
Cornell says the Chi Phi chapter closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced on September 28 2026 that evidence will go to a grand jury.
Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit on September 14 2026 alleging drugging and gang-rape on October 20 2024.

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