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NY Prosecutors Reopen Cornell Fraternity Assault Case, Seek Grand Jury

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 10:21 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

NY Prosecutors Reopen Case

New York prosecutors reopened the criminal investigation into the 2024 Cornell fraternity assault.
Jane Doe filed a September civil lawsuit alleging she was drugged and raped.
Seven Chi Phi members are defendants.
Cornell’s Title IX hearing panel expelled two students and suspended the remaining defendants.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten plans to present the case to a grand jury within 45 days.

Summary

Mayor Calls Moratorium

A petition demanding Cornell’s accountability gathered 104,572 signatures in two days.
Ithaca Mayor Robert G. Cantelmo called for a temporary moratorium on Greek life gatherings.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned a ‘culture of rape’ at elite universities during an Ithaca town hall.
Actress Mariska Hargitay and Joyful Heart Foundation issued a statement supporting the survivor and demanding transparency.
Satirist Toby Morton launched TheCornell7.org, publishing alleged perpetrators’ names, photos, and personal data.

History

Historical Context

After the 2011 Department of Education “Dear Colleague” letter urged Title IX enforcement, campuses saw reporting jump 44% during investigations and sparked lawsuits over due-process rights. The controversy now reaches Cornell, where prosecutors have reopened the Chi Phi assault and the Joyful Heart Foundation demands transparency, while Congress debates further Title IX reforms.

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NY Prosecutors Reopen Case

New York prosecutors reopened the criminal investigation into the 2024 Cornell fraternity assault.
Jane Doe filed a September civil lawsuit alleging she was drugged and raped.
Seven Chi Phi members are defendants.
Cornell’s Title IX hearing panel expelled two students and suspended the remaining defendants.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten plans to present the case to a grand jury within 45 days.

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