Story perspectives

Cornell Expels Chi Phi Members After Rape Lawsuit

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 11:47 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Cornell University expelled two Chi Phi members after a civil lawsuit alleged gang-rape.
Jane Doe filed the lawsuit on Sept. 16, 2026, accusing seven men of assault.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said the case will go before a grand jury.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered an independent review of Cornell’s handling of sexual-assault complaints.
Title IX investigation began in Jan 2025, holding at least twelve hearings.

History

Historical Context

Title IX, signed by President Richard Nixon on June 23 1972 after hearings by Rep. Edith Green and Sen. Birch Bayh, banned sex discrimination in education receiving federal aid. It later covered sexual assault, and the OCR recorded 1,800 investigations in 2020, a 30 % rise since 2015. In September 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul ordered an independent review of Cornell after Jane Doe’s lawsuit.

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Story summary

Cornell University expelled two Chi Phi members after a civil lawsuit alleged gang-rape.
Jane Doe filed the lawsuit on Sept. 16, 2026, accusing seven men of assault.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said the case will go before a grand jury.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered an independent review of Cornell’s handling of sexual-assault complaints.
Title IX investigation began in Jan 2025, holding at least twelve hearings.

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