Story perspectives

Cornell Expels Students After “Smash the Patriarchy” Vandalism

By Drooid · Oct 6, 2026, 1:23 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Activists smash patriarchy

Cornell University police are investigating vandalism at Day Hall in Ithaca, New York.
Activists smashed a glass door and spray-painted “SMASH THE PATRIARCHY” and other messages around 3 a.m. Monday.
Governor Kathy Hochul appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James to lead the criminal investigation.
Cornell expelled several students, suspended others, and shut down the Chi Phi fraternity chapter after the incident.

Summary

Students Demand Hearings

Cornell’s student assembly held a public hearing on sexual violence on October 2, 2026.
Students proposed an undergraduate task force to overhaul the university’s sexual assault policies.
The assembly demanded independent hearings and minimum sanctions, citing the pre-2021 student-run judicial system.
ACLU co-president Madeline Gage criticized past code revisions that expanded suspension powers.

History

Historical Context

The 2015 $1.5 million Title IX settlement at UC Berkeley, spurred by a 30 % rise in complaints, echoes the 1994 USL-Berkeley settlement that ended the Unix copyright fight after only three files were removed. Both illustrate how legal agreements can reshape institutional policy, a pattern now guiding Cornell’s 2026 disciplinary reforms.

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Activists smash patriarchy

Cornell University police are investigating vandalism at Day Hall in Ithaca, New York.
Activists smashed a glass door and spray-painted “SMASH THE PATRIARCHY” and other messages around 3 a.m. Monday.
Governor Kathy Hochul appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James to lead the criminal investigation.
Cornell expelled several students, suspended others, and shut down the Chi Phi fraternity chapter after the incident.

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