Cornell 7
 | This article documents a current event and may change rapidly. (September 2026) |
The Cornell 7 are a group of seven Cornell University students and members of the university's Chi Phi chapter who are accused of drugging and gang-raping an unnamed female student, only known as Jane Doe, in 2024.[1]
On September 14, 2026, Doe sued the university and seven male Chi Phi fraternity members, alleging that she was drugged and gang-raped on campus in 2024, and that Cornell failed to protect her or punish the perpetrators. The seven students were temporarily suspended, but quickly given an "opportunity to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays to Cornell".[2][3][4][1] Messages were allegedly sent in a Snapchat group named “Chi Phi Actives”, while the female student was in the fraternity house, including "free p*ssy upstairs" and "Shop still open?".[5][6]
The district attorney said he would consider presenting the case to a grand jury even though in 2024 he had declined to do so.[7] The DA's initial decision to decline to press charges was attributable to the female student's initial testimony in 2024 stating that "her participation" was "voluntary, conscious, and consensual."[8] The case was subsequently handled by Cornell's Title IX office, whose investigation, consisting of 12 panel hearings, culminated in the expulsion of two students and the opportunity for five others "to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays to Cornell".[7] Institutional Title IX offices typically do not have the legal authority to issue subpoenas for evidence or witness testimony to support their decision-making process, nor forward their evidence to higher legal authority.[9]
On September 28, 2026, prosecutors stated they would reopen the investigation.[10][11][12][13] The next day, New York Governor Kathy Hochul called for a transparent and independent review of Cornell's response.[10] Ithaca Mayor Robert G. Cantelmo called for an "immediate moratorium on all student event and special event permits"[14] due to the ongoing case of the Chi Phi gang-rape scandal.[15]
See also
References
- 1 2 "'Cornell 7': What happened with the case? What to know as prosecutor reopens investigation". NBC Chicago. Associated Press. September 29, 2026. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ Fernández, Jasmine (September 28, 2026). "Ex-Cornell student sues fraternity members and college over alleged gang rape and claims several were punished with essay-writing". The Independent. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
- ↑ Kyc, Brandon (September 22, 2026). "Cornell University, fraternity sued by former student after alleged gang rape and drugging in 2024". WBNG. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Former Cornell student sues school, frat members over rape allegations". CBS News. September 22, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
- ↑ Luscombe, Richard (September 29, 2026). "Texts about alleged Cornell gang-rape released after investigation reopened". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ Stechyson, Natalie (September 29, 2026). "What to know about Cornell's alleged frat house gang-rape case and the 'Cornell 7'". CBC News. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- 1 2 Otterman, Sharon (September 29, 2026). "What We Know About the Cornell Rape Investigation". The New York Times. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ "District Attorney statement re: Jane Doe v. Cornell University, et al". www.tompkinscountyny.gov. September 28, 2026. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- ↑ "The Title IX Process". Equal Rights Advocates. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- 1 2 Papuckoski, Spiro (September 29, 2026). "New York governor calls for 'transparent, independent review' of Cornell rape allegations". Toronto Sun. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ Charalambous, Peter; Rubin, Olivia; Wilson, Courtney; Katersky, Aaron (September 29, 2026). "District attorney reopens case of alleged Cornell University 'gang rape'". ABC News. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ Hussain, Zoe (September 27, 2026). "DA reopens probe into 7 Cornell frat bros who allegedly drugged, gang-raped student — and were given essay to 'mitigate conduct'". The New York Post. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
- ↑ Brooks, Abigail; Reiss, Adam; Lozano, Alicia Victoria (September 29, 2026). "Cornell rape accuser's attorney says the school and law enforcement failed a young woman". NBC News. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Statement from Mayor Cantelmo on Campus Sexual Violence & Future Community Safety" (Press release). City of Ithaca. September 28, 2026. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
- ↑ Bhargava, Varsha (September 29, 2026). "Ithaca Mayor Calls for Moratorium on All Student Event Permits, Including Greek Life, Amid Chi Phi Lawsuit". The Cornell Daily Sun. Retrieved September 29, 2026.