Former student sues Cornell University

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A former Cornell University student is suing the university and seven former members of the Chi Phi fraternity, alleging that she was drugged and sexually assaulted at a fraternity house in October 2024.

The woman, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, was 20 at the time. Her civil complaint alleges that what began as a night out at a sorority and local bar ended with an hours-long sexual assault at the fraternity's house in Ithaca, New York.

The case has now taken another turn: Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced Sept. 28 that prosecutors are reopening the criminal investigation and intend to present the evidence involving the seven men to a grand jury, provided Doe cooperates.

What the Lawsuit Alleges

According to the civil complaint, Doe was already intoxicated when she went to the Chi Phi house to visit a friend. She alleges that two fraternity members pressured her into taking what they told her was ketamine before sexually assaulting her.

The lawsuit further alleges that one of the men sent a message to a fraternity Snapchat group inviting other members to the room. Doe alleges that additional men arrived and that the sexual assaults continued for hours while she was incapacitated.

Her attorney, Thomas Giuffra, has said she eventually reported the incident to Cornell police because she believed she had been the victim of a crime.

Cornell Conducted Its Own Investigation

Cornell says it conducted a separate internal investigation after the allegations were reported.

The university said a trained hearing panel reviewed evidence over multiple days and that both the complainant and accused students had opportunities to testify and present evidence. Cornell said the resulting sanctions included expulsions and suspensions.

The university has pushed back against claims that the students faced only minor consequences, saying that characterization is false. It also said the Chi Phi chapter involved in the case was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus.

Federal privacy laws prevent Cornell from publicly discussing individual students' disciplinary records.

Why There Were No Criminal Charges in 2024

The reopening of the case comes nearly two years after the alleged assault.

Van Houten said his office did not bring criminal charges in 2024 because Doe's initial sworn statement to police did not describe the encounter as a drugging or a nonconsensual gang rape. He said her statement described her participation in sexual activity as voluntary and consensual.

Doe's attorney strongly disputes that characterization and says investigators did not adequately follow up with her after her initial report. He also points to evidence included in the civil lawsuit that he says investigators should consider.

Van Houten has now said prosecutors want to determine whether additional evidence contained in the civil lawsuit or otherwise obtained since 2024 could change the earlier assessment of the case.

Accused Students Deny the Allegations

At least one of the men named in the lawsuit has publicly denied the allegations.

An attorney for defendant Scott Kretzschmar said his client did not sexually assault or touch Doe and argued that messages cited in the lawsuit do not establish that a sexual assault occurred. Kretzschmar has also disputed the allegations concerning drug use.

Another defendant, Scott Norris, said he did not participate in sexual activity or drug use. He acknowledged sending a message referenced in the complaint but said he was not present when the alleged misconduct occurred.

The allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court.

Criminal Investigation Now Reopened

The DA's decision means the case is moving back into the criminal justice system.

Prosecutors plan to present the evidence to a grand jury, which will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to issue indictments. No criminal charges have been announced against the seven men at this stage.

Cornell has said it supports the DA's decision to reopen the investigation.

For Doe and her attorney, the renewed investigation comes after nearly two years of questions about what happened and how the allegations were handled.

A Case Still Unfolding

The civil lawsuit and reopened criminal investigation are now proceeding on separate tracks.

The lawsuit accuses Cornell and the other defendants of negligence and other violations and seeks monetary damages. Meanwhile, prosecutors will determine whether the evidence supports potential criminal charges.

For now, the central allegations remain disputed, and the grand jury process will determine what happens next.

Source: ABC News