Content warning: This article contains descriptions of sexual assault. If you or someone you know has been affected, support is available 24/7 through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
A former Cornell University student alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted at a fraternity house. Now, she’s taking legal action.
The woman, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, has sued seven current and former students, the university, and several other defendants over an alleged October 2024 assault at the Chi Phi fraternity house.
Here’s what to know about the developing case.
What does the lawsuit allege?
The woman, identified as Jane Doe, says in the complaint that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by several men at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024, when she was 20 years old. The lawsuit names seven current and former Cornell students, whom Doe accuses of participating in the alleged assault.
According to the complaint, Doe first attended a gathering at Cornell’s Tri Delta sorority house, where she drank hard liquor, before heading to a sorority event at a local bar. Despite being visibly intoxicated and having her hands marked by the bouncer to indicate she was underage, Doe says she was served at least one alcoholic beverage. She later went to the Chi Phi house to meet one of the defendants, who is described in the complaint as "her friend."
Once there, Doe says two of the defendants pressured her to snort a white powder they said was ketamine and gave her marijuana and more alcohol. Then, they began "engaging in sexual acts" with Doe, "all without her consent," according to the filing.
At around 1:42 a.m., one of the defendants allegedly sent a message to a Snapchat group for active Chi Phi members saying there was “free pussy” upstairs. According to the complaint, more men then entered the room. Doe says she tried to cover herself with a blanket and pushed one of them away when he tried to kiss her. With her phone across the room, "she felt as if there was no way for her to escape," the filing states.
Doe says the men continued sexually assaulting her and "commanded" her to take more ketamine. She says the alleged assault continued until around 5:45 a.m., when she lost consciousness.
An attorney for one of the defendants "wholeheartedly" denied the allegations against his client, telling The Cornell Daily Sun that the defense has "documents that thoroughly corroborate our position, including [Doe's] own words, statements from other parties, and scientific evidence demonstrating they are false.” The other student defendants did not respond to the newspaper’s requests for comment.
Another man named in the lawsuit denied drug use or taking part in sexual activity, but admitted to sending a message included in the filing, according to ABC News. “I did not participate in any sexual activity or drug use. I was not found responsible by Cornell for any of the accusations involving sexual activity and drug use for which others received serious consequences. I thoughtlessly engaged in Snapchat and briefly stopped in the room where misconduct happened but not when it happened,” he said.
What happened after Doe reported the alleged assault?
After friends encouraged her to come forward, Doe reported the incident to Cornell University Police on Nov. 8, 2024. The university temporarily suspended the Chi Phi chapter that same day. According to the lawsuit, temporary suspensions were issued for the seven students. The university later launched a Title IX investigation.
According to CBS News, Cornell’s internal investigation involved at least 12 hearings. Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, says two of the seven students were ultimately expelled, while others received lesser sanctions, including suspensions, workshops, or submitting essays to the university.
Cornell says its Office of Civil Rights and Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards investigated and adjudicated the allegations in accordance with university policies. The university says federal privacy laws prevent it from "disclosing specific information regarding individual students," and therefore, cannot issue a public statement on any other disciplinary response. Cornell confirmed that its investigation has concluded and that Chi Phi remains barred from campus.
"We take sexual violence extremely seriously," the university said in a statement. "The Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault was launched shortly after this incident and issued a REPORT in March 2026. Several of the recommendations have already been implemented, while others are in development with oversight by a university implementation committee.
The case was also reviewed by the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office, which declined to bring criminal charges. The office said it conducted a “thorough review” of the police investigation, but it determined there was “insufficient evidence to support criminal charges.” Doe's lawsuit is a civil case, separate from the criminal process.
But for Doe, the impact has continued. She ultimately dropped out of Cornell. “What happened to me was horrific and deeply disturbing,” the plaintiff told The Cornell Daily Sun. “Almost two years later, I still carry the weight of its impact every day and night.”
Why is Doe suing Cornell?
The lawsuit doesn’t just target her alleged assailants. It also names Cornell, Chi Phi organizations, Tri Delta organizations, the former president of Cornell’s Chi Phi chapter, a local bar, and others.
The complaint accuses Cornell of negligence, negligent supervision, breach of contract, violations of state human rights and education laws, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. It also brings separate claims against other defendants, including sexual assault and sexual battery claims against the seven students.
Doe is seeking monetary damages, including compensatory and punitive damages, though the lawsuit doesn’t specify an amount.
Cornell, meanwhile, says it has taken steps to address sexual assault on campus. The university announced it had established a task force focused on undergraduate sexual assault in February 2025, which issued its final recommendations the following year. Cornell also allows students to report incidents of bias, discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct through its Office of Civil Rights website.
The wider context
The civil lawsuit comes amid broader concerns about sexual assault at Cornell. In a 2025 university survey, 35 percent of undergraduate women who responded said they had experienced nonconsensual sexual contact during their time at Cornell, up from 23 percent in 2023. (However, the school notes that lower participation in that year's survey and many respondents choosing not to answer key questions mean "the 2025 data should be interpreted with greater caution" than previous years'.)
What happens next?
The lawsuit is still in its early stages, and a court has not yet weighed in on its allegations.
Chi Phi’s national organization said in a statement to CBS News that it is aware of the lawsuit but "while we cannot discuss the specific allegations during pending litigation, we take this matter seriously."
"The sexual assault allegations involving parties at Cornell University are deeply concerning," the statement reads in part. "Anyone who reports sexual violence deserves to be heard and treated with compassion, dignity, and respect."
"Chi Phi unequivocally condemns sexual violence. Our founding principles of Truth, Honor, and Personal Integrity, and our mission of Building Better Men, call on every brother to demonstrate character through his actions and respect for the dignity and safety of others. Sexual violence is fundamentally incompatible with those expectations."
For now, Cornell has said it will respond “in detail through the legal process.”
