ITHACA, N.Y. – Recently, a group of Cornell University students organized a sit-in at one of the campus dining halls. Their goal? To protest the issue of sexual violence and the way the university has responded to complaints. This demonstration comes in light of serious allegations surrounding an incident in 2024 involving multiple fraternity members.
During the protest, students displayed a handwritten sign that read “Justice for Jane Doe,” referring to the pseudonym of the woman who is suing the university. While some students chose to sit quietly around the empty tables, others gathered outside, holding signs with messages like “we are Jane Doe,” showing solidarity with the accuser.
The sit-in was planned to last for seven hours to emphasize the students’ concerns. They want the university to take more decisive action regarding reports of sexual assault, claiming that Cornell often prioritizes its reputation over the safety of its students. Their demands include reforming how the university handles disciplinary procedures and calling for the expulsion or revocation of degrees for those involved in the alleged assault.
The allegations stem from an incident involving Jane Doe, who claims she was given alcohol and drugs by members of the Chi Phi fraternity, leading to sexual assault by several individuals. In a lawsuit filed last month against Cornell and multiple fraternity members, she describes how one of the men even invited others to participate in the assault.
Lawyers for two of the accused men have denied any involvement in the alleged assault. Efforts to contact the other individuals have not been successful. Some of the fraternity members who faced university disciplinary hearings stated that the sexual activity was consensual or claimed they were not involved at all.
Jane Doe reported the incident to Cornell police in November 2024, but no criminal charges were filed at that time. Following her lawsuit, the New York state attorney general has initiated a renewed criminal investigation into the matter.
In response to the growing concern, Cornell University took steps to shut down the Chi Phi fraternity chapter on campus in 2024. The university also stated that it expelled some students and suspended others after conducting an investigation in accordance with federal Title IX regulations.
This week, Cornell’s board of trustees hired former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to review the university’s processes regarding investigations of sexual assault and harassment, the disciplinary procedures in place, and the response of campus police.
