<p class="wp-block-mj-blocks-mj-headers"></p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><span class="section-lead">After a week</span> of public pressure and reporting from Cornell's independent daily newspaper, prosecutors in New York have reopened a criminal investigation into the alleged 2024 gang rape of a former student at the campus's Chi Phi fraternity house.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The student, identified as Jane Doe, <a href="https://cornellseven.com/documents/09-14-16%20Lawsuit.pdf">filed a civil complaint</a> earlier this month accusing Cornell of failing to protect her and imposing minimal punishment against the seven fraternity members who allegedly "plied [her] with alcohol and drugs to the point of intoxication," before raping her. The complaint alleged that the actions taken included temporary suspensions and opportunities for some fraternity members to mitigate those suspensions by submitting essays.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">"We want to reexamine whether there's additional evidence that we were not aware of in November of 2024," Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten <a href="https://abcnews.com/US/district-attorney-reopens-case-alleged-cornell-university-gang/story?id=136806149">told</a> ABC News, "that exists now that would change our assessment of the case and would result in the grand jury finding that there was criminal conduct."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The complaint included an image from a Snapchat text thread wherein one of the men appeared to encourage others to take advantage of the "free pussy" upstairs, referring to Doe. An attorney for one of the defendants <a href="https://abcnews.com/US/district-attorney-reopens-case-alleged-cornell-university-gang/story?id=136806149">denied the allegations</a>. Speaking through the same attorney, the defendant claimed that he had nothing more than "thoughtlessly" engaged in a text thread.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>"Cornell has failed her. Cornell has failed us." </p></blockquote></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Cornell on Monday stated that it welcomed the new investigation but defended the university's handling of the case. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">"Any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false," a university relations official wrote in a <a href="https://statements.cornell.edu/2026/20260928-da-investigation.cfm">statement</a>. "A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault." </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In a <a href="https://www.cornellsun.com/article/2026/09/editorial-cornell-won-t-we-will">recent op-ed</a>, editors of the <em>Cornell Daily Sun</em> criticized the university for failing to protect its students, while condemning administrators for creating an academic environment where "enough ambiguity, enough he-said-she-said, enough familial connections, enough money will allow you to get off scot-free."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">"We refuse for this victim to be reduced to just another story," the op-ed read, adding that "Cornell has failed [Doe]. Cornell has failed us." </p>
<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>"We removed this label upon further review after we determined that it qualified for a newsworthy allowance," a Meta spokesperson confirmed. "The post is now fully visible for adults." </p></blockquote></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Details from the civil complaint have circulated on social media and sparked public outrage.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Actor Florence Pugh expressed her feelings on Instagram, stating, "After reading about the young woman who was gang raped at her college by her friend and school peers, I'm feeling uneasy and sick and anxious. I'm processing quietly and watching everything and everyone and every man."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Pugh later accused Meta of suppressing her post.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">"A label was initially applied to the post, warning people that the content may be sensitive before they click through," Meta confirmed to <em>Mother Jones</em>. "We removed this label upon further review after we determined that it qualified for a newsworthy allowance. The post is now fully visible for adults." </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On the same day that the Tompkins County district attorney announced it was revisiting the investigation, the Trump administration <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/28/trump-administration-finalizes-repeal-of-biden-era-title-ix-rule-01094990">finalized its plan</a> to repeal Title IX, the Biden-era rule that mandated a formal process for schools to respond to sexual misconduct claims.</p>