Cornell University Investigates Allegations of Gang Rape at Fraternity

A woman who alleges she was gang-raped at a Cornell University fraternity reported to the school's investigators that she "felt like bait" during the incident, which she described as involving multiple attackers. The university's disciplinary investigation records, reviewed by The Associated Press, include interviews with the woman and the accused men, revealing differing accounts of the events that occurred. The woman, referred to as Jane Doe in court documents, filed a lawsuit against Cornell and seven former students, claiming she was drugged and assaulted at a fraternity house in October 2024. After reporting the incident to campus police three weeks later, the local district attorney opted not to pursue criminal charges. The university's investigation continued under Title IX regulations to determine disciplinary actions against the students involved. Recently, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to lead a renewed criminal investigation into the case. The Title IX documents indicate that while some witnesses corroborated aspects of the woman's account, there were significant disagreements regarding consent. The woman initially consented to sexual activity with a fraternity member but later alleged that she was pressured into drug use and was too intoxicated to consent. The investigation included 50 interviews and 12 days of hearings, and the university stated that some students faced expulsion as a result of the findings. The accused men have denied the allegations, with one claiming he was only present to check on the situation. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from all seven men involved.