Cornell University expelled Jonathan Newell, a student involved in a civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault, for having sex without 'affirmative consent,' according to attorney Thomas Giuffra. The lawsuit, filed by a student identified as Jane Doe, claims she was drugged and assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity after a party in October 2024. Giuffra stated that the university's Title IX investigation, which included twelve days of hearings and documentary evidence, led to Newell's expulsion. The Hearing Panel reportedly concluded that Newell violated Doe's bodily safety by commencing intercourse without her consent.
Giuffra indicated that Newell's social media posts, including a Snapchat message that sexualized Doe, contributed to further assaults against her. He emphasized that despite text messages in which Doe appeared to downplay the incident, they do not indicate consent. Giuffra argued that these messages reflect 'classic symptoms of delayed recognition' common among survivors of sexual assault, where victims may take time to process their experiences.
Newell, along with other fraternity members, has denied the allegations, and local prosecutors have not charged any of the individuals involved. The university's actions followed the allegations, prompting a Title IX investigation that resulted in the expulsion of Newell and another fraternity member, Matthew Ingalls. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Attorney General Letitia James to investigate whether Doe was a victim of a crime. Protests have occurred on campus in response to the handling of the case, which has garnered national attention.