New York prosecutors have announced the launch of a fresh criminal investigation into shocking allegations of gang rape involving a drugged female student at the prestigious Cornell University in 2024. The case took a new turn after the victim filed a civil lawsuit against the university and those involved on September 16. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated on Monday that, following the filing of charges, the case would proceed through a grand jury to ensure complete impartiality. The BBC reported this news online.
The lawsuit, filed under the pseudonym “Jane Doe,” alleges that on October 19, 2024, at a house belonging to the Chi Phi fraternity at Cornell University, at least seven individuals sexually assaulted and raped her while she was unconscious after being drugged with ketamine and alcohol. She was in no state to provide consent while under the influence. Screenshots of a Snapchat group conversation were also included in the lawsuit, showing a member using lewd language to allude to sexual acts. Prosecutors claim that although the police were informed at the time, formal charges were not filed due to a lack of sufficient evidence. Van Houten noted that the victim’s initial statement did not explicitly mention the administration of drugs or forced sexual relations. However, he acknowledged that it can take a long time for victims of sexual violence to process their trauma and fully comprehend the reality of the events.
Meanwhile, the victim’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, has accused the prosecution of attempting to cover up their failure. He stated that the student was not in a normal state of mind due to severe trauma following the incident, and the police had shelved the case without conducting a thorough investigation.
Additionally, the victim has alleged that university authorities failed to impose appropriate punishments on those involved, instead letting them off with nothing more than an assignment to write an essay. However, Cornell University has denied this claim, stating that several students were expelled or suspended following an investigation and that the fraternity in question remains banned from campus.
This shocking case has sparked widespread outrage across the United States. Many prominent figures, including actress Florence Pugh and US lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have spoken out against the incident. A recent survey revealed that approximately 35 percent of female undergraduate students at Cornell University reported experiencing sexual harassment or assault on campus, highlighting a profound crisis of sexual violence at the institution.
