Cornell Rape Allegations Draw Scrutiny After Student Says Police Had Leads but 'It Wasn't Handled'

Cornell University police received witness leads and details of fraternity messages following an alleged assault at the Chi Phi house, with a student criticising the department's handling of the case.

Jane Doe alleges in a lawsuit filed last month that she was plied with alcohol and ketamine and gang-raped at the fraternity house on the night of 19–20 October 2024. She reported the incident to campus police on 8 November.

Cornell Student Describes Her Police Interview

The student requested anonymity because she feared repercussions. She first heard the allegations as campus rumours 24 to 48 hours after the incident. Documents reviewed by the broadcaster corroborated details she discussed.

'The thing I think we all feel, like, betrayed in regards to is that, like, it wasn't handled,' she stated.

She and a friend initially submitted a tip after Cornell issued a crime safety alert. Police subsequently invited her for an interview, days after Doe reported the alleged assault.

Screenshots of a Chi Phi Snapchat conversation influenced her decision to approach officers. Doe's lawsuit included a screenshot containing the message 'free p****', referring to a room where she alleges she was assaulted.

During an interview lasting about half an hour, the student outlined fraternity messages and potential witnesses. She also provided secondhand information about drug use and, knowing the house, believed she could identify where ketamine was allegedly stored.

She recalled the officers appearing competent and the interview feeling normal. She had assumed the allegations were being investigated properly.

Questions Over Cornell Records

Police records obtained by NBC News indicated that campus officers interviewed multiple witnesses and received anonymous tips about the alleged gang rape. However, that information was not referred to the local prosecutor for his review when deciding whether to bring charges.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten told the broadcaster on Friday that the flagged interviews 'were each of the frat members declining to speak on the advice of their attorney.'

He did not respond to a follow-up query about whether he knew of other fraternity interviews and callers' tips. Van Houten initially determined that the allegations did not warrant charges because of a lack of criminality.

He subsequently agreed to reopen his inquiry. New York Governor Kathy Hochul named state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor last week.

Cornell Backs an Independent Review

Doe's lawsuit names Cornell, Chi Phi and seven fraternity brothers among the defendants. None of the seven has been criminally charged.

Lawyers for two men denied sexual assault to NBC News. A third man's lawyer denied the allegations to ABC News.

Cornell did not immediately respond to the broadcaster's Sunday request for comment on the student's account. In a video statement on Saturday, President Michael I. Kotlikoff called the allegations 'deeply disturbing' and welcomed an independent review by an outside law firm.

The university stated on 28 September that its thorough, months-long Title IX investigation resulted in 'a range of sanctions which included expulsions and suspensions'. The fraternity remains barred from campus.

Chi Phi's national organisation condemned sexual assault and drug and alcohol abuse. It stated that the named members had been expelled from the organisation and that the chapter had been permanently expelled.

Cornell Rugby also reported permanently removing players connected with the alleged events from its team and alumni network. The club stated that no current players had been affiliated with Chi Phi.