'No Justice, No Peace': Cornell Students Boycott Classes, Spending in 'Zero Day' Protest Over Jane Doe Alleged Gang Rape Case

Cornell students skipped classes and boycotted campus spending on Wednesday, 7 October, as part of a seven-hour 'Zero Day' protest in support of Jane Doe, who alleges she was sexually assaulted by several Chi Phi fraternity members in 2024.

Organised by Cornell Black Students United and the Cornell NAACP, the action combined a sit-in at Toni Morrison Dining Hall with an economic blackout targeting university shops, eateries and other campus services. The seven-hour duration represented the period Doe says the alleged assault lasted.

Cornell Students Launch 'Zero Day' Protest

Organisers urged students to skip classes and avoid spending money at the Cornell Store, campus eateries and vending machines.

The sit-in ran from 1:30pm to 8:30pm at Toni Morrison Dining Hall. The Cornell Daily Sun reported that around 80 students were inside at one point, while organisers said the boycott was intended to make campus spending and participation 'visibly decrease'.

'Seven hours for the seven hours she endured. Seven hours of solidarity. Seven hours demanding change,' a coalition of Cornell student groups said in an Instagram post.

Students Demand Changes at Cornell

The protest followed a 'Justice for Survivors' demonstration on Monday, 5 October, involving about 20 student organisations.

Organisers have called for Cornell to expel or revoke the degrees of people they consider complicit in Doe's alleged assault, reform its sexual misconduct policies, introduce mandatory prevention training and comply with New York's 'Enough is Enough' law.

Former BSU president and current Cornell NAACP president Athena Holloway said the sit-in was an opportunity to continue pressuring the university to meet the students' demands.

'No Justice, No Peace' Comments Spread Online

The protest has drawn supportive reactions online, including calls for students to continue their campaign. 'No Justice, No Peace' was among the comments posted in response. Another person wrote: 'Cornell, I love you. Excellent work students. So glad to see you so invigorated! Continue. Thanks.'

One supporter added: '100% Don't let your feet off their necks!!! Keep fighting! #NOJUSTICENOPEACE.'

What Jane Doe Alleges

Doe filed a civil lawsuit against Cornell, Chi Phi and seven fraternity members in September, alleging she was coerced into consuming drugs and sexually assaulted at the fraternity house in October 2024.

According to the lawsuit, Doe was pressured to consume ketamine, marijuana and alcohol before she was allegedly sexually assaulted by members of the fraternity.

The seven defendants have denied wrongdoing, with their accounts differing over whether they participated in the alleged sexual activity and whether it was consensual.

A recording made by Doe weeks after the alleged incident captures her challenging one defendant over his account. He told her, 'You did tell me you were sober, by the way,' to which she replied: 'You already knew when I came in, I was 10 shots deep.' Doe later told him: 'What y'all did would be classified as gang rape.'

Cornell subsequently imposed sanctions including expulsions and suspensions, while no criminal charges were initially brought.

Cornell Faces New Investigations

The criminal investigation was reopened in September and is now overseen by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who was appointed special prosecutor by New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

Cornell has also appointed former US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent review of how it prevents and responds to sexual assault and related misconduct. The university has defended its response while saying it supports the renewed criminal investigation and external review.