A civil lawsuit has been filed by a young woman alleging that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members at Cornell University. The incident reportedly took place at the Chi Phi fraternity house on the night of 19 October 2024, following a prior drug-related arrest at the same location less than 24 hours earlier.
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The plaintiff, referred to in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, claims that she was “plied” with ketamine and forcibly subjected to sexual acts by seven men from the fraternity. The alterations to her state and the alleged assault occurred on a night when campus police were already addressing issues related to drug use at the fraternity house. Reports indicate that officers responded to a health emergency triggered by an overdose linked to substances consumed at the Chi Phi party.
In a complaint filed with the New York Supreme Court, Doe asserts that she had been out drinking with friends prior to her arrival at the fraternity. She states that she had consumed about ten drinks in the three hours leading up to her visit, leaving her visibly intoxicated. Upon her arrival at the fraternity, she claims a friend offered her a beer before leading her to a quieter area where he reportedly proposed a threesome with another fraternity brother.
The lawsuit alleges that, in her impaired state, Doe was incapable of giving consent to the proposition. The events then escalated when her friend introduced her to other fraternity members, who reportedly pressured her into trying a white powder substance believed to be ketamine. According to the lawsuit, the two men then began to engage in sexual acts with Doe without her consent.
As the night progressed, more men entered the room after one individual allegedly advertised that there was “free” access to Doe in a Snapchat group called “Chi Phi Actives.” The lawsuit describes how the assaults continued until approximately 5:45 a.m. the following morning. Despite Doe’s report to authorities immediately after the incident, prosecutors opted not to pursue charges in 2024.
As the details of the lawsuit emerged in a report by the Cornell Daily Sun on 18 September 2026, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced plans to reopen the investigation. This movement gained further momentum when New York Governor Kathy Hochul took the unprecedented step of appointing State Attorney General Letitia James to oversee the inquiry, expressing concerns regarding the initial handling of the case by local authorities.
Representatives for three of the fraternity members named in the lawsuit have since released statements categorically denying the allegations made against them. The lawsuit has intensified discussions surrounding sexual assault on college campuses, particularly in light of a recent survey indicating that approximately 35 per cent of undergraduate women at Cornell reported experiencing non-consensual sexual contact in the past year, a noticeable increase from 23 per cent in the previous survey.
In light of these serious allegations, many are calling for heightened scrutiny of fraternity culture and campus safety protocols at universities. The events surrounding the Chi Phi fraternity raise critical questions about the mechanisms in place to protect students and address issues of consent and sexual assault.
The situation has also highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by survivors of sexual violence in seeking justice. Advocacy groups continue to urge institutions and law enforcement to provide better support for victims and take more decisive action in cases of reported assault.
As the investigation unfolds, students and faculty at Cornell and beyond are calling for accountability within the fraternity system, emphasising the necessity for change to prevent future incidents of this nature. The case is poised to become a significant focal point in ongoing conversations about sexual violence on college campuses across the United Kingdom and the United States.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by sexual assault, resources are available through various hotlines and support networks.