A Cornell University disciplinary panel expelled two students and suspended two others for at least two semesters in connection with an alleged gang rape at a fraternity house in October 2024, according to newly filed court documents. The university’s internal investigation, conducted under Title IX, concluded that the accused students were involved in the assault of a woman identified in court papers only as Jane Doe.
The disciplinary findings were submitted as part of a lawsuit filed by one of the accused men, who is seeking to overturn the university’s punishment and remove it from his academic record. The documents include a 99-page report summarizing the campus hearing panel’s decision and a timeline of events based on 50 interviews with 32 witnesses over 12 days of hearings.
Jane Doe alleges she was given ketamine and repeatedly assaulted during the incident. She reported the attack to campus police three weeks later, but the local district attorney declined to pursue criminal charges after reviewing the police summary. The university’s investigation proceeded independently under federal Title IX guidelines, which govern sex-based discrimination in education programs.
Cornell confirmed in a statement that the disciplinary process was completed and that punishments were imposed. The university did not disclose the identities of the expelled or suspended students, nor the specific findings that led to their penalties. The case remains under legal scrutiny as multiple lawsuits involving the accused and the university are ongoing.
Student Reactions and Campus Climate
A campus town hall organized by Cornell’s Student Assembly in early 2025 drew dozens of students, many of whom expressed frustration with the university’s handling of sexual misconduct cases. Adriana Vink, a student leader who helped organize the event, told CBS News that students feel “let down” by administrators and described Cornell as “complicit in rape culture” on campus.
Vink cited a 2025 campus survey in which 35% of undergraduate women reported experiencing unwanted sexual conduct during their time at Cornell, up from 23% in 2023. She also referenced a separate scandal involving Weill Cornell Medicine, where victims of sexual abuse by former urologist Dr. Darius Paduch received over $1 billion in settlements after he was sentenced to life in prison.
When asked about campus safety, Vink stated, “It feels sad to be at Cornell. It feels frustrating. We feel anger here.” She emphasized that students believe university leaders have failed to adequately address sexual violence, both within Greek life and across campus.
Legal and Institutional Responses
The accused students’ legal filings argue that the university’s investigation was flawed and that their due process rights were violated. Their lawsuit seeks to overturn the disciplinary findings and expungement of the punishments from their records. Cornell has not publicly detailed the evidence or testimony considered in its decision, citing privacy and legal constraints.
The case has drawn attention to Cornell’s broader efforts to combat sexual misconduct. The university stated it conducted an internal review and hearings into the alleged assault, though specific measures taken beyond the expulsions and suspensions were not disclosed. The ongoing legal disputes and student activism underscore the tension between institutional accountability and the rights of the accused in campus disciplinary systems.