A woman has filed a lawsuit against Cornell University and seven Chi Pi Fraternity members. The lawsuit stems from gang rape allegations made by the former student in 2024.
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Woman Files Lawsuit Against Cornell University And 7 Chi Pi Fraternity Members
A woman filed a lawsuit against seven Chi Pi Fraternity members at Cornell University, according to CBS News. Furthermore, the former student is also suing the school. The lawsuit stems from the woman’s 2024 claim that she was gang raped by the frat members at the Ithaca, New York university.
The lawsuit was filed in the New York Supreme Court on Wednesday, September 16, per WMBG. The complaint lists the Chi Phi fraternity and the seven members accused, Cornell University, Delta Delta Delta Sorority, and Alpha Beta House Corporation. In addition, an Ithaca nightclub was also named in the lawsuit, which claims the defendants failed to protect her and prevent the alleged rape.
What Are The Claims?
The rape reportedly happened on October 19, 2024. The Alpha Beta Chapter sorority reportedly hosted an event nightclub in Ithaca. The former student claimed that she consumed alcohol while at the sorority house before taking an Uber to the nightclub. She also went to another bar with a sorority member.
The woman said she later went to the Chi Phi National’s Xi Chapter fraternity house at 103 Edgemoor Lane to hang out with a friend and was visibly intoxicated. The friend is one of the men listed in the lawsuit, per WBNG. The plaintiff claims that two frat members pressured her into snorting a substance that they said was ketamine. Afterward, she said the two frat members raped her.
In addition, one man allegedly sent a Snapchat to “Chi Phi Actives.” The message said that there was “free p*ssy” upstairs in the frat house, and more men assaulted the woman. The plaintiff claimed that she was raped for several hours. Not only that, but she said she was left in the frat house unconscious until approximately 5:45 a.m.
After waking up the next morning and going home to her sorority house, she reportedly found bruising and began to remember what happened to her. On November 8, 2024, she reported the assault to the Cornell University Police after her friends encouraged her to do so.
The woman’s lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, said that only two of the accused rapists were expelled from Cornell University. Furthermore, the other men only received suspensions, workshops or had to write essays.
“Not one of these guys was arrested,” said Giuffra, per CBS New York. “Not one. That I can tell you for a fact…. There were so many people that could have prevented it and they didn’t…. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The woman dropped out of Cornell following the assault. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said that there was not enough evidence for criminal charges.
Cornell University Issues A Statement
Cornell University released a statement on Monday, September 21 that claims the frat is banned from campus.
“The Cornell Office of Civil Rights and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards investigated and adjudicated the allegations consistent with university policies,” reads the statement. “The Xi chapter of Chi Phi fraternity remains barred from our campus. Federal privacy law prohibits Cornell from disclosing specific information regarding individual students and we therefore are unable to make a public statement on any other disciplinary response. Violations of university policies could lead to sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion. We will respond in detail through the legal process. ”
The statement also said that the school’s launched a Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault following the incident.
“Anyone who has experienced or is aware of sexual misconduct on our campus can report it to the Cornell Office of Civil Rights via their online reporting tool. The university also offers a number of confidential resources to individuals looking for confidential support.”
The woman is asking for compensation from Cornell University, the seven frat members, and others in the complaint. In addition, the complaint asks for punitive damages to discourage similar incidents.
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