Jane Doe, a former Cornell student, sued Cornell University and seven current and former students, alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted at the Chi Phi house in October 2024. Prosecutors declined criminal charges; her civil suit remains pending.
Doe reported the incident to Cornell police on Nov. 8, 2024; the university temporarily suspended the Chi Phi chapter that day and later completed its Title IX investigation. Her attorney says two of the seven student defendants were ultimately expelled and others received lesser sanctions; Cornell cites federal privacy laws for withholding individual outcomes. The university says Chi Phi remains barred from campus. The Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office said it reviewed the police investigation but found insufficient evidence to support charges.
The suit also names Chi Phi and Tri Delta organizations, a former Chi Phi chapter president, a local bar and others. It accuses Cornell of negligence, breach of contract and violations of state human-rights and education laws; Doe seeks compensatory and punitive damages without specifying an amount. An attorney for one student defendant denied the allegations. Cornell’s 2025 survey found 35% of undergraduate women respondents reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact during their time at Cornell, up from 23% in 2023. Cornell said lower participation and unanswered key questions mean the 2025 results warrant more caution than earlier surveys.
