A civil lawsuit filed by Jane Doe states she consumed about 10 standard drinks in three hours before an alleged assault at Cornell University. The suit claims she was “visibly intoxicated as she had consumed about 10 standard drinks within the past 3 hours,” according to the New York Post. Seven men sexually assaulted her at a fraternity house, a filing adds, noting she faced extreme vulnerability at the time.
The legal document outlines a night that began with Doe drinking vodka at her sorority house until she was intoxicated. She then went to Moonies Bar, where staff served her at least one drink despite seeing marks on her hands indicating she was underage. Later, she “stumbled alone” to the Chi Phi fraternity house near 11 p.m. The suit alleges that after a male friend gave her a beer, he proposed a threesome to include another fraternity member.
The lawsuit argues that “Plaintiff was incapable of consenting to this proposition” due to her state. It further claims that “[d]espite being incapable of consent,” the man led her upstairs to a room with another student. The filing says the two men then allegedly pressured her into taking the drug ketamine. The suit does not state whether Doe verbally agreed or refused these actions.
Protests erupted on campus after the university faced criticism over how it handled the case. Graffiti covered Cornell’s primary administration building while a glass door broke overnight amid a scheduled demonstration. A spokesperson stated that “damaging property is not the answer” to the frustration felt by students. A group of student organizations had planned a “Justice for Survivors” event to demand changes in how sexual assault complaints are processed.
The university has expelled some students and suspended others involved in the incident. The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell faced closure after the allegations emerged. Nevertheless, the administration issued statements rejecting the false narrative claiming minimal consequences in this case. No criminal charges have been filed against the accused men.
Some sorority sisters expressed that the news of the assault was not a total shock to women in Greek life. Riley Kate Higgins, a senior at the University of Washington, noted that many girls said, “Yeah, this is something that happens.” She added that new members are now scared to go out and start a new environment. An anonymous member of Alpha Delta Pi said her group talks about how to be safe and avoid such situations.
The lawsuit has drawn national attention to what Cornell and local police did after Doe told them she “can say with 100% confidence I was raped.” Two former students’ lawyers denied any involvement in a sexual assault. Interviews with investigators revealed some accused individuals described the sexual activity as consensual, according to court records. The suit remains the primary source of the detailed timeline of that night.
