Cornell University Fraternity House Case Reopened Amidst Community Pressure

A criminal investigation into an alleged sexual assault at a Cornell University fraternity house has been reignited due to community demands, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced. This development comes after a former student filed a civil complaint on September 16, claiming she was drugged and assaulted by seven members, both past and present, of the Chi Phi fraternity at the prestigious New York institution.

Van Houten expressed the community’s interest in revisiting the choice about filing criminal charges against the fraternity members. He stated, “I have initiated the process by consulting with Jane Doe and her lawyers. Our aim is to identify suitable charges and handle the prosecution impartially, involving the Tompkins County grand jury.” A senior prosecutor will manage the case’s preparation, incorporating the victim’s testimony and any details from her civil suit.

Should the grand jury decide to indict any participants, Van Houten assured that the prosecution would proceed vigorously. Jeremy Saland, representing one of the accused, described the allegations as “intentionally dishonest” and morally offensive. Cornell University supports the renewed investigation, underscoring the need for the victim’s narrative to be heard in legal proceedings related to the fraternity’s disbandment in 2024.

The incident, which allegedly occurred in October 2024, was reported a week later to campus and local authorities. The plaintiff’s lawsuit outlines that after rejecting a sexual proposition, she was coerced into consuming drugs and alcohol. The complaint details that two fraternity members engaged in sexual acts without her consent, with others joining after being prompted via social media. The lawsuit claims the abuse continued until she lost consciousness.

Initially, charges were not filed as the victim’s statement depicted drug consumption and sexual involvement as consensual acts. Van Houten remarked that their November 2024 decision relied on the victim’s then-current account, prior to the civil filing. Following this, Van Houten reached out to the victim’s lawyers to reconcile differences between her original statements and the civil case.

In defense, attorney Saland asserted that hair tests showed no ketamine in his client’s system and criticized the plaintiff’s narrative as dishonest. He added that despite his client’s inappropriate comment on social media, he claimed no involvement in any illegal activity. Saland accused the plaintiff of maliciously targeting his client and creating a negative online uproar against him.

Cornell’s statement confirmed that a Title IX investigation was conducted, leading to various disciplinary actions. The university stated that, contrary to some claims, written assignments were not offered as singular punitive measures. The investigation culminated in hearings and resulted in expulsions and suspensions. Official responses from the victim’s attorney and national Chi Phi representatives remain pending.