Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff released a video statement on Saturday night describing allegations raised by a woman known in legal documents as Jane Doe as 'deeply disturbing.' He said the incident has raised questions about the culture of drug and alcohol use on campus and the way investigations were conducted.
Jane Doe, a 20-year-old student, alleges she was assaulted by seven men from the Chi Phi fraternity on 19 October 2024 in an incident involving alcohol and the drug ketamine. She reported the incident to Cornell University police two weeks later, but no charges were filed. Last month, she filed a civil lawsuit against the university alleging it failed to protect her or adequately punish those involved.
Kotlikoff said Cornell is 'committed to investigating' how the case was handled and said the university 'must do better' in fostering a culture where sexual assault is inexcusable and victims feel safe coming forward.
Thomas Giuffra, Jane Doe's lawyer, told CNN that his client is 'not doing well' and is 'under siege on social media where people are trying to identify her.' He said postings have incorrectly identified other women as Doe. In an interview with CBS, Giuffra argued that his client was 'incapable of consent' because she was 'completely, grossly intoxicated' when she arrived at the fraternity house, and that she had been pressured into taking ketamine.
Governor Hochul said at a news conference on Friday that 'this young woman had already endured something that is utterly unspeakable, and then at every turn she was failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her.' She also vowed to close a 'loophole' in state law that makes it difficult to press rape charges if an alleged victim voluntarily consumes alcohol or drugs.
A movement on social media has seen women posting videos under the title 'I am Jane Doe' in an effort to shield her identity and show solidarity. Online sleuths have also attempted to locate the addresses of the accused men, leading to at least one case of mistaken identity: an active-duty US Marine Corps sergeant with the same name as one of the men was incorrectly served with the lawsuit.
A public hearing for students to speak about the alleged gang rape was held on campus, where many expressed shame and said the university had failed Jane Doe.