More than 80 students at Cornell University staged a seven-hour sit-in protest on October 7, 2026, to express their outrage over the lack of criminal charges in a 2024 campus rape case.
According to NBC News, students gathered around 3 p.m. at a dining hall in Ithaca, New York, sitting on the floor and holding signs that read, "Justice for Jane Doe" and "Stop Protecting Rapists." Student organizations, including the Cornell Black Students Union and the NAACP Cornell chapter, urged students who did not participate in the protest to refrain from attending classes and spending money on campus as part of a 'Zero Day' initiative.
The victim, who remains anonymous and is referred to as 'Jane Doe,' claims she was drugged and raped by seven male students at the Kai Phi social club in October 2024 when she was 20 years old. On September 16, 2026, she filed a civil lawsuit against Cornell University, the Kai Phi organization, and seven current and former students, three of whom denied the allegations through their attorney.
Cornell University police created a 120-page report after receiving the report in November 2024, but only a six-page summary was forwarded to the district attorney, who subsequently declined to present the case to a grand jury. Thomas Giuffra, the victim's attorney, argued that the summary omitted key details, including the victim's assertion that she was "100% certain" about the assault and messages from the assailants' group chat. Giuffra also stated that both Jane Doe and he received death threats, and other women mistakenly identified as Jane Doe were also targeted.
Cornell began an investigation under Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination, in January 2025, resulting in the expulsion of two students and the closure of the Kai Phi chapter. The remaining students faced suspensions, probation, and educational requirements. Following the release of transcripts from the victim's interview last month, District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced on September 28 that he would reopen the investigation. New York Governor Kathy Hochul transferred oversight of the investigation to Letitia James, the state attorney general, on October 1, appointing her as a special prosecutor.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff stated in a video message on October 3 that the events surrounding Jane Doe in 2024 were "deeply shocking and will weigh on our community for years to come." He added, "While we do not have all the answers, we will seek the answers our community deserves." The university's board of trustees assigned former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to conduct an independent review of the university's response to sexual violence and disciplinary procedures on October 6. Faculty members submitted a resolution of no confidence in the administration on October 5, which will be voted on by the faculty council on October 14.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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