35% of Cornell Women Report Sexual Assault as Frat Rape Case Reopened

35% of Cornell women report assault as prosecutor reopens 2024 frat rape case. New task force findings spark outrage.

September 30, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Ithaca, United States — A recent university task force revealed that 35 percent of female undergraduate students at Cornell University have reported experiencing sexual assault while enrolled—a statistic that has sparked renewed scrutiny as a criminal investigation into a 2024 fraternity gang rape is being reopened.

The task force, established in 2025 to address high rates of campus sexual violence, released its findings after surveying students and uncovering the alarming figure, which also included 8 percent of male undergraduates reporting similar experiences. These results now serve as a troubling context for the ongoing legal review of an alleged attack involving seven students who drugged and sexually assaulted a woman at a Cornell fraternity house.

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Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced plans to present evidence to a grand jury following a civil lawsuit filed in September, which led to public backlash and criticism of prosecutors for not pursuing criminal charges initially. The university has defended its response, stating that several individuals were expelled and the Chi Phi chapter was permanently shut down in 2024. However, student leaders have called for a deeper look into the handling of the case and the broader culture surrounding fraternities on campus.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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