Cornell Students Stage 7-Hour Sit-In Over 2024 Fraternity Rape Allegations

Students protest Cornell's handling of 2024 gang rape case, demanding accountability and reform.

October 8, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Ithaca, New York — A group of Cornell University students staged a seven-hour sit-in at Toni Morrison Dining Hall on Wednesday to demand action over the university’s response to an alleged 2024 gang rape involving members of the Chi Phi fraternity.

The protest, which began on October 7, 2026, was organized by student groups who said the university has been slow to address sexual violence and has prioritized its reputation over justice. Participants carried signs reading Justice for Jane Doe, referring to the anonymous plaintiff in a recent lawsuit against the university, the fraternity, and seven individuals.

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Jane Doe, then a Cornell student, claims she was sexually assaulted by multiple members of the Chi Phi fraternity after being given alcohol and drugs. The lawsuit, filed last month, alleges that one individual sent messages inviting others to join the incident. While two defendants have denied involvement, others involved in a 2024 disciplinary hearing claimed the activity was consensual or that they were not present. Cornell closed the fraternity’s campus chapter in 2024 and expelled some students following an investigation under Title IX law.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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