[REVISION HISTORY]

Cornell University Chi Phi sexual assault lawsuit

Updated 8 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-28 21:34 UTC → 2026-09-28 22:38 UTC · added ~~removed~~

A civil lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court regarding an alleged group sexual assault involving members of the Chi Phi fraternity at Cornell University has prompted prosecutors to reopen their investigation. The plaintiff, a graduate identified as Jane Doe, alleges that during a party in October 2024, she was pressured to consume ketamine, marijuana, and alcohol, rendering her unable to consent. The complaint claims she was subsequently subjected to a gang rape at the fraternity house, an assault that allegedly lasted several hours and was facilitated by messages sent to a fraternity Snapchat group titled ‘Chi Phi Actives’. While the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office previously determined there was insufficient evidence to file criminal charges in November 2024, District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has confirmed the office will present evidence and testimony to a grand jury to determine if criminal charges are warranted. Van Houten noted that while an initial 2024 review did not lead to prosecution because the victim’s original statement did not allege being drugged or incapacitated, the new allegations are described as ‘dramatically different’. The prosecutor has since contacted the accuser’s legal representative, Thomas Giuffra, to review additional information. Giuffra has argued that the survivor’s initial accounts may have been affected by trauma and an inability to process the events immediately following the alleged assault. The lawsuit names seven fraternity members, the fraternity’s local and national organizations, Cornell University, several sorority groups, and a local bar as defendants. Cornell University has barred the Chi Phi chapter from ~~campus. While the university~~ campus and has disputed claims that the accused received minimal discipline, maintaining that its internal processes resulted in suspensions and ~~expulsions, a website titled ‘TheCornell7.org’ has been launched by~~ expulsions. Meanwhile, Toby Morton has launched a website, TheCornell7.org, to document the alleged ~~crimes.~~ crimes and identify the accused members.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.