Case of alleged rape at US university reopened after lawsuit filed

What the report says

New York state prosecutors have said they will reopen a criminal inquiry into an alleged sexual assault involving a woman and members of Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity, after a civil lawsuit was filed against the university and several men. According to BBC World News, the woman, identified in court papers as Jane Doe, says she was drugged and raped by multiple people at a fraternity house in October 2024.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office will now take the matter before a grand jury to determine whether charges are appropriate. He said the earlier review did not meet the legal threshold for prosecution at the time, but he is now seeking more information. The BBC reported that his statement also noted differences between Doe’s November 2024 account to Cornell University Police and the allegations later made in the civil suit.

The lawsuit says Cornell failed to protect her and did not properly punish those involved. Cornell disputes that account, saying it imposed serious sanctions, including expulsions and suspensions, after internal and Title IX reviews. The university also said it supported the case being presented to a grand jury, while rejecting claims that it had not imposed meaningful consequences.

The reopening of the inquiry has drawn national attention. The case matters because it raises questions about how universities and prosecutors handle delayed reports of alleged sexual violence, as well as the role of campus discipline alongside the criminal justice process.