Why has a Cornell rape investigation been reopened?

What the report says

New York state prosecutors have reopened a Cornell University sexual assault case after a former student filed a civil lawsuit accusing the university and local authorities of failing to respond adequately. The complaint, filed Sept. 16, centers on allegations that the woman, identified as Jane Doe, was drugged and raped in 2024 at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca, New York. The lawsuit says the incident occurred on Oct. 19, 2024, after she had already been drinking at an off-campus bar.

According to the court filing described by Al Jazeera, Doe alleges that fraternity members pressured her to use ketamine and marijuana, and that seven men raped her over several hours. She says she reported the incident to Cornell police in November 2024, but no criminal charges followed. The suit names Cornell, the fraternity, the bar, the university sorority Doe belonged to, and seven men as defendants, and seeks damages under negligence and other claims.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office initially did not believe the evidence met the legal threshold for charges, but that it will now present the matter to a grand jury after receiving additional information. Cornell said it supports that step and said it previously ran its own investigation, which led to disciplinary action including expulsions and suspensions. Some defendants have denied the allegations, while one attorney said a Snapchat group chat cited in the suit was inappropriate but not proof of assault.

The case has drawn attention because it raises questions about how universities and prosecutors handle sexual assault complaints, especially when criminal charges are not filed immediately.