‘Cornell protects rapists’: Outrage at the university after leniency toward accused comes to light
Two of the ‘Cornell 7’ accused of assaulting a female student were expelled, while others were only required to write papers or take courses on sexual violence
Graffiti appeared on the facade of Cornell University's administrative building, accusing the university of protecting rapists. This comes after a former student filed a complaint alleging a gang rape by seven individuals, dubbed "the Cornell 7", in October 2024. According to the victim, identified as Jane Doe, she was drugged and repeatedly assaulted during a party at the Chi Phi fraternity.
Two of the accused were expelled, while another, already graduated, was banned from campus. Two others received a suspension and probation, and two were ordered to cease contact, attend educational sessions, and write reflection papers. Despite Jane Doe's 100% certainty of the rape, the university did not file charges due to a lack of investigation.
Cornell University president Michael Kotlikoff acknowledged the need for improvement and indicated a commitment to investigating the issue. The state governor, Kathy Hochul, removed the prosecutor handling the case, appointing New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is known for her aggressive stance against corruption.
Written by urgent.news from El Pais English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
