America's frat houses face calls to close as rape case anger swells
Fraternity houses are promoted as providing a sense of belonging and lifelong friendships for male undergraduates at US universities, but some students are now protesting against their existence.
On a night in upstate New York, a red light shone from a large house atop a fraternity. A young man showed a friend the Chi Phi fraternity on FaceTime, acknowledging the presence of a sign with Greek letters stained from a recent egging. The fraternity, once home to a 150-year-old organization, now faces controversy due to allegations of gang rape by seven former residents.
The alleged incident occurred in 2024 when a 20-year-old former student claimed she was drugged and raped for seven hours in an upstairs bedroom. This case, involving privileged young men from a prestigious university, has sparked a national debate on the existence of fraternities. Cornell University, home to over 50 fraternities and sororities, has become the focal point of this discussion. About a third of Cornell's undergraduates are part of Greek life.
Some students are protesting the fraternities' existence, with chants like "ban the frats" heard at campus demonstrations. A popular argument against fraternities is that they foster a culture of misogyny and sexual assault. According to a 2026 report by a Cornell task force, 52% of female undergraduates associated with a sorority reported experiencing sexual assault.
Over 1,200 incidents of sexual assault, dating, and domestic violence were reported to Cornell between 2018 and 2024, with 14 resulting in suspensions and seven in expulsion or dismissal.
Academic Kate Manne, a feminist philosophy expert, describes fraternities as a "hotbed of misogyny and sexual assault." She explains that the "bro code" encourages a culture of impunity, where perpetrators are rarely held accountable. This culture of himpathy, or sympathy and loyalty for male perpetrators over female victims, is what Manne calls a "culture of rape."
The debate extends beyond current fraternity members, as alumni are also facing scrutiny. Online, many former fraternity members have shared their guilt for staying silent on sexual violence. Fraternity members, when approached for comment, were wary of speaking with the media. However, online discussions reveal a widespread acknowledgment of the complicity in allowing sexual assault to occur.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
