By: Serena Edwards
Through the past few weeks, the Cornell Seven case made headlines for their involvement with a sexual assault attack that took place at Cornell University in Oct. 2024. The case is now preparing to be heard in front of a criminal grand jury, with New York Attorney General Letitia James being appointed as a special prosecutor in the case.
Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is an ivy league university with a student body of 26,793. Uncovered by the Cornell University campus publication, The Cornell Daily Sun, seven members of the Chi Phi Faternity had been reported to the campus for sexual assault by a victim, who for anonmity reasons goes by Jane Doe.
The civil lawsuit lists Matthew Ingalls, Jonathan Newells, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, Scott Kretzschmar – all members of the Chi Pi Fraternity – for perpetuating the “heinous crimes and sexual acts” against Plantiffs therein.
The lawsuit alleges that on Oct. 19, 2024, Jane Doe, who was a sophomore at Cornell at the time, was heavily intoxicated after entering the Chi Phi fraternity house to meet up with one of the members. After entering the house, she was then sexually assaulted by Ingalls and other members of the fraternity.
According to the lawsuit, “After dancing, Defendant INGALLS pulled Plaintiff off to a quieter area and propositioned her with having a threesome with her and another one of his fraternity brothers. In her drunken state, Plaintiff was incapable of consenting to this proposition. Despite being incapable of consent, Defendant INGALLS then led Plaintiff to the upstairs of the fraternity house and left her with Alex Vega, another XI CHAPTER member.”
Jane Doe stated that the seven individuals proceeded to sexually penetrate her while she was intoxicated and unable to give consent.
A part of the case that has been recently revealed was the messages on SnapChat from “Chi Phi Activities” on Oct. 20, 2024. In the messages, Newell is shown to refer to Jane Doe as “free pussy,” inviting the insinuating that the other members could engage in sexual misconduct with the Jane Doe.
The lawsuit also lists Cornell University, the fraternity, her sorority, and the Ithaca bar and other faculty and execs at Cornell, charging themfor “intentional failure from Jane Doe being sexually assaulted and rape by members of the Chi Pi Fraternity.”
When the university’s Title IX form was originally filed, two of the seven accused assaulters were expelled while the other five were suspended with other disciplinary actions of an essay and workshops.
There are seven natures of actions within this case with one including Cornell University’s “breach of contract” and their violation of New York Education Law (EDN) § 6440. According to the New York State Senate, “this [law] governs sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking prevention, and response polices at colleges and universities in New York.”
The Vice President of University Relations, Kyle Kimball released a statement regarding disciplinary action.
“Any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false,” said Kimball. “A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault.”
This is an ongoing case. The BC Vanguard will be reporting as information is provided.