A photo of the woman accusing several Cornell University students of gang rape was shared inside a Snapchat group chat on the night of the alleged assault. According to social media evidence obtained by CBS News through the attorney for the victim, identified as Jane Doe, the image shows her smiling alongside a man. The picture was circulated among dozens of members of the Chi Phi fraternity on the night of October 2024 when the assault allegedly took place at the fraternity house. Messages sent immediately before and after the photo included comments referencing the victim and asking if the shop was still open. The 20-year-old survivor filed a lawsuit against seven Cornell students and the university following the incident. Cornell President Michael I. Kotlikoff stated on September 29 that two of the accused students were expelled, two were suspended for a minimum of two semesters, one had already graduated before disciplinary action occurred, and two were cleared of sexual misconduct responsibility. No arrests have been made in the case. Legal representatives for three of the accused individuals have denied any wrongdoing. The Tompkins County district attorney, who initially opted not to file criminal charges, announced the reopening of the investigation following the lawsuit. New York Governor Kathy Hochul subsequently appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to handle the case amid public scrutiny over the initial handling. Findings from Cornell University’s Title IX investigation detail that the student testified during a May 2025 hearing that she felt like bait surrounded by lions. She reported consuming ketamine that evening, describing the sensation as feeling entirely disconnected. Hundreds of pages of witness and suspect interviews reveal vastly contrasting narratives. While several accused students claimed Jane Doe appeared sober and consented to encounters, the victim described a harrowing environment where multiple men entered the room, leaving her feeling cornered and incapacitated. She recounted being pushed into a closet by two men while fading in and out of consciousness. According to the Title IX report, a witness reported receiving a phone call the following day from one of the accused students instructing her to ensure a friend stayed quiet about the events. Jane Doe stated that three men subsequently apologized to her in the days following the assault. She preserved the dress she wore that night and sought treatment at a campus clinic two days later for a urinary tract infection. Her lawyer noted that she informed medical staff the infection stemmed from a traumatic encounter, yet she was advised to speak with a counselor rather than receiving a rape kit. On Thursday evening, Cornell students participated in a town hall demanding institutional accountability and reform regarding how survivor reports are handled.
Source: cbsnews.com
