Former Cornell student files suit alleging she was drugged and gang‑raped in October 2024. The complaint, filed Sept. 16, 2025, names seven members of Chi Phi's Xi chapter and claims the assault continued into the early morning at a fraternity house in Ithaca. The plaintiff's attorney says two students were expelled while the others received lighter disciplinary measures; no arrests were reported. Cornell says it investigated under university policy and has barred the Xi chapter from campus; Chi Phi's national office condemned sexual violence and said it will respect the legal process.
Former Cornell Student Sues Over Alleged October 2024 Gang Rape; Lawsuit Says Only Two Fraternity Members Were Expelled
Cornell UniversityCredit: Getty
A former Cornell University student has filed a civil lawsuit alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple members of the Xi chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024. The complaint, filed on Sept. 16, 2025 in New York State Supreme Court, identifies the plaintiff only as Jane Doe.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
According to the filing and reporting from CBS News and WBNG, the woman — who was 20 at the time of the alleged incident — says she had been drinking earlier that evening at her sorority and a nightclub before going alone to visit a friend at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca late on Oct. 19, 2024.
The complaint alleges two fraternity members gave the woman drugs and then sexually assaulted her. The suit says a member posted in a Snapchat group called "Chi Phi Actives" that there was "free p---- upstairs," after which additional men allegedly participated in the assault. The filing states the assault continued until roughly 5:45 a.m.
Reporting, Discipline, And Legal Claims
The complaint says the alleged victim reported the incidents to Cornell University Police about three weeks after the events. Her attorney, Thomas Giuffra, has said the university ultimately expelled two of the seven students named in the suit while other students received lesser disciplinary measures — such as written assignments — and that none of the fraternity members were arrested in connection with the alleged assaults. The plaintiff subsequently left Cornell.
University And Fraternity Responses
In November 2024, Cornell issued a statement saying it had investigated "serious and deeply disturbing allegations of drug abuse and sexual violence at the Chi Phi fraternity house," called such conduct "abhorrent," and said it could not be tolerated on campus. After the lawsuit was filed, the university said its Office for Civil Rights and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards had "investigated and adjudicated the allegations consistent with university policies," and that the Xi chapter of Chi Phi remains barred from campus. The university also noted that federal privacy law limits what it may disclose about individual student disciplinary outcomes.
The national Chi Phi headquarters told CBS News the allegations were "deeply concerning," reiterated that it "unequivocally condemns sexual violence," and said it would handle the matter with care and respect for the legal process while not commenting on specifics during pending litigation.
Broader Context
The lawsuit not only seeks redress for the plaintiff but also draws attention to how colleges and national Greek organizations investigate and discipline alleged sexual misconduct. The filing and subsequent statements from the university and fraternity are likely to figure into both the legal process and public discussion about campus safety and accountability.
Note: The allegations in the lawsuit are unproven. The defendants deny wrongdoing through their legal rights, and the case will proceed through the courts.
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