Students were seen walking across Cornell University’s campus on a Wednesday in Ithaca, N.Y. This follows recent discussions regarding a significant case involving a woman who alleges she was gang raped by fellow students in 2024. Her attorney, Thomas Giuffra, shared with NPR that his client, referred to as Jane Doe, asserted to authorities, “I can say with 100% confidence I was raped,” emphasizing her claims during a sworn statement in 2024.
The allegations contrast with comments made by the local prosecutor. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten mentioned on Monday that the victim did not initially claim she was raped. However, transcripts and detailed accounts submitted to investigators suggest otherwise. NPR reached out to Cornell to inquire if campus police conveyed all collected evidence to the district attorney, but the university did not respond.
On Wednesday, CBS News New York noted a transcript of an interview involving the Cornell University Police Department and the victim. NPR could not secure a copy of these transcripts. Van Houten acknowledged the absence of accusations regarding involuntary drugging or gang rape in Doe’s statement, suggesting rather that her involvement was described as voluntary. No charges have been laid against the seven men accused by Doe of drugging and assaulting her in October 2024.
Van Houten told station WSKG that his office is revisiting the case. He is seeking access to relevant transcripts from Cornell, noting uncertainty regarding their cooperation. Van Houten indicated that these transcripts are part of a private Title IX investigation conducted by Cornell.
In September, Doe initiated legal action against the alleged perpetrators and included Cornell in the lawsuit. The incident drew significant public scrutiny, prompting Cornell to announce on Wednesday its commitment to bring in an external legal expert to review how the situation was managed.
Mounting Discrepancies
Amidst growing concerns, Cornell updated an FAQ page about the rape allegations to clarify their stance. The FAQ originally stated that all investigative information had been shared with the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office as a standard procedure. By Wednesday, this assertion was removed, with a new statement highlighting the cross-jurisdictional roles between the university police and local law enforcement.
WSKG found that Cornell has amended the FAQ, omitting the confirmation of sharing all investigatory details with the district attorney. Cornell University has not responded to inquiries regarding these alterations.
Independent Examination Initiated
Late Wednesday, Cornell confirmed to NPR that an outside legal team would assess the university’s handling of this case. Details about the review process are pending. Previously, Cornell defended its actions after the allegations were first reported by Doe in 2024. This move follows a call from New York Governor Kathy Hochul for an impartial investigation. In a video, Gov. Hochul expressed her intent to pursue legislative changes to strengthen sexual assault laws on campuses.
WSKG’s Aurora Berry contributed to this report. Further updates will continue as the story progresses.