Investigation reopened over allegations at Cornell University

New York prosecutors announced the reopening of an investigation following allegations by a female student of a gang rape she stated occurred at an official Cornell University fraternity house, amid growing public backlash.

Reopening of the Investigation

Prosecutors in New York announced on Monday that the investigation into an incident a student alleged she was subjected to at Cornell University has been reopened.

This decision came after a rising public outcry over the lenient approach shown toward seven fraternity members and the filing of a civil lawsuit.

Legal Process and Details of the Lawsuit

According to the student's attorneys, only two members of the Chi Phi fraternity were suspended from the school following the incident in October 2024.

The victimized student filed a civil lawsuit against the university and the alleged assailants in early September.

Approach of the Prosecutor's Office and the University

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated that they reviewed the file again after the woman presented allegations in her lawsuit that differed from the statement she gave to the police two years ago.

Van Houten stated that a senior female prosecutor has been asked to prepare to bring this case before a grand jury.

Closed Fraternity and University Support

Cornell University shared with the public that it supports the prosecutor's office decision to reopen the investigation.

The Chi Phi fraternity chapter where the incident took place was shut down in 2024 and remains banned from campus.