A view of one of the entrances to the Cornell University campus on Nov. 3, 2023, in Ithaca, New York. (Matt Burkhartt/Getty Images/TNS)
On Sept. 14, a former student of Cornell University, known as Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit against the university, seven male students, her sorority, and the Chi Phi fraternity after an alleged drugging and sexual assault in Oct. 2024.
The details of the case are sickening: seven alleged perpetrators, a group chat of male students who were privy to the assault and did nothing to report it, a botched investigation, and—at the center of this horrific whirlwind—a young woman in pursuit of justice.
The Cornell Daily Sun, the university’s independent newspaper, is credited with publicizing Doe’s civil lawsuit in spite of the university’s selfish attempts to keep the incident out of the public eye.
In an editorial published on Sept. 21, the Daily Sun voiced their support for Doe as well as their anger toward the way Cornell handled the investigation.
The editorial also mentioned each of the seven defendants by name. “We know who you are and we refuse to let you benefit from this University’s concealment,” the Daily Sun wrote about the defendants.
The Daily Sun’s bravery in publishing the editorial is inspiring, but why was it necessary? How did it fall to student journalists to be the voices of truth and advocacy?
The answer lies in Cornell’s despicable and dismissive handling of the case.
Only two of the seven accused students were expelled after Doe reported her assault in 2024. The other five faced disciplinary measures about as effective as slaps on the wrist, including serving temporary suspensions and writing essays.
Doe’s case is sinister in its severity, but it is not an anomaly.
One in four women in undergraduate programs experience rape or sexual assault while in college. Doe’s case is unusual only in the widespread public attention it’s getting.
The nightmarish phenomenon of sexual assault on campuses is everywhere, and no university is exempt from the rampant rape culture in higher education and our society as a whole.
Society encourages the blaming of victims despite their innocence and the violation they’ve been subjected to. It’s vital to remember the people and systems truly at fault, and there is more than enough blame to go around.
Young men are raised in a world that allows these acts of brutality to occur with little to no consequences. The world shows them, time and time again, that violence against women is acceptable.
Influencers marketing themselves to young men face charges of rape. Our president is liable for sexual abuse. Hollywood and music industry elites assault women.
If powerful and famous men can do it, what’s stopping a group of Ivy League students?
Whatever influenced those seven students to act with a barbaric disregard of consent is part of a larger societal issue.
Cornell didn’t raise these young men, but the university did teach them an important lesson about what happens when you sexually assault a woman.
You can still go to your dream college while the person you violated drops out and goes back home.
You can move on with your life, unplagued by memories of a dark bedroom and unwanted hands and mouths.
You can rest assured that if you ever wish to violate someone again, you will most likely face no substantial repercussions.
Universities should uphold students’ safety before all else. After all, it’s nearly impossible to focus on one’s education with the fear of assault lurking in every fraternity house, every dark parking lot, and every dorm.
Women are familiar with fear in a way men never can be. We know that a single slip-up (one too many drinks, one low-cut shirt, one flirtatious glance) can serve as permission for men to violate us.
We are conditioned to be aware of our surroundings and to be careful who we trust. We’re taught to keep fear close, because that fear is often the only thing keeping us safe.
It’s been made clear that the systems in place for our safety are grossly inadequate and cannot be relied on.
In addition, men’s accountability, awareness and commitment to opposing sexual violence is long overdue.
Psychologist and author Mary Pipher said it best when she wrote, “Young men need to be socialized in such a way that rape is as unthinkable to them as cannibalism.” Pipher wrote that in 1994, and we’ve yet to see that change come to fruition.
According to Cornell, sexual assault is more acceptable than protesting genocide or cheating on an assignment. As long as its reputation is upheld, nothing truly drastic needs to be done in the aftermath of these allegations.
The university’s actions enforce a deeply harmful notion about women and what we’re worth.
We’re not worth a thorough investigation. We’re not worth the expulsion of alleged assailants. We’re not even worth believing.
As a society, we need to do better. We need to teach young men that violence against women is cruel beyond words and will be met with swift, life-altering consequences.
Universities need to do better. One assault should be enough to shut down entire fraternities. One assault should be enough for expulsion.
Until then, sexual assault on campuses will remain a horrific and persistent occurence.
If you’re a man, educate yourself and be aware of the casual assault fellow men perpetrate against women. Stand up for the women in your life.
It is not enough to be “one of the good ones” if you take no action against the bad ones.
If you’re a woman, what can I say? Assault is a danger to us all. The best we can do is stay vigilant, stay angry, and know our rights.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, there are resources available. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE) for free, confidential support.
We are not at the mercy of these atrocities, but rather united in our fight against them.
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