Editor’s note: This article contains references to sexual assault.
Cornell has denied that essay-writing was the “sole consequence” offered by the University to defendants in the alleged 2024 Chi Phi gang rape, according to a Monday morning statement by Kyle Kimball, vice president for university relations.
Kimball also confirmed that expulsions and suspensions were issued after the University originally investigated the incident. He did not clarify how many were expelled or suspended.
A former Cornell student, identified as a Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against the University, Chi Phi and others on Sept. 14. She alleged that she was sexually assaulted and gang raped after being coerced into consuming drugs at Cornell’s Chi Phi house in 2024.
The lawsuit claims that several of the seven named defendants were issued temporary suspensions in November 2024 and “were afforded the opportunity to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays” to the University.
Doe’s attorney has claimed that two defendants were expelled, according to CBS News.
The University opened a monthslong Title IX investigation, followed by a hearing panel, according to Kimball. The lawsuit noted that the investigation opened in January 2025. During the investigation, temporary suspensions and other “restrictive” measures were used, Kimball added.
The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell closed in 2024 and currently remains closed, he wrote.
In her lawsuit, the plaintiff brought claims against the University for negligence, negligent supervision, breach of contract, violations of state human rights and education laws and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Previously, in a Sept. 21 statement, Kimball declined to provide any further information on the details or consequences of the University’s investigation.
“Federal privacy law prohibits Cornell from disclosing specific information regarding individual students and we therefore are unable to make a public statement on any other disciplinary response,” the statement reads.
The University has faced widespread scrutiny for allegedly administering essays as punishment in the case. Kimball’s most recent statement comes after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke about the lawsuit and condemned a “culture of rape” at Cornell during a Ithaca town hall on Sunday.
“We have an institution that issues a suspension on track for deportation … but we make rapists write an essay in private,” Ocasio-Cortez said during the event, in reference to Cornell.
In his Monday statement, Kimball also conveyed the University’s support for the Tompkins County District Attorney’s recent decision to reopen the criminal investigation into the case.
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said the investigation has been reopened due to the allegations in the civil lawsuit being “dramatically different” than the plaintiff’s statement to police in 2024, according to ABC News.
“We want to reexamine whether there's additional evidence that we were not aware of in November of 2024, that exists now that would change our assessment of the case and would result in the grand jury finding that there was criminal conduct,” Van Houten said to ABC News.
Kimball additionally responded to accusations of the University’s inaction in his Monday statement.
“Any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false,” he wrote.
Mary Caitlin Cronin is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She is a news editor for the 144th Editorial Board and can be reached at mcronin@cornellsun.com.
Varsha Bhargava is a member of the Class of 2027 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She is the managing editor of the 144th Editorial Board and was a news editor for the 143rd Editorial Board. She can be reached at vbhargava@cornellsun.com.
