One of seven men accused by a Cornell student of sexual assault is suing the university to overturn his punishment and expunge references to the allegation from his academic record, according to court records unsealed in Tompkins County Supreme Court, N.Y. The man, identified as John Doe, was among seven Chi Phi fraternity members accused by a fellow student in a lawsuit filed on Sept. 16. All men have denied wrongdoing; none were charged criminally after investigations by campus police and the university. The Tompkins County district attorney, Matthew Van Houten, reopened the inquiry after the woman’s suit.
Cornell’s Title IX administrators investigated the seven men in winter 2024. After a 12-day evidentiary hearing, John Doe was found responsible for attempted sexual exploitation. Punishments included a one-way no-contact order, a class on social media use and sexual harassment, and a reflection paper. John Doe went to the room where the assault occurred after seeing a Snapchat message in a group chat; fraternity members shared dehumanizing messages about the woman.
After an unsuccessful appeal, John Doe sued the school, arguing insufficient notification of the charge. A judge dismissed his petition on Sept. 23, and he filed an appeal on Sept. 25. The case is pending in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. Alan Sash, his lawyer, stated that the school “cannot move the goal posts” and that they aim to hold Cornell accountable for his client and “every student whose future Cornell places in jeopardy.”
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing