A group chat of over 50 young men at Cornell University's Chi Phi fraternity revealed disturbing messages following a sexual assault allegation by Jane Doe, who says she was assaulted by seven men. The chat included a devil emoji and texts like "This is crazy work," along with misogynistic comments such as "Free pussy" and "Shop still open?" — language that reflects rape culture and a shared delight in preying on a vulnerable, intoxicated woman.
The men celebrated their actions with cheers like "I fucking love chi phi" and "CHI PHIII," performing masculinity through collective predation. Two of the accused had previously sent sympathetic messages to Jane Doe, showing a stark contrast between private reassurances and public bravado within the fraternity.
Diego Estrada, a former fraternity president and live-in adviser, described how members of comparable fraternities sympathized with the Chi Phi men, blaming Jane Doe for drinking and visiting the house — a response mirroring online victim-blaming. Estrada remained silent, fearing professional repercussions.
The author introduces the term "himpathy" to describe the tendency to excuse male perpetrators over female victims. The Chi Phi chat exemplifies how male group dynamics can escalate into toxic behavior, with loyalty to the brotherhood overriding accountability.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing