Cornell University is facing intense scrutiny after local prosecutors reopened a sexual assault case involving seven students accused of raping a female student in 2024. The rugby team acknowledged some accused were players, and Ithaca’s mayor called for a moratorium on student event permits. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the “culture of rape” at elite institutions.

A civil lawsuit revealed that men gave ketamine and alcohol to a woman at a frat house, then invited others to assault her. The district attorney’s decision to revisit the case has sparked national debate. Student newspaper The Cornell Daily Sun published the names of the accused, stating, “Cornell Won’t, We Will.” Reporter Cereese Qusba spent 23 months investigating, while editor Sophia Dasser argued that uncensored details were necessary for transparency.

Students are divided—some support the victim and criticize the university’s response, while others defend Greek life or believe Cornell is being unfairly targeted. Many are reconsidering joining fraternities or sororities. Emma Goldberg, a New York Times reporter, documented the campus atmosphere, noting widespread outrage, anxiety, and confusion among students.