By now, the news about the sexual assault case at Cornell University has taken root in conversations nationwide. A Cornell student, using the pseudonym Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit against a number of defendants, including the seven fraternity men accused of rape, and Cornell University.
The case was originally reported to Cornell University in 2024, but the lawsuit was only filed a few weeks ago. The case spread like wildfire after screenshots of the fraternity brothers’ group chat on Snapchat were leaked, in which they advertised Jane Doe’s body to the chapter to take advantage of.
She was at a Chi Phi frat party. Her night began as most do, drunk but coherent enough to have bodily autonomy. As the night wore on, she recalled ingesting a number of substances, naming ketamine a part of that list. More and more men came into the room, and the increased amount of substances altered her sense of control. She said initially, she previously felt okay with having sex with two of the men she spent most of her night with; ones she considered friends. But, she later explained in her lawsuit that she was too inebriated to consent to sexual behaviors before anything happened.
She was raped and taken advantage of over the course of seven hours. The brothers continued to text in the Snapchat group about her, calling it “free sex” and asking “Shop still open?” It was only when students gossiped about the events of the night that she began to piece together what really happened.
Now, the seven men have been identified, major news outlets are reporting on the case and the Attorney General’s office is investigating further. But the worst part about it? Her case is not the only one.
Roughly 70% to 80% of rape cases go unreported, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. In 2021, the most recent federal report stated that 11,582 sexual criminal offenses were reported within higher education capacities. And, according to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, about one in every five undergraduate students experience rape or sexual assault in their four-year college experience.
In the case of Jane Doe at Cornell, there were over 50 fraternity brothers in the groupchat, and not one stepped up to help or defend a severely intoxicated woman. Cornell University is thought to be a school of high prestige and esteem; a school where a degree solidifies a permanent placement in the Ivy League club.
If Ivy League schools are meant to be the best of the best in terms of education, why did every member of that group chat and every individual aware of the situation at that party say nothing?
This thought strikes terror in the heart of every woman who chooses to step foot on a college campus. These situations are the reason we are taught to walk with keys in between our fingers and carry some form of self-defense on our person.
The University of Nevada, Reno’s police department makes its rounds to campus work meetings to present on general campus safety tips and knowledge. Their supervision extends beyond campus up to the university-affiliated Greek life organizations.
But even their presence and awareness of it does nothing to curb the fear and apprehension most women feel. Many cases brought to law enforcement fail to stick throughout the legal process because of delayed reporting, lack of evidence, dismissive officers, and more, leading victims to feel discouraged from even bringing it to the light of day.
The Cornell story is not unique, but because of its widespread prevalence in conversations today, more women are sharing their experiences and thoughts, including cases that were never properly handled.
Instead of educating members on the severity of this problem, many fraternities are instructing their brothers to simply repost awareness content on social media. Priority is placed higher on public appearance and the “PR” of it all rather than educating men on being better.
People are rallying behind an “educate your son” sentiment over “protect your daughters” statements. But, when adult men are encouraging each other to err on the side of being performative with their sympathy, consideration for women’s safety is thrown out the window.
Education does not completely erase the opportunity for these situations to happen, but it decreases the chances that they will. Reposting a popular Instagram post does nothing. People who just repost because everyone else is, or because their fraternity brothers tell them to, fail to understand the gravity and weight of sexual assault situations.
The Survey Center on American Life reported that over 50% of women feel that men do not understand or comprehend the daily safety fears and concerns women face consistently. Whether or not you believe every detail surrounding the Cornell story does not deter from your ability to work to better your communities.
Jane Doe’s experience at Cornell is a glimpse into the reality women face, and it happens more often than news organizations and social media accounts post about. Instead of falling into habits of victim-blaming or expressing faux sympathy, take a real stand against perpetrators. Men, take a stand. Work to create a culture that rejects violence against women. Not all men are the problem, but it takes just one to forever impact a woman’s life.
