Cornell University was in negotiations to reinstate the fraternity that allegedly targeted Jane Doe just days before she filed a lawsuit alleging she was gang raped in the fraternity house, a new report said.
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report → reinstate → house
The fraternity, Chi Phi, could have been allowed to return to the Ivy League school as soon as 2030 as long as it admitted that it violated parts of the university's student code of conduct, according to documents obtained by ABC News.
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it → allow → News
Chi Phi would have had to admit that it violated the code related to 'alcohol–related behavior,' 'collusion or complicity,' 'drug–related behavior,' 'misconduct related to student organizations or groups' and 'assault and endangerment,' per the report.
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it → have → report
The fraternity was offered two options for reinstatement, according to the documents cited by the outlet.
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fraternity → offer → outlet
One of the options made Chi Phi eligible to return in 2031, while the other lifted the suspension one year prior but effectively kept the fraternity on a probation called deferred dismissal.
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other → make → probation
Both dates meant none of the Cornell students accused of rape would still be on the Cornell campus.
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none → mean → campus
Discussions to reinstate Chi Phi were underway as early as March and halted on September 10, six days before Jane Doe's civil lawsuit was officially filed in New York County Supreme Court.
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lawsuit → reinstate → Court
Jane Doe has claimed that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity coerced her into taking drugs, including ketamine and marijuana, before gang raping her while she was heavily intoxicated at the frat house in October 2024.
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she → claim → October
All of the accused have denied wrongdoing.
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All → accuse → wrongdoing
Chi Phi could have been allowed to return to Cornell in 2030 or 2031 under the reported negotiations if it admitted to violating parts of the Ivy League school's student code of conduct
Discussions over Chi Phi's return reportedly stalled less than a week before Jane Doe's civil suit was filed in New York County Supreme Court (Photo of students on Cornell campus)
Jane Doe alleged she was raped by Matthew Ingalls (left) and Jonathan Newell (right), among others
A Cornell spokesperson told the Daily Mail on Tuesday afternoon: 'The discussion around this alternative resolution was vehemently rejected by the University, prior to the lawsuit filing by Jane Doe, due to Chi Phi's refusal to accept responsibility for their violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
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discussion → allow → Conduct
'That was and remains unacceptable to the university,' the spokesperson added.
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spokesperson → remain → university
'Chi Phi remains barred from campus.'
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Phi → bar → campus
Chi Phi's chapter at Cornell was temporarily suspended on November 8, 2024, before it was closed and banned from campus later that year.
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it → suspend → campus
The spokesperson added that the university's Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards was responsible for administering the student code of conduct, which did not apply to sexual assault allegations or investigations of sexual assault but governed violations of organizational misconduct.
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which → add → misconduct
Chi Phi suggested removing language about alcohol-related behavior, as well as allegations of assault, endangerment, collusion and complicity, according to the outlet.
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Phi → suggest → outlet
Cornell declined the proposal and noted its 'particular concern' that the Chi Phi chapter had allegedly 'engaged in egregiously unsafe social event hosting practices by providing alcohol and providing drugs to attendees.'
Thomas P Giuffra, an attorney for Jane Doe, told the Daily Mail on Tuesday: 'We are shocked that Cornell would even consider allowing the Chi Phi Fraternity to return to campus after what was done to Jane Doe.'
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what → decline → Doe
'Cornell clearly recognized the repeated violations related to the assault and endangerment of Jane Doe and the complicity of the men who aided and abetted the wrongful conduct,' Giuffra told the Daily Mail.
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Giuffra → recognize → Mail
He added that 'obtaining an admission from Chi Phi merely masquerades as accountability.
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obtaining → add → accountability
'
'There is no legitimate reason for the Chi Phi Fraternity to exist at Cornell,' Giuffra said.
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Giuffra → be → Cornell
'The members have forever destroyed the reputation of the fraternity through the acts of abuse by some members and the complicity of others in covering up for the rapes.
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members → destroy → rapes
Winston Lee is one of the fraternity brothers accused by Jane Doe of participating in the alleged drug–fueled gang rape
Chi Phi's national organization said it was 'standard practice' for the national fraternity to 'work with a university on a timeline for successfully restarting a chapter,' per the outlet.
The fraternity's national interim CEO, Trey Robb, said this was 'especially true' at Cornell.
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this → accuse → Cornell
'A pause in chapter activities allows the individuals involved to leave school and the fraternity's rolls, and it gives a new chapter a fresh start on campus,' Robb said.
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Robb → allow → campus
He added that the pause could 'last many years' and noted that the national headquarters were not 'currently in negotiations with Cornell University to return to campus.'
Robb said Chi Phi relied on host institutions, such as Cornell, to report issues with local chapters so that they can be addressed 'together.'
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they → add → chapters
Unfortunately, the extent of these allegations was not made known to Chi Phi's national organization until the civil lawsuit was filed in fall 2026,' Robb told the outlet.
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Robb → make → outlet
Former federal prosecutor Jacqueline Kelly, who previously oversaw Sean 'Diddy' Combs's prosecution, was tapped to lead the sexual assault investigation into Jane Doe's rape allegations last Wednesday.
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who → oversee → allegations
The move was announced by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who had been accused of bias by two Chi Phi fraternity brothers last month.
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who → announce → brothers
James had been named as special prosecutor in the Cornell sexual assault case by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
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James → name → Hochul
A Cornell spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the university 'vehemently rejected' the 'discussion around this alternative resolution' before Jane Doe filed her suit
In September, James posted on X: ‘What this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable.
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forced → tell → What
I’m holding her in my heart and in my prayers.
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I → hold → prayers
To her, and to all survivors: you’re not alone.
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you → ’re → survivors
We stand with you.’
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We → stand → you
James addressed her remarks on October 8 during a debate against Republican challenger Saritha Komatireddy.
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James → address → Komatireddy
‘Those comments demonstrate empathy, and what we need now more than ever in our body politic is more empathy,’ she said.
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she → demonstrate → politic
Gillio Lopes, one of the accused Chi Phi brothers, alleged last month that the attorney general had 'shown she is not objective.'
A petition filed by Lopes on October 7 in Albany County Supreme Court viewed by the Daily Mail claimed James's post 'made clear that she has formed an opinion’ about Jane Doe’s allegations.
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formed → accuse → allegations
Winston Lee, another fraternity brother accused by Jane Doe, has also alleged that James is biased.
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James → accuse → Doe
A motion filed in Tompkins County Court by Lee’s attorneys, Teny Geragos, Marc Agnifilo and Jacob Kaplan, claimed that James's statements had 'prejudiced grand jurors' against Lee, per an affidavit obtained by LAmag.
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statements → file → LAmag
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Chi Phi national headquarters for further comment.
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Mail → reach → comment
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