Cornell faculty, students protest on campus over alleged frat gang rape

On October 5, hundreds of Cornell University students in Ithaca, New York, protested outside the student union building over the university's handling of a gang rape case involving seven fraternity members from Chi Phi. The protest, known as the “Justice for Survivors” rally, drew more than 1,000 participants, including faculty and community members, who demanded stronger punishments for those involved and changes to sexual assault policies. Protesters called for President Michael Kotlikoff's resignation, criticizing the administration’s response to a civil lawsuit filed by Jane Doe in September 2024, where she alleged being drugged and raped at the fraternity house in October 2024. The university’s main administrative building was also vandalized overnight with graffiti condemning the handling of the case.