'Expel rapists': Cornell students stage anti-rape rally in support of 'Jane Doe'

Hundreds of Cornell University students, faculty members and community activists marched across the campus on Tuesday in support of a student known as “Jane Doe”, demanding greater accountability from the Ivy League university over its handling of her alleged gang rape.The protesters called for an independent inquiry into Cornell’s response, uniform minimum sanctions for sexual assault cases, independent hearings and better training for campus police. Some also demanded the resignation of university president Michael Kotlikoff and other administrators.Carrying purple ribbons and placards reading “support survivors, expel rapists” and “Justice 4 every Jane Doe”, demonstrators chanted “One struggle, one fight” and “No justice, no peace” as they marched to Cornell’s main administration building.“Too often, we are met with silence, we are met with statements, we are met with procedures, but not enough support,” news agency AP quoted student Athena Holloway saying. “How much does it take for our university to stand with survivors?”Hispanic studies professor Julia Chang told demonstrators: “Rape should not be inevitable.”The protest followed a lawsuit filed last month by Jane Doe, who alleged that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by several members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024 after becoming incapacitated. She named seven fraternity members, the fraternity chapter, a bar, her sorority and Cornell as defendants.Doe reported the alleged assault to Cornell police in November 2024. No criminal charges were filed at the time, though Cornell conducted its own investigation and later shut down the Chi Phi chapter. The university has said some students were expelled and others received suspensions or other disciplinary measures.The accused men have denied wrongdoing, with some telling Cornell investigators that the sexual activity was consensual, according to records cited by news organisations. Lawyers for two of the former students have denied that their clients participated in a sexual assault.The case has drawn renewed scrutiny after New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to take over a reopened criminal investigation. Hochul has also called for an independent review of Cornell’s handling of the case.The university's administration has defended its response while acknowledging concerns raised by the allegations. In a video message on Saturday, Kotlikoff said Jane Doe's account “raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use.”He also reaffirmed support for an independent review and pledged to work towards “finding the answers our community deserves.”The rally came after Cornell’s administration building was damaged early Monday, with two glass panes broken and graffiti painted on the entryway. One message read, “AT CORNELL RAPISTS ARE PROTECTED,” news agency Reuters reported.Cornell spokesperson Kyle Kimball said the university was investigating the damage, adding that “damaging property is not the answer” to the community's “frustration and strong emotions.”The controversy has also intensified online, with supporters using the hashtag #IamJaneDoe.ABC News reported Monday that Doe had recorded a phone call with one of the men she accused before approaching Cornell police. During the call, she challenged him over what she said had happened, telling him, “What y'all did would be classified as gang rape.”The investigation into the allegations remains ongoing.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.