Cornell rape accusation renews reputation trouble for frats

descriptions off, selected

captions settings, opens captions settings dialog

captions off, selected

This is a modal window.

Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

End of dialog window.

The Hill's Weekend Headlines — Oct. 2-4, 2026

The Hill's Weekend Headlines — Oct. 2-4, 2026

The Cornell University gang rape allegation is the latest in a series of black marks for fraternities, leading critics to question why universities continue to support them.  

Fraternities, almost as old as the country itself, have been a staple at colleges for young men to come together with the stated goals of teaching leadership, community service and building friendships.  

But highly publicized incidents of sexual assault and hazing plague the groups, which could face a tough road to win back public trust. 

The alleged gang rape of a 20-year-old woman at the Chi Phi frat at Cornell in 2024 is the latest in a long list of incidents that have made the public wary of Greek life.  

A lawsuit filed last month by Jane Doe, the alleged victim who chose to remain anonymous, says on Oct. 20, 2024, she was coerced into alcohol and drugs at the fraternity and sexually assaulted by seven members.

During the alleged assault, one of the fraternity brothers sent a message to a Snapchat group for the frat saying there was “free p—-” upstairs, according to a screenshot from the lawsuit.

The lawsuit targets Cornell, the Chi Phi fraternity, the victim’s own sorority and the bar that served her alcohol at the beginning of the night when they allegedly knew she was underage.

Jud Horras, president and CEO of the Foundation for Fraternal Excellence, said the men accused of sexual assault and those who saw that message and did nothing to stop it engaged in “a complete failure of membership of their fraternal obligations.”

“Expulsion from the fraternity, as well as suspension of the entire fraternity local chapter, is the exact right decisions that needed to happen,” he added.

Meanwhile, in a less publicized incident across the country, a former Northern........

© The Hill