Cornell University sexual assault data and a recent lawsuit reveal that only a small fraction of reported campus misconduct cases result in expulsions or suspensions, according to government records. The scrutiny intensified after a former student filed a lawsuit alleging she was plied with drugs and assaulted at a fraternity house in 2024.
Cornell Hires Sally Q. Yates to Review Assault Case
The case gained national attention when a former student, identified in court records as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit last month against Cornell University, seven students, and other defendants. According to her complaint, she was drunk when she was given drugs and sexually assaulted by multiple students at a fraternity house, and one participant allegedly posted about “free p—y” on Snapchat. In response to public outrage and questions over the lack of criminal charges, Cornell announced it hired former Justice Department official Sally Q. Yates to review its handling of the matter. Concurrently, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to reinvestigate the case after stating she lost faith in the local district attorney.
New York Data Shows Low Rates of Severe Discipline
New York state records gathered under the Enough is Enough law demonstrate that Cornell’s disciplinary outcomes align with broader statewide trends. From 2018 to 2024, Cornell received more than 1,200 incident reports involving students, yet only seven individuals were expelled or dismissed, and fourteen were suspended. Statewide, nearly 300 colleges reported over 25,800 incidents during the same period, with just over 1 percent resulting in expulsions or dismissals and another 2 percent leading to suspensions. Scheinblum-Brewer, policy and grassroots coordinator, explained that schools frequently utilize alternative measures such as no-contact orders, housing changes, or class removals rather than expulsion.
Campus Surveys Show High Prevalence and Underreporting
Official statistics contrast sharply with student surveys regarding sexual violence on campus. A Cornell survey conducted last year indicated that 35 percent of undergraduate women experienced nonconsensual sexual contact since entering the university, up from 20 percent in 2021 and 23 percent in 2023. Nationally, a 2019 survey by the Association of American Universities found that more than 1 in 4 undergraduate women at 33 schools experienced rape or sexual assault. Sarah McMahon, director of the Center for Research on Ending Violence at Rutgers University, told the article that sexual assault remains heavily underreported due to fear of retaliation, shame, and reluctance to recount trauma to strangers.
Reports of Sexual Violence Rarely Lead to Internal Punishment
While Cornell recorded a higher proportion of incidents reported to law enforcement compared to the statewide average, those reports rarely converted into formal internal disciplinary cases or severe punishments. Reports of sexual violence are up across multiple institutions, driven in part by increased awareness following the #MeToo movement and federal reporting mandates.
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