A group of former Cornell University students alleges they have been wrongfully linked to a 2024 sexual assault and are facing significant online harassment, prompting them to request an official statement from the university clearing their names. The individuals, who graduated in 2022 and 2023, are members of the Chi Phi fraternity but were not enrolled at the time of the alleged incident.
In a letter sent on October 3 to Brian White, Cornell’s vice president and general counsel, attorney Adam Ford requested that the university publicly confirm these former members were not part of the Snapchat group chat associated with the case. Ford acknowledged that federal privacy laws restrict the school from disclosing specific student records but argued that a broad declaration excluding pre-2024 alumni is both feasible and necessary.
The legal challenge stems from a lawsuit filed in September by a woman known as Jane Doe. She accused Cornell, the Chi Phi fraternity, and several male students of pressuring her to take ketamine and sexually assaulting her. The complaint details how a member of the fraternity posted a crude message in a group chat suggesting a woman was available for sex in a fraternity house room, which preceded hours of alleged assault.
Although the local district attorney declined to file criminal charges initially, New York Attorney General Letitia James has been appointed as special counsel to oversee an investigation into the matter.
Ford’s letter highlights that the former students have suffered real-world repercussions after an investigative website published their names alongside current members. According to Ford, the men have received threats including statements promising that they would never know peace and calling for public execution. Some have also faced adverse actions from employers and educational institutions, including leaves of absence.
The attorney noted that the individuals’ names were removed from the website following a cease-and-desist letter issued on October 2. Additionally, a podcaster who had claimed involvement in the group chat appears to have deleted a related social media post after receiving correspondence from Ford.
The university has not yet responded to requests for comment. The men are also seeking individualized private letters from Cornell confirming that the institution possesses evidence proving they were not members of the “Chi Phi Actives” Snapchat chat during the fall of 2024.
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This needs careful handling. The harassment is unacceptable, but we must ensure the investigation into the actual assault remains thorough.
I wonder if the university will actually issue that public clearance. FERPA makes this tricky, but public opinion is shifting.
It’s insane that people are getting death threats for being alumni before the incident. Where is the accountability?
Finally, due process matters. False accusations and online doxxing destroy lives regardless of the scandal’s gravity.