Cornell University is defending its handling of a 2024 sexual assault case involving members of the Chi Phi fraternity.
Cornell University is defending its handling of a 2024 sexual assault case involving members of the Chi Phi fraternity as the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office reopens its criminal investigation.
As allegations involving Cornell’s now-closed Chi Phi fraternity return to the spotlight, students said the case has become a major topic of conversation on campus.
“It’s been really tense, I would say,” Cornell sophomore Chloe Scardino said to CNY Central.
The district attorney said his office reopened its investigation after a recently filed civil lawsuit raised allegations that differed from a statement provided to Cornell University Police in 2024. The district attorney said the evidence available at the time did not support criminal charges.
Now, a senior prosecutor is preparing the case for a grand jury.
Cornell said it supports the decision to reopen the investigation while also defending its own response. The university said its separate Title IX investigation lasted several months and resulted in sanctions including expulsions and suspensions. Cornell said the Chi Phi chapter was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus.
Scardino said the renewed attention has changed how safe she feels.
“I think previously I was always very comfortable walking home at night, but I’ve seen other people, mostly on Instagram, come forward just about their concerns with Title IX being ineffective, so that’s been very scary,” she said.
Some students said much of the discussion has been playing out online.
“People are going around talking about how bad it was and everyone’s kind of too shy to put their emotions out there I’ve probably seen more on social media than I have about people even talking around here,” Cornell sophomore Louie Cerchio said.
Scardino said she wants the university to take a more active role. “I would like to see more action taken and the administration to have a more active stance and to make sure to protect victims,” she said.
Cornell disputes claims that those involved faced only minimal consequences. The district attorney said a grand jury can now consider the complainant’s testimony and any new evidence.
