ITHACA, N.Y. — A Tompkins County judge has placed two key dismissal hearings on the calendar in the civil lawsuit filed by Jane Doe against Cornell University and the Chi Phi fraternity. The first hearing is set for Feb. 10 to consider a motion to dismiss submitted by one of the men accused of raping Doe. A second hearing, slated for late March, will address a dismissal request filed by the Chi Phi fraternity itself.
Defendants argue procedural bars and factual defenses
Both the individual defendant and the Chi Phi fraternity have written to the court asserting that they should be removed from the case. The defendant’s attorney contends that the statute of limitations has expired and that his client did not engage in non‑consensual sexual activity, stating his client “only kissed her and ingested ketamine off her naked body.”
Background of the civil suit
Jane Doe filed the lawsuit in September after alleging that she was pressured to consume ketamine and was gang‑raped by seven Chi Phi fraternity brothers on the night of Oct. 19, 2024, continuing into the early morning of Oct. 20. She reported the incident to Cornell Police in November 2024. Cornell launched an internal investigation that concluded in May 2025, resulting in the expulsion and suspension of the seven men. No criminal charges were filed because Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.
University response and recent Senate vote
In November, the Cornell University Senate voted 75‑50 to express “no confidence” in President Michael I. Kotlikoff and several administrators, with five members abstaining. While the vote does not automatically remove the president or other officials, it serves as a public rebuke and adds pressure on Cornell’s Board of Trustees, which ultimately decides university leadership.
The upcoming hearings will determine whether the defendants remain parties to the case or are dismissed, a decision that could shape the next phase of the litigation and the university’s handling of sexual‑assault allegations.
Original reporting: CNY Central WSTM (Sinclair) – local — read the source article.
