Expulsion, Suspension, Reflection: How Cornell University Punished Seven Accused in Rape Case

The case of the alleged rape of a woman at Cornell University in 2024 rocked the campus, leading to severe to light punishment for writing “reflective articles”. According to The New York Times, the university has imposed various disciplinary measures on seven fraternity members accused by a woman of sexual assault following an October 2024 assembly at the Chi Phi fraternity house.

How Cornell Sentenced the Seven Defendants in the Jane Doe Rape Case

The accused men deny the guilt. While none of them have been criminally charged, Cornell University has reportedly imposed some punishment on each of them depending on their involvement. The accused men are as follows:

Matthew Ingalls: Ingalls was reportedly expelled from Cornell after a university panel found him responsible for sexual assault. According to the report, the jury concluded that he manipulated, exploited and endangered the woman (alias Jane Doe) for his own interests and the entertainment of others.

Jonathan Newell: Newell was reportedly expelled from Cornell. He was accused of sexual assault. According to The New York Times, the university’s disciplinary summary found him responsible for conduct warranting expulsion.

Winston Lee: Lee was suspended for two years, followed by several semesters of disciplinary probation upon his return, the report added. He was reportedly ordered not to contact the woman, study sexual harassment and write reflective papers.

Gillio Lopes: Unlike others, Lopes was only suspended for three semesters, followed by two years of disciplinary probation. It is reported that he was also banned from contacting the victim and had to study sexual harassment and write reflection papers.

Diego Sarabia: Sarabia was reportedly barred from Cornell’s campus for three years under a persona non grata order. He is said to have already graduated at the time when the disciplinary panel issued its verdict.

Scott Norris: Norris is understood to have been subject to disciplinary measures that included a no-contact order, along with requirements to study sexual harassment, social media use and bystander interventions, as well as write reflection papers.

Scott Kretzschmar: Kretzschmar received similar disciplinary measures, including a no-contact order, educational requirements and other reflective papers, according to the news outlet. The university reportedly did not find him liable for sexual assault, but found him liable for attempted sexual exploitation.

Read also | NY Governor Hochul Says Former Cornell Student’s Rape Denied ‘Justice’ | The best update

Jane Doe Fraternity House Case Explained

The rape case was filed by a woman, identified anonymously in court documents as Jane Doe. Doe filed a civil lawsuit against the Ivy League university in September, alleging that she was drugged and raped at the university’s fraternity house.

She also said that Cornell University does not protect her or properly punish the accused.

After the allegations, Cornell closed the fraternity. The university also temporarily suspended the accused while some of them were later expelled.

The incident sparked a strong backlash against the Ivy League institution as well as New York prosecutors for not filing criminal charges against the accused men.

Amidst this, the president of Cornell University has expanded support for external evaluation of his institution.