Cornell expelled only two of 16 students found responsible for sexual assault

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 00:20 · Archive

Cornell University expelled just two of 16 students it found responsible for sexual assaults between mid-2020 and mid-2024.

Cornell University found 16 students responsible for sexual assaults between mid-2020 and mid-2024, following a review of 51 formal complaints. Of these, only two were expelled. Six students were suspended, whilst seven received other punishments including written reprimands, disciplinary probation, directed study and no-contact orders. One case remained pending appeal.

In several cases where complaints were withdrawn without a full Title IX hearing, students received sanctions such as writing an 'Accountability Reflection Paper' or 'Apology Letter'. One student was required only to write a 'reflection paper' despite being accused of assault, prompting one accuser to say she felt 'betrayed'. Another anonymous alumna described her anguish at seeing a student she accused graduate without meaningful punishment, stating 'no punishment, no essay, no apology'.

Cornell has faced scrutiny over its handling of sexual assault cases, particularly following allegations that seven fraternity brothers at Chi Phi gang-raped a student identified as Jane Doe. The university admitted to failings in how it handled such cases. It remains unclear how many of the reported assaults resulted in criminal investigations running alongside the university's own Title IX proceedings.

How it is being reported

• Cornell expelled just two of 16 students its own investigators had found responsible for recent sexual assaults, with one asked to write a 'reflection paper' as punishmentJust two students Cornell University officials found responsible of sexual assault between mid-2020 and mid-2024 were expelled from the New York campus, according to a damning report.Daily Mail · 15 Oct, 00:10
• Cornell only expelled 2 of 16 students found responsible for recent sex assaults“It hurts so much," one accuser said. “No punishment. No essay. No apology. Allowed to graduate."New York Post · 14 Oct, 20:06

In this story: Cornell University · Chi Phi · CNN

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