Former Cornell University student sues school, 7 frat members over rape allegations

By Mahsa Saeidi, a five-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and licensed attorney, joined CBS News New York as an investigative reporter in March of 2024. Read Full Bio September 22, 2026 / 6:17 PM EDT / CBS New York Add CBS News on Google Cornell University and seven fraternity members are facing a lawsuit over rape allegations. A former student alleges in October of 2024, she was drugged and raped at a frat house, and her attorney claims after an investigation, only two of the accused were expelled and no one was arrested. Now, the former student is suing the school and the frat members, claiming they failed to protect her and prevent the alleged assault. According to the suit, the student, identified only as Jane Doe, was 20 years old and attending her dream school in Ithaca at the time. She says she went to visit a friend at Cornell’s Chi Phi frat house while she was intoxicated, and alleges two frat brothers pressured her into snorting what they said was ketamine before they sexually assaulted her. A man allegedly then sent a message to the frat’s Snapchat group chat suggesting a woman was available for sex. According to the
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