Bill Maher urges abolition of fraternities over Cornell assault allegations
Bill Maher used his talk show to call for the abolition of all fraternities, citing the Cornell University case involving seven Chi Phi members accused of gang-raping a female student. The comedian argued that male-only organisations inherently enable misconduct, comparing them to other institutions he views as structurally corrupt.
Seven Chi Phi brothers are accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a 20-year-old student (identified as Jane Doe) at a party on 19 October 2024. The student initially reported the allegations in 2024, but no charges were filed; however, following a recent lawsuit filed in September, the case has been reopened and New York's Attorney General Letitia James has been appointed as special prosecutor. The accused men deny the allegations.
- Bill Maher called for abolishing all fraternities citing Cornell case
- Seven Chi Phi members accused of gang-raping female student in October 2024
- Case reopened after lawsuit; accused deny allegations
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Seven members of Chi Phi fraternity at Cornell University have been accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a 20-year-old female student at a party in October 2024. The accused men deny the allegations.
The student initially reported the allegations in 2024, but no criminal charges were filed at that time. The case was reopened following a civil lawsuit filed in September, and New York's Attorney General Letitia James was appointed as special prosecutor.
Fraternities are exclusive male-only student organisations found at American universities where members often live together. Serious allegations of sexual misconduct at fraternities have raised wider questions about their culture and accountability, prompting ongoing debate about their place in university life.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Fraternities create structural conditions that enable sexual misconduct through insularity, male-only hierarchies, weak institutional oversight, and cultures that prioritise in-group loyalty over accountability. The Cornell case exemplifies a documented pattern: fraternities have been the setting for disproportionately high rates of reported sexual assaults, and their internal discipline systems often protect perpetrators rather than preventing harm. Universities cannot adequately supervise closed organisations that operate beyond normal campus authority, and the culture of hazing, excessive alcohol consumption, and pledge-based power imbalances creates incentives that protect alleged wrongdoers. When an institutional design so consistently enables serious harm, abolition rather than reform becomes the appropriate remedy.
The case against
Sexual assault occurs across all student housing and social settings, not uniquely within fraternities, making abolition an disproportionate response that punishes millions of students for alleged crimes by individuals. Most fraternities and fraternity members operate responsibly, and many now invest genuinely in anti-assault training and cultural reform. Abolition represents collective punishment and an infringement on freedom of association that many students value for genuine community, mentorship, and social connection. The appropriate remedy is holding perpetrators and enablers accountable through the criminal justice system whilst requiring institutional reforms and stronger oversight, not dismantling voluntary organisations wholesale. This precedent could justify similar abolition of other institutions where misconduct has occurred.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Bill Maher stuns audience as he calls for all frats to be abolished in wake of Cornell 7 allegations: ‘Can’t function without depravity’”.