Cornell lawsuit highlights hurdles facing campus sexual assault survivors

A former Cornell University student has filed a civil lawsuit alleging she was drugged and raped by several fraternity members in 2024, claiming the university failed to protect her or adequately punish those involved. Though she reported the assault to campus police and the district attorney's office, prosecutors initially declined to bring charges, though the case was reopened this week. The case has brought renewed focus to the systemic barriers survivors face on college campuses, where students must navigate overlapping university and criminal justice procedures that are often confusing and emotionally draining.

Universities must investigate sexual assault allegations under federal Title IX rules, typically through campus police interviews, university Title IX investigations, and hearings before faculty panels, creating multiple systems survivors must navigate in parallel. Cornell has stated it conducted extensive investigations and imposed sanctions including barring the fraternity from campus and suspending or expelling students involved. Advocates and legal experts argue these complex processes are nearly impossible for traumatised survivors to navigate, explaining why research suggests the vast majority of sexual assaults on college campuses go unreported.