What Does the Snapchat Message in the Cornell 7 Lawsuit Say?

Cornell Snapchat Group Ignites Investigation [00:00]

• A flurry of messages in the Cornell Chi-Fi Fraternity Snapchat group at 1:42 a.m. advertised "free" at the fraternity house.
• This led to a sexual assault investigation that remained largely hidden for years.
• A recent lawsuit filed by "Jane Doe" brought the details to light, prompting a renewed criminal investigation and national outcry.

  "It's 1.42 a.m. and the Cornell Snapchat group at the Chi-Fi Fraternity is lighting up."

Campus Crime Alert and Rumors [01:20]

• In October 2024, a crime alert about an alleged rape at a fraternity sent an uneasy shift through Cornell University.
• The alert stated a student was sexually assaulted by several males and coerced into taking ketamine and other drugs.
• The fraternity involved was temporarily suspended, and rumors quickly identified it as Chi Phi and the victim as a student known to many.

  "It said there had been an alleged rape at a fraternity on campus."

Student Journalists Pursue the Story [03:30]

• For nearly two years, the case remained quiet publicly, but student journalists at the Cornell Daily Sun continued to investigate.
• Reporters Sophia Dasser and Cerise Kuzba worked on a story about the case and the outcome of the Title IX investigation.
• They paused publication at the request of Jane Doe, who was preparing to file a lawsuit.

  "The Sun's reporters, led by Sophia Dasser and Cerise Kuzba, had actually been working on a story about this case and the outcome of the Title IX investigation for years."

Jane Doe's Bombshell Lawsuit [04:45]

• On September 16, 2026, Jane Doe filed a 100-page civil lawsuit in New York's Supreme Court.
• The lawsuit named Cornell University, Chi-Fi, and seven fraternity brothers: Matthew Ingalls, Jonathan Newell, Winston Lee, Jilio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, and Scott Kretschmar, known as the "Cornell Seven."
• All named defendants denied any wrongdoing, with some claiming consensual contact or no contact at all.

  "It was more than 100 pages. What it revealed was a bombshell, to say the least."

Allegations Detailed in the Lawsuit [05:50]

• Jane Doe alleged she was heavily intoxicated, having consumed about 10 drinks in three hours, before going to the Chi-Fi house.
• She claimed Matthew Ingalls asked if she wanted to have a threesome with a fraternity brother, which escalated into a gang rape lasting hours.
• She was allegedly pressured into snorting ketamine for hours and did not consent due to incapacitation.

  "Jane Doe said what ended up happening was a gang rape that went on for hours."

Snapchat Message and Assault [09:10]

• At 1:42 a.m., defendant Jonathan Newell sent a message in the Chi-Fi Snapchat group of over 50 people, saying "free was available in the alumni room for those who wanted it."
• The lawsuit included a screenshot of the conversation, with other named defendants chiming in.
• Jane Doe stated at least two of them assaulted her simultaneously, and she retreated under covers, unable to call for help.

  "And the lawsuit actually shows a picture of that Snapchat convo where other guys named in the suit are chiming in, saying things like, I effing love Chi-Fi."

Reporting the Assault and University Investigation [11:30]

• After the assault ended around 5:45 a.m., Jane Doe woke up in shock, with a large bruise, and began taking medicine for a UTI.
• She reported the rape to Cornell University Police on November 8th, after receiving a rape kit on November 7th where no DNA evidence was recovered.
• The university temporarily suspended the seven defendants and Chi-Fi, with some defendants submitting essays to "mitigate their conduct."

  "According to Jane Doe's lawsuit, after she reported the rape, the university temporarily suspended the seven defendants and Chi-Fi."

Title IX Findings and Disciplinary Actions [13:00]

• Cornell conducted a month-long Title IX investigation, including interviews and evidence review.
• As a result, Chi-Fi was banned from campus, and multiple individuals involved were expelled.
• Matthew Ingalls and Jonathan Newell were expelled; Winston Lee was suspended for two years; Jilio Lopes was suspended for three semesters; Diego Sarabia was barred from campus for three years; Scott Norris and Scott Kretschmar received no contact orders and other sanctions.

  "But as a result of that, Chi-Fi was actually banned from campus. And multiple people involved that night were expelled."

Criminal Investigation Stalls and Controversy [16:00]

• Cornell stated they provided Jane Doe's sworn statement and the Snapchat screenshot to the Tompkins County DA's office.
• DA Matthew Van Houten claimed Jane Doe's initial statement described her participation in drug use and sexual conduct as "Voluntary, conscious, and consensual."
• Van Houten stated he did not see the Snapchat picture and did not investigate further, leading to criticism for not reviewing Jane Doe's police interview transcript where she stated with "100% confidence" she was raped.

  "DA Van Houten said the new lawsuit was dramatically different from the statement Jane Doe gave in 2024 that he received from the university."

AG Appointed Special Prosecutor, Text Messages Emerge [20:00]

• DA Van Houten reopened the criminal case, but New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor, citing concerns about Van Houten's handling of the case.
• Text messages between Jane Doe and defendants Matthew Ingalls and Jonathan Newell days after the assault surfaced, becoming crucial to the investigation.
• These messages, where Jane Doe initially discusses consensual aspects and ketamine use, have led to scrutiny of her story and potential impact on the criminal case.

  "The messages start on October 21st from Jonathan. He said a friend had given him Jane Doe's number. He apologized for how things went down and said his memory was fuzzy, but that they were shutting down any stories they had heard."

Campus Culture and Broader Issues [27:00]

• Cindy Renee Granillo, who shared her own story of sexual assault at a Cornell fraternity, highlighted a culture problem at Cornell that needs deep-rooted change.
• Cornell's data shows women in Greek life report sexual assault at nearly twice the rate of women not in Greek life.
• Exclusive analysis found Cornell reported over 1,200 sexual assault and related reports between 2018-2024, with only seven resulting in expulsion or dismissal.

  "Cindy Renee described the fraternity scene as heavy drinking and, to her, a game of who you can get with. She said it's disgusting."

National Context and Other Cases [31:00]

• The Cornell case coincided with other university-wide fraternity suspensions, including at the University of Arizona due to severe misconduct allegations.
• A sexual assault was also reported at a fraternity house at the University of Chicago.
• The "I Am Jane Doe" movement emerged online, with victims sharing stories to protect Jane Doe's privacy and highlight shared experiences.

  "Amid the Cornell investigation came another bombshell move from a big college."

Columbia University Case: Golda Daphna [34:00]

• Golda Daphna, a Columbia University student, alleged she was raped by someone she was dating, with allegations confirmed by university documents.
• After reporting the incident and filing a Title IX complaint, her alleged perpetrator filed a harassment complaint against her, centering on her TikTok posts.
• Columbia warned her the harassment complaint could affect her transcript and diploma, leading her to mutually drop the case to graduate.

  "She told me once they actually got together, it was pretty intense, pretty fast. But she told me things started going downhill when he started making comments about other women and joking about violence towards her."

Legal Battles and Defense Arguments [40:00]

• Scott Kretschmer, one of the Cornell Seven, petitioned to have a finding of attempted sexual exploitation removed from his record, claiming he was not charged with it and lacked a proper defense.
• Diego Sarabia's attorney sought a gag order, arguing Jane Doe's attorney's public statements could taint a jury pool.
• Attorneys for Jilio Lopes and Winston Lee sought to remove Attorney General Letitia James from the criminal case due to a biased social media post she made.

  "According to his petition, Cornell's Title IX panel actually cleared him of sexual assault and sexual exploitation."

Cornell's Response and Faculty Senate Vote [46:00]

• Cornell University suspended all fraternity parties and social events for the rest of the 2026-2027 school year, strengthening security and support.
• Cornell President apologized to Jane Doe and women on campus, admitting the university had fallen short.
• Cornell's faculty senate initiated a no-confidence vote in the university's handling of the 2024 rape case and its ability to address sexual assault.

  "He released a statement with the decision to suspend all fraternity parties and social events for the rest of the 2026-2027 school year because of the fallout from this case, and to strengthen security and support on campus immediately."

Independent Review and Campus Atmosphere [49:00]

• Former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates was retained to conduct an independent review of Cornell's prevention and response to sexual misconduct.
• The review will determine if Cornell followed its policies and procedures in the 2024 rape case.
• The atmosphere on campus is described as dismal, with protests demanding reform and students confiding in professors about assaults they are too afraid to report.

  "Cornell professor Kate Mann, the one who interviewed the Cornell Sun editor that broke the story wide open, she told me she's now had several students confide in her about their own stories of assault."

Survivor Voices and Support Resources [52:00]

• Jane Doe's attorney has publicly stated she has received threats amid efforts to keep her client's name private.
• Survivor Golda Daphna emphasized that "there is no perfect victim" and that survivors deserve to be believed.
• The National Sexual Assault Hotline is provided as a resource for those affected by sexual assault.

  "Silence is the most powerful weapon to keep survivors chained. My voice is the only thing that will ever keep me alive."