Cornell 7: Frat Brothers Accused of Campus Gang SA & Sending "Free Pu**y" Snapchat

Parking Lot Incident and Student Blame [00:00:00]

• A college student filming a parked car was bumped by it as it reversed.
• Another student allegedly had their foot run over by the same car.
• The driver of the car was identified as the president of Cornell University.

• "The car backs into the student. It's a little more like a bunk, like a very hard bunk."

Cornell University Investigation and Conclusion [00:01:00]

• The incident occurred in the parking lot of Cornell University.
• After a week-long investigation, students outside the car were deemed at fault.
• The university president had recently introduced an Israel-Palestinian debate series amid campus protests.

• "And after a week long investigation, it was decided that the students outside the car were the ones to blame."

President's Statement on the Incident [00:02:00]

• Cornell's president, Michael Kotlikoff, released a statement describing the incident as harassment and intimidation.
• He claimed students surrounded him, banged on windows, and blocked his car.
• He stated he used the car's rear pedestrian alert and automatic braking system to maneuver out of the parking space.

• "The behavior I experienced last night is not protest. It is harassment and intimidation with the direct motive of silencing speech."

Student Banned from Campus [00:03:00]

• The student whose foot was allegedly run over graduated but was banned from campus for a year.
• The ban notice cited the student's action of restricting a motor vehicle's maneuverability as creating a hazardous condition.
• The speaker questions why the president didn't call campus police for assistance.

• "Your intentional act created a hazardous condition."

Jane Doe's Civil Lawsuit Allegations [00:04:00]

• Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit against Cornell University, seven fraternity brothers (the "Cornell Seven"), and a bar.
• She alleges she was gang-raped for seven hours at a fraternity party.
• The lawsuit claims the incident traumatized her, causing her to drop out of her dream university.

• "Jane Doe alleges that as a student at Cornell, she went to a fraternity party where she was gang-essayed for seven hours."

Public and Media Reaction to the Lawsuit [00:05:00]

• The case gained national media attention, with celebrities posting pictures of the accused.
• The incident was dubbed the "Cornell 7" case online.
• Outrage focused on the alleged seven-hour duration of the assault and the university's initial response.

• "The allegation that this entire incident lasted seven hours."

Cornell's Title IX Investigation and Sanctions [00:06:00]

• Cornell commenced a Title IX investigation into Jane Doe's formal complaint.
• The investigation involved a panel and multiple hearings.
• Two accused students were expelled, and two were suspended.

• "At the end of the Title IX investigation, it appears that two of the accused are expelled."

Criticism of University Sanctions [00:07:00]

• Some accused students received sanctions including participation in a directed study and writing a reflection paper.
• The reflection paper required proposals for educational materials on social media use, sexual harassment, and bystander intervention.
• Critics argued these sanctions were insufficient and likened them to writing essays as a sole consequence.

• "None of the individuals charged were offered the opportunity to write essays as a sole consequence of their involvement."

District Attorney's Initial Decision Not to Prosecute [00:08:00]

• The Tompkins County District Attorney's office initially declined to press criminal charges.
• DA Matthew Van Houten stated Jane Doe's initial statement described voluntary, conscious, and consensual drug use and sexual conduct.
• He claimed the decision not to charge was "night and day" and not based on the later civil lawsuit.

• "Jane Doe's sworn statement on November of 2024 did not allege that she was drugged against her will or that she was gang raped."

Discrepancies in Jane Doe's Statements [00:09:00]

• The DA's office based its decision on a six-page statement written by a Cornell University Police Department officer, not directly by Jane Doe.
• Jane Doe's actual interview transcript reportedly states she was "100 percent confident I was raped" and felt there was "no escape."
• The DA's office claimed they did not receive or review this transcript.

• "I can say with a hundred percent confidence I was raped. There was really no escape."

DA's Office's Justification and Reopening of the Case [00:10:00]

• DA Van Houten defended his office's actions, emphasizing legal definitions of consent and voluntary intoxication.
• He stated the Snapchat messages were irrelevant to the issue of consent.
• Following public backlash and the emergence of the transcript, the DA's office reopened the investigation.

• "If you take that Snapchat being vile, crude, and vulgar, that did not have any relevance to the issue of whether Jane Doe consented to what was happening."

Special Prosecutor Appointed [00:11:00]

• The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, was appointed as the special prosecutor.
• This followed criticism of the DA's handling of the case and perceived failures in investigation.
• The attorney for Jane Doe expressed a lack of confidence in the DA's ability to handle the investigation.

• "The failure to do anything is shocking."

Fraternities and Insurance Risks [00:12:00]

• The discussion shifts to the broader context of fraternity risks and insurance.
• Fraternities are cited as significant insurance risks due to incidents like hazing and alcohol violations.
• Many insurance companies are reluctant to cover fraternities, leading some to self-insure.

• "There is a common statistic that's cited out there that fraternities are the sixth worst insurance risk in the country."

Hazing Allegations at Chi Phi [00:13:00]

• A former Chi Phi pledge recounts a hazing experience involving physical, emotional, and psychological abuse.
• His allegations include being blindfolded, tossed on a sheet, and having a mixture of oatmeal, vinegar, hot sauce, and cayenne pepper smeared on his genitals.
• He connects his experience to the cycle of violence and shame within fraternities.

• "For the first time in my life, I was essayed. It happened quickly."

Chi Phi Chapter Suspension and Drug Arrest [00:14:00]

• The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell was barred from campus after the Jane Doe incident.
• Prior to the incident, an arrest for ketamine possession occurred at the same fraternity house.
• Cornell did not immediately suspend the fraternity despite the drug arrest.

• "There was an arrest made for ketamine at a fraternity at Chi-Fi to be exact."

Political and Social Division Over the Case [00:15:00]

• The case has become politically divisive, with commentators using it to critique the Me Too movement.
• There are calls for the Cornell president to resign and social media campaigns targeting Jane Doe.
• Counter-campaigns aim to protect Jane Doe's identity and share survivors' stories.

• "This has become a politically divisive case."

Threats and Harassment Against Jane Doe [00:16:00]

• Jane Doe has reportedly received threatening text messages and her house was swatted.
• One text message threatened her family if she did not withdraw the case.
• She also recorded a threatening phone call.

• "If you care about your family, withdraw the case."