Cornell University

College staff misconduct · Accused: Students (fraternity members)

Years of abuse: 2024

A student's civil lawsuit (filed Sept 14, 2026) alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven fraternity members at the Chi Phi house in October 2024, and that Cornell's response was inadequate. Cornell's Title IX process imposed expulsions and suspensions and banned the chapter; the Tompkins County DA reopened the criminal case for a grand jury on Sept 28, 2026, noting her 2024 police statement differed from the lawsuit.

Status: Civil suit filed Sept 2026 (Cornell, Chi Phi, 7 students and others named); criminal case reopened Sept 2026; no charges yet

Response: Lawsuit alleges inadequate Title IX response (sanctions reportedly included essays; plaintiff's lawyer says 2 of 7 expelled)

Multiple · Chi Phi (Xi chapter)

A former student alleges in a civil lawsuit that she was drugged and sexually assaulted for hours by multiple members at the Chi Phi house in October 2024.

Status: Alleged in a civil lawsuit filed September 2026 in New York State Supreme Court against the fraternity, Cornell, a sorority and an Ithaca bar; prosecutors initially declined charges, and the Tompkins County DA reopened the criminal investigation in September 2026; no criminal charges reported as of late September 2026.

Response: Chapter barred from campus after 2024; Cornell says a Title IX investigation with a multi-day hearing led to expulsions and suspensions; Cornell agreed to an independent outside-counsel review of its handling.

Hazing · Unnamed fraternities (several IFC chapters)

Several Interfraternity Council chapters were temporarily suspended over alleged hazing during spring 2024 pledging.

Status: Chapters temporarily suspended by university in February 2024 pending Office of Student Conduct investigation.

Response: Interim suspension barring chapter activities and contact with new members.

Hazing · Phi Kappa Psi

A first-year student was found dead in a gorge in October 2019 after attending a fraternity 'dirty rush' event where, per university findings, attendees were given hard liquor and encouraged to binge drink.

Status: No criminal charges reported (police investigation); family sued Cornell in January 2020 and the court denied Cornell's motion to dismiss negligence and premises claims in September 2020.

Response: Cornell indefinitely revoked the chapter's recognition (2020); individual members faced code of conduct hearings.

Hazing · Chi Psi; Sigma Nu; Delta Phi

Three chapters were placed on suspended or interim suspended status in early 2013 over credible allegations of serious (including physical) hazing.

Status: Chapters suspended by university and/or national organizations, February-March 2013, pending adjudication.

Response: Chi Psi suspended by its national HQ; Sigma Nu suspended by Cornell and its national HQ; Delta Phi placed on interim suspension by Cornell.

Hazing · Sigma Alpha Epsilon

A student died in February 2011 after a fraternity hazing ritual involving alcohol.

Status: Chapter convicted in Tompkins County Court in 2012 on hazing and related misdemeanor counts and fined $12,000; three former pledges acquitted in a separate 2012 proceeding.

Response: Chapter defunct at the time of sentencing.