§ 02
Quotes, documents, and images from the public record in this case, each checked against its source before we add it.
What this page is, and is not
Nothing on this page has been tested in court. No judge or jury has weighed any of this evidence, and none of the seven student defendants has been charged with a crime. Items here are what the parties, officials, and news organizations have put on the public record. Each one says who it comes from, where it was published, and how it is labeled, so readers can judge it for themselves.
The student defendants "were afforded the opportunity to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays" to Cornell.
The civil complaint, para. 181. Filed September 2026.
Source: Complaint (not linked); reported by The Cornell Daily Sun. Related: Status Tracker
"None of the individuals charged were offered the opportunity to write essays as a sole consequence of their involvement."
Cornell University, Kyle Kimball, vice president for university relations. September 28, 2026.
Source: Cornell statement. Related: Status Tracker
"Jane Doe's sworn statement in November of 2024 did not allege that she was drugged against her will or gang raped."
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten. September 28, 2026.
Source: District Attorney's statement. Related: Status Tracker
"According to the statement, each time Jane Doe asked to stop the sexual conduct, the sexual conduct stopped."
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, describing the 2024 sworn statement. September 28, 2026.
Source: District Attorney's statement. Related: Status Tracker
"It is challenging for me to understand how a thorough criminal investigation could have been conducted when she was [sic] never spoke with anyone other than the officer who took her original complaint."
Thomas P. Giuffra, attorney for Jane Doe. Reported September 29, 2026.
Source: ABC News. Related: Status Tracker
The District Attorney "filed no charges against Scott because what alleged did not happen."
Jeremy Saland, attorney for defendant Scott Kretzschmar. Reported September 28, 2026.
Asked about the photo of the fraternity's Snapchat group chat included in the complaint: "I'm not clear on exactly how that was given to us, or if anyone here looked at it. That was not critical to our analysis." He called the messages "disgusting and vulgar and immoral."
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, to ABC News. Reported September 29, 2026.
Source: ABC News. Related: Institutional Response, C7-C-08
"This incident was not reported to the Ithaca Police Department. The Ithaca Police Department learned of these allegations recently through the media."
Ithaca Police Department. September 28, 2026.
Source: The Cornell Daily Sun. Related: Status Tracker
Statement regarding Jane Doe v. Cornell University, et al. (September 28, 2026). Explains the 2024 decision not to file charges, summarizes and quotes Jane Doe's November 2024 sworn statement, and announces that the case will go to a grand jury.
Update on disturbing allegations of sexual violence (November 26, 2024). Confirms the Chi Phi chapter's temporary suspension order of November 8, 2024, and interim suspensions of a number of students.
Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault announced (February 6, 2025).
Task force final recommendations (March 17, 2026).
Statement on lawsuit regarding 2024 sexual violence allegations (September 21, 2026). Says the university investigated and adjudicated the allegations and cites federal privacy law.
District Attorney's investigation of 2024 sexual assault allegations (September 28, 2026). Supports the grand jury review and says sanctions included expulsions and suspensions.
Policy 6.4: Prohibited Bias, Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual and Related Misconduct, and the student procedures in effect from August 5, 2024 (PDF). The rules for Cornell's Title IX investigation and hearing.
Cornell University Police crime alert (November 8, 2024). No longer available at its original address; reported at the time by The Cornell Daily Sun and The Ithaca Voice.
Ithaca Police Department press release (September 28, 2026). We have not found it online at its original source; it is quoted by The Cornell Daily Sun.
Jane Doe v. Cornell University, et al., New York County Supreme Court (filed September 2026). We do not link to the complaint because it contains details that could identify the plaintiff and names people who are not parties to the case. We cite it by paragraph number instead.
Cornell University FAQ Regarding 2024 Chi Phi Sexual Assault Allegations (September 29, 2026, updated September 30). Answers questions about sanctions, privacy law, campus police, and the Snapchat screenshot.
Asked whether Cornell provided the Snapchat screenshot to the District Attorney: "The Cornell University Police Department provided it as part of the evidence supplied to the District Attorney in November 2024."
Cornell University, FAQ. Published September 29, 2026.
Source: Cornell FAQ. Related: C7-C-08
"I support the district attorney's decision to reopen the criminal investigation. But there are also serious questions about Cornell's campus culture and its systems for prevention, reporting, and response. That is why I am calling for outside counsel to conduct a transparent, independent review of the university's response to determine whether Cornell met every obligation to protect its students and pursue justice."
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, in a statement. Reported September 29, 2026.
Source: ABC News. Related: Institutional Response
