Ocasio-Cortez Condemns Cornell's 'Culture of Rape' as DA Reopens Chi Phi Investigation

Key points

• Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke at a 'Students vs. Billionaires' town hall in Ithaca, calling the Chi Phi case a 'culture of rape' protected by elite institutions.
• Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit on Sept. 14, 2026, alleging seven Chi Phi members drugged and gang-raped her in October 2024 at a Cornell fraternity house.
• Tompkins County DA Matthew Van Houten announced the reopening of the criminal investigation, citing new evidence and Jane Doe's cooperation, though he noted the 2024 police statement differed from the current civil claims.
• Cornell University stated that the Chi Phi Xi chapter remains barred from campus and that its Title IX investigation concluded, though it cited federal privacy laws regarding specific disciplinary outcomes.
• Defense attorney Jeremy Saland denied the allegations on behalf of defendant Scott Kretzschmar, stating the incident 'did not happen' and that his client never touched the plaintiff.

Background

The lawsuit follows a 2024 incident where a former Cornell student reported being assaulted at the Chi Phi house. At that time, the Tompkins County District Attorney declined to bring criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence and the victim's voluntary consumption of drugs and alcohol. Cornell suspended the chapter and some students, but critics argued the disciplinary response was inadequate. Recent archive coverage noted that the case drew attention from the Korean American community after one defendant, Winston Lee, was identified, and that Cornell’s 2025 survey showed a rise in reported nonconsensual sexual contact among undergraduate women.

How outlets are covering it

The Cornell Daily Sun and ABC News highlight the political and legal fallout, with Ocasio-Cortez framing the incident as part of a broader 'culture of rape' at elite institutions. ABC News emphasizes the DA's reopening of the case, noting his concern that the civil complaint's allegations differ 'dramatically' from the 2024 police statement. LawCommentary provides a detailed breakdown of the civil suit, noting that Doe alleges Cornell failed to protect her despite known risks in Greek life, while also highlighting that the civil burden of proof is lower than the criminal standard. The sources agree on the core facts of the lawsuit and the DA's reopening but differ in emphasis: the Sun focuses on the political rhetoric, ABC on the procedural legal changes, and LawCommentary on the negligence claims against the university.

Why it matters

The case underscores ongoing tensions between elite universities and the public over the handling of sexual assault allegations. The reopening of the criminal investigation by the DA signals a potential shift in how such cases are prosecuted, while Ocasio-Cortez's involvement highlights the political stakes for Democratic candidates in New York. The lawsuit also raises questions about institutional accountability and the adequacy of Title IX processes in addressing campus sexual violence.

What to watch

The Tompkins County DA plans to present the case to a grand jury with Jane Doe's cooperation. The civil lawsuit will proceed in New York state court, with Doe seeking compensatory and punitive damages. Cornell has stated it will respond to the lawsuit through the legal process, and the defense attorneys have indicated they will contest the claims in court. The outcome of the grand jury presentation and the civil trial will likely have significant implications for how universities and law enforcement handle similar cases in the future.