Cornell Frat Rape Case Reopened: US Prosecutors Investigate After Elite College 'Failed to Punish' Seven Chi Phi Members

US prosecutors announced on Monday that they have reopened an investigation into an alleged gang rape at Cornell University after a former student filed a civil lawsuit claiming the Ivy League institution failed to adequately punish the seven Chi Phi fraternity members accused of assaulting her in 2024. The alleged victim says she was drugged with ketamine and raped by the men at the fraternity house.

Cornell closed the Chi Phi chapter and temporarily suspended the students involved, several of whom were later expelled. The reopened criminal probe follows the civil suit, which was filed earlier this month and has renewed scrutiny on how the university handles sexual misconduct cases. The names of the accused have not been officially released, and no criminal charges have been filed.

The case highlights ongoing national debates over campus sexual assault accountability and the effectiveness of Title IX enforcement. Advocacy groups have called for greater transparency and tougher penalties, while Cornell has stated it cooperates fully with law enforcement. Prosecutors have not set a timeline for the investigation, and the university declined to comment further on pending litigation.