A woman has filed a civil lawsuit against Cornell University and seven Chi Phi Fraternity members. The lawsuit stems from gang rape allegations made by the former student in 2024.
A woman filed a lawsuit against seven Chi Phi Fraternity members at Cornell University, according to CBS News. Furthermore, the former student is also suing the school. The lawsuit stems from the woman’s allegation that she was gang raped by the fraternity members for several hours at Ithaca, New York, university in October 2024.
The lawsuit was filed in the New York Supreme Court on Wednesday, September 16, per WMBG. The complaint lists the Chi Phi fraternity, the seven members, a former Chi Phi president, Cornell University, Tri Delta Sorority, and Alpha Beta House Corporation. In addition, an Ithaca nightclub, Moonies Bar & Nightclub’ is also in the lawsuit, which claims the defendants failed to protect her and prevent the alleged rape.
The men accused of raping the woman are: Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar.
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The rape reportedly happened on October 19, 2024 into the following day. The Alpha Beta Chapter of Tri Delta sorority reportedly hosted an event nightclub in Ithaca. The former student claimed that she consumed alcohol while at the sorority house before going to the nightclub. She later went to another bar with a sorority member.
The woman said afterward she went to the Chi Phi’s Xi Chapter fraternity house at 103 Edgemoor Lane to hang out with a friend, Matthew Ingalls. She was visibly intoxicated, the suit says. The friend is one of the men in the lawsuit, per WBNG. The plaintiff says that he and Johnathan Newell pressured her into snorting a substance that they said was ketamine. Afterward, she said Ingallas initiated oral sex, then took her into another room and raped her with Winston Lee.
In addition, one man, Johnathan Newell, allegedly sent a group message on Snapchat to ‘Chi Phi Actives.’ The message said that there was “free p*ssy” upstairs in the frat house. Later, Gillio Lopes also allegedly raped her while Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris andScott Kretzschmar are accused of pouring ketamine on her body and snorting it. Diego also allegedly tried to kiss the woman without her consent. The plaintiff stated that she was raped for several hours. Also, she said she was left in the frat house unconscious until approximately 5:45 a.m.
After waking up the next morning and going home to her sorority house, she reportedly found bruising and began to remember what had happened to her. On November 8, 2024, she reported the assault to the Cornell University Police after her friends encouraged her to do so.
The woman’s lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, said that only two of the accused rapists were expelled from Cornell University following an investigation. Furthermore, the other men received only suspensions or workshops or had to write essays.
“Not one of these guys was arrested,” said Giuffra, per CBS New York. “Not one. That I can tell you for a fact…. There were so many people that could have prevented it and they didn’t…. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The woman dropped out of Cornell following the assault. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.
Cornell University released a statement on Monday, September 21, that claims it has banned the frat from campus.
“The Cornell Office of Civil Rights and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards investigated and adjudicated the allegations consistent with university policies,” reads the statement. “The Xi chapter of Chi Phi fraternity remains barred from our campus. Federal privacy law prohibits Cornell from disclosing specific information regarding individual students and we therefore are unable to make a public statement on any other disciplinary response. Violations of university policies could lead to sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion. We will respond in detail through the legal process. ”
The statement also said that the school launched a Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault following the incident.
“Anyone who has experienced or is aware of sexual misconduct on our campus can report it to the Cornell Office of Civil Rights via their online reporting tool. The university also offers a number of confidential resources to individuals looking for confidential support.”
The woman is seeking compensation from Cornell University, the seven frat members, and others named in the complaint. In addition, the complaint seeks punitive damages to deter similar incidents.
The post Former Student Details Alleged Gang Rape In Lawsuit Against Cornell University & 7 Chi Phi Fraternity Members appeared first on The Shade Room.
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