Officials at Cornell University have suspended one of the Ivy League institution’s Greek fraternities while police investigate an incident in which a victim was allegedly repeatedly sexually assaulted by “several males” and forced into taking drugs.
The New York university’s police department said it received a report about an assault said to have taken place at an off-campus event in the city of Ithaca on the night of 25 October, the Times Union reported.
“The victim reported being sexually assaulted by several males and coerced into consuming ketamine and other drugs. The fraternity where this incident occurred has been temporarily suspended, effective immediately. The investigation is ongoing,” the department said in a statement.
According to the Times Union, Edgemoor Lane, where the assault allegedly took place, is home to local chapters of two of Cornell’s fraternities, Chi Phi and Lambda Chi Alpha.
A spokesperson for Lambda Chi Alpha’s national organization told the Guardian in a statement that its Cornell chapter was not involved. Cornell’s media relations department said it had nothing to add to the police department’s crime alert, and Chi Phi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cornell has a history of issues with its Greek fraternity population, which is the third largest in the nation, according to its interfraternity council consisting of more than 30 chapters. In February, multiple fraternities were suspended as university officials investigated hazing allegations, the Ithaca Voice reported.
Officials did not reveal the nature of the allegations, the names of the fraternities or how many of them were suspended. A statement issued by a university spokesperson at the time said: “Cornell University does not tolerate hazing or other forms of mentally and physically coercive activities. When the university receives reports that concern the health and safety of our students, we must take them seriously and act swiftly.”
In December 2020, the university reached a confidential financial settlement with the family of Antonio Tsialas, a freshman Cornell student from Miami, Florida, who was found dead in a gorge after an alcohol-fueled fraternity recruitment party hosted by its Phi Kappa Psi chapter.
A year-long investigation by the university’s police department concluded there was no foul play in the death of Tsialas, the Voice reported. But police had previously referred the chapter to the university’s Greek life misconduct panel, which the outlet said resulted in its status being permanently revoked, and 31 students were referred to the judicial administrator’s office.
Officials, citing privacy laws, did not reveal the nature of the allegations against the students, or what, if any, punishment they received.
• Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
