Cornell lawsuit sparks debate

A civil lawsuit alleges binge drinking, rampant drugging, and gang rape at Cornell occurred two years ago.

“WHEN WILL WE S”

Cornell Seven disciplined

The university investigated the seven frat brothers directly involved and imposed discipline ranging from expulsion to compulsory essay writing.

Gov. Hochul's loophole claim

Gov. Kathy Hochul urged the Legislature to close the loophole that keeps prosecutors from convicting people who have sex with intoxicated individuals.

New York law prohibits nonconsent

New York law prohibits forcing others into sex, imposing sex against will, and having sex with physically helpless people.

DA declined to charge

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten declined to charge the men despite evidence of Jane Doe's intimidation and intoxication.

Jane Doe's account

Jane Doe felt intimidated, swatted hands away, said 'no', hid under covers, and became 9 out of 10 intoxicated.

“no”

Intoxication loophole myth

New York law does not require unequivocal verbal refusal for sex to be nonconsensual regardless of intoxication levels.

Cornell Seven's actions

The Cornell Seven agreed to a threesome with Jane Doe, who intended to hook up with Matthew Ingalls and agreed for Jonathan Newell to join.

Consent confusion

The men's defenders claim Jane Doe eagerly agreed to kinky sex and lied about it after being shunned from a party.

False loophole claim

The current conversation accepts the dyad where a woman is either a complicit 'slut' or a helpless victim.

What Hochul means

Hochul and company want to criminalize sex with someone who appears lucid but is intoxicated to the point of helplessness.

Next steps

Broadening criminal law to encompass widespread sexual behavior should happen only after forthright public debate.