# Cornell Students Demand Trust in Sexual Assault Investigations

> Cornell students want institutions to earn trust after Jane Doe's sexual assault allegations.
- Title: Cornell Students Demand Trust in Sexual Assault Investigations
- Summary: Cornell students want institutions to earn trust after Jane Doe's sexual assault allegations. Cornell must share findings from Sally Yates' independent…
- Keywords: cornell university, jane doe, sally yates, sexual assault, chi phi fraternity, university disciplinary process, new york attorney general, news, local, Cornell, Students, Demand
- Source: The Boston Globe — https://bostonglobe.com/2026/10/15/opinion/cornell-jane-doe-sally-yates-investigation
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: cornell university, jane doe, sally yates, sexual assault, chi phi fraternity, university disciplinary process, new york attorney general, news, local
## Jane Doe allegations
Students marched for changes after Jane Doe accused multiple Chi Phi fraternity members of sexual assault in October 2024.

> Jane Doe alleges that she was sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members after becoming incapacitated.
## Investigation delays
Tompkins County district attorney Matthew Van Houten initially declined to act on Jane Doe's case after reviewing a six-page police summary.

> Matthew Van Houten initially declined to move forward after reviewing a six-page police summary of Jane Doe’s interviews.
## Criminal case status
New York Attorney General Letitia James now serves as special prosecutor after Van Houten reopened the case.

> New York Attorney General Letitia James is now serving as special prosecutor in a renewed investigation.
## University response
Cornell suspended Chi Phi, conducted 50 interviews with 32 witnesses and 12 days of hearings, and expelled some students.

> Cornell suspended Chi Phi, conducted an internal investigation involving 50 interviews with 32 witnesses and 12 days of hearings.
## Yates review
Cornell retained former US deputy attorney general Sally Yates to lead an independent review of sexual misconduct responses.

> Cornell has now retained a former US deputy attorney general, Sally Yates, to lead an independent review of how the university prevents and responds to sexual misconduct.
## Student concerns
35 percent of Cornell undergraduate women reported sexual assault in a 2025 survey, though the response rate was only 13 percent.

> In a 2025 survey by the university, 35 percent of undergraduate women who responded reported experiencing sexual assault during their time at Cornell.
## Trust requirement
Cornell must share Yates' review findings to rebuild student trust in sexual assault investigations.

> Cornell should follow through on its promise to share her review’s findings and recommendations.
## Key takeaway

Cornell must share findings from Sally Yates' independent review to rebuild student trust in sexual assault investigations.