A new Cornell University survey reveals that more than a third of undergraduate women have experienced nonconsensual sexual contact during their time at the Ivy League school. The findings, released as part of the 2025 Cornell Survey of Sexual Assault and Related Misconduct, have taken on added significance amid an ongoing political firestorm over the handling of a 2024 gang rape allegation.
The survey, conducted in the spring of 2025 among 926 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, found that 35% of female undergraduates reported such experiences. The rate was even higher among women involved in Greek life, where 52% said they had experienced nonconsensual sexual contact, compared to 29% among those not affiliated with a sorority or fraternity. About 8% of male undergraduates reported similar experiences.
The data also shows that residence halls were the most common location for reported assaults, accounting for 29% of cases, followed by off-campus residences at 23% and fraternity chapter houses at 17%.
The survey's release comes as New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to investigate the 2024 allegation, in which a woman identified as Jane Doe said she was drugged and gang-raped by seven men at the Chi Phi fraternity house. The incident was initially reported to campus police three weeks after the alleged assault on October 15, 2024.
Hochul expressed deep concern over how Cornell's police department handled the case, citing the incomplete record shared with the Tompkins County District Attorney's Office. She stopped short of calling for the resignation of District Attorney Matthew Van Houten or Cornell's president, but criticized Van Houten's decision not to interview the complainant or pursue charges.
“New reporting raises serious questions about the information his office relied upon when it made that decision, and that’s why I believe this case demands a special prosecutor who will provide a fresh and thorough review of all the facts, including the information that has recently come to light,” Hochul said during a Friday press conference.
The political backlash has intensified, with state and federal lawmakers demanding accountability. Senator Chuck Schumer has called for an independent review of the case, while Representative Elissa Slotkin has slammed the university for delays in accountability. The controversy has also drawn attention to Cornell's handling of the fraternity gang rape case, as prosecutors reopened the investigation this week.
The survey's findings highlight a persistent issue on campus. A 2023 survey found that 23% of female undergraduates reported sexual assault, up from 20% in 2021. The new numbers suggest a troubling upward trend, with the university facing scrutiny over its prevention and response efforts.
As the special prosecutor takes over the case, Hochul has withheld judgment on whether Cornell's leadership should step down, but the pressure continues to mount. The university has yet to release the full police report, and the DA's office has faced criticism for its initial decision not to bring charges.
The intersection of the survey data and the high-profile case underscores the broader challenges facing Cornell and other institutions in addressing sexual misconduct. With the investigation now in the hands of the state attorney general, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the university can restore public trust.
