Cornell University's latest campus climate survey reveals that more than one in three undergraduate women reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact during their time at the Ivy League school. The 2025 poll, released amid renewed scrutiny over a 2024 sexual assault allegation, found that 35.4 percent of female undergraduates said they had been subjected to such contact while enrolled.
The survey, conducted in spring 2025 among 926 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, also showed that Greek life involvement correlates with higher rates of victimization. Among undergraduate women in sororities or fraternities, 52 percent reported nonconsensual sexual contact, compared to 29 percent of those not affiliated. For undergraduate men, the figure was 8 percent.
The findings have taken on added political weight following a lawsuit filed last month by a woman identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was drugged and gang-raped by seven men at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. Her case initially drew criticism after the Tompkins County District Attorney's office declined to press charges, a decision now under fresh review.
Location of assaults
The survey also detailed where these incidents occur. Residence halls were the most common site, accounting for 29 percent of reported assaults, followed by off-campus residences at 23 percent and fraternity chapter houses at 17 percent. The data underscores the prevalence of sexual violence in campus living environments.
Political fallout
New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor on Thursday to lead a criminal investigation into the 2024 allegation, citing concerns about how Cornell's police department handled the case. Hochul said she was "deeply disturbed" by the "partial record" provided to the Tompkins County District Attorney's office.
While Hochul stopped short of calling for the resignation of District Attorney Matthew Van Houten or Cornell's president, she criticized Van Houten's failure to interview the accuser or bring charges. "New reporting raises serious questions about the information his office relied upon when it made that decision," Hochul said. "That's why I believe this case demands a special prosecutor who will provide a fresh and thorough review of all the facts."
The governor's move follows growing pressure from state and federal lawmakers, including Senator Chuck Schumer, who has called for an independent review of the case. The controversy has also sparked broader debate about campus accountability, with some critics pointing to the university's handling of sexual misconduct reports.
Cornell's own data shows a troubling trend: the percentage of female undergrads reporting sexual assault has climbed from 20 percent in 2021 to 23 percent in 2023, and now to 35 percent in 2025. While some of the increase may reflect greater willingness to report, the numbers remain a stark reminder of the challenges facing institutions of higher education.
As the investigation unfolds, the case has become a flashpoint in national discussions about how universities and prosecutors respond to sexual violence. The survey's results, coupled with the ongoing legal battle, are likely to intensify calls for policy changes both at Cornell and across the country.
