A woman suing Cornell University and a fraternity over allegations that she was drugged and raped at a fraternity house is living in constant fear following online harassment and threats against her family, her lawyer has said.
The woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit over an alleged incident involving several men at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. The men named in the lawsuit have denied wrongdoing and have not been criminally charged.
The ahead of a hearing in the civil case in New York on Friday, her lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, said the past several weeks had been particularly difficult for his client.
“She feels under fire,” he said, adding that she was doing little beyond trying to survive the ordeal.
Online Threats and Fear for Her Family
Giuffra said he visited Jane Doe earlier in the week and found that she had been struggling to sleep, relying on medication to get rest. She is receiving trauma therapy but, according to her lawyer, no longer feels safe in her own home.
The situation worsened after her home address was published online without her consent. Giuffra said someone subsequently made a false emergency report that brought police officers wearing full tactical gear to the family home, where they pointed assault rifles at her father, brother and a friend.
“It’s just constant fear,” he said.
When the case gained widespread attention online, many people posted messages of solidarity using the phrase “I am Jane Doe”. However, a separate online campaign sought to reveal her identity and defend the men accused in the lawsuit.
Despite the threats and public scrutiny, Giuffra said his client remained determined to pursue the case. He said her decision to sue was driven by a desire for closure, to regain control over her life and to help bring about changes that would better protect survivors.
Cornell Suspends Fraternity Parties
Cornell University initially defended its disciplinary measures but later acknowledged shortcomings in its handling of Jane Doe’s case.
Following mounting pressure, the university president announced that fraternity parties would be suspended until the end of the academic year while the institution reviews whether and how such events can safely resume.
The university also said it would add sexual assault investigators to its police force.
Giuffra said he was surprised that Cornell had not contacted him directly, arguing that the institution appeared more focused on managing reputational damage than addressing his client’s concerns.
He said any settlement with the university would need to include meaningful reforms to prevent similar cases and ensure survivors receive appropriate support.
The BBC contacted Cornell for comment. The university referred the broadcaster to its previous statements and comments on its internal investigation in 2024.
Criminal Investigation Reopened
New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to oversee a reopened investigation into whether criminal charges are warranted.
Giuffra warned that delays could make it harder for investigators to collect important evidence, particularly digital communications.
“A lot of the communication was on Snapchat, Snapchat goes away,” he told the BBC.
He added that the best opportunity to gather evidence was immediately after the alleged incident and expressed concern that this had not happened.
The criminal investigation is separate from the civil lawsuit, which seeks to establish responsibility for the alleged assault and the university’s handling of the case.
Different Legal Standards in Civil and Criminal Cases
Giuffra said he believed he could win the civil case against Cornell, the men named in the lawsuit and other defendants.
Civil cases generally require a plaintiff to establish that their claims are more likely true than not, a standard known as the preponderance of the evidence. Criminal prosecutions require proof beyond a reasonab
