Cornell Rape Case: Due Process Takes Backseat to Inflammatory Accusations

The mob has now come for Cornell. And this time, it even has a superhero.

Last week, a female Cornell student claiming to have been gang-raped by members of the Chi Phi fraternity almost two years ago sued Cornell, Chi Phi, various Cornell administrators, and — by name — the seven Cornell students who were allegedly involved in the rape. The case quickly went viral, and the reactions have broken down along predictably partisan lines — with everyone from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Hollywood actress Florence Pugh (who plays the Black Widow–esque Yelena Belova in the Marvel Universe) weighing in, and most people immediately assuming guilt.

JD

About the Author

Justin Dillon

Justin Dillon is a partner at Dillon PLLC, where he represents students in Title IX cases nationwide.

KJ

About the Author

KC Johnson

KC Johnson is a professor of history at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center.

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The mob has now come for Cornell. And this time, it even has a superhero.

Last week, a female Cornell student claiming to have been gang-raped by members of the Chi Phi fraternity almost two years ago sued Cornell, Chi Phi, various Cornell administrators, and — by name — the seven Cornell students who were allegedly involved in the rape. The case quickly went viral, and the reactions have broken down along predictably partisan lines — with everyone from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Hollywood actress Florence Pugh (who plays the Black Widow–esque Yelena Belova in the Marvel Universe) weighing in, and most people immediately assuming guilt.