Cornell University professor sides with Jane Doe in ongoing assault case
The Cornell 7 case revolves around 7 men accused of assaulting an anonymous Jane Doe
A Cornell University professor has expressed solidarity with Jane Doe, the girl who has accused seven fraternity members of sexually assaulting, drugging and gang raping her.
Kate Manne, a feminist philosopher and professor at Cornell, joined Alex Cooper on Sunday's special episode of Call Her Daddy and took aim at victim blaming as well as the treatment of women who come forward with sexual assault allegations.
"Rape is always 100% the fault of the rapist, 0% on the victim," Manne says, before making her position on the Cornell 7 case unmistakable, "For the record, I believe Jane Doe."
The professor also questions why so much attention goes toward the futures of accused men rather than the women who say they've been assaulted.
"So many people worried about him missing out on his bright future. What about her bright future?" Manne inquired.
The Cornell 7 lawsuit has sparked national outrage and fueled the growing "I Am Jane Doe" movement.
Manne tells Cooper many students on campus feel betrayed and the conversation digs into fraternity culture, consent and an alleged "bro code" that encourages men to protect one another rather than call out bad behavior.
Cooper also addresses the disturbing Snapchat messages referenced in the case questioning whether they point to a larger problem.
The Cornell 7 lawsuit filed by Jane Doe, on September 16, alleges that Jonathan Newell, alongside six other members of the XI Chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, raped her on October 19, 2024, at the fraternity house.
According to the suit, on the night of the assault, Newell and Matthew Ingalls began passing around ketamine, dissociative anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties.
Soon after Newell and Ingalls began to assault and rape her. Another man, Gillio Lopes, is also accused of then joining in on the assault.
Past midnight, a leaked screenshot of XI Chapter’s Snapchat group titled “Chi Phi Actives” saw that Newell sent a message in the group chat promoting “free p***y“ upstairs, according to TMZ.
“In doing so, Defendant Newell organized and encouraged other XI chapter members to join in on the gang rape of Plaintiff in the XI chapter fraternity house,” the lawsuit claims.
Winston Lee, Scott Norris, Diego Sarabia and Scott Kretzschmar are all accused of participating in the gang rape, according to the lawsuit.
