A university is under fire after a former student claimed she was drugged with ketamine and gang raped by seven Chi Phi frat members, with an online campaign now demanding the men be sacked from jobs
A hugely publicised civil lawsuit has placed prestigious university under intense scrutiny after a former student alleged she was drugged and gang raped by seven members of a fraternity.
An online campaign has since grown, demanding the men be sacked from jobs and stripped of future opportunities.
In a 101-page civil complaint filed on September 14 in Manhattan Supreme Court, USA, the alleged victim, identified anonymously as “Jane Doe”, says she was 20 at the time and that the attack happened inside the Chi Phi house in October 2024. The suit names Matthew Ingalls, Jonathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, and Scott Kretzschmar as defendants.
The complaint also sues Cornell University and associated Greek organisations, alleging negligence and a failure to protect students. According to the lawsuit, Jane Doe went to the Chi Phi fraternity house after drinking at a local bar.
It alleges that two fraternity members, Matthew Ingalls and Jonathan Newell, pressured her into snorting ketamine before initiating a sexual assault, the Cornell Daily Sun reported. The complaint further claims that as she lay unconscious, someone sent a message to a Snapchat group chat titled “Chi Phi Actives” inviting other members upstairs, explicitly stating there was “free p—-” available.
It is then alleged that additional members Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, and Scott Kretzschmar joined the assault, which the lawsuit says lasted for hours, while ketamine continued to be used.
While no criminal charges have been filed, the case has ignited anger because of what the lawsuit alleges about Cornell’s internal handling of the matter. The Tompkins County District Attorney’s office closed its initial criminal probe without filing charges, citing insufficient evidence to meet the burden of proof for a criminal prosecution.
Cornell has officially barred the Xi chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity from campus, according to the lawsuit, but the complaint says that while two of the students were eventually expelled, the remaining five were given vastly lighter administrative penalties, including the opportunity to mitigate their conduct by writing essays and attending workshops. The suit also claims campus directory searches showed at least three of the named defendants remained actively enrolled.
The claims have been vehemently denied by lawyers for one of the men. Legal representatives for defendant Scott Kretzschmar have strongly denied the allegations, saying they possess evidence demonstrating the claims are false.
As the names of the seven defendants spread online, the backlash has rapidly moved beyond campus. Activists, student groups and internet watchdogs have sought to identify the men’s employment, internships and corporate connections, with campaigns pressuring employers to terminate contracts and cut ties.
“Why were these men allowed to ‘pursue their education in a secure and nourishing environment’ and she was not?” the Cornell Daily Sun wrote. “Why was she not informed of the outcome of her own Title IX investigation?”
The student-run paper added: “To Matthew Ingalls, Jonathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar: We know who you are and we refuse to let you benefit from this University’s concealment.”
If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website, http://www.victimsupport.org.uk.
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