CBS News has reviewed extensive transcripts related to the Title IX investigation by Cornell University concerning allegations made by a former student who asserts she was drugged and sexually assaulted at a fraternity house in October 2024.
These transcripts, totaling 565 pages, were sourced by CBS News New York.
The individual, referred to as Jane Doe and aged 20 at the time, was interviewed by campus police over a two-day period in mid-November 2024, roughly three weeks following the alleged event.
The findings from this interview contributed to a six-page document submitted to Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten. In a recent statement, Van Houten indicated that he never received the complete transcripts of the interview.
Thus far, no criminal charges have been filed in connection with the case.
A separate Title IX investigation was undertaken by Cornell in 2025, during which approximately 50 interviews were conducted with 32 witnesses.
In the previous month, Jane Doe initiated legal action against the university and seven members of the Chi Pi fraternity related to the alleged assault.
In light of this development, Van Houten announced plans to reopen the investigation. Additionally, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order appointing New York Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor for the case, a move that Cornell University expressed its support for. CBS News has reached out to Van Houten for comments regarding the appointment of a special prosecutor.
During the two-day interview on November 14, 2024, the questioning was led by a Cornell police investigator, accompanied by a Title IX investigator, a victim advocate, and a personal advisor to Jane Doe.
Key insights from the Title IX transcripts reveal that Jane Doe described the evening of October 19, 2024, as a “date night” organized by her sorority, where she and her sorority sisters began their night at a bar after drinking at their house.
Jane Doe reported that she had not eaten much that day, which resulted in her becoming heavily intoxicated. She was eager to meet a person identified in the transcripts as Male 1, who had invited her to the Chi Pi fraternity.
Upon her arrival at Chi Pi, Jane Doe disclosed that she had consensual sexual interactions with both Male 1 and another individual, Male 2. When asked about her feelings regarding this encounter, she stated, “As much as I can be because, again, I was super drunk when I got there,” but noted that she felt “really off-guard the entire night.”
Male 2, when questioned by investigators, confirmed that they found ketamine in the room during the initial encounter and mentioned that both he and Male 1 used the substance, while Jane Doe declined.
According to Jane Doe and others present, the situation escalated shortly thereafter. At 1:42 a.m. on October 20, 2024, a message was sent in the fraternity’s Snapchat group indicating a woman was available for sexual activity. CBS News New York has obtained footage of this exchange.
One fraternity member responded to the message with, “Shop still open?” to which another replied, “Yea.” Witness Male 6 mentioned that about 50 fraternity members were part of the Snapchat thread and expressed his confusion upon receiving the message.
Another member, Male 7, recounted that the initial message was sent by Male 1 and described their reaction as one of mild concern, dismissing it as potentially crude humor.
Cornell University stated that its police department shared Jane Doe’s sworn six-page statement and a screenshot of the Snapchat conversation with the District Attorney’s office.
As additional men entered the room, Jane Doe recounted feeling “cornered” during the alleged assault, stating, “I was like literally cornered… I’m a naked woman and they are getting in bed with me.”
She further expressed to investigators, “I was a sex doll for all intents and purposes, which is sad but, unfortunately, something I’m not used to.”
Later that night, she claimed she was removed from the room, placed in a closet, and administered ketamine. Jane Doe stated, “I can say with 100% confidence I was raped,” admitting that she could not recall the end of the event due to the drugs.
Van Houten noted that he had not been shown Jane Doe’s interview transcripts specifically and expressed that her assertion of being raped was new information to him. He stated, “If she had said those words, we certainly would want to have explored that more.”
According to her lawsuit, Jane Doe alleges that the assaults continued until she lost consciousness around 5:45 a.m.
Two days after the incident, on October 22, Jane Doe visited Cornell Health, where she informed the doctor about a urinary tract infection she believed was contracted in a “traumatic way,” but she opted not to pursue further medical follow-up. Her attorney revealed that the doctor recommended she “speak with somebody.”
