Exclusive: Cornell rape allegations fuel House Democratic women's Title IX push

A criminal investigation into allegations that a Cornell University student was gang raped by seven fraternity members in 2024 is fueling a new push by House Democratic women to strengthen federal protections against sexual violence on college campuses. Why it matters: The Democratic Women's Caucus is calling on congressional Republicans and the Trump administration to strengthen Title IX protections, arguing that the administration's changes to the civil rights law could leave students more vulnerable. The push comes just two days after the Trump administration rescinded Biden-era sex discrimination Title IX regulations and reinstated rules adopted during President Trump's first term. The Democratic Women's Caucus argues those changes have "eroded the processes in place for sexual misconduct investigations." Driving the news: "Her story should be a wake-up call Republicans cannot ignore: we need stronger protections and systems for survivors, and we need to act now," Democratic Women's Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and Vice Chairs Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio) and Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.) said in a statement first shared with Axios. The lawmakers argue the Cornell case underscores the need for stronger federal protections and more aggressive enforcement of Title IX, the landmark law barring sex discrimination at federally funded schools that also governs how schools respond to sexual harassment and assault allegations. They called on the administration and Republicans to "condemn what took place at Cornell, stand in solidarity with Jane Doe, and work with us to better protect survivors and ensure they can seek justice." Catch up quick: A former Cornell University student, referred to as "Jane Doe" in legal documents, is suing the school, seven Chi Phi fraternity members and others over allegations that she was drugged and raped at a fraternity house in October of 2024. Cornell conducted a Title IX investigation after "Jane Doe" reported the incident in 2024 that resulted in two of the students being expelled and lesser disciplinary action for the other students. The DA has said criminal charges were not pursued because Jane Doe's initial police statement did not allege that she was gang-raped or drugged against her will. A criminal investigation was reopened after the lawsuit was filed earlier this month, and the New York attorney general has launched a separate review of the university's handling of the allegations. No criminal charges have been filed. The lack of criminal charges and the university's handling of the alleged incident have has sparked intense scrutiny over how colleges respond to sexual assault. Cornell said in a statement last week that the university "investigated and adjudicated the allegations consistent with university policies," and said in a statement this week that the university supports the DA's decision to reopen the criminal case. Cornell did not respond to a request for comment from Axios. Zoom out: The latest Title IX fight in Washington has largely centered on sexual orientation and gender identity, but also impacts how colleges handle sexual misconduct allegations. The Biden administration broadened the definition of sex-based harassment covered by Title IX and gave colleges more flexibility in investigating sexual misconduct. Trump returned to his first-term rules, which narrow the definition of sexual harassment, require more formal proceedings for handling misconduct allegations, and give schools more flexibility in deciding how much evidence is needed to discipline a student. Democrats argue those requirements create additional hurdles for survivors seeking protection under Title IX. What we're watching: Whether the Cornell allegations generate bipartisan interest in strengthening federal campus sexual assault protections.

Read it at Axios ↗

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