Cornell Daily Sun names fraternity members in assault case
A student at Cornell University faced an alleged sexual assault at a fraternity house in October 2024. The case went cold, with no criminal charges filed. For twenty-three months, the student, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, and her story remained largely in the shadows. However, the student newspaper, The Cornell Daily Sun, kept the investigation open, eventually publishing the names of the alleged perpetrators on the front page.
Tracking a case through the university system
The Daily Sun began its work before the civil lawsuit was filed. Cereese Qusba, a reporter and senior editor at the paper, spent over two years investigating. She contacted the student directly and spoke with her lawyers and university officials about the handling of the allegations. The investigation focused on the lack of transparency from the university regarding Title IX policies.
After the assault was reported to the Cornell Police Department on October 19, 2024, the case was handed to the Tompkins County District Attorney, Matthew Van Houten. The prosecutor decided not to pursue criminal charges. The university responded by creating a task force on sexual assault and initiating a Title IX investigation. Despite these measures, the school did not release details about the investigation or the policies involved.
When the news of the assault broke on campus in November 2024, students demanded answers. Qusba expanded her research, interviewing university personnel and members of the Greek community. By late 2024, the reporter had established contact with Jane Doe and her legal representation. When Sophia Dasser became editor-in-chief of the paper, Qusba emphasized that the case would be a central focus.
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Names on the front page
On September 18, the day after the civil lawsuit was filed, the Daily Sun published its investigation. The report detailed the timeline of the alleged events and the university’s response. Shortly after, the newspaper faced a critical decision regarding the identities of the seven men named in the suit. The student body had pushed for names that the university refused to provide.
The editorial board decided to publish the names of the seven defendants on the front page. These men were Matthew Ingalls, Jonathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, and Scott Kretzschmar. The decision was made because the information was already a matter of public record within the court filing. The board consulted the newspaper’s attorney before publishing.
Cornell Won’t, We Will
The newspaper framed the decision in an editorial titled “Cornell Won’t, We Will.” The text stated that the seven men were named in a civil suit and accused of drugging and sexually assaulting the student. It noted that none of the men had been criminally charged at the time of publication. Despite the lack of criminal charges, the newspaper argued that the public had a right to know who was involved.
Through their lawyers or public statements, some of the men have denied the allegations. The university continues to investigate the matter under Title IX guidelines. The civil lawsuit remains active, seeking accountability for the alleged actions during the hours-long incident at the Chi Phi house.
