Oct. 6, 2026 — The ripple effects...

Oct. 6, 2026 — The ripple effects of the Jane Doe rape case at Cornell ... and beyond

Explicit
Backstory: an Ithaca Voice podcast by The Ithaca Voice
S2 · E23
Oct 6, 2026
28:11

Episode notes

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This episode contains descriptions of sexual assault and drug use.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673). Locally, the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County provides confidential help and other resources. They can be reached anytime at (607) 277-5000.

Cornell University has become the epicenter of a major national news story after a former student — identified only as Jane Doe —filed a civil lawsuit last month alleging she had been raped by seven members of a now-barred fraternity in October 2024.

The lawsuit has reignited a nearly two-year-old investigation and sparked national outrage over Cornell's fraternity culture and the way local and university officials handled the case. The ripple effects go well beyond Cornell University.

Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.

Original air date: Oct. 6, 2026.

Reported by Hailea Potter, Jimmy Jordan, Megan Zerez and Fernando Figueroa.

Hosted and edited by Megan Zerez.

Cover art image by Casey Martin/Ithaca Voice.

Keywords

Cornell University
education
Public safety
crime
police
Ithaca Voice
Ithaca
Jane Doe
sexual assault
higher ed