Transcripts from Cornell University’s Title IX investigation into an alleged gang rape at a fraternity provide new details of Jane Doe’s account, as well as statements from six of the seven men named in her civil lawsuit and 20 witnesses.
The records, distributed to the parties in January 2025, cover an alleged incident at the university’s Chi Phi house in October 2024. They do not include the Title IX panel’s hearing minutes, reasoning or final findings.
One roommate recalled Doe laughing the following morning as she said: “Oh my goodness, isn’t that crazy?” The roommate said Doe appeared to be in shock but did not describe what had happened as rape or assault at the time.
A second roommate said Doe told her: “I wasn’t comfortable.” About a week later, the same roommate said she heard Doe tell one of the men: “You had penetrative sex with me. I had so much ketamine, my eyes were crossed, and you still had sex with me.”
What the Cornell Title IX records say
In an interview with investigators in November, Doe said she had not shown “excitement and enthusiasm, which is kinda the basis of consent”. She said she told the men she was tired and did not want to continue, while at times being encouraged to take more substances.
Doe said she could not identify the point at which she lost the ability to make decisions. She also said she whispered to one man that she was uncomfortable.
The men gave different accounts of the night. One said he asked Doe whether he could take ketamine from her body and that she agreed.
Scott Kretzschmar said he was in the room for “tops, five minutes”, did not see Doe naked and did not take drugs. He told an investigator that he asked whether she was all right and that she replied: “I’m good.” He said she did not appear inebriated.
Doe’s lawsuit names seven men and makes different allegations against each of them. Four are specifically accused of rape. Kretzschmar is accused of snorting ketamine from Doe’s body, an allegation denied by his lawyer, Jeremy Saland.
“The process that Cornell had was absolutely biased in my personal experience … biased in favor of her, not these young boys,” Mr Saland said.
Cornell said its Title IX process lasted several months and included a hearing before a panel of trained faculty and staff. The university said the process resulted in sanctions including expulsions and suspensions.
The allegations prompted outrage and questions about how Cornell University and its police handled the case. The district attorney initially declined to bring charges but has since reopened the investigation.
