A former Cornell University fraternity member has claimed he was sexually assaulted during an alleged incident for which he and six others were accused of raping a woman at the Chi Phi house.
Matthew Ingalls made the allegation in a February 2025 email to Cornell’s Title IX office, saying the university had failed to recognise him as a sexual assault survivor or explain his rights under its sexual misconduct procedures.
In the email, seen in documents obtained by ABC News, Ingalls wrote that he was “sodomized by her while [he] was incapacitated”. He also accused Cornell of gender discrimination over its handling of his complaint.
Allegations surrounding Cornell fraternity incident
The woman, identified as Jane Doe, has alleged that she was heavily intoxicated after consuming alcohol, marijuana and ketamine during an incident in October 2024. She claims the encounter escalated after fraternity members were invited into the room.
Ingalls and the other accused students have denied raping Doe. None of the men has been criminally charged.
Cornell expelled Ingalls and Jonathan Newell following an internal investigation into the alleged incident. Other fraternity members received suspensions or less severe disciplinary penalties.
Doe has sued Cornell, Chi Phi and the seven former fraternity members, alleging that the men drugged and gang-raped her and that the university failed to protect her.
The case has also led to a criminal investigation being reopened. The Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office had initially declined to prosecute, citing Doe’s earlier statements that she had voluntarily consumed drugs and alcohol.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has since been assigned to oversee the ongoing investigation.
