Cornell professor Kate Manne has backed the woman at the centre of allegations involving seven fraternity members, saying sexual assault is never the victim’s fault and declaring: “For the record, I believe Jane Doe.”
Manne, a feminist philosopher at Cornell University, made the comments during a special episode of Call Her Daddy with host Alex Cooper, in which she criticised the treatment of women who come forward with sexual assault allegations.
“Rape is always 100% the fault of the rapist, 0% on the victim,” Manne said.
She also questioned why public concern so often focuses on the futures of accused men rather than women who say they have been assaulted. “So many people worried about him missing out on his bright future. What about her bright future?” she said.
The case centres on a civil lawsuit filed by a former Cornell student, who alleges that seven fraternity members drugged and gang-raped her in October 2024. The allegations have prompted national outrage and helped fuel the “I Am Jane Doe” movement.
Manne told Cooper that many students on campus feel betrayed. Their discussion examined fraternity culture, consent and an alleged “bro code” that encourages men to protect one another instead of challenging misconduct.
The episode also addressed Snapchat messages referenced in the case, with Cooper questioning whether they indicated a wider problem.
While the programme covered issues beyond Cornell, Manne’s central message was that responsibility for sexual assault lies with the alleged perpetrator, not the person who says they were assaulted.
