09/29/2026
Read MNCASA's full statement at https://mncasa.org/news/cornell/.
Once again, we find ourselves sifting through news articles, opinion pieces, and general public chatter—both online and at the kitchen table—about a prominent case of sexual violence that has taken the media by storm overnight. In this particular situation, a young woman was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple members of a fraternity at the university where she was a student. Two years, a Title IX proceeding, a criminal investigation, and a declined prosecution later, this victim/survivor is still fighting for justice in a civil suit. As a coalition of advocates, this refrain is all too familiar to us and the people we serve every day. MNCASA has no connection with this case, and we are not going to speak about the experiences or feelings of a victim/survivor without their consent, but we do believe it’s important to speak to our communities when sexual violence is at the forefront of public discourse.
In the aftermath of sexual violence, victims/survivors are often presented with their options: report to the police, report to your school, get a restraining order, file a civil suit, pursue a restorative practice. With most of these options, a victim/survivor is thrust into a system that can be exhausting, confusing, or potentially hostile. Their engagement with these systems happens through no fault of their own, but because of something done to them. As people who care about the wellbeing of our communities, we need to demand better and stop insisting that victims/survivors carry the weight of these systems on their shoulders alone.
This is not a problem exclusive to Cornell or even just to colleges and universities, places where the government requires they invest time, energy, and money into sexual violence response and prevention efforts. Time and time again, we see victims/survivors forced to jump through hoops just to access the basic accommodations they deserve to continue their education. We learn of “accountability measures” imposed against students who commit violence that are less severe than those imposed on students who cheat on a midterm, while victims/survivors carry a heavier burden. And sadly, we continue to see opportunities for bystander intervention ignored in favor of staying silent or even participating in the violence. Students deserve to pursue their education in safe, healthy, and supportive environments, yet even as we write this, the Title IX protections that student survivors have relied on are being rolled back (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/us/politics/trump-administration-revises-sex-discrimination-rules.html?unlocked_article_code=1.E1E.1Qwi.PGrZzc3_bzLe&smid=url-share).
When it comes to seeking justice off campus, most people assume the criminal legal process is the answer, and survivors too often are made to feel like they need to prove themselves and their case. For those victims/survivors who choose to report, we must continue to work collaboratively to improve responses and outcomes because we all deserve access to public safety.
There is one system highlighted in the news coverage of this case that is less commonly associated with sexual violence but is very much an option for victims/survivors – the civil legal system. Every once in a while, we see civil cases spur movement and action from other systems. It’s important that all victims/survivors know about civil options, including applying for a protection order, filing for a custody modification, or suing a person or company who may be liable for the harm inflicted, and it’s incumbent upon us as a community to support survivors who pursue this path towards justice. For more information about civil options, victims/survivors can connect with an attorney through the National Crime Victim Bar Association (https://victimbar.org/).
Take a moment to consider the victims/survivors in your lives right now. If you are reading about sexual violence in the news and seeing comments about it on social media, then they are, too. They deserve your belief, support, and kindness. They deserve to have people honor their choices, stand beside them through these complex systems, and fight to make the systems better for everyone.
If you have personally been impacted by sexual violence, we see you, and we recognize how challenging it can be to navigate life during times of heavy media coverage on this topic. If you need to talk, you can find an advocate in your local community through MNCASA's directory (https://mncasa.org/find-help/) or by contacting the MN Day One hotline (866.223.1111 or https://dayoneservices.org/), which is available 24/7.
