Criticism of Cornell University Following Controversial Sex Education Materials

Critics are pointing fingers at fraternity culture in response to the alleged gang rape of a female student at Cornell University. Interestingly, it has come to light that the university’s health department circulated sex education materials that encourage discussions about group sex, fetish practices, and encounters fueled by drugs.

The Ivy League institution in Ithaca, New York, shared a six-page document titled “Yes, No, Maybe So: A Sexual Inventory Stocklist,” which includes over 200 different sexual behaviors and situations. This extensive list prompted students to reflect on a wide array of scenarios, ranging from having multiple partners at the same time to engaging in sexual activities after consuming alcohol or drugs, as detailed in a pdf obtained from reports.

This health initiative has only added fuel to the existing outrage surrounding the alleged drugged sexual assault of a student known as “Jane Doe” at the Chi Phi fraternity house back in October 2024.

Cornell stated that these educational materials were designed to promote dialogue about sexual preferences and boundaries. However, critics argue that the explicit nature of the content sends a concerning message to impressionable students, as noted by a report from the Daily Mail.

Moreover, those skeptics are raising questions about whether the university’s sexual education approach has muddied the waters on consent, although there’s currently no evidence linking these materials to the alleged assault.

Included in the “stocklist” are quite explicit suggestions, such as engaging in sexual activities with three or more partners simultaneously and initiating sex while under the influence of alcohol or other substances. Such suggestions are particularly notable as the local district attorney’s office has reopened an investigation into a group of fraternity brothers referred to as the “Cornell 7,” whom the student has accused of raping her while she was allegedly incapacitated.

Members of the fraternity contest the alleged victim’s narrative, which has reportedly changed over time, according to Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten.

The surfacing of these educational materials implies that the discussion of unconventional sexual behavior extends beyond the fraternity scene and encompasses the wider campus community.

Another guide, titled “Sensate Focus,” was obtained by the New York Post and encourages resident advisors to display educational resources on dormitory bulletin boards.

Jared Lederman, a 19-year-old senior at Cornell, was among the first to bring attention to the checklist through his Substack account. He accused the university of creating a “permission structure” that might lead to situations involving ambiguous consent.

Lederman stated, “Cornell isn’t directly responsible for the alleged gang rape, but the group sex endorsement they promote could certainly lead to non-consensual activities—it just creates a gray area.”

Furthermore, some critics labeled these materials as emblematic of “woke policies gone too far,” as reported by the New York tabloid. Bethany Mandel, co-host of The Mom Wars podcast, remarked, “Progressives have long advocated for blurring boundaries surrounding safe and healthy sexual relationships. Here at Cornell, we’re witnessing the culmination of those decisions.”

The university has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding these materials.