The ongoing situation at Cornell University continues to unravel as it surfaces that one of the frat brothers accused in the alleged gang rape of Jane Doe claimed to campus police that he was the one victimized that night.
According to reports from ABC News, former Cornell student and Chi Phi fraternity member Matthew Ingalls stated to the police that he was too intoxicated to give consent and implied that Jane Doe had actually assaulted him. Ingalls is part of the seven former students named in a civil lawsuit filed recently by Jane Doe, accusing them of gang rape.
Interestingly, Ingalls made this assertion back in November 2024 when campus authorities probed the alleged incident about three weeks post-event.
This case is convoluted, so let me try to untangle it a bit…
In the early hours of October 20, 2024, there are claims of either a gang rape or a troubling night involving consensual sex between the 20-year-old Jane Doe and several men, alongside alcohol and drugs.
A few weeks later, Jane Doe approached campus police to report the incident, but according to the local district attorney, whose name is Matthew Van Houten, her statement indicated she willingly participated in the drinking, drugs, and sexual activities. Thus, no action was taken.
Between that night and her report to authorities, Jane Doe exchanged messages with fraternity members, suggesting that everything that occurred was consensual. In fact, in one message, she stated: “none of the sexual stuff was illegal.” She also expressed a desire to meet up again with one of the guys and seemed eager to return for a Halloween party at the fraternity.
However, when she was later uninvited from the party, she became upset that the events had spread across campus. Even then, she texted one of the guys she now accuses of rape, saying that those gossiping negatively should “grow up” because sexuality is evolving, adding that she was really open-minded and would deal with anyone who bothered them.
Fast forward two years, just weeks ahead of the national midterm elections, Jane Doe filed a significant civil suit against the seven men, Cornell University, and her own sorority for allowing her to drink while underage.
What strikes me about this situation is that, from what we currently understand, the only person who reported an assault at the time was—believe it or not—one of the men, Matthew Ingalls, who claimed Jane Doe exploited him while he was unable to consent.
A piece of new information that could support Jane Doe’s claims is a recorded conversation she had with Ingalls shortly after the incident.
“Within two days of reporting the incident,” ABC mentioned, “Jane Doe reached out to Ingalls and two other men allegedly involved to discuss their perspectives on what transpired.”
“If I just know what happened, then I can feel a little bit better and maybe move on,” she expressed in the recorded call.
She indicated she had faced physical harm from the night and was having difficulty completing her semester, unable to grasp the events of that evening.
Ingalls countered with, “You did tell me you were sober, by the way… you said you hadn’t been anywhere.”
Disagreeing firmly, she responded: “That is not true. I never would have said that.”
She inquired about how all the guys ended up in the room, to which Ingalls responded, “The door was just unlocked… the party was a bit crowded… there was nowhere else to go.”
“What you all did would be considered gang rape,” she told him.
According to ABC, Ingalls was the one Jane Doe was closest to, the person who proposed that they head upstairs for group sex, and also the individual who used Snapchat to invite others to what supposedly turned into an orgy.
Eventually, Ingalls was expelled, along with one other student, while another two faced suspension, and the fraternity was permanently shut down.
Now, the Governor of New York, a Democrat, has appointed a special prosecutor for a case she believes was mishandled by Cornell and the local district attorney, whom I must mention is also a Democrat, involving seven students likely affiliated with the party.
This whole situation has turned into a partisan scandal.
As I sift through the available details, I find myself facing a lot of doubts regarding potential charges of rape. Jane Doe appears to be a young woman who, in today’s society, was led to believe that sexual exploration was empowering. Yet, she found herself not celebrated as a free spirit on campus, but rather judged harshly. There is a sense of regret that seems to have led us to this point.
In a scenario where everything was indeed consensual, the behavior displayed was disgraceful; Cornell acted rightly in shuttering the fraternity and imposing punishments. Still, the ongoing investigation and backlash feel troubling. At best, these seven men fell short in their duty to uphold the fundamental responsibility of protecting women, even from their own decisions. Is it wrong to say that the traditional concept of chivalry seems to be out of favor these days?
