Universities Face Growing Scrutiny Over Campus Sexual Assault

The sexual assault case involving a Cornell University student has intensified scrutiny of how American universities protect survivors, handle allegations and provide medical assistance. Two opinion articles published October 19 and October 28, 2026, examine the lasting consequences of sexual violence and institutional barriers that can prevent students from obtaining support and pursuing justice.

The case involving Jane Doe has also raised questions about the responsibilities of universities toward survivors after an assault. The Highlander columnist Maya Chinai argues that public attention often concentrates on perpetrators and the violent incident while overlooking the long-term consequences for the person who experienced it.

According to Chinai, Jane Doe had to leave Cornell University because of the severity of her psychological condition and could no longer complete her degree. She also faces potential financial burdens associated with psychological treatment and legal expenses, following years of preparation to attend an Ivy League institution.

Chinai describes the financial consequences, damaged relationships, family rejection, social stigma and psychological distress that survivors may experience. These effects can continue long after the assault and significantly change the course of their lives.

Addressing the emotional support survivors need, Chinai emphasizes that public expressions of anger are not enough. She argues that survivors also need consistent personal care and people willing to listen to their experiences.

Chinai identifies two questions that survivors should hear from people around them:

"Are you ok." Chinai wrote.

She also stresses the importance of maintaining support after the immediate public attention disappears.

"Really, how are you?" Chinai wrote.

The October 28 article by University of North Georgia professors T. Jameson Brewer and Westry Whitaker examines broader institutional problems, including reporting procedures, medical services and university policies.

The authors describe an alleged gang rape involving a Cornell University student in mid-October 2024. According to their account, messages circulated in a Chi Phi fraternity group chat following the incident.

The messages included references to whether the fraternity's alleged activity was continuing:

"Shop" was one of the terms used in the reported exchange, according to Brewer and Whitaker.

Another message asked whether it was:

"Still open" according to the account published by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

A response followed:

"Yea." according to the authors' account.

Another message expressed support for the fraternity:

"I … love Chi Phi." according to Brewer and Whitaker.

The authors say one fraternity member preserved screenshots and anonymously shared them with the survivor's lawyer. They also report that 56 other men in the group chat remained silent and that none had faced consequences at the time of publication.

The authors cite data from the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network indicating that approximately one in four undergraduate women and one in 14 men have experienced sexual assault on college campuses. More than three-quarters of victims know their assailants.

They also report a substantial decline in the percentage of rape and sexual assault victimizations reported to police nationwide, from 46% in 2023 to 24% in 2024. According to the authors, four out of five perpetrators never serve jail time, reflecting underreporting and shortcomings in the justice system.

Brewer and Whitaker argue that educational institutions reinforce harmful attitudes when responsibility for preventing sexual misconduct falls disproportionately on girls. They describe school dress codes and victim-blaming attitudes as examples of this institutional problem.

They identify the familiar expression:

"Boys will be boys." according to the authors' discussion of school policies.

They also describe the questions survivors can face after reporting an assault:

"What was she wearing?" according to Brewer and Whitaker.

Medical access presents another significant challenge. At the University of North Georgia, the nearest hospitals and medical facilities no longer provide Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner examinations, according to information attributed to UNG Public Safety.

Survivors seeking forensic examinations must travel more than an hour to Gainesville, Alpharetta or Athens. These examinations can help collect DNA evidence and provide access to professionals trained to support survivors.

The authors explain that evidence collection is particularly time-sensitive:

"72 hours" is the period they identify for collecting evidence, although other forms of evidence may remain admissible afterward.

They argue that transportation difficulties, psychological distress and complicated reporting procedures can discourage survivors from seeking assistance. The article also questions whether universities provide sufficient access to specialized medical professionals.

Brewer and Whitaker characterize the broader environment as:

"Rape-prone society," as described in their discussion of campus sexual violence.

They also examine attitudes that normalize male dominance:

"Required to dominate women," a phrase used in their discussion of institutional and social attitudes.

The authors question whether existing campus awareness initiatives adequately protect students:

"Safe spaces" and "Rape Response" are among the initiatives they identify when examining the limits of existing university responses.

Their proposed measures include requiring institutions within the University System of Georgia to employ Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, improving access to forensic examinations and introducing professional development on identifying and reporting suspected abuse. They argue that universities must strengthen policies addressing sexual violence and make medical intervention more accessible.