Summary:
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Toby Morton revives old assault allegation at Cornell University, launches social media campaign for accountability.
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DA to present evidence to grand jury amid public outcry over lack of prosecution in Chi Phi case.
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Cornell disputes claims of minimal discipline, sparking online outrage and commentary on social media.
Toby Morton, a satirist who wrote for “South Park” in the early 2000s, has turned a years-old sexual assault allegation at Cornell University into a personal online campaign.
In an Instagram post, he told the seven fraternity members accused in the case that “accountability is coming,” and said he’d spend the weekend adding photos, information and members of the Cornell administration he says failed to act.
The case centers on a civil complaint filed Sept. 16 by a woman identified only as Jane Doe, who says seven members of Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity drugged and sexually assaulted her at the fraternity house in October 2024. The original investigation ended without criminal charges.
That changed Monday. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office will present evidence to a grand jury as he faces public questions about why no one was prosecuted. He said the lawsuit contains allegations “dramatically different” from what investigators had during the first review. Cornell said it supports the decision to take the case to a grand jury.
The university has also pushed back on how its own discipline has been described. A 2024 Cornell investigation suspended the Chi Phi chapter and expelled two of the seven men, while the others received lesser penalties that included temporary suspensions, workshops and essays, according to ABC News. Cornell called claims of minimal consequences a “false narrative” that could leave survivors feeling less safe.
Online, the anger has been loud and it isn’t slowing down. The lawsuit, the reopened investigation and Cornell’s response have set off a wave of commentary on social media.
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Even the DA acknowledged it, pointing to “the community outrage stemming from the incomplete news and social media coverage” as the reason he spoke publicly.
Florence Pugh posted about the case, writing “This is a human issue, not a women’s issue.” She later accused Instagram of suppressing her post after it was flagged as sensitive content.
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If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, confidential support is available 24/7 through the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
