"For the record, I believe Jane Doe": Cornell Professor calls out victim-blaming in explosive gang assault caseGladys Altamarino Mon, October 12, 2026 at 3:56 AM UTC
Women's March Holds Rally To "Stop Sexual Violence: From the Frat House to the White House" ©Getty
Cornell University professor Kate Manne is speaking out in support of the woman at the center of a s****l assault lawsuit involving seven fraternity members, stressing that responsibility for rape lies with the perpetrator, not the victim.
Manne, a feminist philosopher and professor at Cornell, appeared on Sunday's special episode of Alex Cooper's podcast, Call Her Daddy, where she talked about victim-blaming and the treatment of women who have reported s****l assault.
"R*pe is always 100% the fault of the r*pist, 0% on the victim. For the record, I believe Jane Doe."
Cornell University Sexual Assault Case Reopened - Source: Getty
The professor also asked why the public discourse revolves around the future of men who are accused of s****l assault rather than the potential consequences for their accusers.
"So many people worried about him missing out on his bright future. What about her bright future?"
Women's March Holds Rally To "Stop Sexual Violence: From the Frat House to the White House" - Source: Getty
The case stems from a civil lawsuit brought forth by a former student, who claims that she was drugged and gang-r*ped by seven fraternity members in October 2024. The defendants' alleged actions have not been established as fact in court.
The lawsuit has brought about a lot of national interest and contributed to the "I Am Jane Doe" movement which centers around the woman who made the complaint.
Kate Manne discussed the students' reaction to the ongoing 'Cornell 7' case
During the discussion, Kate Manne mentioned the response on campus regarding the claims, saying that many students feel betrayed.
"Women and girls are owed safety of a kind that we don't currently have. You can consent to have s*x with two men, but not five men. They acted like they were utterly entitled to take what they wanted from her."
The discussion examined fraternity culture, consent and an alleged code of silence among men who protect one another rather than challenge inappropriate behavior.
The Cornell professor noted:
"The evidence that a r*pe allegation would ruin a man's life is pretty thin. Women get punished. Men get rewarded. There are kind of two rules of the bro code. You don't call it out. You help your brothers cover their a**es."
She continued, depicting the messages:
"'We do not care about women. Well, she's not the most attractive girl. She was probably flattered. They want her real name.'"
Cooper also addressed her concerns about the Snapchat messages related to the case, questioning whether they point to broader concerns about conduct within fraternity circles.
The episode explored issues beyond the Cornell lawsuit, including the treatment of s****l assault accusers and the social pressures surrounding reports of abuse.
The gang-r*pe incident was first reported officially in November 2024.
There were investigations carried out in that same year, where two members of the fraternity were expelled, while other members were told to write essays.
The chapter was also banned from the campus permanently.
In September 2026, the victim, Jane Doe, filed a major civil lawsuit against Cornell University, the Chi Phi fraternity, her sorority (Delta Delta Delta), and seven male fraternity members, subsequently dubbed the “Cornell 7” by the media.
The lawsuit also revealed new allegations regarding how the university and local authorities handled the case.
Source: Crime