Inside Cornell University’s Title IX Investigation

The investigation at Cornell University into an alleged gang rape at a fraternity is revealing crucial details about the events that transpired. Records related to the Title IX investigation shed light on how Jane Doe described the incident and how others remember it.

The documentation includes interviews with Doe, six out of the seven men named in her civil lawsuit, and 20 witnesses. The material presents sensitive and unsettling information.

One roommate recounted Doe saying, “Oh my goodness, isn’t that crazy?” on the morning following the alleged incident at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. Although Doe laughed while recounting the event, her roommate thought she appeared to be in shock. According to this roommate, Doe did not refer to the event as rape or assault that morning.

A second roommate indicated that Doe confided in her, expressing she “wasn’t comfortable.” A week afterward, this roommate overheard Doe telling one of the men, “You had penetrative sex with me. I had so much ketamine, my eyes were crossed, and you still had sex with me.”

The Title IX investigation documents, made available to the involved parties in January 2025, highlight these accounts. CBS News New York acquired these documents through a source. However, the documents don’t include the hearing minutes, reasoning, or final decisions of the Title IX panel.

In her interview in November, Doe noted a lack of “excitement and enthusiasm,” which she believes is essential for consent. She expressed that she felt encouraged to consume more substances during the events and acknowledged whispering to one man that she was uncomfortable.

The men accused shared their own accounts during the investigation. One individual stated he sought Doe’s consent to take ketamine from her body, claiming she agreed. Scott Kretzschmar, another accused, maintained his presence in the room lasted “tops, five minutes,” and stated he neither saw Doe naked nor consumed drugs. Kretzschmar mentioned asking Doe if she was okay, to which she reportedly replied, “I’m good,” and appeared sober.

The lawsuit lists seven men, with four specifically accused of rape. Kretzschmar is alleged to have snorted ketamine from Doe’s body, a claim his attorney, Jeremy Saland, denies. Saland criticized Cornell’s Title IX process as biased against the accused students.

Cornell officials stated that the Title IX process extended over several months. The process included a hearing by a panel of trained faculty and staff resulting in sanctions such as expulsions and suspensions.

Allegations of gang rape at Cornell have incited public anger and scrutiny of the university’s and the police’s handling of the situation. Initially, the district attorney chose not to press charges but has since reopened the investigation. CBS News New York’s investigative team continues to examine the case records.