What happened?
In September 2026, an anonymous woman filed a civil lawsuit against Cornell University and seven men accused of raping her.
In the lawsuit, she identifies herself only as “Jane Doe.” This has led to an intense search for the woman’s identity, but also a wave of support for her on social media.
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What is the case about?
“Jane Doe” says seven men raped her for nearly seven hours in a fraternity house on Cornell’s campus in Ithaca, New York, in October 2024. In police interviews, she said she was so drunk during the incident that she could not consent. She was also allegedly beaten and offered alcohol and the drug ketamine.
She reported the incident to the university police, but no charges were filed. She is now pursuing civil lawsuits against the university and the seven men.
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Why is she called “Jane Doe”?
Pseudonyms such as “Jane Doe” are not uncommon in sensitive legal proceedings in the United States when a person wishes to remain anonymous. However, this does not guarantee that the person cannot be identified. “Jane Doe” and the male equivalent, “John Doe,” are also used, for example, in police investigations when a crime victim cannot be identified.
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How has the university acted?
Cornell has been heavily criticized for its handling of the alleged rape. According to the university, some of the accused men were disciplined and suspended. Two were expelled. The university has admitted that some of the men were “punished” with essays.
All of the men deny any wrongdoing. Four of them admit to having sex with “Jane Doe,” but say it was consensual.
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What is “I am Jane Doe”?
A number of women, as well as men, are now posting under the hashtag “#IAmJaneDoe” in solidarity with the woman. They are sharing their own experiences of abuse, primarily to confuse algorithms and protect her identity.
It’s about showing solidarity with her, but also about acknowledging that we - most of us, I think - are to some extent “Jane Doe,” because we ourselves have experienced sexual assault, says Kelsey Combe, one of the women who posted to protect the victim.
