Students at Cornell University staged a seven-hour sit-in at a campus dining hall on Wednesday, vowing not to spend money on campus to protest sexual violence and the university’s handling of complaints related to an alleged 2024 gang rape at a fraternity house. The demonstration, which began in the afternoon, saw some students sitting around the room without eating while others lunched. A handwritten sign reading “Justice for Jane Doe”—the pseudonym under which the accuser is suing—was propped on an empty table, serving as a stark reminder of the case that has ignited outrage.
The sit-in is the latest expression of frustration over the university’s response to the high-profile case. Jane Doe, a former student, said in a recent lawsuit that she was plied with drugs and raped at a fraternity house in 2024. The lawsuit has sparked mass protests, including a demonstration on Monday where thousands of students and faculty gathered to criticize officials’ handling of the allegations. Protesters demanded the resignation of the university president and painted “SMASH THE PATRIARCHY” on an administration building. The sit-in organizers also called for major changes within the school administration, emphasizing that the current system fails to adequately address sexual violence.
The Senate, Cornell’s main legislative advisory and review body with more than 75 faculty members, has been drawn into the controversy as students demand accountability and systemic reform. The protesters’ decision to withhold spending on campus is a direct economic pressure tactic aimed at forcing the administration to take their demands seriously. The case has also attracted national attention, with some drawing parallels to other high-profile incidents of campus sexual assault and the broader #MeToo movement.
As the sit-in stretched into its seventh hour, students remained resolute, vowing to continue their activism until meaningful action is taken. The university has yet to issue a formal response to the latest protest, but the growing unrest signals that Cornell—and higher education institutions nationwide—face mounting pressure to overhaul how they handle sexual assault allegations. For Jane Doe and her supporters, the fight for justice is far from over.
Shimanta Das 
