First and foremost, my heart goes out to Jane Doe.
I originally heard about what happened at Cornell while I was in class. I am lucky enough to be taking Preventing Campus Sexual & Dating Violence this semester at the University of Vermont. During a class discussion last week, one of my classmates asked if we had heard about this breaking story:
In 2024, seven fraternity brothers at Cornell were accused of drugging and raping a fellow student after a text was allegedly sent in their chapter group chat announcing there was “free pussy” upstairs. The victim’s name remains anonymous, but she is nationally being referred to as Jane Doe. When this case reached Cornell authorities and the seven students were to be punished, the reported consequences ranged from writing a paper to expulsion.
While my classmate explained this, I felt the air in the room grow thinner. As the story unraveled, I watched more and more jaws drop. My stomach became tight, and our class shared a moment of true sadness.
I was astonished. Even typing the words now is difficult for me. It goes without saying that I am disappointed.
At the end of the day, this is a crime against women everywhere. Our system has yet again failed to protect a woman in need, while seven men accused of violent acts of sexual assault reportedly faced consequences that, in some cases, amounted to little more than a slap on the wrist. To me, this represents a bewildering failure of the systems meant to protect students — especially at Cornell University, a private Ivy League research university that is meant to be a strong representation of our country’s higher education system.
For two years, Jane Doe received little to no justice — and this narrative is far too common. One in five women in the U.S. have experienced completed or attempted rape during their lifetime, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. That does not account for the women out there who were sexually assaulted and were unable to report the incident. And, as we can see with the case of Jane Doe, even those who report their cases may never receive the justice they deserve.
Unfortunately, the resurfacing of Jane Doe’s case aligns closely with recent reports of sexual assault and suspected date-rape drugging locally in Burlington, Vermont. This past Wednesday, all UVM students and emergency contacts received what we call a “CatAlert” regarding the situation and providing us with resources.
This is the sad truth of the matter. I see national news about victimized women going ignored while reading local stories about women being drugged downtown. These are fearful times to walk the streets as a woman unprotected by the systems meant to protect her.
Because it’s not just Jane Doe. A small part of Jane Doe lives within each and every woman you meet.
It is my understanding that almost every one of my dear girlfriends could recall a time when they were sexually assaulted or harassed by a man. Whether it be a “casual” catcall or something more serious, the evidence is there. Women are forced to make extra efforts in order to avoid abuse. From a young age, we are told not to walk home alone, to cover our drinks at parties, or even to change our clothes so as not to tempt the men around us.
So, to the men out there who insist that things are equal now, I urge you to look again. The case at Cornell is just one example of a system that continues to fail women. While it is not all men who commit sexual assault, far too many women experience sexual violence. We must demand justice for Jane Doe and demand equality for women everywhere.
And to my beloved girls reading this: turn to your safe female spaces. Have tough conversations, support each other, and stand up for one another.
Jane Doe is the cool girl who sits next to you in class. Jane Doe is the barista at your local café. She is your sister, your cousin, your waitress, your friend. I stand with Jane Doe, and I hope that one day our skewed system learns to protect its women.
Until then, we must use whatever platforms we have to spread awareness and demand change. I feel lucky to be a young woman with the freedom to express herself using this platform. I hesitated to write this piece because I usually prefer more joyful topics. But who am I to go on about my love for womanhood and remain silent during the tougher times?
Loving womanhood means celebrating its joy, but it also means standing beside women when that joy is threatened.