Student journalists at The Cornell Daily Sun have spent nearly two years covering the alleged gang rape of a fellow student involving seven fraternity members. Editor-in-Chief Sophia Dasser and senior editor Cereese Qusba recently appeared on CNN after their reporting gained national attention following the accuser’s civil lawsuit.
Qusba said the newspaper reported the case without “sugarcoating” its details, while Dasser said their inboxes were flooded with messages supporting the accuser and criticizing Cornell University. The journalists are calling for greater accountability and transparency from the university and local officials.
Dasser said students have the right to demand safety and access to anonymized information about the outcomes, sanctions and punishments in sexual misconduct cases. She also criticized Cornell’s sexual assault task force, arguing that educational measures alone may not effectively prevent misconduct.
The case has also raised questions over conflicting accounts of the accuser’s 2024 police statement. She reportedly said she was certain she had been raped, while District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said her initial statement described the activity as voluntary, conscious and consensual.
