Leaders call for changes to New York's sexual assault laws after Cornell case reopens
City leaders and advocates will rally on Thursday outside Bronx County Courthouse to demand changes to New York’s sexual assault law.
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Local elected officials and advocates are calling for changes to New York’s sexual assault laws, arguing that current statutes leave significant gaps in protections for victims who become intoxicated before an alleged assault.
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and State Senator Nathalia Fernandez are calling for the passage of A.101/S.10632. The proposed legislation would shift the focus away from how a person became intoxicated and instead center on whether they were capable of giving consent at the time of the alleged assault.
The measure is gaining attention amid renewed scrutiny of the October 2024 sexual assault case at Cornell University involving seven current and former students.
According to a lawsuit filed by a woman identified publicly as Jane Doe, she was allegedly pressured into consuming ketamine, smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol until she became incapable of consenting to sexual activity. The lawsuit names Cornell University, the Chi Phi fraternity, seven former fraternity members and others as defendants.
Court records indicate that one of the men named in the lawsuit has ties to Bethel, Connecticut.
The case has drawn statewide attention after a New York district attorney reopened the investigation into the allegations. Cornell University has said it supports the decision to revisit the case, while Governor Kathy Hochul has called for a review of the university’s handling of the allegations in 2024.
Advocates say Thursday’s rally is intended to build momentum behind the proposed legislation and make it a priority for lawmakers when they return to Albany in January.
The press conference and rally will be held at Lou Gehrig Plaza, outside of Bronx County Courthouse at 12 p.m.
