Setting The Record Straight
The following factual inaccuracies in the Oct. 8 issue were brought to The Record’s attention about the article by Elly Wahll, titled, “Jane Doe deserves justice.”Wahll’s article says, “Messages in their Snapchat group chat have revealed that they have done this many times to other girls and do not remember ‘which one filed the report on them.’” There are no specific verifiable claims that those accused in the Cornell 7 case have committed other acts of sexual violence. There have been other claims made against the Chi Phi fraternity house, including from a former member who said he was sexually assaulted during hazing in 2012 and testified to an ongoing system that perpetrates sexual violence, according to The Cornell Daily Sun.
Wahll’s article says, “The original case from 2024 was closed with two of the offenders on a two semester suspension, two were expelled and one was able to graduate before receiving any punishment. Two were not. Found. Responsible.” This is corroborated by a CBS article released Oct. 2. Three days later, new investigative records were obtained by The New York Times that further clarifies the case. The defendant who graduated before disciplinary action was taken was banned from campus for three years. The two suspended defendants also received a disciplinary probation, a no-contact order with Jane Doe, mandated sexual harassment studies and were required to write a reflection. Of the two defendants who were not found responsible, it was revealed that one “was found responsible for attempted sexual exploitation,” according to The Cornell Daily Sun. Both were issued no-contact orders, had to complete educational bystander modules and were required to write reflections.
Wahll’s article states that all defendants had not been identified, but all seven defendants names were publicly identified before the release of The Record’s Oct. 8 issue.
Wahll’s article said, “Only one in 1,000 people have actually been convicted of rape,” but this has not been verified.
The Record takes accountability for these factual errors, while still recognizing that opinion articles are not reflective of the stance of The Record, but rather of the author. Preserving authors’ voices and perspectives is our primary intent.
Please submit corrections to record@goshen.edu.
