By Kyle Jackson
The story about the seven men who allegedly assaulted a fellow student two years ago at Cornell University has been front-page news and inspiring protests since the victim, known as “Jane Doe,” filed a civil lawsuit against the men, the university, her sorority and their fraternity on Sunday, Sept. 27.
The alleged assailants, known as the “Cornell 7,” are accused of gang raping Doe, while she was heavily intoxicated back in October of 2024.
Students at Grand Rapids Community College shared their reactions to the situation.
“(When I first found out) I wasn’t surprised,” said Zoe Hornburgor, 23, a Spanish major at GRCC. “I was really disgusted as more details came to light and as I became more aware of it my heart just sinks further and further…”
Hornburgor said the situation reflects on Cornell’s actions as an academic institution.
“I think it’s messed up for an institution, of any size, but one that’s actually really notable like Cornell University, which has so many researchers and publications and things that you would think would give them more ethos and more credibility as an institution, and then you see them failing their student body…,” Hornburgor said. “Well, how esteemed can your establishment be if you fail on what, I feel like, are basic human rights?”
A communications graduate and current staff member from GRCC, who asked to remain anonymous, shared Hornburgor’s disgust towards Cornell’s actions.
“They just had them write the essay. It took so many years for it to finally come out. I found out like now that it had happened back (in 2024),” said the graduate. “It’s just, that’s so much time to have passed without them being held accountable.”
A common theme with student reactions was the lack of justice for the victim.
Danielle Burchard, 20, a Psychology major at GRCC, spoke on how some people online attempt to make the argument that if the victim didn’t want to be assaulted, why would she go there in the first place?
“Girls should be able to experience and have all that fun, and be able to have those highlights without fearing that they’re going to be violated and also not able to get any justice,” Burchard said.
With everything that this situation has resulted in, for some, college life and their views on what it means to be a college student have been changed.
“It’s definitely changed my view a little bit. It keeps me more aware now that like stuff like that happens, and yeah, just it’s good to always be aware,” said Damon Lus, 18, a Business Administration major at GRCC.
Lus, like most students, felt that the situation was improperly handled by Cornell and law enforcement, preventing the victim from receiving the justice she deserved.
“I think it’s, it’s a tragedy, honestly. I think that, that’s something that shouldn’t happen to anyone anywhere, especially on a school campus or at parties or anything like that, where it should be a safer environment in general,” Lus said.
No charges have been filed against the alleged seven men who attacked Doe.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has been assigned as Special Prosecutor to the case that was not properly investigated in 2024.
If you, or anyone you know, is aware of or suspects that anything remotely similar is happening, do not hesitate to contact GRCCPD at (616) 234-4911 to report the situation, the Title IX office at (616) 234-4999 or at titleix@grcc.edu to submit a formal complaint, and the Center for Counseling and Wellbeing for mental health assistance.
Collegiate reporters Rowan Elzinga, Izabella Blanchard, Amy Almendarez Landaverde, Sophia Helbling, Audrey Conrad, and Litany Gaines contributed to this story.
