Sexual Violence on Campus and the Universities That Enable It (with Nicole Bedera)

Two years ago, a Cornell student reported to the police that she had been the victim of sexual assault by a group of fraternity brothers from Chi Phi. Now known as "Jane Doe," her case was mishandled, her words mangled, and her attackers protected from consequences. Sociologist Nicole Bedera speaks to us about how institutions of higher education regularly prevent survivors from accessing justice and in fact punish them for coming forward.

Resources:

"On the Wrong Side: How Universities Protect Perpetrators and Betray Survivors of Sexual Violence": https://bookshop.org/a/115699/9780520395893

https://www.thecut.com/article/trump-title-ix-rules-cornell-seven-case.html

https://www.cornellsun.com/article/2026/09/editorial-cornell-won-t-we-will

https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.cornell.edu/dist/5/7756/files/2025/10/2025-SARM-Survey-report_508.pdf

https://spitfirenews.com/p/cornell-jane-doe-smear-campaign-statement-seven-police-report

https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/News-articles/District-Attorney-statement-regarding-Jane-Doe-v.-Cornell-University-et-al

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/01/nyregion/url-cornell-university-jane-doe-rape-case-statement

https://www.cornellsun.com/article/2026/10/guest-room-the-whac-a-mole-ritual-of-suspending-fraternities-is-not-working-it-s-time-for-deeper-reforms

Megyn Kelly image from https://flickr.com/photos/22007612@N05/53804005492

Matt Walsh image from https://flickr.com/photos/22007612@N05/52126969451