Sexual assault support calls rise sharply amid scrutiny of Cornell case

Calls to a leading US sexual assault helpline have risen sharply following renewed attention surrounding allegations of a gang rape at Cornell University.

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) said contacts with its National Sexual Assault Hotline increased by 73% over one week, with demand on one day reaching more than twice its usual level. Megan Cutter, the organisation’s chief of victim services, told Sky News the increase was roughly 80%.

RAINN said many people contacting the service had been prompted by the account of a former Cornell student identified in court papers as Jane Doe. She alleges that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by several men at a fraternity house in October 2024. The allegations are now the subject of renewed investigation, and no criminal charges have been brought against those accused.

The case has also drawn attention to what campus safety advocates call the “red zone” — the opening weeks of the academic year when students may be at greater risk of sexual violence. New students can be particularly vulnerable as they enter unfamiliar social environments involving parties, alcohol and drugs.

Cutter said some callers were recognising for the first time that a past experience may have constituted sexual assault. Others who were further into their recovery had found the extensive coverage difficult, bringing back feelings of shame, self-blame or distress.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has been appointed as special prosecutor to examine the Cornell allegations. The university has also commissioned an independent review of its handling of sexual misconduct cases amid protests and mounting demands for greater accountability.

RAINN’s free and confidential US hotline is available around the clock by calling 800-656-HOPE, texting HOPE to 64673 or visiting RAINN.org.

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