Cornell case puts New York’s progressive image at odds with its rape laws

Last month, a woman identified as Jane Doe filed a lawsuit against Cornell University, the fraternity Chi Phi and the seven fraternity members she accused of gang-raping her on the night of October 19, 2024.Her allegations have triggered a nationwide reckoning in the United States over the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Cornell rape allegations renew push to change New York sexual assault lawlist 2 of 3‘I want the truth’: NY governor appoints prosecutor in Cornell rape caselist 3 of 3Cornell president vows transparency amid outrage over fraternity rape caseend of listBut the case has also reignited efforts to reform laws in the state of New York.While the left-leaning state has long presented itself as a leader in women’s rights, advocates say sexual assault survivors still face pervasive legal barriers when they seek justice.Erica Vladimer, a lawyer and founding director of Harassment-Free New York, a survivor-led nonprofit, told Al Jazeera that much of the legislation currently in the spotlight is the culmination of years, if not decades, of work.“These are bills that we have been fighting for for years when sexual v...