SOPHIE HUMMEL / NEWS EDITOR

On Oct. 22, students gathered on the Paseo de Colachis at 12:15 p.m. to participate in a walk for Jane Doe. Other California universities, including UCLA and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, have also held walkouts and protests in October, following the reopening of a lawsuit against Cornell and its former fraternity chapter, Chi Phi.

Last month, Cornell University’s student newspaper published an article detailing the lawsuit: “Cornell, Chi Phi Sued by Victim of Alleged Gang Rape, Drugging in 2024.” The seven men named in the lawsuit are Matthew Ingalls, Jonathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar. All seven defendants have denied wrongdoing. No criminal charges have been filed in the case. The case is expected to go before a grand jury this fall. New York state judge, Phaedra Perry-Bond, ruled on Oct. 23 that Jane Doe’s identity will not be publicly disclosed in court proceedings based on concerns for Doe’s safety.

The story has amassed national attention over the last six weeks, reigniting decades-old conversations about the normalization and prevalence of sexual violence.

Members of the Magenta Movement — a student-led club — organized USD’s “March for Jane Doe.”

“The biggest thing [we advocate for] is making sure that students at USD feel safe and protected and informed about all things reproductive justice and safe sex,” said USD senior Sophia Raia, president of the Magenta Movement.

Representatives from the LGBTQ+ Commons, Women’s Commons, relationship and sexual violence prevention peer educators and campus assault resources and education advocates, attended the event. These groups all offer survivor resources and support on campus.

“The goal was to bring resources that USD has … both confidential and not confidential that people could go to if they [are] a survivor of domestic assault or rape,” said the student who planned the event.

USD’s march follows weeks of nationwide pressure on college campuses to strengthen Title IX regulations and further address rape culture.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Anonymity is rare in our reporting. But in this instance, it was necessary to protect the event organizer, given a series of social media discussions referring to the march.

October brought nationwide demonstrations in support of Cornell’s Jane Doe. Photo courtesy of  @farhadjphotography/Instagram