Cornell survey showed increase in reports of nonconsensual sexual contact among female undergrads

More than 35% of female undergraduates surveyed at Cornell University reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact involving physical force, threats of force or incapacitation, according to a poll conducted last year, a figure that was up from 23% in 2023.

Overall, the survey found that 15% of all of the respondents reported such experiences compared to about 11% in 2021 and 2023 surveys.

Cornell notes in its survey that a total of 6,000 students received email invitations to participate and only 926 responded, resulting in a 15% response rate, with 519 of those responding identifying as women. According to the report, the 2025 response rate was lower than in previous years.

The findings are receiving renewed attention after the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office said it was reopening a criminal investigation into an alleged 2024 gang rape at Cornell’s fraternity house.

Eight universities that surveyed their students on nonconsensual sexual contact using the Higher Education Sexual Misconduct and Awareness Survey in 2024 showed rates lower than 30%.

In that survey, Washington University in St. Louis reported a result of 26.9% of respondents saying they had experienced nonconsensual sexual contact involving physical force or the inability to consent or stop the actions.

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health