What Cornell's alleged rape case and the Hockey Canada trial's striking parallels reveal

WARNING: This article references sexual assault and may affect those who have experienced​ ​​​sexual violence or know someone affected by it.

An intoxicated woman. A sexual encounter. A group message that invites other men to join. In the fallout, allegations of sexual assault, questions regarding consent and the response of elite cultural institutions under the microscope.

If it feels like you've heard this story before, it's because you likely have.

Several legal experts note there are some striking similarities between the alleged gang-rape case unfolding at Cornell University this week, and last year's Hockey Canada sexual assault trial in London, Ont., which saw all five players acquitted.

"It just seemed like yet another example of a group exploiting a vulnerable person," lawyer Karen Bellehumeur, who represented the survivor known as E.M. in the 2025 Hockey Canada trial, told CBC News about the Cornell case.

"When a group is involved, it's particularly abhorrent."

What to know about Cornell's alleged frat house gang-rape case and the 'Cornell 7'

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The Cornell case recently came under the spotlight after the victim, known in court documents as Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit on Sept. 16 alleging the Ivy League university protected the seven men, now dubbed "the Cornell 7."

Jane Doe alleges they plied her with ketamine and assaulted her over several hours at a frat house in October 2024, and that one of the frat brothers sent a Snapchat message inviting other members to join them.

None of the fraternity members have been criminally charged, and the lawsuit claims the accused only faced temporary suspensions