A Cornell University fraternity member expelled over his alleged conduct toward a woman who says she was gang-raped had reportedly been assigned to serve as a sober safety monitor on the night of the alleged assault.
Jonathan Newell, 21, was among seven Chi Phi members designated to remain sober and help enforce “safer partying” practices at the fraternity’s Ithaca, New York, house on October 19, 2024.
Cornell records reviewed by The New York Times reportedly identified Newell as a trained event monitor. His responsibilities included staying sober and wearing clothing that would make him clearly recognizable to partygoers who needed assistance.
Newell is one of seven fraternity members named in a civil lawsuit accusing them of sexually assaulting a woman during the party. The defendants deny the allegations, and none has been criminally charged.
Despite his designation as a sober monitor, the woman alleged in the lawsuit filed last month that Newell and other fraternity members gave her drugs and alcohol before the alleged assault.
The woman, referred to in court documents as Jane Doe, says the sexual assault unfolded over approximately seven hours. She also alleges that Newell sent a Snapchat message to fraternity members encouraging them to come and join in.
Newell has denied the accusations. During an interview with investigators, he said his sexual activity with Jane Doe was consensual and claimed he could not recall sending the Snapchat message, according to the newly disclosed records.
A Cornell Title IX investigation later resulted in Newell’s expulsion. Our News Outlet reported this week that he has also been dismissed from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
Jonathan Newell was reportedly assigned as a sober “safety monitor” at the Cornell fraternity party where a woman later alleged she was gang-raped
A Cornell sophomore alleges she was sexually assaulted and gang-raped at the Chi Phi house in October 2024 after an evening of partying
Cornell’s “safer partying” measures had been introduced two years before the alleged October 2024 assault, following a series of incidents in which students reported being drugged at fraternity events.
Under the university’s Greek Life rules, fraternity and sorority houses were prohibited from serving hard liquor. Events where alcohol was available were also required to end by 1 a.m.
The guidelines further expanded the role of sober monitors, requiring fraternity members assigned to those positions to complete training before overseeing parties.
Monitors were expected to take reasonable measures to prevent excessive crowding and underage drinking, discourage public urination, and stop guests from leaving with open alcohol containers.
Paperwork submitted by Chi Phi listed Newell as one of seven designated monitors for the October 19, 2024, event, the night the alleged assault is said to have occurred.
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However, interviews conducted by campus police in December 2024 reportedly did not establish whether Newell understood the obligations attached to the role—or whether he had agreed to serve as a monitor before his name appeared on the list, according to The New York Times.
Students demonstrated at Cornell this week as scrutiny intensified over the university’s handling of the allegations
Cornell Police investigated the reported assault in late 2024, but prosecutors and authorities ultimately filed no criminal charges against the fraternity members accused
In his interview with campus police, Newell said he arrived at the Chi Phi party around midnight after spending much of the evening drinking at other gatherings. He said he was so intoxicated that he stumbled while walking down the stairs.
Newell estimated that he had consumed about three beers, several shots, two mixed drinks and roughly half a bottle of strawberry-flavored tequila.
Records also show that Jane Doe was supposed to be a sober monitor for her sorority’s date party earlier that night, but gave up the responsibility after being robbed earlier in the day.
According to the confidential records reported by the Times, Newell told investigators that he was quickly propositioned with a threesome involving Jane Doe soon after he joined the party.
He insisted that his sexual activity with Jane Doe was consensual.
Reports from the investigation show that when campus police interviewed the fraternity member who served as risk manager, he told them he was controlling the ‘hectic’ party crowd at the door.
He said he was the one who let Jane Doe come in, and described her as appearing ‘completely sober’ when she arrived, the records showed.
In a civil lawsuit filed in September 2026 in New York, Jane Doe said she was heavily intoxicated when she showed up to the party.
The university records point to weaknesses within policies at institutions such as Cornell that are designed to help young people enjoy themselves safely, with many students saying the rules are not stuck to in the moment.
‘The sober monitors at parties I’ve been to don’t seem to be by any stretch of the imagination monitoring what could become a threat or risk,’ Julian Weinberg, a 21-year-old junior, told the New York Times.
‘It helps shift the blame from the frat as a whole to a few individuals.’
