UBC community stands with Cornell’s ‘Jane Doe’
Posted October 9, 2026 11:52 am.
As the Cornell gang rape case continues to send shock waves across the world, the UBC community is showing its support for Jane Doe and other victims of sexual violence on campus.
Dozens marched across campus Thursday, holding signs that read “We Are Jane Doe” while calling on the university to do more to protect survivors.
“We can’t directly address frat culture, individual people…that’s more of a societal issue,” said student Isabella Korkor.
“But the university can definitely take more initiative in properly supporting survivors and making sure those that did the action are punished.”
Last month, a former Cornell University student, known only as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit alleging that she was gang-raped at a frat party in 2024 and that Cornell failed to protect her. The case is reigniting debates about how institutions and campus police handle sexual violence.
“It’s not just Cornell, right? UBC needs to take accountability, as well as every other university in the world.”
Stories like Jane Doe’s are not unique to Cornell. The UBC AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC) says violence remains prevalent at UBC, and the current response is not sufficient.
“I would say people are afraid to report to the university,” said SASC manager Ophelia Kehila.
“The amount of trauma that’s entailed in the reporting process, the gruelling process of investigation, the very minimal outcomes that happen when you report…very few people end up receiving justice through the university.”
The centre offers various supports to victims and helps them navigate the reporting process, should they wish to do so. According to the group, while UBC received 144 reports of sexual violence between 2022 and 2025, only six resulted in suspensions.
“At the end of the day, the university is an institution and a corporation, and their main priority is to protect itself,” Kehila said.
“A lot of policies are criticized by the community as liability-oriented, centering around protecting the institution rather than the survivors.”
In a statement to CityNews, UBC says it takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and investigates reports in accordance with its policies. Those who wish to report violence can contact the UBC Investigations Office, which offers confidential, no-obligation advice about reporting processes.
