Critics link Cornell's 2019 sex-inventory worksheet to Chi Phi gang-rape lawsuit
Right-leaning outlets report that Cornell Health's 2019 "Yes, No, Maybe So" sexual checklist has drawn criticism amid a lawsuit alleging a gang rape at the Chi Phi fraternity. Breitbart, citing the Daily Mail, notes there is no evidence the materials played any role in the alleged assault.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Cornell Health, the university's health service, published a 2019 worksheet called "Yes, No, Maybe So: A Sexual Inventory Stocklist" that asks respondents whether they are interested in a long list of sexual activities. New York PostR “In 2019, Cornell Health published “Yes, No, Maybe So: A Sexual Inventory Stocklist,” which contains dozens of risque sex acts” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “circulated a six-page discussion advisory called “Yes, No, Maybe So: A Sexual Inventory Stocklist” that contains more than 200 entries” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2Items quoted by both outlets include sex with three partners, and with more than three partners, at a time, and "Initiating or having sex while or after I have been drinking alcohol or other recreational drugs." New York PostR ““Sex of some kind(s) with three partners at a time,” “Sex of some kind(s) with more than three partners at a time”” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR ““Initiating or having sex while or after I have been drinking alcohol or other recreational drugs.”” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 1The New York Post reported that Cornell encouraged resident advisers to display such materials on dorm bulletin boards until April, citing an archived Cornell Sexual Health campaign website. It named other worksheets, including "Sexual Pleasure: Finding the 'Sweet Spot'" and "Sensate Focus." New York PostR “Cornell encouraged RAs at the college to display the materials on bulltetin boards in their dorm halls until April”“the worksheet “Sexual Pleasure: Finding the ‘Sweet Spot,’” which discusses BDSM, fetish gear and sex toys” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 2The criticism follows a civil lawsuit filed in September by a former student identified as Jane Doe. She alleges that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity drugged and gang raped her in October 2024. Her account includes being drunk and high on ketamine. New York PostR “filed a civil lawsuit in September alleging she had been plied with drugs and gang raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “alleged alcohol and ketamine-fueled sexual assault of accuser “Jane Doe”” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 1Breitbart reported that the Tompkins County district attorney's office has reopened its investigation into the group it calls the "Cornell 7." It said the fraternity members dispute the accuser's version of events, which it said has changed over time, according to District Attorney Matthew Van Houten. BreitbartR “the local district attorney’s office has reopened its investigation into the “Cornell 7,””“Fraternity members dispute the alleged victim’s version of events” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2Jared Lederman, a 19-year-old Cornell senior who first wrote about the checklist on his Substack, said the university's promotion of such acts creates a "permission structure" that could lead to non-consensual encounters. He added that Cornell "isn't directly responsible for the alleged gang rape." New York PostR “Cornell isn’t directly responsible for the alleged gang rape, but the group sex act they are endorsing could very well lead to non-consensual activity” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “A 19-year-old Cornell senior named Jared Lederman was the first to highlight the inventory checklist on his Substack account.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Right · 1Podcast co-host Bethany Mandel told the Post that progressives have blurred the boundaries of healthy sexual relationships and that Cornell shows "the end result." Critics quoted by the Post called the checklist an example of "woke policies run amok." New York PostR “Critics said the checklist was an example of woke policies run amok.”“On campus at Cornell, we’re seeing the end result of that decision,” Bethany Mandel” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 2Breitbart quoted the Daily Mail as saying Cornell intended the documents to encourage conversations about sexual preferences and boundaries, and that there is no evidence the materials played any role in the alleged assault. Both outlets said Cornell did not respond to requests for comment. BreitbartR “although there is no evidence the materials played any role in the alleged assault.” Read at Breitbart ↗ New York PostR “Cornell did not respond to requests for comment.” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the checklist as a scandal in its own right, tying it to the Chi Phi case and to progressive or "woke" campus policy. The Post leads with the critics' claim that it could have fuelled frat orgies. Breitbart says the school's own health department promoted the behaviour.
- Emphasis
- Explicit items on the checklist, the dorm display guidance, and quotes from student critic Jared Lederman and commentator Bethany Mandel.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet includes any Cornell defence of the materials in its own reporting. The Post leaves out that no evidence links the worksheet to the alleged assault. Breitbart gives that only in a quoted Daily Mail line, deep in the piece.
- Charged language
- “raunchy”“woke policies run amok”“Every Sexual Behavior Imaginable”“bedlam”
- For example
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“Cornell University has a history of pushing raunchy sex-ed guides that critics claim fueled the Chi Phi frat scandal by encouraging drug-fueled orgies.” — New York Post
“it turns out the school’s own health department distributed sex education materials promoting campus-wide discussions of group sex, fetish practices and drug-fueled encounters.” — Breitbart
What every side reports
- Cornell Health published the 2019 "Yes, No, Maybe So" sexual inventory stocklist.
- A former student filed a civil suit in September alleging a gang rape by Chi Phi members in October 2024.
- Jared Lederman first publicised the checklist on Substack.
- Cornell did not respond to requests for comment.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the checklist is linked to the alleged assault
- Right
- The Post says critics claim it fuelled the scandal. Breitbart says it adds to the outrage but quotes the Daily Mail that there is no evidence the materials played any role.
Cornell University organisation
Cornell did not respond to the Post's requests for comment. Breitbart, citing the Daily Mail, says the university intended the documents to encourage conversations about sexual preferences and boundaries.
“Cornell did not respond to requests for comment.” — New York Post
“The documents were intended to encourage conversations about sexual preferences and boundaries, according to Cornell” — Breitbart
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Critical Presents the checklist as the target of critics who say it encouraged drug-fuelled group sex and contributed to the frat scandal.
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Critical Recasts the case as a failing of the university's own health office rather than of fraternity culture, while carrying a Daily Mail caveat that no link is shown.
- 10 Oct 18:41 First New York PostR Cornell handed students raunchy sex checklist discussing ‘three partners at a time’ — which could’ve led to frat orgies: critics
- 11 Oct 16:11 +21h 30m BreitbartR Cornell, Site of Alleged Fraternity Gang Rape Case, Handed out 'Sex Ed' Materials Listing Group Sex and Every Sexual Behavior Imaginable
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.