Cornell Student Launches Transfer Program for Assault Survivors

When Cornell student Jane Doe tried to leave campus after reporting a sexual assault, the university refused to refund her tuition. She spent an entire semester seeing her alleged attackers around campus while fighting for justice, eventually dropping out altogether.

Student Assembly Representative Myshay Causey watched this unfold and saw a pattern she couldn't ignore. "What bothers me the most is how often victims end up losing out on their education in search of justice," Causey said in a recent video that's gaining national attention.

Her solution is bold: create an inter-Ivy League transfer program specifically for sexual assault survivors. She calls it #WelcomingJaneDoe, and it would work similarly to witness protection programs, allowing survivors to continue their education at a different university without losing credits, financial aid, or academic progress.

The plan addresses a brutal reality. Survivors who report assault often face social ostracism, academic setbacks, and the daily trauma of encountering their abusers on campus. Many choose silence over losing their education.

Causey has already drafted a detailed six-phase plan. The first step involves organizing student representatives, alumni groups, and survivor advocates across universities to build a national coalition. She's starting conversations with multiple institutions to understand how different schools handle admissions, credit transfers, and financial aid.

The second phase focuses on creating a practical framework that works across different university systems. She's gathering input from legal professionals and survivors to ensure the program actually serves the people it's designed to help.

Phase three builds pressure through student engagement. Causey plans to organize petitions and surveys under #WelcomingJaneDoe to demonstrate widespread support and create institutional urgency.

The goal is coordinated policies across participating universities that establish real transfer pathways. Survivors would have options to continue their education without sacrificing everything they've worked for.

Why This Inspires

Causey represents roughly 16,000 Cornell undergraduates, giving her the institutional standing to introduce legislation and meet directly with administrators. But she's thinking beyond Cornell, already having conversations with representatives at universities nationwide.

She hasn't formally introduced the resolution yet because she's taking time to build the relationships and framework first. She wants a plan that actually works, not just good intentions on paper.

Jane Doe's attorney told CNN his client "wants accountability" after her dream of attending Cornell was destroyed. With Causey's program, future survivors might not have to choose between justice and their dreams.