Nova Southeastern University Addresses Safety After Cornell Sexual Assault Lawsuit Claims
Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida, issued a statement to students addressing campus safety concerns following online comments that a man named in a 2024 Cornell University sexual assault lawsuit had transferred to the school.
The controversy follows a September civil lawsuit filed in New York involving seven former or current Cornell students and members of the Chi Phi fraternity. The lawsuit alleges that a female undergraduate student was coerced into taking substances and sexually assaulted at the fraternity house in October 2024. Local prosecutors previously declined to bring criminal charges in the case.
Online outcry surfaced on Nova Southeastern University’s social media channels after users claimed Jonathan Newell, one of the defendants named in the lawsuit, was enrolled at the Florida campus. In response, NSU President and CEO Harry Moon released a statement noting that the allegations “may involve a student who later transferred to NSU.”
School officials stated they were unaware of the allegations at the time of the student’s admission and took immediate action upon learning of the situation to prioritize campus safety. Citing federal privacy laws regarding student records, the university declined to confirm whether the individual is currently enrolled or to share additional disciplinary details.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, confidential support is available through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or online at rainn.org.