This is the student journo who broke the 'Cornell 7' story that's broken the world

There's one, extraordinarily brave, woman responsible for us knowing the names of the Cornell 7 - the students who allegedly gang-raped a fellow student at the university.

Her name is Cereese Qusba.

Qusba is senior editor of the Cornell Daily Sun, the school's independent, student-run newspaper.

When Cornell sent out a school-wide email notifying students of ‘an incident’ in October 2024, Qusba began to investigate. She reached out to Jane Doe, and began noting all of the ways the university had failed her.

Finally, two weeks ago, after Doe's lawsuit was filed, Qusba published it all - including the names of the seven fraternity brothers whom Doe has accused of drugging and raping her.

It was an incredibly brave move, especially as Qusba is still a student at Cornell.

Sophia Dasell, the Cornell Daily Sun's editor in chief, has supported Qusba's reporting, and stood by her in the fallout.

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Cereese Qusba published the names of the seven men alleged to have gang-raped Jane Doe at Cornell University. Image: The Cornell Daily Sun

How a student journalist broke the ‘Cornell Seven’ case

The Cornell Daily Sun has explained their reasons for naming the seven alleged rapists and telling Jane Doe's story:

“We refuse for this victim to be reduced to just another story. Cornell has failed to protect its students. 

"Cornell has failed to address the growing issue of sexual assault on campus with its pathetic task force.

“Cornell has failed the student allegedly raped by those seven men at Chi Phi in October 2024. 

"Cornell has failed her. Cornell has failed us.”

Qusba this week told The Cut: 

"It had been over a year since that happened and I started to look into this case because I thought it was something really important and worthy of reporting, that it should not get missed at all. 

“I was able to do background investigative research on Cornell’s policy and have gathered as much information as I could so that, when the lawsuit dropped, we were well prepared to break the story.”

Qusba also revealed in the interview that the team made editorial decisions together.

“We made some bold decisions. We also took a very confrontational approach to the university’s process and lack of transparency.”

Finally, the student journalist said of her role in breaking a story that has broken the world:

“To do it and then to watch social media and all media really take the story and kind of run with it … It’s been really interesting to watch the media do its thing. 

"Now, I’m getting flyers for protests and “The Cornell Seven” as a subject line in my inbox.”