The Cornell 7 Case Should Teach Students to Avoid Hard Drugs, Not Prompt Debate Over Consent
Source: Eddie Scarry. "The 'Cornell 7' Lesson: Don't Do Drugs, Stay In School." October 9, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author says that, whatever a court decides about the Cornell case, the real takeaway is that college students shouldn't take hard drugs because it leads to risky situations and regret. He suggests the accuser's friendly texts and her post-night distress can be explained by drug use, so talk about consent is a distraction.
Conclusion
The key lesson from the Cornell 7 case is that college students, especially women, should not do hard drugs (especially around groups of men), rather than the public focusing on consent and sexual regret.
Premises
- Public evidence, including the plaintiff's own lawsuit and texts, indicates she snorted a large amount of ketamine on the night in question.
- Her post-incident texts to accused men were friendly and reassuring, and she described the ketamine-related act as one of the night's most 'jaw dropping' moments, suggesting she did not regard the encounter as clearly non-consensual at the time.
- Her reported post-event 'sleep and cry all day' state is not distinguishable from an ordinary drug come-down, which involves depression and anxiety, especially after risky behavior.
- Drinking and drug use carry consequences, and hard drug use in particular exposes users to risky situations and heightened regret.
- The facts of what happened remain unknown, so the only certain takeaway is a general lesson about avoiding hard drugs.
Assumptions
- Texts sent after the event reliably indicate the plaintiff's state of mind and consent during the event.
- Post-event distress is as well explained by drug come-down as by trauma, so it carries little evidential weight about assault.
- A lesson about personal risk avoidance is more relevant to the public than a discussion about consent and sexual violence.
- Giving advice on drug avoidance is compatible with, and does not displace, accountability for alleged perpetrators.
- Drug use by an accuser is relevant to evaluating how a case should be discussed publicly.