Travel & Experiences · 6 Intermediate · October 3, 2026

A Student's Fight for Justice Online

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Vocabulary

civil lawsuit ˈsɪvəl ˈsuːt noun phrase

a legal case between private individuals or organizations, not involving criminal charges

She filed a civil lawsuit against the men to seek damages for the harm she suffered.

intoxicated ɪnˈtɑːksɪkeɪtɪd adjective

drunk or affected by alcohol or drugs

Her lawyer argued that she was extremely intoxicated and unable to consent to what happened.

unmask ʌnˈmæsk verb

to reveal the true identity or nature of someone or something

People online are trying to unmask her identity despite efforts to protect her privacy.

Article

In 2024, a young woman filed a civil lawsuit against seven men at Cornell University in New York, alleging they assaulted her at a fraternity house. Her lawyer says she was extremely intoxicated and unable to consent when the assault occurred. The case initially received little attention, but the lawsuit brought national focus to what happened. Now the woman, known legally as Jane Doe to protect her privacy, faces a new problem: people online are trying to discover who she is.

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