I'm so sorry about all, like, the backlash you're getting from this by the way.

@gma

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Why it worked

The video uses high-stakes, investigative journalism content involving a sensitive and widely discussed campus issue, which naturally drives engagement through its serious and informative nature.

Summary

This video is a news report from Good Morning America detailing an ongoing investigation into an alleged sexual assault at a Cornell University fraternity. It features audio recordings and witness interview footage as evidence of the fraternity's attempts to manage the fallout of the incident.

Structure

1Introduction to the Cornell fraternity investigation
2Audio clips of the accused fraternity member
3Evidence of text messages and witness interviews
4Report on campus protests and administrative fallout

Product placement

GroupMe (a) it ACTS — it is the platform where the messages being investigated were sent. Removing it would change the context of the evidence described. GMA (b) it merely APPEARS — the channel logo watermark in the corner. Removing it would not change the video.

On-screen text

WINSTON LEE PHONE CALL WITH JANE DOE NOVEMBER 7, 2024 NEW DETAILS EMERGE IN CORNELL UNIVERSITY INVESTIGATION AMID CAMPUS PROTESTS ANONYMOUS TIP "...the reputation of all involved and the frat would be ruined." FRATERNITY PRESIDENT When was the last time you spoke to [Jane Doe]? MATTHEW INGALLS Yesterday...what's the plan of action? Should I call [her]? I don't think she would have reported this. WITNESS This was like a consensual orgy essentially, like, don't, but like, don't spread it cause it would be bad for our image. Chi Phi held a meeting essentially to get all of the men on the same page about what happened. Um, I know for a fact there are GroupMe messages about the situation. OFFICER How do you know for a fact? WITNESS I've seen them. OFFICER So, I need you to be honest with me. I'm told now maybe the other people that I spoke with are not being honest with me and you are, which was that there was a house meeting about it. WITNESS We didn't have a meeting about it specifically...it was our weekly chapter meeting. We got through a bunch of stuff. OFFICER Any text messages or anything like that about it? WITNESS Not to my knowledge, no. OFFICER You didn't get any? WITNESS I don't have any, no. OFFICER Did you have some? WITNESS No. AARON KATERSKY ABC NEWS

Original caption

Protests erupt on the Cornell University campus as more details emerge about the fraternity's response in the weeks following the alleged assault. Aaron Katersky reports.

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Transcript

I'm so sorry about all, like, the backlash you're getting from this by the way. Three weeks after her alleged attack at the Chi Phi house, the Cornell student now known as Jane Doe called Winston Lee, one of the fraternity brothers she accused of snorting ketamine off her body and assaulting her. Oh, dude, I'm, I'm so sorry. No, I, I, I'm very like, I, I feel so bad for you, dude. Jane Doe telling him I was completely and totally intoxicated and then given multiple sedatives. And then I was surrounded by upwards of 8 to 10 men...this is classified as a gang rape. That's when Lee's tone appears to change. Why? Wait, what's? Can I? Can I ask, like, what's, what's the purpose for why you decided to call me? Lee was one of two students suspended. He and the other fraternity brothers deny any wrongdoing. Lee told campus investigators Jane Doe gave consent. ABC News reviewed text messages some of the frat brothers exchanged that appear to show a scramble to contain the fallout after Cornell temporarily suspended the Chi Phi chapter. When was the last time you spoke to Jane Doe? The fraternity president asked. Yesterday...what's the plan of action? Should I call her? I don't think she would have reported this. ABC News also obtained videos of interviews with witnesses, one of whom tells Cornell investigators the fraternity brothers tried to get their story straight. This was like a consensual orgy essentially, like, don't, but like, don't spread it cause it would be bad for our image. Chi Phi held a meeting essentially to get all of the men on the same page about what happened. Um, I know for a fact there are GroupMe messages about the situation. How do you know for a fact? I've seen them. An officer then asked one of the fraternity brothers about that meeting and those messages. So, I need you to be honest with me. I'm told now maybe the other people that I spoke with are not being honest with me and you are, which was that there was a house meeting about it. We didn't have a meeting about it specifically...it was our weekly chapter meeting. We got through a bunch of stuff. Any text messages or anything like that about it? Not to my knowledge, no. You didn't get any? I don't have any, no. Did you have some? No. Cornell police also noted a tip from an anonymous caller saying fraternity leadership asked potential witnesses to stay quiet because the reputation of all involved and the frat would be ruined. A campus protest called on Cornell to revoke degrees and fire university administrators. Anger over Cornell's handling of the allegations turning violent, vandals smashing the glass doors of the administration building and sending a message in spray paint saying in part, rapists are protected. More protests are planned on campus this week and the faculty senate is expected to vote next week on a resolution of no confidence in the university administration.