When a College Headline Makes You Ask a Different Question

Written By kara mcmahon

By Kara McMahon, Founder, Admissions by Design | September 28, 2026

I spend a lot of time helping students find colleges that fit their goals. This week, I found myself thinking about a different kind of fit: the people and culture they will be surrounded by once they arrive.

The news out of Cornell has been especially upsetting. A former student has filed a lawsuit alleging that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by members of a fraternity in 2024. The allegations are deeply disturbing, and the legal process is ongoing. Cornell says it has concluded its own investigation and that the fraternity chapter remains barred from campus. The university has not publicly disclosed any individual disciplinary outcomes, citing student privacy. The Tompkins County district attorney has reportedly reopened the criminal investigation.

I cannot claim to know what happened inside Cornell's investigation or what consequences any individual received. But as a parent and a college counselor, I want more than a general assurance that a university takes sexual violence seriously. I want to understand how students are protected, how reports are handled, and how a school earns families' trust when something terrible is alleged.

Then came the news that two University of Mississippi students had died. Authorities were still investigating their deaths as of this writing; reports of possible overdoses are not a confirmed cause of death. My heart goes out to their families and friends. One of my boys came home from health class talking about the story, and it led to a conversation with all three of our boys about drugs, looking out for friends, and how quickly a choice or a situation can become life changing. We also talked about calling for help immediately, even if they are afraid of getting in trouble.

At UW–Madison, police are investigating an alleged hazing incident at an off-campus fraternity. The group has not been recognized by the university since 2015, and the national fraternity has ordered its chapter to stop activities while it investigates. Madison says it is investigating the conduct of students who may have been involved. That distinction matters. So does the question it leaves parents asking: how do students learn that an organization operating near campus is not actually in good standing with the school?

These are three different stories. I do not want to flatten them into a single lesson or treat someone else's trauma as a talking point. But together they have made me think harder about what we mean when we say a college is a good fit.

Students work incredibly hard to get into places like Cornell. Families study admit rates, course offerings, outcomes, and rankings. Those things matter. So do the less visible questions: What behavior do students tolerate from one another? Will someone step in when a friend is in danger? How clearly does the administration explain its policies and actions? Can students find real help when they need it?

No campus can promise that nothing harmful will happen. A headline also cannot tell us what every student at a university believes. But families can ask better questions before committing four years of their child's life to a place:

  • How do you teach incoming students about consent, substance use, and hazing?

  • How can students check whether a club or fraternity is recognized and in good standing?

  • Where can a student get confidential support, and how are reports investigated?

  • What happens when a student calls for emergency help for a friend?

  • How does the university communicate with families and students after a serious incident, within the limits of privacy law?

I would ask these questions on any campus, including a school my child has dreamed about for years. And I would keep talking with my kids long after the campus tour is over.

The goal is not to find a college with a perfect record or to make teenagers afraid of college. It is to help them recognize a healthy community, trust their instincts, leave a dangerous situation, and get help for themselves or someone else. An acceptance letter tells a student a college wants them. It does not, by itself, tell a family everything they need to know about life there.

Sources and reporting notes

kara mcmahon
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