On Thursday, 8 October, a trivia night at Pint – a gay bar located in Jersey City, New Jersey – erupted into controversy when a team announced itself as “Cornell 7 Inches”. The moniker was a crude play on the phrase “Cornell Seven” which refers to seven Chi Phi fraternity members accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at Cornell University in October 2024. Patrons quickly shared their shock on social media, noting that the joke unfolded in a venue that hosts a mixed-gender clientele.
Bar founder Wolf Sterling and co-owner Tommy DeMaio responded the same night with a video apology. In the recording, Sterling described the name as “truly offensive” and said it “violates both how we want to treat our community and the standards we have for our business.” The owners disclosed that the trivia host who awarded the team the “best name” award acted without their knowledge and was immediately terminated. Moreover, Pint pledged to channel all proceeds from that evening’s trivia session to sexual-violence prevention programmes.
Clarifying misinformation that had begun to circulate online, the bar explained in a now-deleted comment thread that the offending name was not the result of a vote by participants; it had been selected unilaterally by the host. This distinction was important to the owners, who emphasized that no staff member besides the host participated in the decision-making process.
Community reaction and broader implications
The incident ignited a heated debate across several platforms. Some commenters condemned the joke as an unacceptable trivialisation of sexual violence, urging venues to adopt stricter oversight of trivia content. Others separated the host’s actions from the bar’s In the wake of the scandal, Pint reiterated its commitment to maintaining a “safe and welcoming space for everyone” and encouraged anyone who felt uncomfortable to contact the owners directly.
Background on the Cornell Seven case
The phrase at the centre of the controversy originates from allegations made by an unnamed woman who claimed she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven Chi Phi fraternity members in October 2024. The accusations resurfaced publicly when the plaintiff, now a graduate, filed a federal lawsuit against both Cornell University and the fraternity in September 2026. The complaint includes screenshots of text messages that appear to show fraternity members coordinating during the alleged assault, fueling a nationwide conversation about campus sexual violence and institutional responsibility.
Legal developments continued in late September 2026, when a local prosecutor announced that the criminal investigation would be re-examined and that evidence would be presented to a grand jury. High-profile supporters such as activist Hudson Williams and actor Matthew Lillard used the moment to advocate for justice and to critique what they described as a culture of “cancelling.” Actress Florence Pugh also voiced frustration, accusing Instagram of censoring her posts about the Cornell Seven.
For readers seeking assistance, Rape Crisis England & Wales offers a 24/7 confidential helpline (0808 500 2222) and online chat. In the United States, RAINN provides similar support through its National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-4673), text line (HOPE to 64673), and live chat service.
