Ohio State students count 10,000 peers in 'I am Jane Doe' posts

Students at Ohio State University are choosing whether to post the phrase “I am Jane Doe” on social media, a decision driven by a mix of solidarity and anxiety over public perception. The movement has moved from a digital tactic to a visible campus conversation.

Jane Doe alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted for hours at the Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University in October 2024. She is currently suing seven students over the incident. These claims have not yet been proven in court.

The online posts began as a specific reaction to an attempt by commentator Michael Tracey to expose Jane Doe’s identity. Users posted the phrase to create a large volume of search results for “Jane Doe,” aiming to protect her real identity from being found. The volume of posts has since grown to include personal stories and general support.

Ruby Silva, a third-year student in social work, first encountered the movement on TikTok in September. She decided to post to show support, citing the importance of backing those who were too scared to speak up. “It’s important to show support for those who were too scared to stand up,” Silva said.

Silva remained nervous about the reaction. She noted that public posts invite unknown responses. “Once you post something publicly, you don’t know how others will react,” Silva said. She acknowledged that different opinions are likely to spark arguments or judgment based on the content of the post.

Scott Campbell, a communication professor, links this hesitation to the spiral of silence theory. The theory suggests that people stay quiet when they perceive media coverage as showing a stronger opposing or supporting majority than actually exists. “What happens is you might not be in the minority, or you might be a little bit in the minority with your views, but it feels like you’re in an extreme minority and you keep your mouth shut,” Campbell said.

Emily Macias, a third-year student in epidemiology, also posted in support of Jane Doe. Macias said she looks up to the bravery required for survivors to come forward. She understands why others hesitate, noting that disagreements often become personal. “If they don’t have the same opinions as you, then they are considered a bad person or uneducated in their beliefs,” Macias said.

Campbell observed that media coverage presents the case as debatable, which limits room for nuance. He said this forces students to feel they must be fully for or against the case. “There’s no room for nuance in these public discussions, and that would cause college students to be silent because there’s no room for nuance,” Campbell said. He added that polarized views can make students feel their specific stance does not fit the public discourse.