‘Think Cornell was bad just wait for us’: Idaho high school probed after group chat allegedly targeting female student with sexual violence found
A situation that draw parallels to the 'Cornell 7' case.
The ‘Cornell 7’ bombshell had put the Ivy League school under nationwide scrutiny and unleashed a public maelstrom. But it seems a similar situation is happening in an Idaho high school when a football team’s Snapchat group chat allegedly involving death threats and sexual violence directed at a female student was uncovered.
An online petition calling for accountability and administrative action against the Timberline High School football team in Boise, Idaho, alleged that team members had sent messages in a Snapchat group chat called “Gameday lunch,” expressing intentions to commit sexual violence and kill a fellow student. The petition, which demanded that administrators expel and remove the involved members from Timberline, had reportedly racked up over 6,000 signatures in just a day, per KTVB.
The petition was launched after screenshots of the Snapchat messages circulated among students and were shared online. The messages allegedly included references to Cornell, whose students and administration are currently under investigation for the alleged gang rape of a female student in 2024.
Idaho students’ group messages under police investigation
In the group chat, one student reportedly wrote, “[You] think Cornell was bad just wait for us.” Other alleged messages were also violent in nature and appeared to target a specific student. One message allegedly said, “Let’s hang her from a ligh[t] post and let the birds pick at her brains for days.” Other messages are said to include, “Let’s make her life hell” and “The conversation for if she deserves to die is there.”
On Oct. 2, school officials contacted the Boise Police Department’s School Resource Officer Unit about the messages, prompting an immediate investigation. The next day, Boise School District officials confirmed the ongoing investigation by law enforcement to families and staff, stating they received reports of “highly inappropriate and concerning social media posts” from Timberline.
“The District is cooperating fully with the investigation and will continue to coordinate with law enforcement as appropriate,” the district said. They added that they will also review the reported behavior and take action in accordance with Boise School District policies and procedures and Title IX requirements.
Law enforcement, however, has requested that the district “pause any internal action” while the possible criminal investigation is underway. With the investigation ongoing, the district noted that there are limits to what information can be publicly shared. The district also stated that students directly or indirectly affected by the incident will receive appropriate support and protection as needed.
Meanwhile, Timberline has canceled the school’s upcoming football games and homecoming activities in light of the investigation and concerns for student safety. Timberline students also staged a class walkout on Wednesday as they demand accountability for the alleged messages. So far, no charges, arrests, or new information have been announced.
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