Cornell University’s Faculty Senate voted 75-50 on Friday, November 6, to declare “no confidence” in the administration’s ability to address a sexual assault crisis on campus. Five senators abstained and five others did not vote, according to the Cornell resolution.
The vote followed weeks of faculty debate over whether President Michael Kotlikoff and other university leaders had done enough to curb sexual misconduct and improve the university’s response. The Faculty Senate cannot remove university leaders, but sponsors of the resolution said they hoped the vote would press Cornell’s trustees to address what they described as longstanding institutional failures.
Dispute follows lawsuit over 2024 allegations
The criticism intensified after a former student, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, sued Cornell and seven former members of the Chi Phi fraternity. She alleges she was drugged and raped at a fraternity house in October 2024. The men named in the lawsuit have denied the allegations, saying the sex was consensual or that they were not involved, according to the Associated Press.
Cornell closed the fraternity chapter and disciplined several students after learning of the case. Campus police initially investigated and sent their findings to the Tompkins County district attorney, who did not bring charges. The investigation has since been reopened and assigned to New York’s attorney general.
Board Chair Anne Smalling said the faculty vote reflected “deep anger across our campus” and made clear that what happened to Jane Doe was unacceptable. She also expressed the trustees’ support for Kotlikoff and his commitment to student safety.
Kotlikoff had not responded to the vote in the account provided. A university spokesperson said he has 30 days to submit a written response under university procedures. Before voting began, Kotlikoff pointed to steps including adding staff to Cornell’s civil rights office, expanding sexual assault prevention education and hiring staff focused on victim advocacy.