Cornell faculty votes no confidence in leadership over assault case

Summarised from 7 outlets · Updated 6 Nov, 23:22 · Archive

Cornell University's Faculty Senate voted 75-50 to express no confidence in President Michael Kotlikoff and other administrators over their handling of sexual assault allegations.

Cornell University's Faculty Senate voted 75-50 on Friday to express no confidence in the university's top leadership, including President Michael Kotlikoff and Vice President of Student and Campus Life Ryan Lombardi. Five senators abstained and five did not vote. The resolution reflects discontent among faculty over the administration's handling of sexual assault on campus.

The vote was triggered by a lawsuit filed by a former student, known as Jane Doe, alleging she was gang-raped at a Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. She has also accused the university of mishandling her complaints. Seven fraternity members named in her lawsuit deny wrongdoing. The local district attorney initially determined she had consented to the encounter, but the investigation has since been reopened and handed to New York's attorney general.

Faculty debate over the matter intensified after a 14 October closed-door meeting where angry members confronted Kotlikoff. An audio recording obtained by the Associated Press captured Kotlikoff acknowledging missteps while defending his leadership. When asked by a faculty member whether he read the Cornell Police Department's report on the allegations, Kotlikoff said he had not. He urged the faculty to have confidence in him, warning that replacing him could harm the university's reputation.

The resolution's sponsors called for 'real, systemic change; not a slow-moving taskforce, weakly enforced ban on fraternity parties, or expensive PR damage control, but meaningful, evidence-based steps to reduce the incidence of sexual assault on campus and provide significant support to and justice for survivors'. The American Association of University Professors' Cornell chapter noted this was the first time in the 56 years since the Faculty Senate's establishment that it had taken such a significant step to condemn leadership's actions.

While the Faculty Senate has no power to remove administrators, backers of the resolution said they hoped it would pressure Cornell's board of trustees to address longstanding institutional failures. Jane Doe's attorney Thomas Giuffra welcomed the vote as 'yet another step forward to educate the Cornell community by addressing the longstanding scourge of sexual assault on campus'.

The university's board of trustees responded Friday with a statement from chair Anne Smalling saying the vote reflected deep anger on campus and sent a 'clear signal that what happened to Jane Doe is unacceptable'. However, the board stated it continues to support Kotlikoff and his administration as the right leaders to address the issue. Smalling cited expanded sexual assault prevention education, additional victim advocates and more staff at the Office of Civil Rights as evidence of the administration's response. The university also stated that Jane Doe's account of Kotlikoff asking why she waited to report the incident was 'incorrect'.

How it is being reported

• Cornell faculty declare ‘no confidence’ in school’s leadership as gang rape case drives campus discontentThe resolution passed 75-50, with five faculty senators abstaining and five others not voting, according to an email sent to Faculty Senate members on Friday afternoon.New York Post · 6 Nov, 22:47
• Cornell faculty pass no confidence vote over leadership's handling of Jane Doe allegationsFriday's resolution by academic staff is largely symbolic as they do not have the power to remove those in charge of the university.BBC News · 6 Nov, 22:28
• Cornell faculty declare no confidence in leaders over Jane Doe sexual assault lawsuitKotlikoff urged faculty members to have confidence in his leadership, warning that replacing him could harm the university’s reputationIndependent World · 6 Nov, 22:24
• Cornell faculty vote 'no confidence' in university leadership after alleged gang rapeCornell University's Faculty Senate has approved a resolution declaring "no confidence" in the institution's leadership amid a crisis sparked by an alleged 2024 gang rape.Sky News · 6 Nov, 21:44
• Cornell faculty pass motion of no confidence in president and leadership over Jane Doe gang rape scandal, as it's revealed frat house failed to hire monitor who could have prevented incidentStaff at Cornell University have passed a no confidence motion against the school's leadershipDaily Mail · 6 Nov, 21:15
• Cornell faculty declares ‘no confidence’ in school leaders in fallout from alleged gang-rapeFaculty senate passed resolution expressing deep discontent with school’s response to alleged fraternity rape Cornell University’s faculty senate approved a resolution on Friday declaring “no confidence” in the school’s top leaders, a symbolic gesture reflecting deep discontent on campus in the wake of a former student’s lawsuit saying she was gang-raped at a fraternity party in 2024. The resolution passed 75-50, with five faculty senators abstaining and five others not voting, according to an email sent to members of the faculty senate on Friday afternoon. Continue reading...Guardian World · 6 Nov, 21:11
• Cornell's Faculty Senate votes "no confidence" in university's administrationCornell University's Faculty Senate approved a resolution expressing no confidence in the university's administration, including Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff and other administrators.CBS News · 6 Nov, 21:11

In this story: Cornell University · Michael Kotlikoff · Jane Doe · Chi Phi · Ryan Lombardi · Thomas Giuffra · Anne Smalling · New York

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