The faculty senate of Cornell University on Friday adopted a resolution expressing no confidence in the leadership of the educational institution. The resolution passed with a result of 75 to 50, with five senators abstaining and five not voting. The vote took place electronically over a period of more than a week, with results published on Friday.
This is a symbolic act that reflects deep dissatisfaction on campus. The faculty body has no real authority over the university's leaders, but the sponsors of the resolution hoped it would put pressure on Cornell's board of trustees to urgently address what they consider long-standing institutional failures.
The vote was preceded by weeks of debate among professors over whether Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff and other administrators had acted appropriately in the case of a former student who filed a lawsuit. Professors also debated whether the administration was doing enough to curb sexual misconduct at the university. The no-confidence resolution did not call for Kotlikoff's resignation.
The university's board of trustees stated on Friday that the vote reflects deep anger on campus and sends a "clear signal that what happened to Jane Doe is unacceptable". The board added that Kotlikoff and his administration are the right leaders who will address the issue "thoughtfully and comprehensively". Board chair Anne Smalling said: "The board fully supports President Kotlikoff and his administration as they continue to listen and act decisively in the interest of students." As evidence of the administration's response, she cited expanded education on sexual assault prevention, additional advocates for victims and more staff in the university's office of civil rights.
Jane Doe's lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, said in a statement on Friday that they "hope this will be another step forward in educating and supporting the Cornell community through addressing the long-standing scourge of sexual assault on campus".
The Cornell community has been in a state of agitation and shock since mid-September, when a former student filed a lawsuit against the university and seven former members of the Chi Phi fraternity. The former student stated that in October 2024, she was given ketamine and raped in the fraternity house. All these men denied her allegations, claiming that the sex was consensual or that they were not involved.
The local district attorney initially concluded that the woman consented to the encounter and that no crime had been committed. The investigation was then reopened and handed over to the New York State Attorney General. Cornell, after a multi-month investigation under Title IX law, disciplinarily sanctioned several of the accused students. Two were expelled, two received suspensions and conditional retention, and two were required to write "reflective" papers and complete bystander intervention training. The seventh man had already graduated and was banned from campus access, according to documents obtained by the New York Times.
Kotlikoff convened a working group to study the problem of sexual misconduct on campus, which published certain recommendations. Some faculty members are angry with Kotlikoff for not acting more decisively to strengthen the school's disciplinary process, encourage criminal investigations and change the party culture on campus.
