Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in leadership after gang rape claim

Cornell University’s Faculty Senate has voted to declare “no confidence” in the institution’s leadership, a stark rebuke amidst a crisis sparked by a former student’s allegations of gang rape. According to Sky News ^[1], the resolution passed with 75 votes in favour and 50 against, signalling profound discontent with how the administration handled the case of “Jane Doe”.

The BBC reported ^[2] that the vote centres on the alleged incident at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024, where the student claims she was given ketamine and subjected to sexual assault. All seven accused men have denied wrongdoing, stating the encounter was consensual or that they were not involved. While the faculty senate lacks the power to remove university leaders, the motion is viewed as a pressure tactic to force the board of trustees to act.

The resolution specifically states that the senate “has no confidence in the ability of the central administration to effectively address the ongoing crisis of sexual assault at Cornell University” ^[2]. It does not call for the resignation of President Michael Kotlikoff, who has faced criticism for his handling of the matter. Kotlikoff has defended his tenure, arguing that replacing him would not solve complex institutional issues and that he was not aware Jane Doe had left the university until recently ^[3].

Doe’s lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, welcomed the vote as a potential step forward, hoping it would help “educate and support the Cornell community by addressing the longstanding scourge of sexual assault” ^[2]. The lawsuit, filed in September, alleges that the university failed to protect her and mishandled her initial report to campus police. The local district attorney initially declined to press charges, citing consent, but the investigation has since been reopened under New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The New York Post noted ^[3] that the board of trustees expressed support for Kotlikoff, stating he is the “right leader” to address the issue. However, faculty co-sponsor Paul Ortiz described the case as merely the “tip of the iceberg” of a broader culture of silence around sexual violence on campus.

Cornell has since announced measures including cancelling fraternity parties and hiring former US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to conduct an independent review. Meanwhile, defendants have filed legal motions seeking to disqualify Attorney General James, citing her public expressions of empathy for the plaintiff. The outcome of these legal challenges, expected later this month, could determine the trajectory of any criminal charges.