Cornell faculty pass no-confidence motion over sexual assault response

Cornell University’s Faculty Senate has passed a motion of no confidence in the central administration’s ability to address what the senators called an ongoing crisis of sexual assault on campus.

The motion passed on 6 November by 75 votes to 50, with five abstentions. The Associated Press reported that a further five senators did not vote. The resolution does not call for anyone’s resignation, and the senate cannot remove university leaders.

Cornell’s president, Michael Kotlikoff, is selected by the board of trustees. After the vote, board chair Anne Smalling told The Cornell Daily Sun that the trustees remained confident in Kotlikoff and his administration’s ability to address sexual assault.

The result followed weeks of debate over the proposed motion. Supporters said the administration had not done enough to address sexual violence, while some opponents wanted to wait for an outside review of Cornell’s handling of the case.

Dean of faculty Chris Schaffer opposed the resolution, saying it did not set out the specific failures behind its judgment or the consequences it sought. The one-sentence motion did not identify individual officials or recommend measures.

The vote followed a civil lawsuit brought in September by a former student known as Jane Doe. She alleges that several men raped her at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. Her suit names Cornell and seven former fraternity members; not all seven are accused of rape. All seven have denied wrongdoing, and none had been criminally charged as of 6 November, according to the BBC.

Cornell says its disciplinary process resulted in suspensions and expulsions and that the fraternity was barred from campus. The university has hired former US deputy attorney general Sally Yates to review its response and procedures.

Separately, New York Attorney General Letitia James is overseeing a reopened criminal investigation. The local district attorney had initially declined to bring charges.