Cornell Faculty Set to Vote on No-Confidence Motion Amid Rape Handling Controversy

Cornell University faculty members are set to begin voting on a proposed no-confidence resolution against the university’s administration. The action follows widespread frustration regarding the institution's handling of a report filed by a woman who alleged she was gang raped at a campus fraternity house in 2024. The Faculty Senate will meet on Wednesday to conclude its debate on the matter before initiating the voting process.

The decision to move forward with the vote comes after a contentious Faculty Senate meeting held on October 14. During that session, which was closed to the media, angry faculty members directly confronted Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff about the university's response to the allegations. An audio recording of the meeting obtained by The Associated Press reveals that Kotlikoff acknowledged certain missteps in the handling of the case while simultaneously defending his overall leadership.

In the recording, Kotlikoff urged faculty to maintain confidence in his direction, pointing to an independent investigation into the university's actions. He requested additional time to implement reforms and drive cultural changes within student social life. The core of the dispute involves a lawsuit filed last month by a woman identified in court documents as Jane Doe. She alleges that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted or exploited her in October 2024 and that Cornell mishandled her subsequent complaints. All seven men have denied the allegations.

The criminal investigation conducted by the Cornell Police Department had stalled after the local district attorney declined to pursue charges. In a prior interview with The New York Times, Kotlikoff stated that he had not followed up to determine the outcome of the criminal case or the woman's situation. When a faculty member asked if he had read the police report on the rape allegations, Kotlikoff admitted he had not. He explained that this was because the police investigation was confidential and university policy dictates that top administrators should not play a role in criminal investigations.

Kotlikoff defended his approach by stating, “I really reject the idea that I had no interest in it or was not concerned about it.” He argued that experienced leadership is necessary to confront the university's problems and suggested that replacing a president would harm Cornell’s reputation. Faculty members also raised concerns about how the university handled the return of a disciplined student to campus, specifically noting that he was assigned to a shared dorm room with a roommate who was unaware of his disciplinary history.

Following Kotlikoff's departure from the meeting, several faculty speakers expressed that they had lost confidence in the administration’s ability to combat sexual assault on campus. However, some members of the Faculty Senate warned that a hasty no-confidence vote might do little to address the underlying systemic issues. The Wednesday meeting is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. and will remain closed to the public and media. Electronic voting will open afterward and stay active through November 6, with individual votes remaining anonymous.

Although a no-confidence vote by the faculty is largely symbolic, it could send a strong message to the university’s trustees, who ultimately hold the power to decide who leads the institution. Kotlikoff became interim president in July 2024 and assumed the position permanently last year. Since taking office, he has faced various challenges, including a strike by dining and custodial workers. He also drew ire for his decision last year to pay $60 million to settle civil rights investigations from the Trump administration, along with accusations from activists that his administration stifled campus protests.