Cornell Faculty Launch Vote on President Amid Fraternity Assault Fallout

Cornell University faculty will begin voting on a no-confidence resolution against the university administration on Wednesday. The process, which runs through November 6, follows months of internal friction regarding the handling of a 2024 gang rape report. The vote is anonymous and electronic, allowing members of the Faculty Senate to express their stance without public identification.

The dispute centers on a lawsuit filed last month by a woman identified in court records as Jane Doe. She alleges that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted or exploited her in October 2024. The plaintiff claims the university mishandled her complaints after the incident. All seven accused men have denied the allegations.

Tensions escalated during a closed-door Faculty Senate meeting on October 14, where members confronted President Michael Kotlikoff. An audio recording obtained by The Associated Press shows Kotlikoff acknowledging specific missteps in the case while defending his broader leadership. He admitted he had not read the police report on the rape allegations, citing university policy that restricts top administrators from interfering in confidential criminal investigations.

The Cornell Police Department’s criminal investigation stalled after the local district attorney declined to pursue charges. In a prior interview with The New York Times, Kotlikoff stated he had not followed up to determine the outcome of the criminal case. During the October 14 session, he 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 aimed at changing student social culture.

Kotlikoff argued that replacing a president during this period would harm the institution’s reputation. He stated, “I really reject the idea that I had no interest in it or was not concerned about it.” Faculty members also raised concerns about the return of a disciplined student to campus, noting that the student was placed in a shared dorm room with a roommate unaware of his disciplinary history.

While the no-confidence vote is largely symbolic, it signals the administration's standing to the university trustees. Trustees hold the final authority on who leads the institution. Kotlikoff became interim president in July 2024 and assumed the role permanently last year. His tenure has included a strike by dining and custodial workers and a $60 million settlement of civil rights investigations from the Trump administration.

The Faculty Senate is scheduled to conclude its debate at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday before the electronic voting period opens. The meeting will remain closed to the public and media. Some senators have warned that a hasty vote may not address underlying systemic issues, but the motion serves as a formal test of the administration's credibility.