Cornell University's Faculty Senate voted 75-50 on Friday to declare "no confidence" in the administration's handling of sexual assault on campus, with five senators abstaining and five not voting.
The vote followed weeks of debate over whether President Michael Kotlikoff and other administrators have done enough to address sexual misconduct. The dispute centers on the case of a former student, identified as Jane Doe in court documents, who filed a lawsuit in mid-September alleging she was drugged and raped at a Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. All seven men named in the lawsuit have denied the allegations.
Cornell closed the Chi Phi chapter and disciplined several students after learning of the case. Campus police investigated and passed findings to the Tompkins County district attorney, who declined to prosecute. The investigation has since been reopened and handed to New York's attorney general.
Some faculty members have criticized Kotlikoff for not strengthening the school's disciplinary process forcefully enough, pushing harder for criminal investigations, or changing campus party culture. The Faculty Senate has no power over university leadership, but resolution backers said they hoped it would pressure the board of trustees to address what they called longstanding institutional failures.
Cornell Board Chair Anne Smalling said the vote "reflects the deep anger across our campus and sends a clear signal that what happened to Jane Doe is unacceptable." She also expressed the board's continued support for Kotlikoff and the administration, stating they back the president's "commitment to taking all necessary steps to ensure students are safe on campus."
Kotlikoff said before voting began on October 29 that faculty debate was "an important component of Cornell's shared governance." He noted the university had added staff to its civil rights office, expanded sexual assault prevention education, and hired staff for victim advocacy. The president has 30 days to respond to the vote in writing.
Iris Packman, a resolution co-sponsor, told the Associated Press the vote was "only the beginning" and that faculty would push for sweeping reforms. Yasmeen Masoud, a Cornell junior, said at a news conference that the vote was encouraging for students frustrated with the university's response.