Cornell faculty reject president's leadership

Cornell University faculty members voted 75 to 50 on Friday to declare a lack of confidence in the university's top leadership. Five senators abstained from the vote, while five others did not cast ballots. The resolution passed after weeks of debate regarding how administrators handled a high-profile sexual assault case.

The vote serves as a symbolic measure of discontent. The Faculty Senate holds no direct power over the university's top leaders. Backers of the resolution stated they hoped the vote would pressure the Board of Trustees to address institutional failures they identified. The measure does not call for the resignation of President Michael Kotlikoff.

The controversy stems from a lawsuit filed in mid-September by a former student identified as Jane Doe. She alleged that she was given ketamine and gang raped at a Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. The suit names the university and seven former fraternity members as defendants. All seven men have denied the allegations, claiming the encounter was consensual or that they were not involved.

Legal proceedings have shifted. A local district attorney initially determined that the woman consented to the encounter and that no crime occurred. The investigation has since been reopened and transferred to New York's attorney general. Cornell completed a Title IX investigation that resulted in disciplinary actions for six of the accused. Two students were expelled, two received suspensions and probation, and two completed reflection papers and bystander training. A seventh man, who had already graduated, was barred from campus.

Anne Smalling, the Board of Trustees Chair, addressed the vote in a statement. She said the result reflects deep anger across the campus and signals that the incident was unacceptable. Smalling added that Kotlikoff and his administration remain the appropriate leaders to address the issue comprehensively. Thomas Giuffra, an attorney for the plaintiff, expressed hope that the vote would help educate the Cornell community on the issue of sexual assault.

President Kotlikoff defended his leadership during a debate on the resolution. He pledged to make the university a leader in addressing sexual assault and requested more time to implement changes. Kotlikoff argued that replacing him would do little to solve complex problems and could damage the university's reputation. He acknowledged that he had not read the campus police report, citing a policy that bars top administrators from interfering in criminal investigations.

Kotlikoff also addressed the future of Greek life at Cornell. He stated that the university needs to determine whether fraternities can operate safely. He left open the possibility of sweeping restrictions on Greek life and argued that decisions should be based on evidence rather than emotion. Some professors had suggested waiting to vote until the release of an independent investigation by former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates.

Yates was hired to examine how Cornell responded to the initial 2024 rape report and its general procedures for handling similar reports. Paul Ortiz, a labor history professor who co-sponsored the resolution, said hundreds of community members approached the sponsors to emphasize that the Jane Doe case is only a tip of the iceberg. He noted that a veritable fortress of silence around sexual violence has been breached since the resolution was introduced.

Yasmeen Masoud, a Cornell junior, spoke at a news conference organized by the resolution's sponsors. She said the vote is encouraging for students frustrated with the university's response. Masoud stated that students should not have to beg for answers or generate media attention to get their concerns acknowledged. Iris Packman, another co-sponsor, said the vote is only the beginning and that faculty will push for sweeping reforms.