Cornell faculty advance no-confidence vote over response to rape allegations

Cornell University faculty are moving forward with a no-confidence vote in the administration over its response to a former student’s allegations that she was raped by at least seven men at a fraternity house in 2024. Electronic voting will remain open through 6 November after professors rejected an effort to wait for an independent investigation to finish.

The Associated Press obtained a recording of Wednesday’s closed-door faculty meeting, where an emotional discussion exposed disagreements over how quickly to act. Some professors argued that longstanding institutional failures demanded an immediate response. Others said they needed more information before judging university leaders. The resolution is largely symbolic, but could increase pressure on the trustees responsible for choosing Cornell’s leadership.

The woman alleges she was drugged and repeatedly raped in October 2024 at a house belonging to Cornell’s now-closed Chi Phi fraternity chapter. She was a 20-year-old student at the time and says she was forced to leave the university afterward. All seven men accused in the case deny the allegations. New York prosecutors announced in September that they were reopening the case after she filed a civil lawsuit naming her alleged attackers.

Cornell’s handling of the complaint prompted widespread criticism and large campus protests after it emerged that the university investigation had led to two expulsions. Other students accused of rape received punishments including essays, workshops and brief suspensions. In a recent letter to the faculty senate, the woman said Cornell’s president had left her feeling unsupported and disbelieved.

A New York state judge ruled over the weekend that the woman could retain the pseudonym Jane Doe in her lawsuit because of concerns about her safety. Earlier in October, New York’s Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul, appointed state attorney general Letitia James as special counsel to investigate the case.

During Wednesday’s meeting, faculty members described experiences of harassment and concerns that speaking publicly could damage their careers, according to AP. Performing arts professor Beth Frances Milles, a Cornell graduate and parent, urged colleagues to remain civil while discussing how to respond. She said she had received messages from women who had experienced sexual assault, including former classmates.

After at least an hour of discussion, faculty defeated the proposal to postpone the vote. Resolution co-sponsor Anne Marie Brady said afterward that she was encouraged by the range of people who had spoken despite concerns about retaliation. Brady, a contingent faculty member, said public criticism carried professional risks for her. “The more people who speak out, the more we protect each other,” she told AP.

Music professor Ariana Kim described her own experience of sexual harassment and bullying, saying it affected her tenure case. She said attempts to obtain help from administrators, including Michael Kotlikoff, now Cornell’s president, when he served as provost, had gone nowhere. Kim said she had not expected to share her experience but felt relief and pride after doing so.

Economics professor Seth Sanders said sexual assault was a serious problem at Cornell but argued that faculty lacked sufficient information to assess the administration’s response. He said roughly 80% of his department opposed the resolution for the time being, with many awaiting the independent investigation. The meeting followed a letter sent to trustees on Tuesday by 20 female science and engineering faculty members calling for Kotlikoff’s resignation, which AP obtained.