Cornell Faculty Reject Admin Response to Assault

Cornell University faculty members voted on Friday to withdraw their confidence in the central administration’s handling of a sexual assault case that has dominated campus discourse since 2024. The resolution, passed by a margin of 75 to 50 with five abstentions, signals deep frustration among the university’s governing body regarding how the institution managed the fallout from allegations involving the Chi Phi fraternity house.

The vote stems from a lawsuit filed in September by a former student, identified as Jane Doe. She alleged that from October 19 to 20, 2024, she was sexually assaulted and forced to consume ketamine at the fraternity house. Seven men from the organization are accused in the civil suit. While two were expelled following an internal civil rights process, the others received less severe penalties. All seven defendants deny the allegations.

The faculty senate’s resolution states the body has no confidence in the administration’s ability to effectively address the ongoing crisis. However, the vote does not recommend specific leadership changes or removals. President Michael Kotlikoff remains in his role, as the board of trustees holds the authority to replace him. Board chair Anne Meinig Smalling said the trustees remain confident in Kotlikoff’s leadership. She noted recent steps, including adding staff to the Office of Civil Rights, expanding prevention education, and hiring more victim advocates.

Sponsors of the resolution described the decision as a reckoning. In a statement, they called for evidence-based steps to reduce assault incidents and support survivors, rather than relying on task forces or public relations efforts. Jane Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, expressed hope that the vote would help educate the community and address what he termed a longstanding scourge on campus.

The legal landscape surrounding the case continues to shift. New York Attorney General Letitia James, appointed last month by Governor Kathy Hochul, is leading an independent investigation. James named former federal prosecutor Jacqueline Kelly to direct the inquiry. Two defendants have initiated court proceedings to disqualify James from the case, arguing that her prior social media posts expressed bias. A decision on a related motion is expected on November 13.

Paul Ortiz, a labor history professor and lead sponsor of the resolution, spoke at a virtual news conference after the vote. He said the idea emerged after hearing from scores of students, alumni, staff, and faculty. Ortiz characterized the Jane Doe case as the tip of the iceberg. He stated that the bravery of survivors proved no administrator could have been unaware of the chronic crisis at the university.

Ortiz said he and other faculty members are planning an oral history project to document the stories of survivors. The university had previously debated postponing the vote until after an outside review by former acting attorney general Sally Yates. A proposal to delay the decision failed to pass at the senate’s October 28 meeting.

Kotlikoff addressed faculty members at an October 14 senate meeting, where he vowed to reassess Greek life and examine preventative measures. He disclosed that he had not known until recently that Jane Doe dropped out of school after the incident. The president said additional resources are being added to support victims navigating the university’s bureaucracy.