Cornell Faculty Senate Moves Ahead With No-Confidence Vote Over Handling of Rape Case

Vote follows rape allegations

Faculty members will meet Wednesday to conclude debate and vote on a proposed no-confidence resolution concerning Cornell’s response to the woman’s report. She said she was gang raped at a university fraternity house in October 2024.

In a lawsuit filed last month, a woman identified in court documents as Jane Doe alleged that seven fraternity members sexually assaulted her and that Cornell mishandled her complaints. The university’s faculty meeting is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Kotlikoff defends his leadership

The meeting will be closed to the press and public. The Associated Press obtained an audio recording in which Kotlikoff acknowledged missteps while defending his leadership. He urged faculty to retain confidence in him and warned that replacing the president could harm Cornell’s reputation. In an interview with The New York Times, Kotlikoff said he had not followed up on what happened to the woman or whether any of the accused men were punished. He also said he did not know Jane Doe had left Cornell until the lawsuit was filed.

Voting and university oversight

Electronic voting will open after Wednesday’s meeting and continue through Nov. 6. Individual votes will be anonymous. The resolution would not directly determine university leadership. A no-confidence vote would be largely symbolic, but could convey a message to the trustees, who ultimately choose Cornell’s leader. Kotlikoff became interim president in July 2024 and took the role permanently last year.