Cornell faculty begin no-confidence vote amid sexual assault scrutiny

Faculty members at Cornell University have initiated a no-confidence vote regarding the institution's leadership after a high-profile sexual assault case sparked widespread campus protests and intense public scrutiny. The balloting began on Thursday and is scheduled to run until November 6.

While the initiative remains non-binding, it carries significant symbolic weight and could demonstrate that president Michael Kotlikoff no longer retains the backing of the academic staff. Paul Ortiz, the lead faculty sponsor of the resolution, stated that numerous individuals from across the campus community reached out to indicate that the specific legal case represents a much broader institutional problem.

The controversy stems from a lawsuit filed last month alleging that a female student, referred to as Jane Doe, was drugged and assaulted by seven male students inside a fraternity house during 2024. Critics have questioned whether the administration responded with adequate urgency or attempted to minimize the incident to safeguard its public image. Initially, the university closed the fraternity and suspended the accused students, resulting in two expulsions.

Before launching the ballot, instructors debated whether to delay the action. Some participants advocated for patience, while others insisted the measure was essential to counter institutional reluctance regarding campus safety. Prior to the vote, a separate letter signed by 20 female faculty members in science and engineering urged trustees to remove Kotlikoff, pointing to a perceived leadership vacuum during the crisis.

Cornell faculty launched a no-confidence vote over the university's handling of an alleged sexual assault.

In response to the mounting pressure, Kotlikoff issued a statement earlier this month outlining initial administrative steps and expressing deep remorse regarding the harm experienced by the student, alongside shock that such violence happened within the campus community.

Meanwhile, legal challenges continue to unfold outside the university. Two of the accused individuals have petitioned to disqualify New York Attorney General Letitia James from overseeing the renewed criminal investigation, citing prior social media statements of support for the complainant. During a court session on Thursday, a judge expressed skepticism toward one of these challenges, while the attorney general's office dismissed the claims as meritless.