Cornell faculty challenge President Kotlikoff over response to sexual assault allegations
Faculty questioned Cornell’s president about the university’s handling of sexual assault allegations and Greek-life safety as they considered a no-confidence resolution.
Cornell University faculty questioned President Michael Kotlikoff at an October 14 Faculty Senate meeting in New York about the university’s response to sexual assault allegations and the safety of Greek life, as the Senate considered a no-confidence resolution. ABC News reported that a vote was expected at the end of October.
Kotlikoff defends Cornell’s response
Kotlikoff defended measures including the suspension of fraternity parties and the involvement of state police in campus sexual assault investigations, ABC News reported. Bloomberg reported that Cornell had barred the fraternity involved in the allegations from campus and sought punishments for students involved.
Kotlikoff said Cornell needed better data on campus sexual violence because participation in its existing student survey was very low, according to Bloomberg. He also said the university was examining whether its public-safety chief should continue reporting to its top finance officer, an arrangement he called awkward.
Faculty members discussed reforming or eliminating Greek life. Kotlikoff said the university should study its safety before deciding its future, ABC News and Bloomberg reported.
Civil lawsuit and planned no-confidence vote
The questions follow a civil lawsuit in which a former student identified as Jane Doe alleges she was drugged and raped at a fraternity house in 2024. ABC News reported that she complained to campus police in November 2024. All seven fraternity brothers named in the lawsuit deny wrongdoing, according to ABC News, and no criminal charges have been filed in the case, both outlets reported.
ABC News reported that New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating the incident and Cornell is conducting an internal probe of its response. Kotlikoff said a previous Title IX investigation did not find the students responsible for rape, according to ABC News.
ABC News described the October 14 session as the first of two meetings at which the Faculty Senate would consider the resolution. Bloomberg reported that the proposed vote would express no confidence in the central administration’s ability to address the sexual assault crisis. The Senate cannot remove the president; a precise vote date has not been established.
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Sources and context
- Cornell president defends response to Jane Doe allegations in heated faculty meetingABC News
- Cornell faculty pressure president ahead of no-confidence voteBloomberg, republished by The Straits Times
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.