Cornell faculty Senate moves toward no-confidence vote over handling of alleged 2024 gang rape

Members of Cornell University's Faculty Senate submitted a resolution on Monday calling for a vote of no confidence in the administration over its handling of a 2024 alleged gang-rape case. The resolution will be reviewed by a faculty committee and placed on the full Senate agenda for the October 14 meeting, according to Professor Paul Ortiz, a labor-history faculty member and Senate participant.

The move follows a rally on campus where students and community members chanted slogans such as “shame” and “resign,” demanding accountability for the university’s response to the victim, identified in court filings as Jane Doe. Activists also announced a seven-hour sit-in in solidarity with Doe.

Doe filed a lawsuit last month against the university, the Chi Phi fraternity, seven fraternity members and others, alleging that the school failed to protect her and to punish the accused. The case has raised questions about the campus police investigation, the decision by the Tompkins County district attorney not to file criminal charges, and the adequacy of the university’s internal review.

University President Michael Kotlikoff released a video statement pledging a further review, supporting the governor’s decision to refer the criminal investigation to the New York Attorney General, and welcoming an independent audit by an outside law firm.

"The faculty have been approached by hundreds of students, alumni, staff who are demanding that we do something," Ortiz told CNN.

More than 40 faculty senators have expressed support for the resolution, according to Ortiz, who said faculty have also been approached by students sharing their own experiences of sexual assault.

"We’re tired of the sexual assaults that happened to our students. We’re tired of the administration’s inaction on this issue," Ortiz added.

At the rally, Associate Professor Sabrina Karim said the community’s trust had been broken and called for non-violent collective action, while Professor Julia Chang warned that labeling the campus as having a “rape culture” could make such violence seem inevitable.

State officials have taken over the case: Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor, citing loss of confidence in the local district attorney. The district attorney, Matthew Van Houten, said he supports the appointment.

Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, said his client’s team has provided additional evidence to James’ office and expressed confidence that a new review will be fair.

The controversy also includes reports that Cornell police drafted letters to wireless carriers requesting preservation of data related to the investigation, though it is unclear whether those requests were sent or acted upon. One of the accused students has hired high-profile defense lawyer Teny Geragos.

The campus continues to see protests, including vandalism of the administration building, which the university is investigating.