Cornell Faculty Senate Files No-Confidence Resolution Over Sexual Assault Response

Cornell University faculty submitted a resolution to the University Faculty Committee that calls for a no-confidence vote in the central administration’s handling of an alleged sexual assault that occurred in a fraternity house in October 2024. The brief measure, less than half a page, states that the faculty senate lacks confidence in the administration’s ability to address what it describes as an ongoing crisis of sexual assault on campus.

The resolution is slated for discussion at the faculty senate meeting on Oct. 14, according to faculty senator Paul Ortiz, a professor of labor history. Ortiz said the aim is to prompt systemic change, noting that students have reported feeling unsafe for several years and that the faculty and students are dissatisfied with the university’s response.

Faculty sponsors said numerous colleagues and alumni approached them with concerns, and students expressed fear for their personal safety, urging the university to take stronger action on campus sexual assault. Cornell declined to comment on the resolution.

The move follows a lawsuit filed last month by a former student, identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was assaulted by multiple fraternity members while under the influence of alcohol, ketamine and marijuana. The case has attracted national attention and sparked protests on campus.

Faculty Senate member Anne Marie Elizabeth Brady, research director for the university’s Industrial and Labor Relations Workers Institute, said the resolution was drafted quickly in response to recent events. She expressed personal concern for women on campus and suggested that the university’s decision to discipline the accused students rather than refer the matter to external law enforcement could be perceived as an attempt to manage the narrative.

If adopted, the resolution would trigger further discussions between faculty and university leadership regarding policies and procedures related to sexual assault. Similar faculty actions were taken last year after campus protests over the war in Gaza, though previous recommendations were reportedly not fully implemented.