Cornell president faces faculty senate scrutiny over handling of sexual assault allegations

Cornell University’s faculty senate convened on Wednesday to discuss a no-confidence vote targeting President Michael Kotlikoff’s handling of an alleged 2024 sexual assault at a fraternity house. The meeting, recorded by NBC News, featured sharp questioning from faculty members and staff who said the university’s response had been reactive rather than proactive.

Professor Risa Lieberwitz, a labor and employment law scholar, described sexual assault as a systemic problem that requires systemic attention, adding that the administration seemed to be responding mainly to external pressure. Kotlikoff countered that replacing leadership would not solve the issue, emphasizing the need for collaborative cultural change and noting plans to increase investment in prevention efforts.

The controversy stems from a lawsuit filed by a former student identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was assaulted by several fraternity members. Cornell had previously shut down the Chi Phi fraternity chapter and expelled two students after the incident, while other participants faced suspension. The university launched a Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault and implemented its recommendations, but no criminal charges were filed at the time. The investigation was reopened following the lawsuit.

Faculty members expressed frustration over the timing of recent policy changes. Senior lecturer emerita Darlene Evans highlighted a campus poll showing that more than 35% of female undergraduates reported nonconsensual sexual contact, up from 23% the previous year, and questioned why substantive steps were only announced after the no-confidence vote was introduced.

Kotlikoff announced a ban on all parties at fraternity houses for the remainder of the academic year and said any decision to eliminate Greek life would be based on data and expert analysis rather than emotion. The faculty senate began debating the no-confidence resolution, with some members urging a delay until an independent investigation concludes.

Earlier this month, former deputy U.S. attorney general Sally Yates was appointed to lead an independent review of Cornell’s response to the allegations and broader campus sexual misconduct. New York Attorney General Letitia James is also conducting an investigation.

After the session, music professor Ariana Kim said she was inspired by colleagues who spoke in favor of the resolution and noted that alumni had sent roughly 200 supportive emails. Several participants held signs demanding accountability and expressing solidarity with Jane Doe. Political history professor Richard Bensel warned that without the passage of the no-confidence resolution, the university’s governance style is unlikely to change.