The Faculty Senate of Cornell University, in the United States, has pushed through this Friday a critical resolution with the manner in which the institution has handled reports of sexual assaults on campus. In the text, the faculty expresses its "lack of confidence" in the central administration and in its president, Michael Kotlikoff, as well as in its "ability to address effectively the current sexual assault crisis" that the University is going through.
The motion of censure represents a strong blow to the leadership at Cornell and arrives almost two months after a former student—identified only as Jane Doe—filed a lawsuit against the Chi Phi fraternity chapter, seven of its members, and the University itself. In it, she argues that Cornell did not protect her or sanction the students involved appropriately after she suffered a group rape at the fraternity’s headquarters in 2024.
As the US network CNN has reported, the faculty made a joint statement public after the vote in which it emphasizes that its goal is "to achieve real change." The case has sparked protests and strong dissatisfaction among faculty over the policies and the Administration’s response to sexual violence on campus.
"Despite the repeated efforts by the administration to silence us, the faculty has come together to express its displeasure and demand that Cornell do better. We raise our voices for our students, colleagues, staff, and alumni, who have asked us to demand accountability from the administration," the statement reads.
The motion was put to a decision by 75 members of the Faculty Senate and was approved with 55.6% of votes in favor versus 37% against.
Meanwhile, the Cornell Board of Trustees has reiterated its support for President Kotlikoff and his executive team, arguing that they are the "right leaders to address, in a thoughtful and comprehensive way, the serious problem of sexual assaults on our campus," according to what Board chair Anne Meinig Smalling said.
Those who support the motion argue that this "sends a resounding message to the University’s leaders and increases pressure on the Board of Trustees," the only body with the power to remove President Kotlikoff.
Following the complaint from the former student, Cornell has launched a review of its actions, while New York State Attorney General Letitia James oversees an independent criminal investigation into the events of 2024.
The incident took place during the night of October 19 to 20, 2024 at the Chi Phi fraternity. According to the account of the plaintiff, there she drank alcohol and was pressured to snort ketamine. Afterwards, and while she was under the effects of the drink and the anesthetic, she was raped for hours by seven students. Four of them have admitted to having had sexual relations with the former student, although they insist that they were consensual, while the other three deny having taken part.