Ithaca, New York: Cornell Faculty Senate Passes No Confidence Vote Over Sexual Assault Crisis

Cornell University's Faculty Senate approved a resolution of no confidence in the central administration on Friday, saying it has no confidence in the administration's ability to effectively address what it calls an ongoing crisis of sexual assault on campus. Reuters and CNN reported the vote. A faculty union spokesperson told USA TODAY it was the first such resolution in the senate's 56 year history.

The resolution passed with 55.6 percent in favor and 37 percent against, with 7.4 percent abstaining or not voting, Cornell said. A faculty union spokesperson put the count at 75 votes for and 50 against. The senate is a shared governance body of 135 senators, and Cornell says its faculty has 3,025 members. Voting ran from October 29 to November 6.

The resolution is one sentence: "The Faculty Senate has no confidence in the ability of the central administration to effectively address the ongoing crisis of sexual assault at Cornell University." It is non-binding and cannot remove President Michael Kotlikoff or any administrator. Only the Board of Trustees has that power.

The lawsuit behind the vote

The vote follows a lawsuit filed in September by a former student, identified in court documents by the pseudonym Jane Doe. She alleges that Cornell failed to protect her after she was sexually assaulted at a fraternity house party in 2024, and that the university failed to adequately punish students after the alleged assault. The allegations in the lawsuit have not been decided by a court. Cornell has said it conducted a comprehensive investigation and imposed disciplinary measures, including expulsions, Reuters reported.

Labor history professor Paul Ortiz introduced the resolution, and CNN reported it drew the support of 18 faculty senators and 165 faculty members. The sponsors said in a statement that the vote is a call for real change. "This vote is a reckoning for our University," the senators who brought the resolution said. Faculty senator Risa Lieberwitz, a co-sponsor, has said students, faculty and staff have lost trust that sexual assault cases will be handled properly.

Board stands by the president

The Board of Trustees answered the vote the same day and backed Kotlikoff. "Today's Faculty Senate vote reflects the deep anger across our campus and sends a clear signal that what happened to Jane Doe is unacceptable," Board Chair Anne Meinig Smalling said in a statement. "The Board of Trustees remains confident that President Kotlikoff and his administration are the right leaders to thoughtfully and comprehensively address the serious problem of sexual assault on our campus."

The board pointed to steps already taken, including adding staff to the Cornell Office of Civil Rights, expanding in-person prevention education and hiring more victim advocates. An independent review of the university's policies and practices, led by former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, is still under way. New York Attorney General Letitia James is overseeing a separate criminal investigation into Doe's allegations, and under an agreement announced on October 29, New York State Police have taken over sexual assault complaints at Cornell while the review runs.

What happens next

Kotlikoff has 30 days to respond to the vote in writing, university spokesperson Rebecca Valli said. Senators last month rejected a motion to delay the vote until the Yates review is finished. Dean of Faculty Chris Schaffer opposed it and said it did not state clearly what had failed or what should change. Supporters said waiting would have sent the wrong signal, and that the vote puts the decision before the trustees with the senate's judgment on record.