Cornell Faculty Reject Delay: No-Confidence Vote Set for November

Tension filled the closed-door faculty meeting at Cornell University on Wednesday as professors debated how to judge the administration’s handling of a gang-rape case. The central conflict was clear: some members wanted to wait for an independent investigation, while others argued that years of institutional failure demanded immediate action. After more than an hour of debate, the faculty voted down a proposal to delay the process.

The vote will now proceed electronically through November 6. Faculty members will choose whether to pass a no-confidence resolution targeting the university’s leadership. While the measure is largely symbolic, it aims to pressure the board of trustees, which selects the university’s top officials.

The dispute centers on a complaint filed in 2024 by a then 20-year-old student. She alleges she was drugged and repeatedly raped by at least seven male students at a house belonging to the Chi Phi fraternity, a chapter that has since closed. All seven men deny the claims. The woman, identified in court records as Jane Doe, said she was forced to leave Cornell after the incident.

University leaders faced a wave of campus protests when their internal inquiry was revealed. The review resulted in only two expulsions. Other alleged attackers received penalties such as mandatory essays, workshops, or short suspensions. A New York state judge recently ruled that the plaintiff may continue to use the pseudonym Jane Doe in her ongoing lawsuit to protect her safety.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James was appointed special counsel to investigate the case earlier this month. Governor Kathy Hochul made the appointment. Prosecutors also reopened the criminal case last month after the woman filed a civil lawsuit naming her alleged attackers.

Several faculty members shared personal experiences during the meeting. Ariana Kim, a music professor, described how sexual harassment and bullying affected her tenure case. She noted that her requests for help from administrators, including then-provost Michael Kotlikoff, went nowhere. Beth Frances Milles, a performing arts professor, urged the group to maintain civility despite the emotional weight of the discussions.

Anne Marie Brady, a co-sponsor of the resolution, said she was encouraged by the number of contingent faculty who spoke despite the professional risks involved. In a phone interview after the meeting, she stated that speaking out helps protect the broader group. "The more people who speak out, the more we protect each other," Brady said.

Seth Sanders, an economics professor, argued that the faculty did not yet have enough information to judge the administration. He reported that about 80% of his department opposed the resolution for the time being. "I don't think setting it up as having confidence in the administration or supporting the administration is right," Sanders said, noting that many are waiting for the independent investigation to conclude.