Cornell Faculty Reject Delay, Set Nov. 6 Vote on Administration's Handling of Rape Case

Seven male students at Cornell University are accused of raping a woman in October 2024, a figure that anchors the dispute currently dividing the faculty senate. The central question for the university community is whether the administration’s response to the incident, which resulted in only two expulsions, was adequate. The faculty vote scheduled for November 6 will determine if the professors formally withhold confidence from the leadership team.

The Associated Press obtained a recording of a Wednesday faculty meeting where members debated the university's handling of the 2024 complaint. The session was described as emotional, with some professors urging patience while others argued that years of institutional failures demanded immediate action. The group ultimately voted down a proposal to delay the vote until an independent investigation into the case is completed. This decision ensures the electronic vote on the no-confidence resolution remains open through early next week.

The resolution is largely symbolic but aims to pressure the university trustees, who are responsible for selecting the leadership. New York State Attorney General Letitia James was appointed as special counsel earlier this month to investigate the case. Additionally, New York prosecutors reopened the matter last month after the survivor filed a civil lawsuit. A state judge ruled at the weekend that the woman, who was 20 at the time of the incident, could continue to use the pseudonym Jane Doe in the lawsuit to protect her safety.

Faculty members spoke openly about their own experiences during the meeting. Beth Frances Milles, a performing arts professor, pleaded for civility among colleagues after receiving messages from other women who had experienced sexual assault. She urged the group to discuss the issues together rather than criticize one another during their disagreement. Ariana Kim, a music professor, shared her history of harassment and noted that her attempts to seek help from administrators, including then-provost Michael Kotlikoff, had not yielded results. She described feeling relief and pride after speaking.

Seth Sanders, an economics professor, argued that the faculty did not yet have enough information to judge the administration's response. He stated that approximately 80% of his department opposed the resolution for the time being, preferring to wait for the independent investigation. Sanders suggested it was legitimate to withhold confidence because the details of the Jane Doe case remained unclear. The vote comes after 20 female science and engineering faculty members called for Kotlikoff's resignation in a letter to trustees obtained by the AP.

Cornell’s initial review of the complaint resulted in two expulsions. The other accused students received punishments that included writing essays, attending workshops, or serving short suspensions. The incident occurred at a house belonging to the Chi Phi fraternity, which has since closed its chapter at the university. All seven alleged attackers deny the claims against them. The survivor, who forced to leave the university after the incident, recently wrote to the faculty senate stating she felt unsupported and disbelieved by the president.