Cornell begins no confidence vote over handling of alleged gang rape

What the report says

Cornell University has started a faculty no-confidence vote over how its leadership handled a reported sexual assault case that has drawn wide attention on campus and beyond, according to Al Jazeera. The vote began Thursday and is set to run until November 6. It is non-binding, but it could still signal that President Michael Kotlikoff has lost the confidence of faculty members.

The dispute centers on a lawsuit filed last month alleging that a female student, identified as Jane Doe, was drugged and gang raped by seven male students at a fraternity house in 2024. Al Jazeera reported that the episode has raised questions about whether Cornell responded quickly enough and whether it downplayed the allegations to protect the university’s reputation. Cornell has shut down the fraternity and suspended the accused students; two of them were later expelled.

Faculty sponsors of the resolution say the case reflects broader concerns. One sponsor, Paul Ortiz, said many students, staff, faculty and alumni had contacted supporters of the measure, arguing the case was part of a larger problem. Separate reporting cited by Al Jazeera said a group of 20 female science and engineering faculty members also urged Kotlikoff to resign. In response, Kotlikoff said he was deeply sorry for the harm suffered and listed initial steps the university had taken.

The case matters because it has intensified scrutiny of sexual violence on U.S. campuses and of how universities handle accusations involving fraternities and student misconduct. Al Jazeera also reported that the criminal inquiry has continued, with some of the accused seeking to have New York Attorney General Letitia James removed from oversight of the probe.