Cornell faculty declares 'no confidence' in university leadership

The university leadership has faced intense criticism for its handling of sexual crimes on campus since a former student filed a lawsuit saying she was drugged and raped at a fraternity house in October 2024. Cornell University's Faculty Senate approved a resolution on Friday declaring "no confidence" in the administration's ability to handle what it has called a sexual assault crisis on campus.

The resolution passed 75-50, with five faculty senators abstaining and five others not voting, according to an email sent to Faculty Senate members on Friday afternoon. The vote followed weeks of debate among professors over whether Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff and other administrators have done enough to curtail sexual misconduct at the prestigious university.

All seven men mentioned in the lawsuit have denied her allegations, saying the sex was consensual or that they weren't involved. After learning about the case, Cornell closed the fraternity chapter and disciplined several students, without any criminal charges being filed.