Cornell Faculty Senate Passes No-Confidence Motion Over Handling of Sexual Assault Allegations

The faculty senate of Cornell University voted on Friday to pass a resolution of no confidence in the institution's central administration over its handling of sexual assault cases. The motion passed by 75 votes to 50 following a lawsuit filed in September by a former student regarding an alleged incident at a fraternity house in October 2024.

The resolution passed by the faculty senate, an advisory body representing academic staff, carries no formal authority to remove university leaders. In its motion, the senate declared it had no confidence in the central administration's ability to address sexual assault issues effectively at the campus in Ithaca, New York. The text did not detail specific policy changes or highlight particular administrative errors.

The legal action was brought by a former student, identified as Jane Doe, who alleged she was gang-raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house. All seven men accused in connection with the incident denied wrongdoing when contacted by media representatives, and none have been charged with a criminal offence. Campus police were notified immediately after the reported incident, but local prosecutors chose not to file charges at that time.

The university's board of trustees, which holds the legal authority to remove university leadership, issued a statement supporting the administration. Board chairwoman Anne Meinig Smalling stated that the trustees remains confident that administrators are the right leaders to thoughtfully and comprehensively address the serious problem of sexual assault on our campus. Smalling added that the faculty vote reflected campus anger over the reported assault.

Following the filing of the lawsuit, university officials acknowledged past shortcomings in managing the case, halted fraternity social events, and commissioned an independent review by a former attorney general. In addition, New York Attorney General Letitia James launched a state investigation to determine if criminal charges are warranted. New York Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed that state police will handle any future sexual offence complaints reported at Cornell.

Written by Martina Kirchner martina.kirchner@alpineweekly.com