Cornell faculty vote 'no confidence' in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape
Summary
Cornell’s Faculty Senate voted 75-50 to declare no confidence in university leaders after a former student sued the university and seven former fraternity members, alleging she was drugged and raped at a 2024 party. The vote is symbolic, but its supporters say they hope it will pressure trustees to address sexual misconduct and the university’s response.Key Facts
- Five senators abstained and five did not vote.
- The lawsuit says the former student was given ketamine and raped at a Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024.
- The seven men named in the lawsuit have denied the allegations or said they were not involved.
- The local district attorney initially concluded that the encounter was consensual and no crime occurred; the investigation was later reopened and transferred to New York’s attorney general.
- Cornell imposed penalties after a Title IX investigation: two students were expelled, two were suspended and put on probation, and two had to complete reflection papers and bystander training. A seventh, who had graduated, was barred from campus.
- Trustees’ chair Anne Smalling said the vote reflected campus anger but supported President Michael Kotlikoff and his administration’s response.
- Kotlikoff said university policy prevented him from interfering in criminal investigations and pledged to work on sexual misconduct issues.
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