The Cornell University Faculty Senate has passed a resolution, 75 to 50, expressing a lack of confidence in the university’s top leadership over its response to allegations of sexual assault on campus.
Five people abstained from the vote, which followed weeks of debate over how President Michael Kotlikoff and other university leaders responded to a former student’s allegations and to efforts to combat sexual violence.
The Washington Post noted on Friday that the resolution is symbolic but reflects deep dissatisfaction among parts of the academic community and is meant to put pressure on the university’s Board of Trustees.
According to the council’s chair, Anna Smalling, the vote reflects “deep anger on our campus” and sends a clear signal that what happened to the woman is unacceptable. She said President Kotlikoff and his administration are the right people to address the problem in a “thoughtful and comprehensive” way.
Thomas Giuffra, the former student’s attorney, said he hopes the faculty’s decision will be another step toward educating the Cornell community and fighting the persistent problem of sexual assault on campus.
The Washington Post noted that the university community has remained shaken since September, when the former student, who is using the pseudonym Jane Doe, sued the university and seven former members of the Chi Phi fraternity. She alleges that she was given ketamine at a party in October 2024 and then raped at the fraternity house.
All the defendants have denied the allegations, maintaining that the sexual contact was consensual or that they did not take part in the incident. The investigation has been referred to the New York State Attorney General’s office.
The university punished several students after a proceeding conducted under Title IX, the federal law on sex discrimination in education. Two were expelled, two were suspended, and disciplinary measures were imposed on others. Kotlikoff also created a task force on preventing sexual violence.
Critics accuse the administration of failing to act decisively and of making insufficient reforms. Supporters of the resolution argue that the Jane Doe case exposed a broader problem of sexual violence on campus.
Defending his leadership, Kotlikoff pledged to make Cornell a leader in the fight against sexual violence and asked for time to implement changes. He stressed that decisions about the future of fraternities should be based on evidence and research, not emotion. In the president’s view, his departure would not solve the university’s complex problems and could harm its reputation.
The resolution does not call for Kotlikoff’s resignation. However, Iris Packman, a co-author of the document, said the vote is only the “beginning of action” toward deep reforms.
From New York, Andrzej Dobrowolski (PAP)
Source: Nowy Dziennik
