Cornell faculty passes no-confidence vote in leaders over handling of rape allegation

The vote

Cornell University's faculty senate passed a resolution of no confidence on Friday, 6 November 2026, questioning whether the central administration can effectively tackle what it calls a persistent crisis of sexual assault on campus. The senate has no power to remove administrators, so the vote is largely symbolic, yet it is a sharp rebuke of president Michael Kotlikoff. Official figures posted on Cornell's website show 75 faculty representatives in favour, 50 against and 5 abstaining. The New York Times put the result at 56 percent in favour, 37 percent against and 7 percent abstaining.

In favour75

Against50

Abstained5

In favour

75 votes

Against

50 votes

Abstained

5 votes

Data from the article text

The allegations

A former student filed a civil lawsuit in mid-September 2026 against the university and seven men who were members of a fraternity. She alleges she was raped by the seven men at a fraternity house in October 2024, when she was 20 years old. Her account says she had consumed alcohol and ketamine, a powerful anaesthetic, at the time. All seven deny the allegations, saying either that the sex was consensual or that they were not involved. The local district attorney first concluded that she had consented and that no crime had been committed.

The investigation has since been reopened and handed to the New York attorney general, Letitia James, whose office is now running a criminal inquiry.

Discipline and review

Cornell's Title IX process, following a months-long investigation, expelled two of the accused men and suspended two others, who were also placed on probation. Two more students were required to write reflection papers and complete bystander training. Records obtained by the New York Times show that a seventh accused man, who had already graduated, is now barred from the campus. President Kotlikoff also set up a taskforce on sexual misconduct, which has issued recommendations. Sally Yates, a former US deputy attorney general, is leading an independent external review of how the university handled the case.

Reaction and what remains open

Some professors were angry that Kotlikoff had not pushed harder to strengthen discipline, sought criminal inquiries or reshaped party culture on campus. Ariana Kim, an associate professor of music who co-sponsored the resolution, said in an interview:

“This is just the start of what we're hoping will be a wave of change”

Kim said she hopes new leaders with a closer understanding of students' daily lives will take up positions of authority. The board of trustees, which appointed Kotlikoff as permanent president after years as provost, holds ultimate control over the university's leadership and has shown no public sign of wavering. Anne Smalling, chair of the board of trustees, said in a statement:

“The Board of Trustees remains confident that President Kotlikoff and his administration are the right leaders to thoughtfully and comprehensively address the serious problem of sexual assault on our campus.”

The faculty senate has no authority over top leaders, but backers hoped the vote would press trustees to act urgently on what they see as long-standing institutional failures. Two processes remain open: the reopened criminal investigation in New York and the external review led by Sally Yates.