Cornell President Faces No-Confidence Vote After Admitting He Failed to Follow Up on Alleged Gang Rape

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff is facing a faculty no-confidence vote after admitting he knew about a student's report of an alleged gang rape at a fraternity house in 2024 but never followed up on her case, fueling criticism of the university's response to sexual assault allegations.

The Faculty Senate confronted Kotlikoff during an October 14, 2026, meeting, questioning his leadership as Cornell faces a civil lawsuit, a renewed criminal investigation and an independent review of its handling of the case. Debate resumes October 28, when senators may also consider postponing the vote.

The resolution, introduced by professor Paul Ortiz and co-sponsored by 11 faculty senators, has drawn support from 122 faculty members. It expresses no confidence in Cornell's central administration over its response to sexual assault on campus. The vote would be nonbinding.

The controversy stems from a lawsuit filed in September 2026 by a former student identified as Jane Doe, who alleges that seven members of Cornell's Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted or exploited her after she became intoxicated and was allegedly given drugs, including ketamine, in October 2024.

The complaint names Cornell, the fraternity, and several organizations, accusing them of failing to protect the student and adequately respond to the incident. The seven men have denied the allegations, maintaining that their interactions were consensual or that they were uninvolved. None has been criminally charged in connection with the case.

Kotlikoff acknowledged learning of the student's report in November 2024, when criminal and university investigations were underway. He later admitted that he failed to check on the outcome of those inquiries or determine what had happened to the woman, learning only recently that she had left Cornell.

During the faculty meeting, Kotlikoff defended his decision against reviewing the campus police report, citing the confidentiality of criminal investigations and the separation between those inquiries and university administration. He rejected suggestions that he had been indifferent to the allegations and asked faculty members for more time to implement reforms.

Cornell's investigation under Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded educational institutions, resulted in expulsions and suspensions. The university has also faced criticism over reports that educational assignments and reflection papers were among sanctions imposed on students accused of sexual misconduct.

University officials have disputed claims that students involved in the Chi Phi case received only essay-writing assignments. Cornell said an independent panel of trained faculty and staff heard evidence over multiple days before determining responsibility and sanctions, which included expulsions and suspensions.

The Tompkins County district attorney initially declined to pursue criminal charges but reopened the investigation after Doe's lawsuit introduced additional allegations. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul subsequently appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to oversee the case.

Cornell's Board of Trustees also retained former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and the law firm King & Spalding to conduct an independent review of the university's response to sexual harassment and assault allegations, including its handling of Doe's case.

On October 13, Kotlikoff announced a suspension of parties and social events at Interfraternity Council houses for the remainder of the 2026-2027 academic year. The administration also outlined changes to sexual assault reporting procedures, including an expanded role for New York State Police in investigating campus sex crimes.

During the October 14 debate, faculty senators divided over whether the administration should receive more time to address concerns about its handling of sexual misconduct.

Among the 19 senators who spoke, 11 supported the no-confidence resolution, and seven opposed it, according to an October 19 account by The Cornell Daily Sun. The dean of faculty also expressed opposition.

Faculty senators backing the no-confidence resolution argued that Cornell's response to Doe's allegations reflected broader failures of leadership and accountability. Those opposing the measure urged colleagues to await Yates' findings before formally challenging the administration.

Physics professor Yuval Grossman suggested postponing the vote until the independent review concludes and indicated he may introduce a motion to delay the proceedings.

The Faculty Senate is scheduled to continue deliberations on October 28, with electronic voting expected afterward.