Cornell University Faculty Senate approved a resolution expressing distrust in the university administrationincluding Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff and other administrators.
This is a major reproach against the university leaders.
Faculty members told CBS News New York that the resolution questions whether Cornell’s administration can effectively address the current sexual assault crisis on campus.
The vote, which passed 75-50, is largely symbolic and does not require university leaders to step down. Five university senators abstained and five others did not vote.
“We distanced ourselves from these leaders and said they don’t speak for us. They are not the Cornells we know and love,” said Iris Packman, a co-sponsor of the resolution and a university senator. “Our vision for Cornell is one of zero tolerance for sexual assault.”
The vote follows weeks of outrage over Cornell’s handling of sexual assault allegations, including The 2024 Jane Doe Alleged Gang Rape Case. All seven men accused of wrongdoing in his trial deny the allegations.
“We created this resolution after hearing from many current students, alumni, staff and faculty that the Jane Doe case was just the tip of an iceberg,” said resolution sponsor Paul Ortiz.
“This vote is a countdown for our university. This is a call for real systemic change; not a slow-moving task force, a weakly enforced ban on fraternity parties, or costly public relations damage control, but meaningful, evidence-based steps to reduce the incidence of sexual assault on campus and provide meaningful support and justice for survivors,” the measure’s sponsors said in a statement.
“We believe the Faculty Senate did not make this decision lightly and considered all available information,” Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, said in a statement. “We hope this will be another step forward in educating the Cornell community in addressing the long-standing scourge of sexual assault on campus.”
“In the 56 years since the Cornell Faculty Senate was established, the body has never taken such significant action to condemn the actions of leaders,” Cornell’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors said in a statement. “President Kotlikoff and (vice president for student and academic life Ryan) Lombardi have failed to pay attention to student well-being and responsibility. For Cornell to restore good faith and trust in democratic governance to shape positive reforms, there must be a change in leadership.”
After the vote, Anne Meinig Smalling, chair of Cornell’s board of trustees, said the board “fully supports” Kotlikoff and his administration.
“Today’s University Senate vote reflects the deep anger on our campus and sends a clear signal that what happened to Jane Doe is unacceptable. There is no place for sexual violence on Cornell’s campus. We support President Kotlikoff’s commitment to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of students on campus and to work together as a community to prevent this from happening again,” Smalling said. “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. This confidence is rooted not only in the administration’s actions to date and its plans for the future, but also in its ability to solve complex problems, as it has done in restoring federal funding, preserving free speech, and leading the university through COVID.
Smalling said Kotlikoff and his administration “have a plan focused on strengthening student safety, improving support for survivors and addressing aspects of our campus culture that need to change.”
“The Board fully supports President Kotlikoff and his administration as they continue to listen and act decisively on behalf of students,” Smalling said.
She said the independent investigation led by former Assistant U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates “will identify what still needs to be fixed.”
Kotlikoff acknowledged gaps in the university’s response and announced new security measures, including a ban on fraternity parties and an agreement with the New York State Police to investigate sexual assault complaints.
Proponents of the censorship measure accused the administration of “repeated attempts to silence us.”
“Faculty came together to voice their discontent and demand that Cornell do better. We stand up for our students, colleagues, staff and alumni who have asked us to hold the administration accountable. Whether it is addressing the root causes of rape culture on campus or speaking out against how Title IX has been used as a weapon against survivors, we will use our collective voice to bring about real change,” the sponsors said. “We envision the next steps for concrete change: addressing the culture of hazing and fraternity; demanding transparency from the administration, including consultation with the full Yates report; reforming the Title IX process and sanctions to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions; working with outside law enforcement for independent, trauma-informed investigations; and improving support for survivors.
“We now begin the process of rebuilding our beloved university into what we all know and believe it can be: a place of learning and growth, of curiosity and discovery, of safety and belonging.”
“This is the kind of university we want Cornell to be, and we want it to prioritize students over reputation,” one Cornell student said.
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