The sit-in comes two days after Cornell faculty members introduced a resolution calling for a vote of no confidence in the university administration over its handling of the alleged assault at the Chi Phi fraternity house. The resolution was submitted to the university committee Monday evening, according to a copy obtained by NBC News.
Cornell faced scrutiny over how it responded to Jane Doe’s allegations in November 2024, and Tompkins County Prosecutor Matthew Van Houten was criticized for refusing to charge the accused. The university and the prosecutor each defended their initial 2024 investigations.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul effectively replaced Van Houten as lead investigator last week, appointing state Attorney General Letitia James to oversee the case. Cornell and Van Houten publicly praised James’ involvement. “I hope she will look at the facts and apply the law,” Van Houten said in a statement Friday.
Wednesday’s sit-in was announced on Instagram by a group of campus organizations, including Black Students United, Cornell NAACP, Mecha de Cornell, Planned Parenthood Generation Action at Cornell, Students for a Democratic Cornell and a student-led chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
“The sit-in will be a space for students to share their support for survivors of sexual violence in multiple ways, including sharing resources and teachings,” the student groups said on Instagram.
Gn usa
