Cornell president pressed by faculty frustrated by his handling of fraternity rape allegations

(AP) — Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff faced off with angry members of the school’s faculty Wednesday at a meeting that underscored deep frustration on campus over his administration’s handling of a woman’s report that she was gang raped at a fraternity house in 2024. Kotlikoff addressed members of the university’s Faculty Senate, and took their questions, as it began considering a no-confidence resolution in his administration. The meeting was closed to the media, but some faculty members leaving the session described the mood as leaning heavily against Kotlikoff, who has publicly acknowledged errors in the school’s handling of the rape allegation.

Richard Bensel, a professor of government, said Kotlikoff was poised and the debate was civil, but he estimated 80% of the faculty members present have lost confidence in the administration. They gave him a hard time, I think appropriately so,” Bensel said. He said the Faculty Senate had spent years passing resolutions calling for reforms to university disciplinary procedures, only to have its recommendations ignored.

“I don’t think there’s any way that we can open up the process for democratic reform except by passing this resolution,” he said. Debate was expected to continue Oct. A no-confidence vote by the faculty would be largely symbolic, but could send a powerful message to the university’s trustees, who ultimately decide how the university is run and who leads it.

Kotlikoff declined to speak to reporters after leaving the meeting. Accuser’s lawsuit has roiled campus A woman identified in court documents by the pseudonym Jane Doe filed a lawsuit last month alleging that seven Chi Phi fraternity members sexually assaulted or exploited her in October 2024 and that Cornell mishandled her complaints. All of those men have denied her allegations, saying either that their interactions with the woman were consensual or that they weren’t involved.

The criminal investigation by Cornell’s police department quickly stalled after the local district attorney decided, only weeks after the woman went to police in 2024, that no crime had been committed. At the time, Kotlikoff publicly addressed what he called “deeply disturbing” allegations, suspended the fraternity and said criminal and university investigations were underwa… 28, followed by electronic voting.A no-confidence vote by the faculty would be largely symbolic, but could send a powerful message to the university's trustees, who ultimately decide how the university is run and who leads it.Kotlikoff declined to speak to reporters after leaving the meeting.Accuser's lawsuit has roiled campusA woman identified in court documents by the pseudonym Jane Doe filed a lawsuit last month alleging that seven Chi Phi fraternity members sexually assaulted or exploited her in October 2024 and that Cornell mishandled her complaints.All of those men have denied her allegations, saying either that their interactions with the woman were consensual or that they weren't involved.The criminal investigation by Cornell's police department quickly stalled after the local district attorney decided, only weeks after the woman went to police in 2024, that no crime had been committed.At the time, Kotlikoff publicly addressed what he called “deeply disturbing” allegations, suspended the fraternity and said criminal and university investigations were underway.