Cornell Faculty Senate Completes No-Confidence Vote

The resolution questions whether Cornell’s central administration can effectively address sexual assault on campus. Faculty Senate members began voting last week, and the measure’s outcome was expected to be discussed at a news conference on November 6. The Senate’s vote is symbolic and cannot compel university leaders to step down or make changes, but passage would amount to a direct rebuke of the administration.

The vote follows allegations by a former student, identified in a civil lawsuit as Jane Doe, that she was drugged and raped by several fraternity members at the Chi Phi house in 2024. She filed a campus police complaint in November of that year, three weeks after the alleged incident, and has sued the men and the university.

All seven men named in the lawsuit have denied wrongdoing. No criminal charges have been filed. New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating the incident, while Cornell is conducting an internal probe of its response.

Five of the seven men are seeking to have a judge replace James in the investigation, citing concerns about a social media post in which she expressed support for Doe. James has appointed former federal sex crimes prosecutor Jacqueline Kelly to oversee the inquiry and keep her office informed. The men’s lawyers argue that the appointment does not remove James’s supervisory or charging authority.