Cornell faculty debates no-confidence vote in university's administration
Cornell University's Faculty Senate on Wednesday began a debate over a resolution of no confidence in the school's administration.
Dozens of members of Cornell's faculty are considering whether the university's administration can effectively address sexual assault at the school.
Last month, a female student filed a lawsuit saying she was drugged and raped by multiple men at a fraternity house there in 2024. CBS News New York has reached out to attorneys for all of the accused. Two have gotten back to us and denied the allegations.
Since then, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul tapped Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to look into the case. Cornell has also hired Sally Yates to lead an independent investigation into its response.
The first of two meetings took place Wednesday. A second hearing will take place on Oct. 28. After that hearing, a vote will take place.
Cornell's president Michael Kotlikoff attended Wednesday's meeting, along with other members of Cornell's administration.
"It would be a massive statement to the upper administration and hopefully signal to them you need to resign, step down, make room for new leadership who can better understand and more holistically lead this institution," Professor Ariana Kim previously said. Kim introduced the resolution of no confidence that is being debated.
Ahead of Wednesday's meeting, Kotlikoff gave his first interview about how the administration handled the investigation into the 2024 alleged gang rape and told The New York Times he has no intention of stepping down.
"The fact that Jane Doe experienced what she experienced at Cornell is something that I am personally sorry for," Kotlikoff told The Times.
Cornell's Title IX investigation at the time found two men responsible for sexual assault and expelled them.
"I do think it's important to understand we have more information now than we had at that time," Kotlikoff told The Times.
He also acknowledged drugs and alcohol remain a problem at the Ivy League school.
"I think that this is a problem that relates to 20-year-olds, 21-year-olds leaving home for the first time, coming into an environment where there's access to alcohol, where there is, unfortunately, in some cases, access to drugs. And they're not prepared," Kotlikoff said. "This is a challenge for us. We have to respond by building character, judgment, responsibility, care for each other."
On Tuesday, Cornell University announced it was suspending parties and social events at fraternity houses for the rest of the academic year. The school also gave state police a role in investigating sex crimes on campus.