Politics1 min read

Cornell faculty vote 'no confidence' in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape

By · Via PBS NewsHour · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The action centers on scrutiny over how President Michael Kotlikoff and his team addressed allegations involving a former student at the Chi Phi fraternity house. Cornell previously expelled two students, suspended two others, assigned training and reflection papers to two, and barred a graduate from campus following an internal Title IX probe. A local prosecutor initially determined no crime happened, but the inquiry was later reopened and moved to the New York attorney general. Despite the faculty stance, board chair Anne Smalling confirmed the trustees continue to offer their full support to Kotlikoff.

Key points

  • Faculty members leveraged the symbolic vote to push the board of trustees toward systemic…: Faculty members leveraged the symbolic vote to push the board of trustees toward systemic changes regarding campus sexual assault.
  • Cornell trustees explicitly reaffirmed their full confidence in President Michael Kotliko…: Cornell trustees explicitly reaffirmed their full confidence in President Michael Kotlikoff despite the formal faculty rebuke.
  • Campus leadership plans to address misconduct concerns through a dedicated task force, ad…: Campus leadership plans to address misconduct concerns through a dedicated task force, additional victim advocates, and civil rights staffing.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

By — Leah Willingham, Associated Press Leah Willingham, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/cornell-faculty-vote-no-confidence-in-university-leadership-after-alleged-fraternity-gang-rape Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Cornell faculty vote 'no confidence' in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape Nation Nov 6, 2026 4:28 PM EST Cornell University's Faculty Senate approved a resolution Friday declaring "no confidence" in the school's top leaders, a symbolic gesture reflecting deep discontent on campus in the wake of a former student's lawsuit saying she was gang raped at a fraternity party in 2024. The resolution passed 75-50, with five faculty senators abstaining and five others not voting, according to an email sent to Faculty Senate members on Friday afternoon. The vote followed weeks of debate among professors over whether Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff and other administrators handled the woman's allegations properly and have done enough to curtail sexual misconduct at the prestigious university. READ MORE: Woman who accused Cornell students of rape says university president's response made her feel 'unsupported' While the faculty body has no power over the university's top…

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