Cornell Faculty Senate Passes No-Confidence Vote on Sex Cases, But President Kotlikoff Retains Board Support
The faculty senate of Cornell University approved a resolution on 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 alleging she was gang raped at a fraternity party in 2024. The resolution, which passed with a simple majority of 51%, does not call for President Michael Kotlikoff to resign, and within hours the board of trustees said it remains confident in him. The senate is Cornell’s main legislative advisory and review body, with more than 75 members representing the university’s faculty.nnAdvocates hope the symbolic vote will pressure the school to address longstanding institutional failures. “It is a call for real, systemic change; not a slow-moving taskforce, weakly enforced ban on fraternity parties, or expensive PR damage control, but meaningful, evidence-based steps to reduce the incidence of sexual assault on campus and provide significant support to and justice for survivors,” said one advocate. The vote underscores faculty frustration with the administration’s handling of sexual assault cases and its response to the lawsuit. As one faculty member noted, “They represent constituencies, and we should understand this vote as the voice of the vast majority of faculty.”nnDespite the vote, the board of trustees, which has the power to fire Kotlikoff, issued a statement saying it “remains confident” that he and his administration “are the right leaders to thoughtfully and comprehensively address the serious problem of sexual assault on our campus.” The university said it would make no changes to its leadership. The board’s statement emphasized that President Kotlikoff and his administration are the right leaders to thoughtfully and comprehensively address the serious problem of sexual assault on our campus.nnThe no-confidence vote is a significant rebuke from the faculty, but its impact remains uncertain given the board’s steadfast support. The resolution’s passage highlights the growing demand for accountability and systemic reform at Cornell regarding sexual assault. While the vote is symbolic, it signals that faculty members are increasingly unwilling to accept business as usual. The coming months will test whether the administration can bridge the divide with faculty and implement meaningful changes to prevent sexual assault and support survivors. For now, the board’s confidence in Kotlikoff suggests that the university’s leadership remains stable,
Shimanta Das 
