Cornell faculty pass no-confidence vote over leadership's handling of Jane Doe allegations

Friday's resolution by academic staff is largely symbolic as they do not have the power to remove those in charge of the university. Cornell University is an Ivy League institution in upstate New York Cornell University's academic staff have passed a vote of no confidence over its leadership's handling of what staff call a "crisis of sexual assault" after a former student alleged she was gang raped while attending. The woman, known anonymously as Jane Doe, is suing her former university and the fraternity over an alleged incident involving several men at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. All seven of the accused have denied wrongdoing when contacted by the BBC's US partner CBS.

None has been charged with a crime. Friday's no-confidence vote passed by 75 votes to 50. It is largely symbolic because the faculty senate does not have the power to remove leaders. The resolution states that the faculty senate, which represents academic staff, "has no confidence in the ability of the central administration to effectively address the ongoing crisis of sexual assault at Cornell University". It did not make any specific recommendations or suggest what administrators did wrong in response to the accusation. It is a rebuke of university leaders including President Michael Kotlikoff, whom Doe has accused of asking why she waited several