Cornell University’s Faculty Senate voted Wednesday to proceed with a no-confidence vote targeting the university’s senior leadership over its handling of campus sexual assault cases, rejecting a proposal to delay the measure. The motion to postpone the vote was defeated by a margin of 76 to 48, and a weeklong voting period began on Thursday.

While the Faculty Senate does not have the authority to remove university administrators, the no-confidence resolution represents a significant rebuke of President Michael I. Kotlikoff and Cornell's central administration. The resolution, introduced by more than a dozen faculty senators in early October, calls attention to what it describes as an “ongoing crisis of sexual assault” at the university, holding central administration accountable without naming specific policies or individuals.

Paul Ortiz, the lead faculty sponsor, emphasized the need to send a strong message following allegations brought forward by a former student known as Jane Doe, who filed a lawsuit in September accusing a fraternity, a sorority, and seven men of sexual assault at a fraternity house in October 2024. Multiple other campus sexual assault incidents over time also factored into calls for action. Ortiz noted the widespread concern among students, staff, faculty, and alumni, describing Doe’s case as "the tip of the iceberg."

During Wednesday’s meeting, senators recounted receiving numerous calls from alumni sharing personal experiences of sexual assault at Cornell, some dating back decades. Recent surveys suggest the problem continues: a 2025 campus survey reported that 35 percent of undergraduate women experienced nonconsensual sexual contact since enrolling, up from 23 percent in 2023.

Opponents of the vote delay argued that postponing would hinder progress and accountability. However, a group of faculty senators advocating for a delay argued the resolution’s language was too vague to effect meaningful change at this stage. They urged waiting for the results of an ongoing independent review conducted by former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates, commissioned by the university to assess its response to sexual assault allegations.

“I think the Yates report will be of great value,” said Seth Sanders, a senator from the economics department. “If we want real systematic change and proper accountability, we need to understand fully what went wrong, why, and what needs to change.”

The controversy centers on Doe’s allegations, which led Cornell to conduct a Title IX investigation. The university expelled two of the men, suspended two others, and assigned essays on sexual assault to the remainder. The implicated fraternity, Chi Phi, was banned from campus. All the men have denied the accusations, and no criminal charges have been filed.

At the start of the meeting, Ortiz presented a letter from Doe expressing that she felt “unsupported” and “disbelieved” by President Kotlikoff following comments he allegedly made during a meeting with her sorority president. The letter said Kotlikoff’s initial response questioned why she delayed reporting the incident. The alleged assault occurred on October 19 and 20, 2024, with Doe reporting it to campus police on November 8.

A Cornell spokeswoman stated that, although Kotlikoff made a similar comment during a January 2025 meeting, the "secondhand account" in the letter was inaccurate and the remarks were not directed at Doe.

Tens of thousands of alumni have demanded accountability, with many calling for administrators to resign if found responsible for mishandling the case. A Change.org petition initiated by alumna Sami Sage urges withholding donations until a "full and transparent" investigation determines administrative culpability.

Following the vote, Kotlikoff issued a statement acknowledging the distress caused by the incident and affirming the administration’s commitment to improving campus safety and support for survivors. Measures outlined include increasing staff at the Cornell Office of Civil Rights, expanding sexual assault prevention education, enhancing safe social opportunities, and hiring victim advocacy personnel. The university reaffirmed its dedication to listening, learning, and collaborating with the Cornell community to foster cultural change and a safer environment.