Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff confronted faculty members on Wednesday over his leadership and his administration's handling of a reported fraternity gang rape, as professors began deliberations on a no-confidence resolution.
The Faculty Senate initiated the proceedings amid persistent anger over how the university handled complaints from a student who alleged seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted or exploited her in October 2024. All of the accused men have denied the accusations, maintaining their encounters were consensual or that they were not involved, and the local district attorney decided in 2024 that no crime had been committed.
Addressing the closed meeting, Kotlikoff urged faculty members to give him time to carry out reforms and change campus social culture, contending that replacing the president would harm Cornell's reputation rather than resolve complex challenges. Ahead of the session, Kotlikoff had banned fraternity parties through the end of the academic year and announced that state police would assist in investigating sexual assault reports.
“If, at the end of the day, fraternities cannot exist in a safe environment and we can’t be convinced that they can be safe, then we should make that decision,” Kotlikoff told the faculty.
Kotlikoff took questions but left before professors debated the no-confidence measure. Following his departure, several attendees expressed frustration with the administration. “The faculty were extremely angry. They gave him a hard time, I think appropriately so,” Richard Bensel, a professor of government, said after the meeting.
Scrutiny of Kotlikoff escalated after he acknowledged he had never read the Cornell Police Department report regarding the allegations, had not followed up on the criminal probe, and only recently learned that the woman had left the university. Kotlikoff defended his conduct by stating that police inquiries are confidential and senior administrators should not intervene in criminal matters, adding, “I really reject the idea that I had no interest in it or was not concerned about it.”
Faculty members remain divided over how to proceed, with some urging caution while others push for immediate action. The Faculty Senate is scheduled to resume debate on Oct. 28 before holding an electronic vote, a step that would carry symbolic weight for the university trustees who oversee leadership.
