Cornell Faculty Senate: No-confidence vote results due Friday
The vote follows a civil lawsuit and state investigation into a 2024 alleged gang rape at a fraternity house.
By Ricardo Alvarez ·
Cornell University plans to announce the outcome of a faculty no-confidence vote on Friday, November 6, regarding its management of campus sexual violence. The measure targets the central administration's response to a 2024 alleged gang rape involving members of the Chi Phi fraternity.
The faculty senate began casting ballots last week. The resolution states that the body has no confidence in the administration's ability to effectively address the ongoing crisis of sexual assault. If the vote passes, it will serve as a formal rebuke of school leadership, although the senate lacks the power to mandate specific changes.
The controversy began when a former undergraduate, identified as Jane Doe, reported to campus police in November 2024 that she was raped by a group of men at the fraternity house. She filed a civil lawsuit against the seven men and the university, alleging she was drugged. All seven defendants have denied wrongdoing, and no criminal charges have been filed.
New York Attorney General Letitia James is currently investigating the incident, while Cornell conducts its own internal probe. The faculty vote coincides with a legal challenge to James's role in the case. Four of the men named in the lawsuit are pushing to have her removed as special prosecutor.
The legal team argues that a social media post by James, in which she expressed solidarity with the survivor, demonstrates actual or perceived bias. Five of the seven accused men support the motion to replace James with a judge. They argue that her post signals a conflict of interest despite her recent appointment of Jacqueline Kelly, a former federal sex crimes prosecutor, to lead the matter.
Attorney Andrew Miltenberg wrote in a court filing that the appointment of Kelly does not resolve the petitioners' concerns. He stated that James has not recused herself, relinquished supervisory authority, or surrendered charging authority. The group continues its legal fight despite Kelly's new role in the investigation.
