Cornell criticized for mishandling gang rape case; faculty push no-confidence vote, former deputy AG tapped to lead probe

[Financial News] As controversy grows over the university’s inadequate response to an alleged gang rape on campus two years ago, prestigious U.S. university Cornell has belatedly launched an independent investigation into the facts. Faculty members are taking issue with the university’s response and have gone so far as to pursue a no-confidence vote in the president.
On the 6th (local time), a special committee of Cornell’s Board of Trustees issued a statement saying, “We have appointed former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent review of the university’s overall system for preventing and responding to sexual violence.”
The investigation follows a recent civil lawsuit filed by a woman who was a Cornell student at the time, against the university and the alleged perpetrators. She claims that seven male students raped her on campus in October 2024. The woman said she reported the assault to the university and prosecutors at the time, but no criminal charges followed and the perpetrators were not appropriately punished.
The investigation team, led by former Deputy Attorney General Yates, plans to examine in detail whether Cornell followed its own rules and procedures at the time of the incident and whether there were shortcomings in its initial response.
Cornell said, “Former Deputy Attorney General Yates has experience leading independent investigations for major institutions, including an independent investigation into allegations of sexual assault involving female professional soccer players at the U.S. Soccer Federation.” The university also stressed that “the investigation team will be guaranteed complete independence.”
Meanwhile, according to CNN, The New York Times (NYT) and other outlets, members of Cornell’s Faculty Senate submitted a no-confidence resolution the previous evening, criticizing the university leadership’s handling of sexual assault cases. The move is intended to hold the university administration, including Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff, accountable for its inadequate response and to press for change. The resolution is expected to be placed on the agenda for the full session scheduled for the 14th.
President Kotlikoff and the university leadership have pledged to accept an independent investigation by an outside law firm and establish the facts, but the faculty’s push for a no-confidence vote is expected to deal a major blow to their leadership. Cornell’s Faculty Senate, a key legislative advisory and review body, is made up of at least 75 faculty representatives. Around 40 members have already expressed support for the resolution, according to reports.
Professor Ariana Kim of the music department, one of the Faculty Senate members, told the NYT that the move clearly signals rejection of Cornell’s leadership and amounts to declaring that they are unfit to run the university.
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