Cornell Faculty Introduce No-Confidence Resolution Over 2024 Assault Handling

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Oct 6

A Cornell faculty resolution submitted Monday declares no confidence in the administration’s ability to address what sponsors call an ongoing campus sexual-assault crisis; the Faculty Senate is expected to take it up Oct. 14.
Faculty backers say students, colleagues and alumni pushed them to act, describing fear for personal safety and years of dissatisfaction with Cornell’s response rather than a problem tied to one case or one official.
The move escalates pressure after a former student sued Cornell and seven current and former students last month, alleging she was sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members in October 2024 while impaired by alcohol, ketamine and marijuana.
That case has triggered protests and national scrutiny over whether Cornell and local authorities investigated aggressively enough; one faculty senator said the university’s internal discipline of the seven accused, instead of referring the matter to outside law enforcement, felt like a cover-up.
Cornell declined to comment, and faculty sponsors say a successful no-confidence vote would force talks with university leaders on sexual-assault policy changes.