Wire reporting: (AP, via Local 10)

ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell University’s Faculty Senate on Friday approved a resolution of no confidence in the school’s central administration, according to Associated Press reports carried by local stations, after debate over how leaders responded to a former student’s rape allegation^5,6,8.

The measure passed 75 to 50, with five senators abstaining and five not voting, according to an email to Faculty Senate members described in those AP accounts^5,6,8. The Senate cannot remove President Michael Kotlikoff or other officers^2,5.

ABC News, writing before the tally was public, quoted the resolution as stating that the Senate has no confidence in the central administration’s ability to address sexual assault at Cornell².

A former student identified as Jane Doe reported to campus police in November 2024, three weeks after the alleged incident, that she was raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house, ABC News reported². She later sued the university and seven men, alleging she was drugged and raped in October 2024^2,5.

The men named in the suit have denied the claims, saying the encounter was consensual or that they were not involved, according to ABC News and the AP accounts^2,5. No criminal charges have been filed².

The local district attorney initially concluded no crime had been committed; the inquiry was later reopened and referred to New York Attorney General Letitia James, the AP reports said^5,6. Cornell is also reviewing its own response².

ABC News said four men named in the lawsuit have joined a legal push to have James removed from the criminal probe². James this week named former federal sex-crimes prosecutor Jacqueline Kelly to lead the investigation while remaining in her office, ABC News reported².

Cornell conducted a Title IX process that, according to the AP accounts, resulted in two expulsions, two suspensions with probation, and two lesser sanctions^6,8. Kotlikoff convened a task force on sexual misconduct, and the university hired former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates for an independent review^5,6.

Trustees said Friday they still support Kotlikoff, board chair Anne Smalling said in a statement carried by AP stations^6,8. Kotlikoff has asked the faculty for more time and said replacing him would not resolve the underlying problems, those accounts said^5,6. The resolution did not call for his resignation^5,8.