Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff faced a closed Faculty Senate meeting on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at Rockefeller Hall in Ithaca, New York, where professors began debating a no-confidence resolution over the administration's handling of a former student's alleged 2024 sexual assault at a fraternity house. Debate is expected to continue on October 28, followed by electronic voting, after audio of the closed session was obtained by NBC News and CBS News New York obtained video of the meeting.
The Faculty's Case Against the Administration
The session opened with pointed questions for Kotlikoff, a veterinarian and biomedical researcher who has worked at Cornell for 26 years, leading its veterinary school and serving as provost before becoming president. Risa Lieberwitz, a professor of labor and employment law, told him the issue of sexual assault was "a systemic problem" that "deserves systemic attention," and that it appeared he had "simply reacted to pressure" rather than shown leadership. Government professor Richard Bensel estimated that about 80 percent of the faculty members present had lost confidence in the administration.
Darlene Evans, a senior lecturer emerita, asked why the university was only now moving "towards serious systemic change" when Kotlikoff had been in leadership roles for more than a decade, citing a Cornell poll in which more than 35 percent of female undergraduates reported experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact, up from 23 percent in 2023. Music professor Ariana Kim said she had received some 200 emails from alumni backing the resolution, and that some at the meeting held up signs reading "I stand with Jane Doe," "How many more?" and "We demand accountability."
How Kotlikoff Responded
Kotlikoff argued that replacing university leadership was not the solution, saying, "We need to be able to work together to be able to change the culture, educate our students, and try and address this problem." He defended recent measures, including a ban on fraternity parties and social events through the remainder of the academic year, announced the day before the meeting, and an arrangement with the New York State Police to bring in independent investigators for sexual assault allegations. He also left open the possibility of ending Greek life entirely if fraternities could not operate safely.
Under questioning, Kotlikoff acknowledged he had never read the Cornell Police Department's report on the allegations, citing the confidentiality of criminal investigations and university policy against administrators intervening in police work, and admitted he had only recently learned the woman had dropped out of Cornell.
The Case Behind the Crisis
The controversy centers on a civil lawsuit filed on September 16, 2026, by a former student identified in court documents as Jane Doe, against the university and seven current and former students who were members of the Chi Phi fraternity. She alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by the men in October 2024, and that Cornell mishandled her complaints, which she reported to campus police in November 2024. In 2024, Cornell shut down the Chi Phi chapter and expelled two students, while others were suspended or faced lesser discipline.
No criminal charges were brought at the time after the Tompkins County district attorney determined no crime had occurred, but the investigation has since been reopened, with New York Attorney General Letitia James's office investigating and a special prosecutor appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul. The accused men have denied wrongdoing. Earlier this month, Cornell named former deputy U.S. attorney general Sally Yates to lead an independent review of how the university responds to sexual harassment, assault, and misconduct on campus.
CBS News New York obtained exclusive video from inside Wednesday's closed Faculty Senate meeting: watch CBS News New York's report on the faculty's tense exchange with President Kotlikoff.
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Lightless Dawn (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0
Sources
- NBC News — audio recording of the closed Faculty Senate session
- WAMC — full recording of the meeting verified by WSKG
- WAMC/NPR — profile of President Michael Kotlikoff
- People — Kotlikoff's interview with The New York Times
Cornell's Faculty Senate meets again on October 28, with electronic voting to follow — a vote that is largely symbolic but could send a powerful message to the university's trustees, who ultimately decide how Cornell is run and who leads it.