The Cornell faculty senate is expected to release the results of a no-confidence vote regarding the university's response to sexual violence on campus. The vote was initiated following allegations by a former student that she was gang-raped in 2024 by several members of the Chi Phi fraternity.
The resolution states, "Resolved: That the Faculty Senate has no confidence in the ability of the central administration to effectively address the ongoing crisis of sexual assault at Cornell University." While the faculty senate does not have the authority to compel administrative changes, a passing vote would represent a significant rebuke of the school's leadership.
The student, identified as Jane Doe, filed a complaint with campus police in November 2024, weeks after the alleged incident, stating she had been drugged and raped at the fraternity house. She has since filed a civil suit against the accused fraternity members and the university. The New York Attorney General's office is investigating the incident, and Cornell is conducting its own internal probe.
All seven fraternity brothers named in the civil lawsuit have denied any wrongdoing, and no criminal charges have been filed. However, five of the accused men are pursuing legal action to have Attorney General Letitia James removed from the criminal investigation. They cite a social media post by James in support of Jane Doe as evidence of a conflict of interest. This legal challenge continues even after James appointed Jacqueline Kelly, a former sex crimes prosecutor, to lead the matter. The group's attorneys argue that Kelly's appointment does not remove their concerns about James's ultimate authority and involvement in the investigation.