Cornell President's Reaction to Rape Allegation Disputed as No-Confidence Vote Looms

A former student has accused Cornell University President Martha Pollack of doubting her gang-rape allegation shortly after she reported it, a claim the university states is inaccurate. The accusations surfaced in a letter to the faculty senate ahead of an anticipated no-confidence vote regarding Pollack's leadership.

In a letter dated Oct. 14 and obtained by the BBC, the former student, referred to as Jane Doe, stated that she received a "second-hand account" of Pollack's initial reaction to her report of the alleged assault. Doe claims Pollack questioned, "Why did she wait so long to report it?"

Doe reported the alleged assault to campus police on Nov. 8, approximately three weeks after a fraternity party. She stated that Pollack discussed the matter with her sorority's then-president and other staff members, some of whom appeared distressed by the president's question. Doe wrote that this "diminished my confidence in the administration's ability to approach my experience with the understanding, sensitivity, and fairness I had hoped for."

A spokesperson for Cornell University issued a statement to the BBC asserting that the "second-hand account of the question asked by President Kotlikoff in a January 2025 meeting in the letter is incorrect, based on a documented first-hand account." The spokesperson clarified that Pollack's question about the delay in reporting was directed at "bystanders who did not use Cornell's anonymous tip line, despite ongoing social media activity about the incident in October 2024." The university maintained that Pollack "was not questioning Jane Doe's reporting."

Pollack, who has led Cornell for 26 years, was reportedly questioned by the faculty senate last week. According to BBC recordings, faculty members expressed they were "deeply disturbed" by her handling of the case and accused her of lacking an "emotional response."

In response to the allegations, Pollack highlighted changes the university has implemented, including banning fraternity parties. "We are all extraordinarily upset by the events at Cornell in October of 2024," she stated.

The faculty senate has scheduled a no-confidence vote for Oct. 28. Recordings from a faculty meeting reveal discussions about sexual misconduct on campus being a systemic problem requiring "systemic attention." Paul Ortiz, a labor history professor sponsoring the no-confidence resolution, stated that students have expressed feeling unsafe on campus. He accused Cornell of treating rape as a "PR problem" rather than a serious crime.