The Cornell University Faculty Senate voted no confidence in the administration Friday, with 55.6 percent of 135 faculty senators voting in favor. The vote followed a former student's allegation of violent rape and concerns about how the university handles sexual assault complaints.
Faculty sponsors of the resolution said President Michael Kotlikoff responded too slowly to the allegation and that the university needs systemic change. "Instead of taking some kind of systemic approach as leaders, the Cornell central administration has had a reactive and piecemeal approach, which has eroded the trust of students, faculty and staff," said Risa Lieberwitz, a faculty co-sponsor, according to The New York Times.
Board of Trustees Chair Anne Meinig Smalling rejected the no confidence vote in a statement. She said the board remains "confident that President Kotlikoff and his administration are the right leaders to thoughtfully and comprehensively address the serious problem of sexual assault on our campus." Smalling cited the administration's track record on federal funding, free speech, and pandemic management. She noted that the administration has added staff to the Cornell Office of Civil Rights, expanded sexual assault prevention education, and hired more victim advocates. Smalling said the administration plans to launch more initiatives in coming weeks and months.
In the vote, 37 percent of senators voted against the resolution and 7.4 percent abstained.