Follow-Up: Cornell Board Backs President Kotlikoff on Same Day as Faculty No-Confidence Vote
Hours after Cornell University's Faculty Senate voted 75-50 on Friday, November 6, to declare no confidence in the university administration, the university's Board of Trustees said the same day that it fully supports President Michael Kotlikoff and his administration.
The vote followed a former student's lawsuit alleging she was sexually assaulted at a fraternity party in 2024 and criticism of how the university handled the case. Faculty senators cast their votes between October 29 and November 6; five abstained and five did not vote. It was the first no-confidence vote in the Faculty Senate's 56-year history. The resolution did not call for Kotlikoff's resignation, and the vote is largely symbolic: only the Board of Trustees has the power to remove him.
Board Chair Anne Smalling said in a statement that the faculty vote "reflects the deep anger across our campus," while adding that "the Board of Trustees 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." Resolution co-sponsor and faculty senator Iris Packman said: "We distanced ourselves from this leadership." Kotlikoff has acknowledged shortcomings in the university's response and announced new safety measures, including a ban on fraternity parties and an agreement with New York State Police to investigate sexual assault complaints.
Source: Cornell University Board of Trustees
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：纽约市政厅（资料图）。New York City Hall. (file photo)
