Daijiworld Media Network - New York

New York, Oct 15: Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff faced sharp criticism from faculty members on Wednesday over his administration’s handling of a woman’s allegations that she was gang-raped at a fraternity house in 2024.

Kotlikoff acknowledged some shortcomings while defending his leadership during a meeting of the university’s Faculty Senate, ahead of a debate on a no-confidence resolution against his administration.

The meeting was closed to the media, but an audio recording obtained by The Associated Press captured Kotlikoff asking for more time to implement reforms and bring about cultural changes in student social life.

He argued that addressing the problems required experienced leadership, saying the issues were complex and could not be resolved easily. He also warned that replacing the university president would not solve the situation and could damage Cornell’s reputation.

Kotlikoff left open the possibility of imposing wider restrictions on fraternity activities, saying the university needed to determine whether fraternities could operate safely. On Tuesday, he announced a ban on fraternity parties until the end of the academic year.

He said decisions about fraternities should be based on research and evidence rather than emotion, adding that the university must act if a safe environment could not be ensured.

After Kotlikoff left the meeting, several faculty members expressed a lack of confidence in his administration’s ability to address sexual assault on campus. Richard Bensel, a professor of government, described the faculty as extremely angry and said members had challenged the president strongly.

Some Faculty Senate members cautioned that a hurried no-confidence vote would not address the underlying issues. The debate was expected to continue on October 28, followed by electronic voting.

Although a faculty no-confidence vote would largely be symbolic, it could send a message to the university’s trustees, who have the ultimate authority over the institution’s leadership.

The controversy follows a lawsuit filed last month by a woman identified in court documents as Jane Doe. She alleged that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted or exploited her in October 2024 and that Cornell mishandled her complaints. The men have denied the allegations, saying their interactions were consensual or that they were not involved.

The criminal investigation by Cornell’s police department stalled after the local district attorney concluded early on that no crime had occurred.

At the time, Kotlikoff described the allegations as deeply disturbing, suspended the fraternity and said criminal and university investigations were under way. He later established a presidential task force to review how Cornell handles sexual assault cases.

However, in an interview with The New York Times published on Tuesday, Kotlikoff said he had not followed up to find out what had happened to the woman or the criminal investigation.
During Wednesday’s meeting, he acknowledged that he had not read the Cornell Police Department’s report on the allegations. He said the investigation was confidential and that university policy prevented senior administrators from becoming involved in criminal investigations.

Kotlikoff rejected suggestions that he had been unconcerned about the case. He also denied being unaware that students had been expelled or suspended following the university’s Title IX investigation, while acknowledging that he had only recently learned that the woman had left Cornell.

Faculty members described divisions within the university over how much information was available to assess the administration’s response. Grant Farred, a professor of Africana Studies and English, said humanities faculty felt they had sufficient information to proceed, while some in the sciences wanted more data.

Iris Packman of Cornell’s Climate Jobs Institute said Kotlikoff appeared defensive during the meeting. Paul Ortiz, a labour history professor and lead sponsor of the no-confidence resolution, said the debate reflected concerns that the administration was not doing enough to address an ongoing crisis.

Anne Marie Brady of Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations welcomed the announcement that state police would temporarily handle sexual assault investigations instead of campus police, but questioned the timing of the decision, which came a day before the Senate debate.

The controversy has also drawn attention to complaints by Ariana Kim, an associate professor of music at Cornell. Kim, a Grammy-nominated violinist, told The Associated Press that she experienced bullying and sexual harassment by senior colleagues after joining the university about a decade ago.

She alleged that Cornell failed to document her complaints properly and did not clearly inform her of any disciplinary action taken. Kim said she was asked what she had done to provoke the situation.

She further alleged that her efforts to avoid colleagues who had harassed her were later criticised during her tenure review. In one instance, a professor cited her unwillingness to accept his advice and her avoidance of him when voting against granting her tenure.

Kotlikoff became Cornell’s interim president in July 2024 and was appointed permanently the following year. His tenure has also been marked by a strike by dining and custodial workers, criticism over a $60-million settlement with the Trump administration involving civil rights investigations, and accusations from activists that his administration restricted campus protests.