Cornell gang rape case: Pressure mounts on university President Michael Kotlikoff over lawsuit, faces no confidence motion

Fresh developments have emerged in the Cornell University “gang rape case," where the president of the university, Michael Kotlikoff, found himself under fire as he faced the angry members of the school’s faculty over the alleged incident.

A meeting took place on Wednesday (October 14, 2026), which highlighted deep frustration on the campus of the Ivy League institution over his administration’s handling of a woman’s report that she was gang raped at a fraternity house in 2024. During the meeting, the university's Faculty Senate considered a no-confidence resolution against him.

Citing some faculty members leaving the meeting, news agency AP reported that the mood is leaning heavily against Kotlikoff over the alleged sexual assault incident. This comes days after he came forward and publicly acknowledged errors in the school's handling of the rape allegation, dubbing the allegations “deeply disturbing” allegations.


He suspended the fraternity and said criminal and university investigations were underway. He subsequently convened a presidential task force to examine how Cornell handles sexual assault.

Cornell professor shares meeting details

Describing the atmosphere of the meeting, which was kept under wraps from media, Richard Bensel, a professor of government, said that the debate was civil and Kotlikoff remained poised during the session. However, he noted that around 80% of the faculty members present have lost confidence in the administration.

“The faculty were extremely angry. They gave him a hard time, I think appropriately so,” Bensel said, as quoted by AP. He said the Faculty Senate had spent years passing resolutions calling for reforms to university disciplinary procedures, only to have its recommendations ignored.

“I don’t think there’s any way that we can open up the process for democratic reform except by passing this resolution,” he said. Debate was expected to continue October 28, 2026, followed by electronic voting.

What does the no-confidence motion mean in this case

According to AP, a faculty’s no-confidence vote is mostly considered symbolic, but it apparently sends out a strong message to the trustees of the university. They ultimately decide how the institution is run and who will lead it. Kotlikoff refused to speak to reporters after leaving the meeting.


Jane Doe’s new lawsuit


The latest lawsuit filed by the victim, pseudonym Jane Doe, in September 2026 reportedly roiled the university campus. In the lawsuit, she alleged that seven Chi Phi fraternity members sexually assaulted or exploited her in October 2024 and that Cornell mishandled her complaints.

All the accused denied her allegations, saying either that their interactions with the woman were consensual or that they weren't involved.


Cornell faculties descrives ‘contentious’ meeting


Kotlikoff left the meeting after answering faculty questions and did not stay for the debate over the no-confidence resolution. Describing those in the humanities as feeling they had enough information to proceed while those in the sciences wanted more data Grant Farred, professor of Africana Studies and English, said, “The institution is split in significant ways,” according to AP.

Iris Packman, a senior research and policy development associate at Cornell’s ILR School Climate Jobs Institute, said the meeting was “contentious” and Kotlikoff got “defensive.”

Labor history professor Paul Ortiz, lead sponsor of the no-confidence resolution, said Kotlikoff suggested that replacing the president would not be good for the university though the resolution doesn't expressly call for his ouster. “What was animating the resolution is this sense of a perpetual ongoing crisis,” said Ortiz.