Cornell professors vote to censure university administration for its handling of the alleged gang rape of a former student

Cornell University took another step Wednesday in acknowledging responsibility over its handling of a complaint by a former student — whose identity remains anonymous and who is referred to as Jane Doe — against seven members of a fraternity at the elite New York state school who she accused of raping her in October 2024. The faculty governing body at Cornell, known as the Faculty Senate, will begin voting on a symbolic censure resolution to condemn how the university handled Jane Doe’s case.The debate, which began earlier this month, concluded Wednesday during a meeting of Cornell faculty. The vote will be held electronically through November 6, according to the AP. If approved, it would increase pressure on Cornell’s leadership to push for additional reforms or to replace members of the university administration. The measure would be only a recommendation, as the body lacks the authority to impose changes.The debate centers on the following statement: “The Faculty Senate has no confidence in the ability of the central administration to effectively address the ongoing crisis of sexual assault at Cornell University.” University president Michael Kotlikoff announced on Tuesday that fraternity parties would be banned for the remainder of the academic year.The first meeting on October 14 to debate the resolution was tense. President Kotlikoff defended his handling of the case. Professor Risa Lieberwitz accused him of always reacting to events rather than acknowledging that sexual violence is “a systemic problem that deserves systemic attention.” “It feels that the administration is considering more about how do we respond to pressure rather than the kind of leadership which should have been doing systemic work and prioritizing these issues all along,” she added, according to ABC News.“I understand that people feel like this is reactive,” Kotlikoff replied, defending the institution’s response to an incident that occurred two years ago. He argued that the investigation was conducted in accordance with university policy and U.S. federal law.Jane Doe’s case shocked the university and the nation, sparking debate over how to handle sexual assault complaints on college campuses across the country. No criminal charges have been filed yet, but New York State Attorney General Letitia James is conducting an investigation.Hours before the October 14 meeting, Jane Doe’s attorney sent a letter to the faculty in which the former student shared her view of Kotlikoff’s response to her complaints two years earlier. She said she felt unsupported and that she was not believed when she reported her account.[Kotlikoff’s response] “diminished my confidence in the administration’s ability to approach my experience with the understanding, sensitivity, and fairness I had hoped for and expected from what had been my dream school,” she wrote. “President Kotlikoff’s initial response was along the lines of, ‘Why did she wait so long to report it?’” Jane Doe’s letter said. A Cornell University spokesperson said that characterization of Kotlikoff’s response was inaccurate.Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition