Cornell University's faculty senate wraps up its debate on Wednesday over a resolution saying it has no confidence in the school's central administration to deal with sexual assault on campus. Voting opens right after the meeting.

The resolution centers on one sentence: that the faculty senate has no confidence in the ability of the central administration to effectively address the ongoing crisis of sexual assault at Cornell. Senators will vote electronically over the following days. A simple majority is needed to pass it.

The vote is symbolic. The faculty senate cannot fire anyone or force policy changes, but a successful vote would add to the pressure on President Michael Kotlikoff and his team.

How it got here

The push follows a lawsuit from a former student known as Jane Doe, who says she was sexually assaulted at the Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024. No criminal charges have been filed and the New York attorney general's office is investigating.

When senators first took up the resolution on Oct. 14, the session turned tense. Professor Risa Lieberwitz told Kotlikoff the problem was systemic and said the administration seemed to be reacting to pressure rather than leading. Kotlikoff said the school's Title IX process followed university policy and federal law even if people disagreed with the outcome.

Hours before that meeting, Jane Doe's lawyer sent senators a letter saying she felt unsupported after hearing how Kotlikoff reacted to her report. A Cornell spokesperson said the secondhand account in the letter was incorrect.

What happens next

Results are expected after voting closes in early November. Whatever the outcome, students and faculty have said they want lasting changes to how Cornell handles assault reports, fraternity oversight and support for survivors.