Cornell president admits he never read police rape report as angry faculty debate no-confidence vote

Michael Kotlikoff appeared before a furious Cornell Faculty Senate on Wednesday, having admitted he had never read the university police report on the alleged gang rape of a student by seven Chi Phi fraternity members in October 2024. He further acknowledged that he had made no effort to find out whether the victim had left the university or whether any of the accused had faced sanctions. Kotlikoff urged the senate to give him more time, cautioning that his removal would harm Cornell's reputation. A no-confidence vote is now scheduled for 28 October following an extension of the debate.

Of the 16 students Cornell's own investigators found responsible for sexual assaults between mid-2020 and mid-2024, only two were expelled — one received no harsher penalty than a requirement to write a 'reflection paper'.

The county district attorney initially declined to bring charges after reviewing a Cornell police summary that he later said had left out key details from the investigation.

'The faculty were extremely angry — they gave him a hard time, I think appropriately so,' said government professor Richard Bensel after Kotlikoff left the room.