Cornell faculty begin voting on no confidence over rape case response

Cornell University faculty have begun voting on a no-confidence measure over the school's handling of a woman's report that she was gang raped at a campus fraternity house in 2024, Al Jazeera reports. It says the vote will continue until next Friday.

Al Jazeera says the result could signal that the faculty has lost confidence in the university's president. The Hill names him as Michael I. Kotlikoff. It reports the case ended with no criminal charges and caused uproar around the country.

The Guardian reports that professors discussed the matter at an emotional meeting on Wednesday. It says the woman reported being raped by at least seven male students. It also says a recording of a closed-door meeting showed some faculty wanted to delay the vote, while others wanted it held right away.

The New York Times reported that voting would begin Thursday after fierce debate. PBS NewsHour had earlier said voting would begin Wednesday. The Hill says the Faculty Senate has more than 75 members and that Wednesday was its second meeting on the issue.

Outlets describe the measure differently. The Hill calls it a no-confidence vote against Kotlikoff. PBS calls it a resolution of no confidence in the administration. The Times calls it a resolution condemning the administration's handling of campus sexual assault.