Cornell Student Challenges President Ahead of No Confidence Vote

A former Cornell University student has challenged the university's handling of sexual assault allegations by sharing an account of President Michael Kotlikoff's reported response, prompting renewed scrutiny as faculty prepare to vote on confidence in the administration. In a letter dated October 14, 2026, the woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, described feeling unsupported after learning about a conversation between Kotlikoff and her sorority's former president following her November 2024 report.

The letter arrived as Cornell's faculty senate considers a resolution questioning the administration's ability to address sexual misconduct. According to the Associated Press, faculty members began debating the proposal on October 14, with further discussion scheduled for October 28 before an electronic vote.

Doe alleged in a civil lawsuit filed in September 2026 that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted her at a fraternity house in October 2024. She reported the alleged incident to campus police on November 8, approximately three weeks later. The accused men have denied wrongdoing, according to reports by NBC News and The Guardian, and none has been criminally charged.

In her letter, Doe explained that her account of Kotlikoff's response came from the former president of her sorority, Tri Delta, rather than from a conversation she witnessed herself.

"President Kotlikoff's initial response was along the lines of, 'Why did she wait so long to report it?'" Doe wrote in the letter, according to the Associated Press.

Doe said the account affected her confidence in the university's ability to respond fairly and sensitively to her allegations. She also reported that at least one faculty member present during the conversation appeared distressed by the question, based on what the sorority leader told her.

"I felt unsupported and disbelieved by President Kotlikoff," Doe wrote, according to NBC News.

She said she submitted the information to ensure faculty members could consider relevant details before deciding how to vote. Her letter emphasized that she was not directing the senate toward a particular outcome.

"My intention is not to prescribe how the Senate should interpret this account, but rather to provide information that its members may wish to consider or investigate further," Doe wrote, according to the Associated Press.

Cornell disputed Doe's characterization of the president's reported remarks. A university spokesperson said a documented firsthand account indicated that Kotlikoff had been asking why bystanders had not reported the incident through the university's anonymous tip line, despite discussion on social media in October 2024. The spokesperson said the question was not directed at Doe or intended to challenge her decision to report the alleged assault.

The university also addressed questions about how the letter was handled. Cornell said Chris Schaffer, the dean of faculty, received the communication as legal correspondence, forwarded it to the Office of the General Counsel for verification, and ensured it was shared with the independent review team.

In response to the allegations, Cornell previously conducted an internal investigation through its Title IX disciplinary process. NBC News reported that the university expelled two students, suspended others, and imposed additional sanctions on some of the individuals involved. The university also established a Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault in early 2025.

Cornell has hired former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent review of its response to Doe's allegations and its broader sexual misconduct policies. The faculty senate is scheduled to resume debate on October 28, 2026, ahead of its electronic vote on the no-confidence resolution.