Cornell Faculty Senate Votes No Confidence in President Kotlikoff
Resolution passed amid controversy over university's handling of sexual assault allegations.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made
The Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University in New York. (AP: Heather Ainsworth)
Photograph: ABC Australia (embedded from source)
What this story says
- Cornell University's Faculty Senate approved a resolution of no confidence in President Michael Kotlikoff and the central administration.
- The vote occurred on Friday, with 55.6% of faculty members voting in favour.
- The resolution was prompted by a lawsuit filed by a former student alleging sexual assault at a fraternity party in 2024.
- The Board of Trustees stated they remain confident in President Kotlikoff and his administration.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 71 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 3 of the 74 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
42/100
Craft
60/100
Hype
41/100
74 sources · methodology
Cornell University's Faculty Senate approved a resolution on Friday expressing no confidence in the university's central administration and its president, Michael Kotlikoff. The vote was supported by 55.6% of the 75 faculty members who voted, with 37% voting against and 7.4% abstaining or not voting. This action follows a lawsuit filed by a former student who alleges she was sexually assaulted during a fraternity house party in 2024 and claims the university failed to protect her and adequately punish students.
The Faculty Senate, Cornell's main legislative advisory and review body, does not have the authority to dismiss the president. However, supporters of the resolution argued it sends a strong signal to university leadership and increases pressure on the Board of Trustees, which oversees the president and the university's endowment. The controversy has intensified scrutiny of Kotlikoff, who has called for time to implement reforms, while some faculty and students have called for his resignation. The university has launched an independent review of its response to sexual assault allegations, and the New York Attorney General is overseeing a separate criminal investigation into the 2024 case.
Disagreement on Vote Count
Reports differ on the exact vote count for the resolution. Source 1, a full report from KRDO, states the resolution was approved by a vote of 75 faculty members, with 55.6% in favour, 37% against, and 7.4% abstaining or not voting. Source 2, a full report from ABC Australia, states the resolution passed 75-50, with five faculty senators abstaining and five others not voting. Source 28, a digest from WCAX-TV, also states the resolution passed 75-50, with five faculty senators abstaining and five others not voting.
What the coverage left out
None of the right-rated digests mention the specific vote percentages (55.6% in favour, 37% against, 7.4% abstaining) that were reported by KRDO (Source 1) and ABC Australia (Source 2). Additionally, none of the right-rated digests included direct quotes from the Board of Trustees or the faculty sponsors of the resolution, which were present in the full reports from KRDO and ABC Australia.
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 1 time, most recently on 6 Nov 2026, 22:15, and will add the sides that appear.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
30 rated outlets
- Left-rated reports focused on the Faculty Senate's vote of no confidence as a direct response to the university's handling of sexual assault allegations. Several digests, including those from La Presse (Source 10) and Orillia Matters (Source 14), highlighted the vote as a denouncement of the management of sexual violence by university leaders. PBS NewsHour (Source 6) noted that while the vote is symbolic, proponents hoped it would pressure the trustees to address institutional failures. ABC Australia (Source 2) reported that the vote followed weeks of debate over whether President Michael Kotlikoff handled the allegations properly and whether enough had been done to curtail sexual misconduct. The lawsuit's details, including allegations of gang rape and the use of ketamine, were also prominent in these reports. Some left-rated reports mentioned the disciplinary actions taken against accused students, such as expulsions and suspensions.
Centre
35 rated outlets
- Centre-rated reports also centred on the Faculty Senate's no-confidence vote and its connection to the sexual assault lawsuit. KRDO (Source 1), which provided a full report, detailed the vote's specifics, including the percentage breakdown, and quoted statements from the Board of Trustees chair and the faculty sponsors of the resolution. Digests from outlets like CFJC Today Kamloops (Source 11) and Meadow Lake NOW (Source 18) described the vote as a symbolic gesture reflecting deep discontent following the lawsuit. Newsweek (Source 15) noted the vote was non-binding. Several centre-rated reports, including WCAX-TV (Source 28), mentioned the vote count of 75-50 with abstentions. The involvement of the New York Attorney General in a criminal investigation was also noted in some of these reports.
Right
6 rated outlets
- Right-rated reports focused on the Faculty Senate's no-confidence motion and the lawsuit filed by a former student. Digests from outlets such as BT (Source 5) and The Straits Times (Source 13) stated that a woman has filed a lawsuit accusing Cornell and former students of rape. Jonesboro Sun (Source 16) and Madison Courier (Source 19) reported that the vote followed a former student's lawsuit alleging gang rape at a fraternity house in 2024. Dailymail.com (Source 9) reported that staff at Cornell passed a no-confidence motion against the school's leadership. None of the right-rated digests mentioned the specific vote percentages or quoted statements from the Board of Trustees or faculty sponsors.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover Cornell Faculty Senate Votes No Confidence in President Kotlikoff?
- Of the 71 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 42% are rated left, 49% are rated centre, 9% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 74. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is Cornell Faculty Senate Votes No Confidence in President Kotlikoff left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 71 rated outlets on this story, 42% are rated left, 49% are rated centre, 9% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of Cornell Faculty Senate Votes No Confidence in President Kotlikoff biased?
- Cornell Faculty Senate Votes No Confidence in President Kotlikoff is one event reported by 74 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which outlets covered Cornell Faculty Senate Votes No Confidence in President Kotlikoff?
- 74 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- What is the Faculty Senate's no-confidence resolution?
- Cornell University's Faculty Senate approved a resolution expressing no confidence in President Michael Kotlikoff and the central administration. This symbolic vote, supported by 55.6% of faculty members, reflects discontent over the university's handling of sexual assault allegations.
- What prompted the no-confidence vote?
- The vote was prompted by a lawsuit filed by a former student alleging she was sexually assaulted at a fraternity house party in 2024. The student claims the university failed to protect her and adequately punish those involved, leading to faculty criticism of the administration's response.
- Does the Faculty Senate have the power to remove the president?
- No, the Faculty Senate does not have the authority to dismiss the president. The resolution is considered a symbolic gesture intended to pressure the Board of Trustees, which has the ultimate authority over the university's leadership.
- What is the university's official response?
- The Board of Trustees has stated they remain confident in President Kotlikoff and his administration, believing they are the right leaders to address the issue. The university has also launched an independent review of its response to sexual assault allegations.
Read it at the source
74 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
30- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens PBS NewsHour in a new tab)
PBS NewsHour — is PBS NewsHour biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Gang Rape at Cornell University | A Motion of No Confidence Voted Against the Leaders (opens La Presse in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Timmins Today in a new tab)
Timmins Today — is Timmins Today biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Bowen Island Undercurrent in a new tab)
Bowen Island Undercurrent — is Bowen Island Undercurrent biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Thorold Today in a new tab)
Thorold Today — is Thorold Today biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Newmarket Today in a new tab)
Newmarket Today — is Newmarket Today biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Orillia Matters in a new tab)
Orillia Matters — is Orillia Matters biased? Our profile of this outlet
- 'No confidence' vote against Cornell leadership after alleged gang rape (opens ABC Australia in a new tab)
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Show 22 more
- Cornell faculty senate votes no confidence in university leadership (opens The Washington Post in a new tab)
The Washington Post — is The Washington Post biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Headline Unavailable (opens The Toronto Star in a new tab)
The Toronto Star — is The Toronto Star biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens flamboroughtoday.com in a new tab)
flamboroughtoday.com — is flamboroughtoday.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens thealbertan.com in a new tab)
thealbertan.com — is thealbertan.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens StratfordToday.ca in a new tab)
StratfordToday.ca — is StratfordToday.ca biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens The NOTL Local in a new tab)
The NOTL Local — is The NOTL Local biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Guelph Today in a new tab)
Guelph Today — is Guelph Today biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Bay Today in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Sudbury in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Prince George Citizen in a new tab)
Prince George Citizen — is Prince George Citizen biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens SooToday.com in a new tab)
SooToday.com — is SooToday.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Coast Reporter in a new tab)
Coast Reporter — is Coast Reporter biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Rocky Mountain Outlook in a new tab)
Rocky Mountain Outlook — is Rocky Mountain Outlook biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty senate issues no confidence vote on administration’s handling of sexual assault (opens NBC News in a new tab)
- Cornell Faculty Senate approves no-confidence resolution over sexual assault allegations (opens CNN in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens The Independent (US) in a new tab)
The Independent (US) — is The Independent (US) biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens The Independent in a new tab)
The Independent — is The Independent biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty senate to release result of no-confidence vote (opens abc30 News in a new tab)
abc30 News — is abc30 News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty senate to release result of no-confidence vote (opens ABC 7 News in a new tab)
ABC 7 News — is ABC 7 News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens The Record in a new tab)
The Record — is The Record biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty approve no-confidence vote in school leaders (opens USA Today in a new tab)
- What Does the Cornell Faculty No-Confidence Vote Actually Mean? (opens Town & Country in a new tab)
Town & Country — is Town & Country biased? Our profile of this outlet
Centre
35- United States. Rape in Meeting in Cornell: Teachers Disavow University Management (opens leprogres.fr in a new tab)
leprogres.fr — is leprogres.fr biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell Faculty Senate approves no-confidence resolution over university’s handling of sexual assault crisis (opens KRDO in a new tab)
- Collective Rape in Cornell: a Motion of Distrust Against University Leaders (opens La Libre in a new tab)
La Libre — is La Libre biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens CFJC Today Kamloops in a new tab)
CFJC Today Kamloops — is CFJC Today Kamloops biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell Approves No-Confidence Vote Amid Sexual Assault Controversy (opens Newsweek in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens meadowlakeNOW in a new tab)
meadowlakeNOW — is meadowlakeNOW biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Client Challenge (opens Times Union in a new tab)
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- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape – WTOP News (opens Washington Top News in a new tab)
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Show 27 more
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in a new tab)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — is Pittsburgh Post-Gazette biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Battlefords NOW in a new tab)
Battlefords NOW — is Battlefords NOW biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens The Record in a new tab)
The Record
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university’s leadership over handling of sexual assault allegations (opens wabi.tv in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university’s leadership over handling of sexual assault allegations (opens WBRC FOX6 News in a new tab)
WBRC FOX6 News — is WBRC FOX6 News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university’s leadership over handling of sexual assault allegations (opens AZ Family - Phoenix in a new tab)
AZ Family - Phoenix — is AZ Family - Phoenix biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university’s leadership over handling of sexual assault allegations (opens WNDU in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university’s leadership over handling of sexual assault allegations (opens WCAX-TV in a new tab)
- Cornell Faculty Senate approves no-confidence resolution over university’s handling of sexual assault crisis (opens KMIZ in a new tab)
- Cornell Faculty Senate approves no-confidence resolution over university’s handling of sexual assault crisis (opens KESQ in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Hindustan Times in a new tab)
Hindustan Times — is Hindustan Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens City News in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Wral News in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens The Daily Advance in a new tab)
The Daily Advance — is The Daily Advance biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Ckpg Today in a new tab)
Ckpg Today — is Ckpg Today biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote 'no confidence' in university leadershi (opens WBAL in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens KPRC-TV in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens WKMG in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens WPLG in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty senate to release result of no-confidence vote (opens abc11 Raleigh in a new tab)
abc11 Raleigh — is abc11 Raleigh biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty senate to release result of no-confidence vote (opens ABC 7 NY in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty senate to release result of no-confidence vote (opens ABC 13 Houston in a new tab)
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- Cornell faculty senate to release result of no-confidence vote (opens ABC 7 LA in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty senate to release result of no-confidence vote (opens ABC 6 Philadelphia in a new tab)
ABC 6 Philadelphia — is ABC 6 Philadelphia biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty senate to release result of no-confidence vote (opens ABC 7 Chicago in a new tab)
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- Cornell Faculty Senate votes in favor of ‘no-confidence’ resolution (opens Spectrum Local News in a new tab)
Spectrum Local News — is Spectrum Local News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Winnipeg Free Press in a new tab)
Winnipeg Free Press — is Winnipeg Free Press biased? Our profile of this outlet
Right
6- Faculty Council Expresses Distrust of Cornell Leadership (opens BT in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty pass no confidence motion in leadership (opens dailymail.com in a new tab)
dailymail.com — is dailymail.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty senate declares no confidence in university leadership (opens The Straits Times in a new tab)
The Straits Times — is The Straits Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Jonesboro Sun in a new tab)
Jonesboro Sun — is Jonesboro Sun biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Madison Courier in a new tab)
Madison Courier — is Madison Courier biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer in a new tab)
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer — is Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer biased? Our profile of this outlet
Not rated
3- United States. Rape in Meeting in Cornell: Teachers Disavow University Management (opens lalsace.fr in a new tab)
lalsace.fr — is lalsace.fr biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cornell Approves No-Confidence Vote Amid Sexual Assault Controversy (opens BizToc in a new tab)
- Cornell faculty vote ‘no confidence’ in university leadership after alleged fraternity gang rape (opens Airdrie City View in a new tab)
Airdrie City View — is Airdrie City View biased? Our profile of this outlet
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