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Cornell opens independent review of 2024 assault case as faculty seek no-confidence vote
Коротко
Cornell University's board special committee said it has appointed former US deputy attorney general Sally Yates to lead an independent review of the school's sexual violence prevention and response system. The review follows a civil lawsuit by a former student who says she was raped by seven male students at a campus social club in October 2024 and that the university failed to investigate or discipline properly. Cornell faculty council members have submitted a draft no-confidence resolution against President Michael Kotlikoff, to be taken up at a full meeting on Oct 14, as students hold protests demanding his resignation.
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Cornell University's board special committee said in an Oct 6 statement that it has appointed Sally Yates, a former US deputy attorney general, to lead an independent review of the university's sexual violence prevention and response system, Yonhap reported. The committee said the review team would be guaranteed full independence, according to the same report. [ 1 ]
The review follows a civil lawsuit by a former Cornell student who says she was raped in October 2024 by seven male students at a male social club on campus. The plaintiff said the university did not conduct a proper investigation or impose disciplinary measures after she reported the incident. NoCut News reported that she also said the case did not lead to criminal charges and that the alleged attackers were not properly punished; Yonhap's account does not address the criminal proceedings. [ 1 , 3 ]
Yonhap reported that the Yates team will examine whether Cornell complied with its own rules and procedures at the time and whether there were deficiencies in its initial response. It noted that Yates has led independent investigations at major institutions, including a review of sexual assault allegations involving women's professional soccer players in the United States. [ 1 ]
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said on Sept 30 that the university would conduct an independent investigation through an outside law firm, calling the situation “a major turning point in Cornell's history” and saying he would do his utmost to find a solution, according to Yonhap. [ 1 ]
Pressure has also come from inside the university. NoCut News reported that members of Cornell's faculty council submitted a draft no-confidence resolution against Kotlikoff the day before the Oct 6 reports, criticising the administration's handling of sexual violence cases. The draft states that the council judges the university leadership unable to effectively respond to the continuing sexual violence crisis, and it is due to be formally tabled at a full meeting on Oct 14. About 40 of the council's more than 75 members have expressed support, the outlet reported. [ 3 ]
Ariana Kim, a music professor and council member, told the New York Times that the move clearly expresses rejection of Cornell's leadership and in effect declares that it has no qualification to run the university, according to NoCut News. The outlet also reported that students have held large protests demanding the president's resignation, and that coverage by CNN and the New York Times said the resolution was filed the previous day. [ 3 ]
Korea Economic Daily carried the story under a headline about the delayed investigation and angry professors, but the article text accompanying that headline consisted of unrelated reports, including items on an art auction, an AI researcher's congressional testimony and a measles emergency declaration in New York state. [ 2 ]
Почему это важно
The case puts the leadership of a prominent US university under pressure from both its faculty and its students, and the outcome of the no-confidence move could affect who runs the institution. An independent review led by a former senior US Justice Department official may also set expectations for how US universities handle campus sexual assault complaints.
Ключевые факты
- Cornell University's board special committee said on Oct 6 local time that it appointed former US deputy attorney general Sally Yates to lead an independent review of the university's sexual violence prevention and response system. [ 1 ]
- The review follows a civil lawsuit by a former student who says she was raped by seven male students at a campus social club in October 2024. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The plaintiff said the university did not conduct a proper investigation or take disciplinary action after she reported the incident. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The Yates team will examine whether Cornell followed its own rules and procedures at the time and whether its initial response was deficient. [ 1 ]
- Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said on Sept 30 that an independent investigation would be conducted through an outside law firm, calling the situation “a major turning point in Cornell's history”. [ 1 ]
- Members of Cornell's faculty council submitted a draft no-confidence resolution against Kotlikoff, to be formally tabled at a full meeting on Oct 14. [ 3 ]
- About 40 of the council's more than 75 members expressed support for the draft, and students have staged large protests demanding the president resign. [ 3 ]
- Korea Economic Daily carried the story under a headline about the delayed investigation and angry professors, but its article text dealt with unrelated topics. [ 2 ]
Подтверждено несколькими источниками
- Cornell's board special committee said it appointed former US deputy attorney general Sally Yates to lead an independent review of the university's sexual violence prevention and response system. [ 1 ]
- The matter stems from a civil lawsuit by a former student who says she was raped by seven male students at a campus social club in October 2024. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Cornell faculty have also voiced anger over the university's handling of the case. [ 2 , 3 ]
Пока неясно
- Whether any criminal proceedings were brought against the accused students. Only NoCut News says the case did not lead to criminal indictment; Yonhap does not mention criminal proceedings.
- The result of the faculty no-confidence vote. The resolution is to be formally tabled at a full meeting on Oct 14, so no outcome is reported yet.
- Whether the university administration has responded to the faculty resolution. No document reports a comment from Cornell on the no-confidence move.
Что пишут местные СМИ
Хронология, местное время
- Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff promises an independent investigation through an outside law firm, calling the situation “a major turning point in Cornell's history” (Sept 30). [ 1 ]
- Yonhap reports that Cornell's board special committee said in an Oct 6 statement that it appointed Sally Yates to lead an independent review. [ 1 ]
- Korea Economic Daily publishes a report headlined on Cornell's delayed investigation and angry professors. [ 2 ]
- NoCut News reports that faculty council members submitted a no-confidence resolution against Kotlikoff the previous day, to be tabled at a full meeting on Oct 14. [ 3 ]