The University Assembly discussed holding a “vote of no confidence” in Cornell administration for its handling of the alleged 2024 Chi Phi gang rape at its Oct. 20 meeting. The U.A. also listened to a presentation by Prof. Steven Jackson, information science, the vice provost for academic innovation, about artificial intelligence and sustainability.
At the meeting’s open forum, assembly members briefly discussed the logistics of implementing a vote of no confidence, although no resolutions addressing the vote were proposed by the U.A.
The U.A.’s discussion follows Faculty Senate debate over a proposed vote of no confidence. The conflicted senate did not come to a decision when the proposal was initially raised, and decided to open voting starting Friday after rejecting a motion for further delay.
The Senate proposal states that “the Faculty Senate has no confidence in the ability of the central administration to effectively address the ongoing crisis of sexual assault at Cornell University.”
Nicholas Maggard ’25 M.Eng. ’28, chair of the U.A., explained in a statement to The Sun that a vote of no confidence would not have any binding consequences if passed.
“A resolution of no confi...