v. Kathy Hochul subsequently removed him from the case, appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor and ordered an independent review of Cornell's handling of the allegations.

The Cornell Faculty Senate's proposed resolution, declaring no confidence in the administration's ability to handle reports of sexual assault on campus, reflects growing concerns among some faculty members that people who report sexual misconduct face institutional barriers and fear retaliation. Some have called for Kotlikoff's resignation, while others have urged patience as independent investigations proceed.

Kotlikoff was scheduled to address the Faculty Senate on Wednesday before members begin debating the resolution. Debate was expected to continue Oct. 28, followed by electronic voting by the Faculty Senate, which has approximately 130 voting members. A simple majority is required for passage.

Professor who reported harassment says it nearly cost her career

For Ariana Kim, an associate music professor at Cornell and co-sponsor of the resolution, Kotlikoff's acknowledgment that he had not followed up on the woman's case was deeply troubling.

 I mean, that's appalling in and of itself, right?  Kim said.  That you don't know about a student who faced an alleged horrific crime, that you don't think to check in. 

Kim, a Grammy-nominated violinist, said she was motivated to take action after being struck by Jane Doe's story, as well as her own personal experiences on campus since she started at Cornell a decade ago as a young academic in her 20s. She said when she experienced bullying and sexual harassment by senior colleagues, Cornell failed to properly document her complaints and that she was never clearly informed what disciplinary action, if any, had been taken.

 I was asked what I had done to provoke the situation,  she said.

Kim said she continued to be expected to work alongside colleagues involved in the dispute. She believes reporting the misconduct later affected her tenure review.

She spent 18 months appealing an adverse tenure decision, a process during which she lost 20 pounds (9 kilograms) and struggled to eat or sleep. A university appeals board ultimately overturned the original decision, and she secured tenure.

Now seeking promotion to full professor, Kim said she recognizes that publicly criticizing university leaders could again jeopardize her career.

 I'm speaking out publicly against this administration that may very well deny my promotion,  she said.

Kim said she has considered leaving Cornell many times over the years but is determined to stay and make the university safer for those who come after her.

 If by me fighting, it helps move the needle a little bit so that my female students aren't going through this in 10 years or my female colleagues aren't going through this in five years, then maybe it's worth it. 

Faculty members question whether Cornell can investigate itself

Anne Marie Brady, a senior extension associate at Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations and another co-sponsor of the resolution, questioned whether Cornell University Police can independently investigate serious allegations of sexual misconduct.

 There doesn't seem to be independence between the administration and the Cornell Police Department,  Brady said. She pointed to its handling of campus protests as one reason for her concerns and said serious criminal allegations should be investigated by outside law enforcement agencies.

Brady welcomed Kotlikoff's announcement that state police would take on a role in sexual assault investigations, saying it showed the administration was listening to faculty concerns. But she questioned the timing, a day before the Senate was scheduled to begin debating the no-confidence resolution.

 I'm happy that they are listening - we need a dialogue,  she said.  We need to debate and discuss this. But I also feel it's a bit disingenuous that it comes out just before the resolution.