Approximately 40 senators have expressed support for the no-confidence resolution. Ortiz, who has taught at Cornell since fall 2024, noted that faculty members have been approached by students sharing their own experiences of sexual assault. "We’re tired of the sexual assaults that happened to our students. We’re tired of the administration’s inaction on this issue," Ortiz said, adding that past students and alumni who have donated to the university are also fed up.

During the demonstration, attendees held signs reading "Justice for every Jane Doe" and "Cornell admin betrays survivors resign now." Sabrina Karim, an associate professor in the department of government, stated that trust has been broken and urged the community to come together nonviolently to demand change. Another professor, Julia Chang, commented on the "rape culture" at Cornell, emphasizing that rape should not be inevitable.

Earlier Monday, anonymous activists smashed a glass door and painted "smash the patriarchy" on the administration building walls. The vandalism is under investigation.

Legal and Investigative Developments

New evidence shows that Cornell police drafted letters to wireless carriers related to "investigating a sexual assault incident." About a week after Doe reported the alleged assault, investigators drafted letters to Verizon and T-Mobile asking them to "preserve all available data," including texts and videos. A signed warrant would follow within 30 days. It remains unclear if these requests were sent or if Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten was aware of them. Van Houten stated his office only received a six-page statement from Doe and Snapchat screenshots.

Van Houten has been the DA since 2017 and reopened the case after the lawsuit was filed, but he has supported the appointment of New York Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor. Governor Kathy Hochul appointed James after saying she "lost faith" in Van Houten’s ability to oversee the inquiry. James will have the power to investigate the incident, prosecute offenses, and present evidence to a grand jury.

Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, told CNN he believes the investigation will be handled fairly by James’ office. Giuffra mentioned that Doe’s team has collected recordings of calls between Doe and the accused, as well as emailed apologies. He also noted that other photos and videos may have been destroyed and that more people might have been involved due to the inadequate initial investigation.

Records obtained by The New York Times show that the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office declined to review additional evidence gathered by campus police beyond Doe’s statement. Prosecutors determined that "criminal charges would not be pursued" based on her account. Meanwhile, one of the male students involved in the investigation has hired Teny Geragos, a high-profile defense attorney known for representing Harvey Weinstein and Sean “Diddy” Combs. The men named in the lawsuit deny wrongdoing, with four acknowledging sexual contact but claiming it was consensual.

Doe is currently facing threats and attempts to reveal her identity, according to Giuffra.

Cornell Admin Faces Long-Term Reckoning

The Faculty Senate's impending vote and the state’s intervention signal a critical juncture for Cornell University. The administration’s credibility faces severe erosion, potentially leading to lasting structural reforms in how sexual assault cases are handled. If the no-confidence vote passes, it will underscore a profound disconnect between faculty, students, and leadership, necessitating comprehensive policy overhauls to restore trust and ensure survivor safety on campus.