The sit-in comes two days after Cornell faculty members introduced a resolution calling for a no-confidence vote in the university administration over its handling of the alleged assault at the Chi Phi fraternity house. The resolution was submitted to the University Faculty Committee on Monday night, according to a copy obtained by NBC News.
Cornell has drawn intense scrutiny over how it responded to Jane Doe’s allegations in November 2024, and Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has been criticized for declining to charge the accused. The university and the district attorney have each defended their original 2024 probes.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul effectively replaced Van Houten as lead investigator last week, appointing state Attorney General Letitia James to oversee the case. Cornell and Van Houten have publicly welcomed James’ involvement. “I trust that she will examine the facts and apply the law,” Van Houten said in a statement on Friday.
Wednesday’s sit-in was announced on Instagram by a group of campus organizations, including Black Students United, Cornell NAACP, Mecha de Cornell, Planned Parenthood Generation Action at Cornell, Students for a Democratic Cornell, and a student-run chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
“The sit-in will be a space for students to share their support for survivors of sexual violence in myriad ways, including the share of resources and teach-ins,” the student groups said on Instagram.