Cornell University faces gender bias suit

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Cornell University won partial judgment on a former assistant professor’s defamation claim, though his Title IX gender-based discrimination claim against the university was preserved for trial. His lawsuit stems from allegations that he lied about having a romantic relationship with a female student, rumors that resulted in a two-week unpaid suspension. He’s brought enough detail for a jury to conclude that his suspension and the related investigation was motivated by anti-male bias, but he couldn’t show any way Cornell published defamatory statements to third parties about him.