Assemblies Elections

Maria Chak (mc3278)

My name is Maria Chak, currently a freshmen representative, and I am chair of Student Assembly Committee of Inclusion and Diversity Initiatives. If elected as your Minority representative I plan to: 1. Increase the graduation rates of the underrepresented minorities, students of low income and first generation students. I plan on partnering with mentorship programs and academics organization. (SWAG, Boss, Bears etc.) 2. Create awareness about the biases on campus and how we, as a community, can help prevent biases and create a support group for victims of biases. There are different forms of biases: race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, greek, female leadership etc. 3. Bring safe space to campus through workshops about race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship, etc. NYU has this program implemented to understand the problems with student on campus Everyone should have the right to feel comfortable in their own skin. I do not know all the issues that minorities have to face but I am willing to work with you to make Cornell a more inclusive institution. Please feel free to contact me at mc2378@cornell.edu

Saim Chaudhary (sec274)

Cornell was established on the motto “any person, any study.” Half of this statement has been achieved, whereas a lot of work still needs to be done to achieve the second half. By interacting with leaders and members of minority organizations, I have developed a concrete plan of action to improve the campus climate. Problem: How to improve the Diversity and Inclusion (DIP) plans submitted by student organizations to the SA? Solution: ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM → Merging SACIDI and SADAC - the two student assembly diversity committees - into one committee. Each member of this committee will be a liaison to 3 — 5 tier 1 and 2 organizations to overlook of implementation of DIP’s. Problem: Many more students face bias incidents on campus than the number who report them. Solution: ACCESSIBILITY → having one website which includes links to bias reporting tools, information on mental health resources. Problem: Students and faculty members who committed microaggressions have reported ignorance as one of the main reasons for committing these acts. Solution: AWARENESS → Institutionalizing events that follow up on tapestry of possibilities aimed at students of all years It is time to change the campus environment. It’s time. Vote SAIM!

Samari Gilbert (slg272)

Hello, my name is Samari Gilbert and I am sophomore majoring in Economics and Sociology and I would like to be your next Minority Representative. I am running for Student Assembly because I take pride in being a Cornellian and would like to take on a more active role in the way that the University is governed. On campus, I have been involved in a variety of organizations centered on diversity and the issues associated with it. While there are many elements of these issues where the University has been successful, I believe that a few key changes would improve the Cornell experience for every undergraduate on campus. If elected, I plan to: 1. Revise the way the University promotes and regulates diversity in the United Student Body document 2. Broaden the sense of camaraderie among various minority communities and the student body as a whole 3. Address the financial constraints that affect many minority organizations on campus and the students that they represent