MINUTES
Graduate & Professional Student Assembly
GPSA Discussion Meeting
Monday, November 14th, 2011
Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room
5:30–7:00 P.M.

I. Welcome, Guests, & Introductions

E. Cortens called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. There was a roll call of the voting members.

Voting Members present: K. Albert, B. Alkemeyer, S. An, N. Baran, Y. Chen, J. Ciecholewski, E. Cortens, C. Ferkinhoff, M. Hawkins, J. Keach, A. Nash, R. Robbins, E. Smith, M. White, C. Wilson

Voting Members late: R. Adra, A. Elliott, Y. Izrayelit, M. Tootill

1. Presentation on Means Restriction (Greg Eells, Gannett Health Services; Gilbert

Delgado, Capital Projects & Planning), 16 min.

G. Delgado and G. Eells gave a presentation on Cornell’s bridges and how to eliminate the risk of suicides from the bridges without obstructing views of the gorges. They have decided to install horizontal nets beneath most of the bridges and remove most of the fences. On the suspension bridge, the current bars will be removed and a mesh surrounding will be installed, instead of nets.

A. Nash asked if the bridges they visited in Switzerland included both foot and vehicular traffic bridges.

The presenters responded that they had studied both types of bridges while they were visiting Switzerland to research means restriction.

E. Strong asked if there have been incidents at Cornell of people jumping from the sides of bridges, rather than from them the bridges themselves.

G. Eells said that there have been some deaths from alcohol-related falls at the sides of the bridges.

Y. Izrayelit asked if there would be any signs on the bridges to discourage people from jumping.

The presenters said means restriction is the most effective way of preventing suicides, but there will still be signs on the bridges.

C. Heckman asked what color the nets will be.

The presenters responded that they would be green and black to match the current colors of the structures. They are possibly considering stainless steel though because it is easier to maintain.

W. Kreuser asked about suicide attempts in Switzerland since the installation of their net system.

The presenters said there were no incidents since the installation.

II. Approval of the Minutes

1. October 31st, 2011, 1 min.

After a few amendments were proposed, the minutes from October 31st were approved.

III. Reports of Officers and Committee Updates, 15 min.

1. Executive Committee (E. Cortens) Ivy Summit Update, 5 min

E. Cortens said he and some other GPSA members attended the Ivy Summit. Among the topics discussed were survey/data-driven advocacy and how to deal with high turnover in graduate student assemblies.

N. Baran said she was inspired to improve interactions in graduate student-alumni relations. She also discussed improving advisor-student relationships, providing more graduate community space, and improving support for graduate students from diverse backgrounds.

R. Robbins said she learned about ideas for events and wellness and health-focused initiatives.

2. Field Representative Rights & Responsibilities (N. Baran), 2 min.

N. Baran said all field representatives have the right to speak at meetings and they can make or second motions, bring resolutions before the GPSA, and as well they elect and empower the GPSA voting members.

3. Appropriations (C. Heckman)

C. Heckman said Appropriations did not meet last week, so there was nothing new to report.

4. Communications (S. An)

S. An said the next issue of GPSA Buzz will be coming out Friday, so send him information by Wednesday.

5. Finance Commission (M. Tootill)

M. Tootill said that Friday, December 2 at 4 pm is the last deadline for funding applications until April 2012.

6. Student Advocacy (R. Robbins)

R. Robbins said she is a member of the University Council on Wellness. They have worked on promoting counseling by extending counseling hours, among other initiatives. They are also working on reducing first-year binge drinking. She explained that a health leave of absence is one of three ways to take leave from the University. If anyone is interested in a position on the Council on Wellness, visit the Cornell Assemblies Staffing website.

7. Graduate & Professional Student Programming Board (Y. Chen)

Y. Chen said this Thursday is another interschool mixer between Engineering, Life Sciences, and the Vet School at the Big Red Barn. In December, there will be a Grad’s Night Out at Kilpatrick’s, a Spa Day, and Ice Skating at Lynah Rink.

IV. New Business

1. Initial votes on Appropriations Committee Recommendation for 2012–2014 Graduate &

Professional Student Activity Fee, 50 min.

The assembly proceeded through a series of twelve motions, one per byline-funded organization, as to whether the Appropriations Committee’s recommendation should be included in the activity fee setting resolution. Since the GPSAFC is funded by statutory mandate, no vote on it is necessary.

� Athletics - $7.00

There was a call to question. Seconded. No dissent. By a vote of 17–0, the motion was adopted.

� Big Red Barn - $8.00

There was a call to question. Seconded. No dissent. By a vote of 17–0, the motion was adopted.

� Cornell Cinema - $11.05

There was a call to question. Seconded. No dissent. By a vote of 16–1, the motion was adopted.

� Cornell Concert Commission - $5.75

There was a call to question. Seconded. No dissent. By a vote of 17–0, the motion was adopted.

� Cornell EMS - $1.80

There was a call to question. Seconded. No dissent. By a vote of 17–0, the motion was adopted.

� CU Program Board - $3.55

There was a call to question. Seconded. No dissent. By a vote of 17–0, the motion was adopted.

� GPSA - $1.84

There was a call to question. Seconded. No dissent. By a vote of 17–0, the motion was adopted.

� GPS Programming Board - $2.00

There was a call to question. Seconded. No dissent. By a vote of 17–0, the motion was adopted.

� International Student Board - $1.55

There was a call to question. Seconded. No dissent. By a vote of 17–0, the motion was adopted.

� Orientation - $1.00

There was a call to question. Seconded. No dissent. By a vote of 17–0, the motion was adopted.

� Risk Management - $5.50

There was a call to question. Seconded. No dissent. By a vote of 17–0, the motion was adopted.

� Slope Day - $3.50

A. Nash said Slope Day is an important tradition, but it is important to stress that it is not inclusive of all graduate students. She does not recommend funding at $3.50. She would prefer slightly less funding.

K. Albert said the feedback from his colleagues was negative toward Slope Day and GPSA members need to decide whether to pay for tickets or fund Slope Day.

E. Newbury (Communication Field Representative) said her department was pretty adamantly opposed to funding Slope Day.

J. Rau of the Slope Day Programming Board said there are a large number of graduate students who do attend Slope Day, yet there are many who cannot attend. Although Slope Day has the ability to ticket graduate and professional students, they would prefer not to go down this route.

M. Walsh said Slope Day is a Cornell tradition, although it has changed significantly over the years. He thinks that with graduate and professional student input, Slope Day will be able to become better and more representative of the entire community.

C. Mansfield said $3.50 was deemed sufficient by the GPSA Appropriations Committee to build a sense of community.

C. Heckman said he thinks the GPSA should still try to work with Slope Day, although there are many graduate students who don’t attend. If they cut Slope Day entirely, they will be giving up on a Cornell tradition.

N. Baran asked what would happen if they voted no on the pending motion, sending the recommendation back to the Committee.

C. Heckman said his committee would have to discuss their options. He is unsure of what the GPSA would prefer to do with the remainder of the funding.

Y. Izrayelit asked the Slope Day Programming Board to elaborate on whether they would adjust their position on funding in order to continue to work with the GPSA.

N. Cornelio from the Slope Day Programming Board said Slope Day has brought in more graduate students than CCC and Cornell Cinema, although those groups are funded higher. SDPB would not like to ticket graduate students, but that they would have to if they didn’t receive enough funding.

R. Robbins said just having the option to attend Slope Day last year was worth her money from the Activity Fee.

W. Kreuser said it would be an upset if graduate students had to pay for tickets. He asked the Slope Day Programming Board if they would be willing to raise their funding in order to not ticket graduate students.

J. Rau said $4.50 is the amount Slope Day requires from the GPSA in order to not ticket graduate students.

E. Smith said he is interested in maintaining a relationship with Slope Day. He wondered if graduate students would attend if they had to pay for a ticket.

J. Rau said the risk is that no graduate students would attend their event if they are ticketed. Therefore, rather than ticketing graduate students, SDPB’s rationale is to require a fairer allocation from the GPSA, rather than relying on the SA to fund the majority of Slope Day’s expenses.

E. Strong said requiring graduate students to pay for a ticket would not foster a sense of community. On the other hand, the $3.50 reflects the level of participation graduate students are willing to extend to Slope Day.

C. Heckman moved to extend the meeting to 7:10 pm. C. Ferkinhoff seconded. No objection.

G. Turano said her department was torn over whether or not they liked Slope Day. She said that to not fund Slope Day is not fair to those who like it. On the other hand, there needs to be a balance in funding because there are many who are against it. She suggested possibly voting for the $3.50 Activity Fee allocation and then have the SDPB reduce the ticket price from $25.00 in return.

C. Heckman said Turano’s suggestion is likely not a viable option.

A field representative said funding Slope Day is such a divisive issue, so she recommends either approving the $3.50 or less.

M. Hawkins said this issue has been discussed for quite some time and minds aren’t going to be changed if discussion continues.

There was a call to question. Seconded. By a vote of 12–3, the motion to end debate was approved.

By a vote of 14–1, the motion to approve the appropriations committee’s recommendation to fund Slope Day at $3.50 for inclusion in the resolution was adopted.

There was a motion to adjourn. Seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Allison Bazinet