Student Assembly

Minutes
Cornell University Student Assembly
March 26, 2009
4:45 — 6:00pm
Memorial Room, Willard Straight Hall

I. Call to Order

R. Lavin called the meeting to order at 4:46pm.

II. Roll Call

Representatives Present: V. Andres, N. Baker, C. Basil, A, Brokman, A. Craig, L. DeLencquesaing, E. Diakow, A. Garcia-Verdin, M. Heinz, N. Junewicz, N. Kumar, A. Latella, R. Lavin, G. Mezey, T. Miller, N. Raps, R. Salem, O. Sandoval, E. Shannon, B. Smith, R. Stein, Y. Yuan

Representatives Absent, Unexcused: M. McDermott,

Liaisons Absent: A. Miller, S. Tata

III. Approval of the Minutes — February 26, 2009; March 5, 2009

There was a call for acclimation. It was seconded without dissent. The minutes from the previous two meetings were approved

IV. Open Microphone

No one came forth to speak.

V. Announcements/Reports

Committee on Transfer Affairs Announcement — Andrew Brokman

A. Brokman reported that on the public front, over 100 people have joined the transfers’ facebook group. David Yeh from the university registrar stated that the FS does not want the transfer students to have a different transcript as their peers. Also, over 500 responses have been received for the housing survey, asking those transfers who live in the transfer center versus those who lived elsewhere. Transfer orientation events have also been discussed.

ResLife Committee Announcement — Nikhil Kumar

N. Kumar announced the Off-Campus Housing Officed held a discussion about tenant rights, etc. and asked the university community to help advertise events. As to on campus housing, lots of students have expressed concern for the housing lottery. There is a resolution about scaled housing rate. N. Kumar encouraged people to e-mail him with opinions or suggestions concerning the housing lottery.

Election Wrap-Up

R. Lavin congratulated those who won in the election.

R. Salem announced that there will be a conference with the SUNY student assembly on April 17–19, in Rochester. Cornell will get two seats. Salem invited people to come along with him. Also, next Monday from 5–7 pm, there is the orientation session and internal election for the newly elected members. We will be deciding on committee positions and the director of election position. The director of election can be decided in internal election or a general election by the student body.

C. Basil made the textbook price announcement. The faculty turn in textbook lists to the Cornell Store in the summer. If they do so in the spring, this will reduce textbook prices by letting the Cornell Store buy back more used books. This would mean the faculty have to turn in their booklists about 2 months earlier. Basil will bring up this issue at the April 8 FS meeting and encouraged people to come to talk to him beforehand.

A. Craig reported that this issue was discussed with Cornell Store staffers at the UA. August is too late for the Cornell Store to purchase used books, so the booklist deadline really needs to be moved up.

V. Andrews announced that the Student Disabilities Office is looking for a student liaison, preferably an SA member and in the communications committee.

L Ravin informed the SA that Cornell and the city of Ithaca both contributed to hire an outside firm to draft the Collegetown Urban Planning Design Guidelines. It is a plan to change city zoning and planning guidelines to allow for specific and strategic development of Collegetown. There has been some friction from permanent residents, who have a large representation at the City Council and resent the plan. More student representation is needed on the council. Next week, a resolution will be introduced, calling for all the university assemblies to pay more attention to and put more pressure on the issue.

VI. Business of the Day

R.24 Appendix A Changes — Greg Mezey

G. Mezey said this resolution has been circulating for a few weeks already and it is time to make a decision about it.

There was a call to question, which was seconded. The resolution passed with 20 −0- 2.

Collegetown Urban Planning Design Guidelines — Kate Duch (student trustee)

K. Duch said the university and the city of Ithaca hired consultants fall of 2007 to draft plans for Collegetown. Focus groups were held with students to help draft what the students want Collegetown to look like. The plan was finished last spring and has gone through a number of revisions.

R. Lavin explained that certain parts have gone back to committee and more obstacles have been created in the way of the plan getting through the City Council. K. Duch said the plan is still on line, but we needs to have student representatives go to meetings. The best way would be to get a schedule of the meetings and divide them up so some students will be present at each meeting.

R. Lavin pointed out that Collegetown is 97% college residents and 3% permanent residents. The permanent residents understandably have attachment to the land, but they are objecting to further development of Collegetown. Duch explained that the problem is most of these 3% show up at every meeting while only one or two students show up.

L. DeLencquesaing asked how many is the 3% and where do they live? Duch replied there are 8 or 9 who show up consistently, and there often is an even bigger turn-out.

R. Lavin said that they are posing a limit on the height of buildings. Collegetown is limited so that would mean students have to keep spreading out.

L. DeLencquesaing commented those 3% shouldn’t block something that would benefit both the general Ithaca population and Cornell. After all, Collegetown is a place for students. Duch said that is why we need more student voice at these meetings and more pressure from the university.

R. Lavin called a 10-minute recess from 5:18 to 5:28.

A. Craig informed the SA that gorge safety will be discussed with the CJC at the next UA meeting. More student representation would be good because they need student input. He invites everyone to the next UA neeting. Craig also reported that President Skorton and Provost Fuchs were at the UA meeting the previous day to talk about the financial situation.

R. Lavin commented that we are concerned with safety of students jumping off gorges, but arresting students in the gorge wasn’t the original idea. A. Craig agreed now the scale has tipped too far and we are trying to find a middle ground.

A. Garcia-Verdin asked if the SA has any sway over whether or not the resolution passes. A. Craig replied the CJC is under the UA and he and N. Raps are voting members of the UA, but with that said, students do not have that much say.

Conversation with President Skorton and Dean of Students Hubbell 5:30 — 6:00

President Skorton expressed his gratitude to students and their families for their support for the university. Tuition will increase moderately next year due to inflation. The university has spent great effort to recalibrate toward more rigorous student financial aid; 300 million dollars was moved to financial aid. There were also budget cuts, effective July 1. A new program of retirement has been devised for staff or employees who have been here for over 10 years. We are developing more financial flexibility and are in better shape than some other schools are, but we still have many challenges. President Skorton has talked to many seniors about job prospects after graduation. Most of the students have solid plans for next year, either graduate professional school or jobs, Some will work for a year or two for non-profit organizations. Alumni have also been very helpful in the process.

T. Miller asked about the strategic committee formed regarding student financial decisions. President Skorton said some actions were taken immediately and bluntly and were not necessarily strategic. Budget cuts, staff cuts, no raise for faculty and staff this year, all these are not sustainable measures. He has asked Provost Fuchs to draft a more strategic plan. It will certainly include direct consultation from the assemblies. It will also include having some individuals from the assemblies involved in the actual planning. It’s important to have representation from many parties but it’s also crucial to keep committee size small and able to make fast decisions. The first phase of the plan involves budgets cuts and individual organizations getting smaller. The second phase will involve long-term strategic planning across the campus.

R. Lavin asked about budget cuts will affect the by-line funded student groups and how we can avoid hurting the student programs while not raising student activity fee. President Skorton said that is a great example of how things traditionally not considered to involve the student envelop will affect the students nonetheless. In general, he will be supportive of SA decisions so this will depend on what the SA decides.

V. Andrews asked about the issue of increasing enrollment. President Skorton replied that the current freshman class has 3150 students. There is no intention to increase the student body beyond that. Faculty reduction is minimal, and most faculty have tenure anyway. Cornell is in fact still hiring, though there are areas of the university that will be made smaller. Student application rate actually went up, and Cornell is one of the few universities that saw an increase in that aspect. We want to be very cautious if we want to change those areas of student life that are so attractive. We also want to meet other student needs, the Gannett health service, for example.

R. Salem asked what tuition change President Skorton sees for the future. President Skorton said a moderate increase. It is extremely important not have Cornell to lose affordability. On the other hand, the biggest single revenue source is tuition. At this time, he can’t give an answer in detail.

Before leaving the meeting, President Skorton encouraged people with questions to e-mail him directly at david.skorton@cornell.edu

Slope Day Program Update

Mandy Hjellming and Patrick Robert Maloney from the Slope Day Programming Board announced that Asher Roth and the Pussycat Dolls are selected to perform on Slope Day 2009.

VII. Adjournment

R. Lavin adjourned the meeting at 6:04 pm.