Student Assembly

Whereas, the Student Assembly is the governing body which represents all undergraduate students at Cornell University;

Whereas, students, staff, faculty, and community members come to SA meetings to resolve important issues;

Whereas, distinguished figures at Cornell, such as President Skorton, Vice President Murphy, and Dean Hubble attend various SA meetings and deserve the proper respect of the Assembly;

Whereas, such figures are always dressed in professional attire when addressing the Assembly.

Be it therefore resolved, that the following section be added to the SA Standing Rules:

Section II: Dress Code

As elected officials of the undergraduate community in campus governance, representatives must conduct assembly business in a professional and prideful manner. Representatives are ordered to dress in business casual attire to best represent themselves and their constituencies.

Rule 1 All SA members must arrive to the meeting in business casual attire and remain in such professional dress until adjournment.

Rule 2 Acceptability of a member’s dress shall be at the digression of the Vice President of Internal Operations.

Rule 3 This is a general overview of appropriate business casual attire and should be used by the VP of Internal Operations to determine the acceptability of a SA member’s dress. Items that are not appropriate for the office are listed, too. This list is not all-inclusive and is open to change. The list tells you what is generally acceptable as business casual attire and what is generally not acceptable as business casual attire. No dress code can cover all contingencies so representatives must exert a certain amount of judgment in their choice of clothing to wear to meetings.

Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other makers of cotton or synthetic material pants, wool pants, flannel pants, dressy Capri’s, and nice looking dress synthetic pants are acceptable. Inappropriate slacks or pants include jeans, sweatpants, exercise pants, Bermuda shorts, short shorts, shorts, bib overalls, leggings, and any spandex or other form-fitting pants such as people wear for biking.

Casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that are split at or below the knee are acceptable. Dress and skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in public. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for meetings. Mini-skirts, skorts, sun dresses, beach dresses, and spaghetti-strap dresses are inappropriate for meetings.

Casual shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, tops, golf-type shirts, and turtlenecks are acceptable attire for meetings. Most suit jackets or sport jackets are also acceptable attire, if they violate none of the listed guidelines. Inappropriate attire for meetings includes tank tops; midriff tops; shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans; halter-tops; tops with bare shoulders; sweatshirts, and t-shirts unless worn under another blouse, shirt, jacket, or dress.

Conservative athletic or walking shoes, loafers, clogs, sneakers, boots, flats, dress heels, and leather deck-type shoes are acceptable for work. Wearing no stockings is acceptable in warm weather. Flashy athletic shoes, thongs, flip-flops, slippers, and any shoe with an open toe are not acceptable. Closed toe and closed heel shoes are required.

Hats are not appropriate in the meetings. Head Covers that are required for religious purposes or to honor cultural tradition are allowed.

Rule 4 If clothing fails to meet these standards, as determined by the VP of Internal Operations, the representative will be asked not to wear the inappropriate item to the meeting again. If the problem persists, the representative may be sent home to change clothes and will receive a verbal warning for the first offense. All other policies about attendance, outlined in Section I, will apply.

Be it further resolved, the Section II: Policies and Procedures be amended to read:

Section III: Policies and Procedures

Be it finally resolved, Section 4.2.c.3 of the SA Bylaws be amended to read:

Bylaw 4.2.c.3 The responsibilities of the Vice President of Internal Operations are as follows: 1. Attend all SA meetings and act as Chair in the absence of the President and Executive Vice President. 2. Serve on Executive Committee. 3. Chair Staffing Committee and monitor committee membership. 4. Coordinate and supervise all aspects of the SA office in Willard Straight Hall. 5. Maintain and monitor SA attendance records and send warning notices to members who are in jeopardy of violating the Assembly attendance policy. 6. Determine adherence of members to the SA dress code policy as stipulated in the Standing Rules. 7. Coordinate and supervise new member orientation. 8. Supervise SA Liaisons. 9. Maintain relations with intercollegiate student organizations of which the SA is a member � e.g. Ivy Council, SUNY Student Assembly. 10. Plan fall retreat for committee chairs. Devise mechanisms for student organizations to become active members in the decision-making process of the SA; most importantly, committees.