Student Assembly

Minutes
Cornell University Student Assembly
September 15, 2011
4:47pm � 6:23pm
Willard Straight Hall, Memorial Room

Natalie Raps called the meeting called to order at 4:47pm

I. Call to Order / Roll Call

• Voting members present: G. Block, S. Breedon, D. Brown, A. Chopra, R. Desai, A. Gitlin, D. Goldberg, M. Gulrajani, G. Hoffman, J. Kay, D. Kuhr, J. Mueller, A. Nicoletti, A. Pinkney, J. Rau, U. Smith, E. Szulman, N. Treffeisen, A. Wolford
• Non-voting members present: A. Bores, A. Raveret, A. Santangelo
• Absences: none

II. Approval of he 9/8/11 Meeting Minutes

• Motion to amend minutes: change SAFC to IFC in snippet about lectures
• Motion to be emailed and forwarded to the office
• Motion to approve amendment: unanimous consent

III. Open Microphone

• No announcements

IV. Announcements / Reports

• President David Skorton and Dean Hubbell
  • President Skorton thanks the Student Assembly for the work they do
  • President Skorton would like if the SA talks with the administration about its ideas before formalizing resolutions
  • Representative Brown
• D. Brown: working with the Safety Commission regarding gorge safety — will begin postering in October and is working on a class video to make new students aware before coming on campus. Is there a particular area to be focused on?
• President Skorton: Thinks ideas are worthwhile — the information currently in the orientation packets have not conveyed the message effectively
• Dean Hubbell: The problem needs to be resolved in a timely fashion — at the end of the month there will be 3 reports with suggestions which the SA should review to determine the next course of action
  • Representative Block
• G. Block: Current rule regarding smoking on campus is ‘no smoking within 25 feet of a building,’ which is not enforced strictly. How does the administration balance allowing smoking and health risks from first/second —hand smoking?
• President Skorton: The more we can do to reduce health risks on campus, the better
• Dean Hubbell: Many are inclined to take the approach to banning smoking altogether, but the main concern is banning people’s rights
  • Mike De Lucia (from audience)
• Mike: VP for Improvement for IFC. Working on the issue of hazing and what to do in the future
• President Skorton: The process has to be protected, but Cornell has failed to eliminate degrading and humiliating aspects. Hopes this can be discussed at Student Leader meetings. Counting on IFC to be national voice in this matter
• Dean Hubbell: The issue has gained national momentum — Cornell will be in front on one of the major problems faced by the Greek System
• President Skorton and Dean Hubbell: Seeking to save, not eliminate, the system
• Mike: Trying to find ways to communicate with President Skorton / Administration — currently frustrated since there has only been one half hour meeting
  • Representative Desai
• R. Desai: What role do students have in governance of the classroom?
• President Skorton: The dialogue between faculty and the rest of campus is key — should not be an administrative matter for what happens in the classroom. Suggests the SA meet with faculty — would be glad to bring up concern with Dean of Faculty (Dean Fry)
• Dean Hubbell: Dean Fry is one of the most sympathetic Deans of faculy — SA is encouraged to closely work with him. Make the case eloquently to try and win the faculty over — will be unable to change the mandate of the faculty
  • Representative Kuhr
• Kuhr: member of JAFARC - Issue of rising cost of health insurance — does the Administration have plans to tackle the issue?
• President Skorton: Issue affects both students and employees — will email the SA with a summary of he issue along with info about employees, so the SA is aware. Important responsibility of the Administration to work with issue — they are aware and working on it and are very concerned with where it is going
  • Other questions from Representatives and audience members along with NYC Tech Campus promotional video will be emailed to President Skorton
• Big Red Food Drive Announcement — A. Bores and R. Desai
  • During tailgate on Saturday from 3–6 a Homecoming, there will be stand to donate food supplies and money
  • Donations will go toward flood relief in area just outside Tompkins County
  • SA representatives should be present at stand from 3–4 (location to be announced)
  • Gitlin encourages everyone to look up videos of the damage to be aware of the situation only 40 miles away
• NYC Tech Campus Update — G. Block, E. Szulman, A. Wolford
  • Tech video will go on video board during Homecoming game and will be placed on YouTube afterward
  • Will create more videos specifically showing why students want the Tech campus
  • There will be competition between Cornell and Stanford
  • D. Goldberg: What is Stanford doing right now?
  • Block: no indication that they are doing anything, but there is resentment among Stanford students on online polls — not expecting a big push from Stanford
• College of Human Ecology Update — D. Kuhr
  • Human Ecology building is open
  • New commons area
  • Building officially open at noon on October 20th
  • Currently rennovating East corridor, which will hold the Cornell imaging center
  • Hired a lot of faculty - over 11% increase
  • Will be applying for permanent funding, headed by Professor Daniel Lichtter
  • New program for Dual Degree
  • Dean’s Council - first meeting next Monday
• Dartmouth Collaborative Update — A. Gitlin
  • Cornell part of an educational collaborative of 30 schools around campus
  • Working on ways to reduce high-risk drinking on campus
  • Meeting yesterday with Administration — not much to report
  • Will send more information when there is more
• Residential and Community Life Update — U. Smith
  • Meeting Tuesday 4:30 in Goldwin Smith
  • Working on 104 West Initiative with Representative Szulman
  • Working on dissolution and combination of residential Student Congress
  • Current goal is to receive funding
• Outreach Update — U. Smith
  • Email was sent earlier about coffee hours (voted on a couple weeks ago)
  • Every Thursday at 4:30 in different locations, an hour long session will be held
  • Hopes SA members will make an effort to go to these meetings before the SA meeting to meet people
  • Side note: when creating an event, be as inclusive as possible with the people involved in the event. Be aware of who you are profiling.
• Arts and Sciences Outreach — E. Szulman, J. Rau, D. Brown
  • Ice cream social to be held Wednesday 12 to 2pm in Ho Plaza, Willard Straight Hall if there is rain
  • U. Smith: Please email Smith, as he is the VP of Outreach
  • There were interal problems, but the spot was reserved and the information will be emailed
  • N. Raps: In the future, please communicate any and all Outreach events to Smith to the rest of SA can receive / review it
• Elections Update — A. Ravaret
  • Candidiate forum from 7–8 in Art Gallery
  • Voting begins next Monday (9/19/11)
  • Thinking of putting voting booths in RPCC
• Doha-Quatar Initiative — N. Treffeisen
  • Issue: treating homosexuality
  • Will be more information
  • No connections between Doha and Weill Medical Center — issue will be looked into further

V. Business of the Day

• Review of the Student Assembly Proposed Budget — A. Nicoletti
  • SA passes its own administrative budget each year
  • Change: Change funding of SAFC shirts from $500.00 to $215.00
  • Only funding shirts for new commissioners
  • Last year the surplus was attempted to be worked down, but was unsuccessful
  • rollover from previous year: $19,901.61
  • Total budget this year: $50,636.25
  • Last year there was an SAFC budget issue with shirts
  • Increased advertising for SAFC so students will know what changes are
  • $1500.00 increase in Internal Development since members were fragmented last year and not working together
  • Appropriations committee: increase in funding since it is a byline year and they will be meeting more often
  • Dining committee not being funded anymore
  • Public Service Committee: increase in funding since they will be creating a guidebook
  • SAORC: increase in funding for meals
  • SUNY SA: increase in funding for conferences
  • No longer funding Ivy Council
  • All additional funds will be deposited into special projects - avoids voting process during meetings
  • D. Kuhr: Action last year (11–5−9) passed memorandum to never fund SAFC shirts again. Ridiculous to fund shirts since previous legislative action was taken. In funding shirts, SA is devaluing name of organization since they are not abiding by a previous action.
  • D. Kuhr motions to strike the $215.00 funding for SAFC shirts
  • A. Nicoletti: Fighting over $215 is petty. Completely different climate in SAFC now, so not funding shirts could increase exacerbation between the SA and the SAFC.
  • A. Gitlin: Amendment last year was not binding. Also, relations with the SAFC are not the best, so cutting funding would make things worse
  • R. Desai: Point of information: Funding from shirts reduced to $215, since they are only for new Fall and Spring commissioners
  • R. Desai: Shirts add to organization at hearings - seems silly, but people remember the “red polos”
  • BREAK IN BUSINESS OF THE DAY — President Skorton and Dean Hubbell arrive (see Announcements / Reports)
  • G.Block: Propose amendment to SAORC’s budget from $500 to $200 — committee will not need the funding for meals
  • A. Nicoletti: Agrees with amendment — will allow extra $300 to go to special projects
  • U. Smith: General question — where does “striked” money go? Does it go into special projects or does the SA vote to movie t to a spefici place?
  • A. Nicoletti: Surplus automatically deposited to funding for special projects — more efficient. Would like to spend no more than $5,000 on special projects — additional surplus will be left for the Ad-Hoc committee
  • Call to question
  • Vote: 15–0−0
  • Budget approved
• Resolution 6: Supporting the Creation of an Official Cornell Mascot — G. Block
  • Strike ‘;’ in ‘buy’ in Resolution
  • Idea that SA and students focus on Cornell tradition
  • Call question, seconded, dissent expressed
  • N. Raps: There has been a lot of dissent. To clarify, dissent is if you do not want to vote. If you do not agree with the resolution, just vote no
  • Dissent: not all representatives have spoken yet
  • Vote (to vote): 5–12–1
  • Motion to vote does not pass — return to discussing resolution
  • J. Mueller: Should ask students regarding the mascot
  • D. Kuhr: Agrees — should ask students
  • G. Block: Representatives were elected to represent, so there is no need to survey students. In addition, if a survey as to be held, all living alumni would have to be surveyed also. Seems pointless — Touchdown the Bear is already an established tradition, as three classes spent money to buy an actual bear
  • J. Rau: Does not believe Touchdown is the de facto mascot, thinks the SA is wasting time. The issue should be brought to the Athletics department if it is a real concern. Even if the resolution passes, the mascot will not change overnight
  • Call to question, seconded
  • Vote: 3–12–3
  • Resolution does not pass
• Resolution 8: Approval of the 2010–2011 Standing Rules — A. Gitlin
  • Standing rules are internal rules that the SA follows
  • No changes in rules for this year, all are posted online — take the week to look at them, not necessary to vote today
  • D. Kuhr: Changes from last year?
  • A. Gitlin: none at all
  • U. Smith: Any move to incorporate how specific positions operate, for example complication with budgeting for Outreach programs
  • A. Gitlin: Not considered / mentioned in standing rules. Suggests writing up a set of standing rules, but when he himself was in the Outreach position, he did not feel comfortable writing standing rules
  • Call to Question, dissent — would anyone like to review the rules?
  • A. Gitlin: did not print standing rules since it is online, not trying to trick people into passing the rules — dissent withdrawn
  • Call to question seconded, call for acclamation, seconded
  • Vote: 18–0−0
  • Resolution 8 passes

VI. New Business

• Resolution 9: Off-Campus Promotion of Medical Amnesty — J. Mueller
  • Chris Sanders: President of Sigma Chi — starting organization on campus to decrease high-risk behavior regarding alcohol an increasing alcohol safety
  • J. Mueller: Resolution co-sponsored by Gannett
  • Trying to get decals printed to get the information out: anyone calling for someone to get medical attention or receiving attention has all legal action waved when calling 911 — extension of Cornell’s Amnesty program to Collegetown (in effect on Saturday)
  • J. Rau: Great that the task force is hitting the ground running. Is Gannet interesting in funding? Why use SA money?
  • J. Mueller: Thinks it’s a great idea — will talk to Gannet
  • D. Kuhr: Would like Mueller to get a solid number from Gannet to be discussed before voting next week
  • J. Kay: Have you talked about putting the information in the orientation pamphlet for freshmen?
  • J. Mueller: Good suggestion. Currently holding meetings with administration regarding Cornell’s amnesty program vs. NY state program (very different right now) but will go with the orientation pamphlet idea after those conversations
  • G. Block: Suggests branching out to others to distribute information. Also recommends putting up posters so people can see them on the way home
  • J. Mueller: Also talking with Ithaca College about the same off-campus idea — will have decals for private residences and plan on having larger advertisements outside
  • A. Nicoletti: Wants Mueller to come back next meeting with a distribution strategy so they can discuss funding. What metrics are we evaluating to determine student health in Collegetown?
  • J. Mueller: Statistics are to be kept confidential — for now, he wants to get the idea out in the open, but will come back with more information
  • R. Desai: Tangent: Health committee should consider reviewing Alcohol Response Policy (how parents are notified of incidents) — should complement the Collegetown initiative
  • M. Gulrajani: Suggests putting decals on bars in fraternities/sororities
  • A. Gitlin: Add Chris Sanders on Resolution
  • J. Mueller: Also add Katherine Fideler and Katherina Balram

Meeting adjourned at 6:23 pm

Respectfully submitted,
Chelsea Cheng and Claire Lender