Minutes
Cornell University Student Assembly
November 3, 2011
4:45pm — 6:30pm
Willard Straight Hall, Memorial Room
N. Raps called the meeting to order at 4:45pm
I. Call to Order / Roll Call
Voting members present: S. Balik, G. Block, S. Breedon, D. Brown, A.
Chopra, R. Desai, A. Gitlin, R. Gitlin, D. Goldberg, M. Gulrajani, G. Hoffman,
J. Kay, D. Kuhr, A. Meller, J. Mueller, D. Muir, A. Nicolett, A. Pinkney, N.
Raps, J. Rau, P. Scelfo, U. Smith, E. Szulman, N. Treffeisen, A. Wolford, E.
Yeterian
Non voting members present: Dean Hubbell, A. Bores, A. Raveret, A.
Santangelo
Excused absences: J. Lee
II. Approval of the 10/20/11 Meeting Minutes
- Minutes tabled until the next meeting
III. Open Microphone
a. Ramsey Ataya ‘13
- Trying to push for a website that will centralize the updates of all the
student bodies (Class Councils, Assemblies, etc.)
- Website will also have a component of accountability for students
who are running or re-running for positions: will contain the previous
board they were on or will be on as well as the minutes of what has
been happening on those boards
- Looking for support from SA — has already brought idea up to Class
Councils and the UA
- Website is currently being designed
- M. Gulrajani: Spoke with R. Ataya earlier and supports what he thinks
is a great idea
IV. Announcements / Reports
a. Big Red Relief Announcement -
- Big Red Relief is an event planning organization
- 3 core values: culture relevancy, collaboration, and cooperation
- Planning a week of sensitization events as well as fundraising
- Event to kick off: November 12th 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Johnson Museum: East African celebration
- � Expect 300 to attend, pushing for student leaders to be there
- Asks SA to attend the event as well as to get the word out
- Tickets: $10.00 in advance, $12.00 at the door
b. SUNY Council Update — S. Balik
- SUNY trying to get students to post videos on their website — targeting
New Yorkers who have received state aid
c. Outreach Update — U. Smith
- If you are planning an event, time is winding down so most people
should already be planning
- November 8th: partnering with Cornell Minds Matter for Random Acts
of Kindness
d. Thanksgiving in Owego — M. Gulrajani
- Was reached out to by students of the hotel school with an idea to
have a Thanksgiving dinner in Owego
- Funded in part by the Dean of the hotel school
- Expecting 80–100 volunteers at Owego community center — also
looking for people to make Thanksgiving baskets to give out
- SA can help out by going to volunteer and publicizing the event
- As a heads up, there might be a request for special project funding
- N. Raps: Event will be coordinated by the SA
e. Chalk It Up — D. Goldberg
- Monday 11:00 to 5:00 — SA outreach event to inform students about
SA activities and how to get involved
- There will be tables set up with hundreds of sticks of chalk — will
invite students to chalk up all of Ho Plaza
f. Calendar Committee — G. Block
- Looking to take a day out of study week and put it into exam week —
way of ensuring that students do not have too many finals in a row
- Has been considering the shortening of Senior Week — this is not
something people want
- R. Desai: Why are people against shortening Senior Week?
- N. Raps: There was a survey sent out last year to students to get their
opinions
- R. Desai: Was the survey sent out before or after senior week?
- N. Raps: Unsure, but they will make sure to sent surveys out after
senior week in the future
- R. Desai: Talked to several people who said that senior week was a bit
long
g.Tar Sands Auction — J. Kay
- Tar Sands Auction to be held in DC on Saturday and Sunday (to
protest the Keystone XL Pipeline)
- Email Kathleen Alvey (kca27@cornell.edu) if you are interested
V. Business of the Day
a.Appropriations Committee Recommendation, Athletics & Physical Education— A. Nicoletti
- Allocations: last cycle - $10.00, requested $10.00, recommended
$10.00
- $7.00 allocated for the student sports pass, $3.00 allocated for
marketing
- Call to question, seconded
- Vote: 25–0−0
- SA approves funding
b. Appropriations Committee Recommendation, Big Red Bikes — A. Nicoletti
- Allocations: last cycle - $1.00, requested $2.00, recommended $2.00
- Group has done very well since the last cycle
- Currently has bike stations at Appel Commons, Mann Library, and Uris Library — plan to expand to Carpenter Hall and Collegetown
- Main reason for increase in funding: purchase of new bikes
- � Quality of current bikes are drawing students away
- � Life span of new bikes is double that of current ones
- 80% of people who use the program are undergraduates. In the future, if more graduates begin to use the program, the Committee recommends that the organization apply for GPSA funding as well
- D. Kuhr: How many undergraduates use the program?
- A. Nicoletti: Since the program opened last May, 1800 people have registered online (about 250/month). There have been 1300 rides since 9/9/11 (from only Uris Library) — program is doing very well
- Call to question, seconded
- Vote: 21–3−0
- SA approves funding
c. Appropriations Committee Recommendation, Women’s Resource Center — A.
Nicoletti
- Allocations: last cycle - $2.00, requested $4.16, recommended $3.00
- $0.50 for late night shuttle transportation still pending, as the Committee has not heard the request yet (will hear in two weeks)
- The Center has not asked for an increase since 1998 — shows that they are prudent in using their funds
- Committee felt that a $1.66 increase was too much to ask for in one year
- D. Kuhr: Will the SA vote on the $0.50 in two weeks?
- A. Nicoletti: Yes
- Call to question, seconded
- Vote: 25–0−0
- SA approves funding
d. Appropriations Committee Recommendation, Cornell Cinema — A. Nicoletti
- Allocations: last cycle - $10.00, requested $11.50, recommended $10.00
- Improvements in the organization since last funding cycle: student involvement drastically increased, a separate bank account was created for Student Activity Fee funds, relations with SA have improved
- Committee felt that $10.00 was appropriate — felt that $10.00 is greater than the value students are getting from the cinema. If the cinema goes into deficit, the Committee recommends that they charge more for tickets
- G. Block: Point of information: Why did the allocation recommendation vote jump from $11.50 to $10.00 — why was their not an intermediate value?
- A. Nicoletti: After a group makes their presentation, the Committee makes justification suggestions for what the allocation amount should be — those numbers are voted on from the original request, down. Some members suggested less than $10.00, but voting never got that
far
- Call to question, seconded
- Vote: 23–1−1
- SA approves funding
- A. Nicoletti: Thanks Cornell Cinema and Matt Danzer (SA liaison with the Cinema) for their work
e. Resolution 20: Why a Pub is Needed More Than Ever Before — Robert
Callahan ‘14, Dan Freshman ‘12, A. Bores, A. Gitlin, A. Nicoletti, N. Raps, E.
Szulman
- Resolution: SA to officially endorse the creation of the pub in the Ivy
Room
- Current status: pub will open on an Ad-hoc basis in the spring for certain events. Once Willard Straight Hall receives its alcohol license, the pub will open full time
- The pub will have regular entertainment (collaboration of many student organizations on campus) to be planned by the pub committee, which is operated by the WSH Programming Board
- G. Block: What kind of liability is the SA taking if they approve the resolution? What steps have been taken to reduce the liability?
- E. Szulman: The SA is not liable at all — there will be some economic volatility, but the idea is the the SA is very much in support of the pub
- A. Chopra: What do you mean by “significant deficit” in the resolution?
- A. Bores: There is no specific number in mind — they are looking at the pub in general
- J. Rau: Proposed amendment: striking the second “be it further resolved” clause — it is unclear and the SA should no be handing out a blank check. The SA has already contributed a lot to the pub and should not have to bail it out if it does not succeed
- G. Block: The SA is not a programming group, so the SA is not
responsible for whether or not the pub succeeds. Concerned about
liability — does not want future Assemblies to be in trouble if the pub
goes into deficit
- D. Kuhr: proposed amendment: modifying the second “be it further resolved” clause — change “strongly consider committing funding” to “work”
- J. Rau: Does not think the second proposed amendment makes any changes to the second clause
- Call to question, seconded (vote on second amendment: Change “strongly consider funding” to “work” — need a 2/3 vote)
- Vote: 6–15–4
- The second amendment does not pass — discussion returns to first amendment
- A. Meller: Is the SA responsible for the pub in principal or in financial senses?
- N. Raps: The resolution is saying that the SA will consider looking into additional funding sources if the pub is not economically viable in 3 years. The administration has seeded money to create the pub — the SA is to look for other sources if the pub goes into deficit. There
is no commitment of SA funds, but keep in mind that the pub is an SA project through and through
- J. Mueller: The only think the SA could possibly do to commit funding is to commit more funding to the Student Union Board for byline funding, where there is always a cap. Therefore, the SA should not be scared of the last clause.
- G. Block: If the pub sets prices too high, the SA should not be responsible. The SA has not been focused on pub programming, so future SAs should not focus on it either
- A. Bores: The resolution is not committing the SA to funding. The pub is a service for students, so the SA should consider committing funds
- E. Szulman: Cornell Dining is very much cognizant of the economic implications of the pub — understands that the pub must have competitive prices. Cornell Dining’s concern is that they cannot lose money
- G. Block: Did the administration ask for the final clause?
- Dean Hubbell: Cornell Housing and Dining are working together to maintain facilities appropriately. There is a certain amount of risk with the pub, so in order for it to go forward, the administration would like the SA to be willing to revisit the matter after a suitable interval — if the pub is not financially viable, that a discussion will take place regarding how to make it so
- E. Szulman: All dining experiences a loss within the first 3 years — so at the end of that time, it must be economically viable
- J. Mueller: At what point is the pub considered not financially viable?
- A. Gitlin: There are business models, but he does not know them well enough to speak on them in regards to years and numbers
- Call to question, seconded (vote on first amendment: striking the last clause — need a 2/3 vote)
- Vote: 14–11–0
- N. Raps: Actually only need a 1/2 vote to pass the amendment. Since this was not made clear, the SA will vote again
- Vote: 14–11–0
- The amendment passes — the second clause is stricken
- Call to question, seconded (vote on the resolution)
- Call for acclamation
- Resolution 20 passes
f. Resolution 21: Availability of Accessible Gender-Neutral Bathrooms and Locker Rooms on Campus — N. Treffeisen, Trey Ramsey, Talia Shear
- Trey Ramsey and Talia Shear apologize for not being present
- This issue is a main concern for the transgender community & People going through transition face discrimination in gendered bathrooms
- D. Kuhr: Have you talked with the appropriate people regarding changing the single stall bathrooms as well as the addition of diaper changing stations?
- N. Treffeisen: This issue is currently a concern of the UA committee — resolution is for the SA to put support behind the idea to get it going. Regarding pricing, changing a bathroom sign can be between $50 and $100, but there are not many single stalled bathrooms on campus to cost is not a big concern
- A. Nicoletti: To clarify, these will be unisex bathrooms?
- N. Treffeisen: Yes, these will be gender-neutral bathrooms that will be available for anyone and everyone regardless of sex
- A. Nicoletti: Why have these bathrooms not been constructed already?
- N. Treffeisen: There is a general stigma against not having separate bathrooms. This resolution will not take away gendered bathrooms, but will rather add possibilities
- U. Smith: When this resolution was first shown to the Residential Life Committee, the president of disability services thought it was a great idea. The resolution has also been brought up in the Student Advisor Council for Campus Life. Curious to see how this resolution
will impact residence halls
- N. Treffeisen: Gender-neutral bathrooms will open up people’s minds — people will begin to realize the reasons for it. Idea to change the thought of people on campus to understanding the needs of everyone
- P. Scelfo: Point of information: what is the percentage of students who do not identify with a gender?
- N. Treffeisen: Does not have actual numbers, but do know that 7%of campus is not heterosexual. The Transgender Committee formed because of concerns such as these, so there is definitely enough support behind it
- J. Mueller: This can be framed in any context, not just the LGBTQ community — imagine a father and his little girl: the father would feel uncomfortable taking his girl to the bathroom in either gendered bathroom
- Call to question, seconded, dissent
- A. Meller: Point of information: Can you specify the difference between a single stalled and gender-neutral bathroom?
- N. Treffeisen: A single stall bathroom has one door and one toilet
- Call for acclamation, dissent
- Vote: 24–1−0
- Community vote (can get a max of 2 votes for Sense of the Body Resolutions): 3 counts for two votes
- Final vote: 26–1−0
- Resolution 21 passes
VI. New Business
a. Resolution 23: Creating the Club Sports Ad-Hoc Committee — Tom Hayford, D. Goldberg
- The Ad-Hoc committee will represent the voice of all club sports players
- D. Golberg: Tom has been working very hard on this idea for two years
- T. Hayford: Resolution to put official backing behind efforts — looking into changes of how club sports is organized
- Motion to move to business of the day, seconded
- P. Scelfo: In the second “be it therefore resolved” clause is the phrase “short term committee”. So is the committee going to be permanent?
- T. Hayford: The committee will focus on the short term (this year). The long term goal is to create some sort of organization in which the interest of club sports is protected in the future. He sees the Ad-Hoc committee lasting until Spring, by which time there will hopefully be a
permanent committee
- A. Meller: Do the teams request funding individually?
- D. Goldberg: Every team is its own club organization, so each team applies individually. There is a $2,700 cap for competitive sports teams even though they generally need more money
- A. Nicoletti: Does the attached Club Sports Report contain a timeline?
- T. Hayford: There is currently no timeline, but it is the first topic the Ad-Hoc committee will focus on
- A. Nicoletti: How will the committee work to keep in touch with the SA?
- T. Hayford: He will send weekly emails regarding committee activity updates
- D. Golberg: As the SA liaison to athletics, he will probably add updates to the SA agenda as well
- A. Nicoletti: Thinks this is a great idea — asks that the committee work closely with the SAFC. As they hit bumps in the SAFC process, work with them to resolve this issues, is it will help other organizations, not only club sports
- S. Breedon: The report says that 8 members will be staffed. Is there room for other SA members?
- T. Hayford: The numbers in the report are minimums — there are no restrictions for people who would like to join
- D. Goldberg: Long term goal is to have a council for club sports (separate from the SA to function on its own)
- D. Kuhr: Thinks resolution is a great example of how the SA finds problems and resolves them
- Call to question, seconded
- Vote: 25–0−0
- Resolution 23 passes
b. Resolution 24: Garbage Cans on North Campus — R. Gitlin, D. Muir, E. Yeterian, P. Scelfo
- Tabled until the next meeting
c. Resolution 25: Improving Fire Safety Awareness — U. Smith
- Gil DiMarco (Environmental Health and Safety) approached the SA to come up with ideas to improve fire safety awareness on and off campus
- Plan to focus on residence halls before moving off campus
- Dorms in North Campus have stickers that are faded and ripped off — pushing to have those stickers replaced
- Environmental Health and Safety has some ideas for posters — would like these posted on doors / dorms as well as handed out by RAs. In addition, these materials would be inspected twice a year
- D. Kuhr: Is there something in the words for the rest of campus and Collegetown?
- U. Smith: Yes, but the focus is currently on North campus — focusing off-campus would require talking with landlords and other administrative tasks, so that will come later
- Call to question, seconded
- Call for acclamation
- Resolution 25 passed
VII. Executive Session
VIII. November Task Force Meetings
Meeting adjourned at 6:15pm.