Student Assembly

Minutes
Cornell University Student Assembly
December 1, 2011
4:45pm — 6:30pm
G01 Biotech

N. Raps called the meeting to order at 4:46pm

I. Call to Order / Roll Call

• Voting members present: S. Balik, G. Block, S. Breedon, A. Chopra, R. Desai, D. Goldberg, M. Gulrajani, G. Hoffman, J. Kay, D. Kuhr, A. Meller, J. Mueller, D. Muir, A. Nicoletti, N. Raps, J. Rau, P. Scelfo, U. Smith, A. Wolford, E. Yeterian
• Non-voting members present: A. Raveret, A. Santangelo
• Excused half absence: A. Pinkney
• Unexcused absences: R. Gitlin, N. Treffeisen

II. Approval of the 11/17/11 Meeting Minutes

• Minutes approved

III. Open Microphone

• None

IV. Announcements / Reports

Welcome to new S.A. Members — N. Raps

Student Health Task Force Update — J. Mueller

• Amnesty decals are printed — working on getting everything out for pre-rush week
• Some legality issues with Cayuga’s Watchers
• Dartmouth Collaborative — there will be a conference in Texas and an update will be given then
• D. Kuhr: Went to focus group meeting with P. Scelfo at Gannett to determine usage of decals at the health center — cannot give details, but the meeting went very well

Student Safety Task Force Update — A. Chopra

• Script has been drafted — hoping a lot of progress will be mde

Outreach Task Force Update — U. Smith and M. Gulrajani

• Looking for ways to include more student voices — contemplated emails / surveys / etc.
• Most outreach events can be done through Communications Committee so their focus in the task force is to get more people to the meetings

Student Funding Task Force Update — A. Nicoletti

• Completed by-line funding process from the Appropriations Committee side
• From the SAFC side, they have been leading the charge for a reformation of their guidelines

Pub Update — N. Raps

• Now the Pub Logistics Committee — everyone involved in the administration that has some part in the pub
• Liquor license will not be ready for spring
• 4 wet events will be held in the Ivy Room (Cornell catered)
  • Super Bowl Sunday
  • Filthy Gorges
  • Student DJ Night
  • Poem Open-Mic Night
• Will have an update at the end of the semester with all the work and plans for the pub

Outreach Update — U. Smith

• Organizational spotlights — waiting for the website to launch
• Dave Ge (President of Coffee Hour)
  • Averages 72 attendees per meeting — there have been 10 meetings so far
  • Hopes that next semester more people will hear about Coffee Hour and attend — great social outlet for people to meet others
  • Plan to work with Resident Student Congress and Community Center Programs to bring Coffee Hour to North Campus. Thinking Friday 4:30 in RPCC

V. Business of the Day

Appropriations Committee Byline Funding Recommendation: Outdoor Odyssey — A. Nicoletti

• Allocations — previous cycle: $1.50, request: $1.75, recommended $0.50
• Outdoor Odyssey is a pre-orientation trip in which 200–250 students participate
• Committee questioned the expenditure on high quality T-shirts and on funding summer salary stipends for the two coordinators
• Committee also felt that the eligibility of the group was in question — felt that all students do not have equal opportunity to attend the trips
  • Outdoor Odyssey advertisements are highly targeted toward Cornell Days, an event many students do not attend
  • Cost of Outdoor Odyssey trips are high, which can also be a preventative barrier for people to participate
• Committee recommended the minimum amount of $0.50 and the long term goal is to transition Outdoor Odyssey away from byline funding
• Graham Chapman (president of Outdoor Odyssey)
  • 7th year Outdoor Odyssey has asked for funding
  • Addressing concern of equal opportunity
  • Outdoor Odyssey is an event that must be advertised before students come to school, and Cornell Days is the biggest opportunity to do so
  • In addition, they use social networking websites and emails to reach students — survey conducted showed that 76% of students have heard of Outdoor Odyssey before coming to Cornell. 80% of the people who attended Cornell Days have heard of it and 66% people who did not attend heard of it
  • Without byline funding, Outdoor Odyssey will be unable to provide equal opportunity to all students because they will be unable to provide financial aid
  • A previous request increase from $1.00 to $1.50 was made specifically for the reason of providing financial aid. 20% of people who participate in Outdoor Odyssey would not have been able to participate without this aid
  • Addressing concern of summer stipend: Coordinators have a full-year job and the stipend goes toward living accommodations over the summer
  • Addressing concern of T-shirts: They are more expensive since they have to remain insulating while wet. The T-shirts were not for trippers, as was interpreted, but for the guides
• A. Nicoletti: If an amendment is made to the funding amount, the SAF or the SAFC amount will have to be adjusted accordingly
• G. Block
  • Believes Appropriations Committee made a mistake
  • The decision should be made solely based on the considerations of the group, not by the looming issue of SAF adjustments
  • There is no difference between Outdoor Odyssey and Alternative Breaks, as both groups target students at specific times during the year
  • Decreasing the funding amount to $0.50 is only making the group more expensive and more exclusive — can possibly work to charge trippers for the 3 free trips currently provided
  • This group should definitely be funded as it benefits students and cannot function without funding
• D. Kuhr
  • Their events that occur before school starts are funded by their respective departments — why is Outdoor Odyssey not? Byline funding Outdoor Odyssey would set a double standard
  • Alternative Breaks is different since they target students already on campus. Also, if Alternative Breaks is set to be a standard, then there should be no stipend for the Outdoor Odyssey coordinators
  • Despite these points, he considers that cut from $1.50 to $0.50 to be very drastic
• A. Nicoletti: The $0.50 recommendation was to be used toward guide development and financial aid. 3 people on the Committee wanted to deny Outdoor Odyssey funding altogether
• Graham Chapman
  • The 3 free trips are service trips
  • POST has 76 participants, 14 guides, and is supported by 2 full time faculty — it is completely run by the university. Outdoor Odyssey is completely student run and has over 100 guides
  • Outdoor Odyssey is a unique group that provides something other groups do not on campus
• Daniel Young ‘13: Outdoor Odyssey provides small group settings in which people can create networks and connect to upper classmen. He participated as a freshman and is not a guide. The broader effect of Outdoor Odyssey cannot be understated
• J. Rau: Believes it unfair to suddenly cut funding after 6 years of continuous support. The Committee was holding Outdoor Odyssey to a different standard than other groups — they were unusually strict with the requirements for eligibility, which have been rather unclear.
• Amendment proposed to fund Outdoor Odyssey at previous allocation amount of $1.50
• J. Kay: Fully supports motion. Outdoor Odyssey supports both the Cornell and Ithaca communities and should definitely be funded
• A. Gitlin: Outdoor Odyssey would have a hard time getting support from their department. Agrees that Outdoor odyssey builds the student community and fully supports the amendment
• Charlotte Ambrozele ‘13: Freshman and transfers that participate in Outdoor Odyssey have a great support system before coming to Cornell — they get a head start on being involved on campus
• A. Wolford: In full support of amendment — Outdoor Odyssey creates and environment that no other pre-orientation event provides
• G. Hoffman: Is on the Appropriations Committee and can see the mistake that they made. Outdoor Odyssey has indeed reached out to all students. In addition, they have done everything the Committee suggested in the past and did not deserve such a drastic cut
• Sean Augustino ‘12
  • One of the marketing chairs for Outdoor Odyssey
  • Outdoor Odyssey makes a real effort to reach out to students that do not attend Cornell Days. They are targeting transfer students next year
  • If funding were to be cut, tripper fees would increase and make the program less accessible
  • They work closely with Cornell Outdoor Education and rely on them for logistical support. Funding is not provided by Cornell Outdoor Education, as he believes funding is outside the ability of that department at this time
• R. Desai: Is on the Appropriations Committee, but did not attend. Believes that the cut is too drastic and would like to work with Outdoor Odyssey on determining the appropriate funding amount. Believes the SA should consider a decrease from the amount requested to entertain the concerns of the Committee as they spend more time reviewing budgets.
• Amendment to propose to fund Outdoor Odyssey at $1.25
• D. Kuhr: Important to consider the scope of how other groups funded by the SAF are going to be impacted. Thinks $0.50 is too drastic a cut, but would support funding amounts of $1.00 or $1.25
• Rob Moore ‘12: He is a guide of Outdoor Odyssey and supports maintaining funding at $1.50 as any decrease would be a big blow. He was the one who present in front of the Committee for the increase from $1.00 to $1.50
• P. Scelfo: Has Outdoor Odyssey been approached by people with disabilities?
• Sean Augustino: He has severe peanut allergies and was instantly accommodated by his guides when he attended Outdoor Odyssey
• P. Scelfo: Would recommend that they put some information on their website regarding who to contact with disability concerns
• A. Chopra: What is the difference between Outdoor Odyssey and POST? Does not feel comfortable using student money to pay for stipends. Advocates funding at $1.50 as $0.50 goes toward the stipends
• Amendment proposed to fund Outdoor Odyssey at $1.00
• Julien Wilson (Coordinator for Outdoor Odyssey)
  • Outdoor Odyssey trips are all over the region while POST stays local and does only service trips.
  • The salaries are taken from trip costs, not the funding provided. Those amounts are used specifically to keep trip prices down
• S. Breedon: Is on the Appropritations Committee and was present. Many people were against using student funds for an organization with paid guides and would like to reconsider funding — agrees with an amount under $1.50
• G. Block
  • Firmly believes that Outdoor Odyssey should be funded at $1.50. They have a very clear success rate while other groups funded by the SAF are new and the success rate if still unclear
  • There should not be a concern with paying the two coordinators, as other groups hire outside departments to do work for them (ex: CUPB)
• E. Szulman: Has Outdoor Odyssey ever requested money fro Cornell Outdoor Education?
• Julien Wilson: Cornell Outdoor Education is struggling with finances as the university cut their funds in the recession. Outdoor Odyssey would like to stay student run as it provides them legitimacy
• Graham Chapman: A lot of concerns brought up in the verdict of the Committee decision were not brought up during their hearing so the verdict was a surprise
• A. Nicoletti: The Committee did not question the existence of Outdoor Odyssey. They questioned if trippers should pay more money for Outdoor Odysey in lieu of the organizations receiving funds from the SAF
• Graham Chapman: Does not understand the contention with funding Outdoor Odyssey at $1.50 as that was the previous allocation. Cornell Outdoor Education has cut classes for guides due to their budget constraints which was why Outdoor Odyssey asked for an increase from $1.00 to $1.50. Without guide classes, the knowledge and expertise of guides will be lost
• Julien Wilson: Most of the funding goes toward financial aid. Everyone who applies for it receives it — the aid covers between 25% to 50% of the trip costs
• Call to question for the amendment of $1.50, seconded
• Vote: 12–10–1
• The $1.50 amendment did not pass
• Call to question for the amendment of $1.25, seconded
• Vote: 16–5−2
• The $1.25 amendment passes
• Call to question for the funding amount, seconded
• Vote: 16–5−2
• SA approves funding for Outdoor Odyssey at $1.25

Appropriations Committee Byline Funding Recommendation: CPB — A. Nicoletti

• Allocations — previous cycle: $2.00, requested $2.00, recommended $2.00
• CPB: Community Partnership Board
• Committee felt that CPB does good job — they target important service needs for the Cornell and Ithaca communities
• Call to question, seconded
• Vote: 18–0−0
• SA approves funding

Appropriations Committee Byline Funding Recommendation: Community Center Councils — A. Nicoletti

• Allocations — previous cycle: $3.00, requested $3.00, recommended $2.00
• Councils made up of NCPC (North Campus Programming Council) and POW! (Programming on West!)
• Committee decided to remove $1.00 of funding from POW! As the West Campus Community is providing a lot of programming already
• Questioned moving the $1.00 funds to NCPC but did not see the need
• Call to question, seconded
• Vote: 17–0−0
• SA approves funding

Appropriations Committee Byline Funding Recommendation: Haven — A. Nicoletti

• Allocations: previous cycle: $2.20, requested $3.00, recommended $3.00
• Haven is the LGBTQ union at Cornell
• Haven has maintained a higher number of participants in their events and success in their programming has increased
• Committee felt that Haven deserved an increase as they have found new programs worth funding
• Call to question, seconded
• Vote: 18–1−1
• SA approves funding

Appropriations Committee Byline Funding Recommendation: Student Assembly — A. Nicoletti

• Allocations: previous cycle $2.45, requested $2.20, recommended $2.20
• SA has become bloated over the years and has had consistent surpluses
• Believe it is fiscally responsible of the SA to take a voluntary cut
• Hopes to reduce the surplus from $16,000 to $7,000
• Call to question, seconded
• Vote: 21–0−0
• SA approves funding

Appropriations Committee Byline Funding Recommendation: Student Assembly Finance Commission

• Tabled until all the other byline funding recommendations have been heard, as the SAFC amount must be adjusted so that the SAF maintains an even dollar amount

Appropriations Committee Byline Funding Recommendation: B.L.U.E. / WRC — A. Nicoletti

• Allocations: previous cycle $---, requested $0.50, recommended $0.50
• This amount will be added to the Women’s Resource Center funding amount — split because B.L.U.E. was not heard with WRC at that meeting
• Funding will go toward safety at Cornell. B.L.U.E. will stagger with TCAT
• J. Mueller: Is there going to be a change in the B.L.U.E. route as it currently mirrors the TCAT bus route? Imagine place that would want the service are not on the TCAT route
• N. Raps: The route was created to stagger with TCAT so that busses would arrive every 20 minutes instead of every hour. The currently planned route reaches farther into North Campus and Collegetown and can be adjusted later. The Special Projects Funding will go toward funding B.L.U.E. for mid-term week
• M. Gulrajani: In the report, it should be included that B.L.U.E. should move toward receiving funds from transportation instead of the SAF
• J. Rau: A test run was conducted to see how many people would want the service. Only 75 people participated — not worth the thousands being spent on the service. Believes $0.50 is hasty to pass
• A. Gitlin: Since the test run, a new model has been adapted that will be more successful
• R. Desai: Would like to hear more opinions on B.L.U.E. funding — the decision should not be rushed due to concerns of time
• A. Nicoletti: Motion to table this funding recommendation until the next meeting (12/2/11)

Appropriations Committee Byline Funding Recommendation: OSC — A. Nicoletti

• Allocations: previous cycle: $6.60, requested $7.80, recommended $7.60
• OSC: Orientation Steering Committee
• The increase was requested to increase the quality and the amount of events
• Also, increase going toward funding reusable stainless steel water bottles — they were previously funded through a trustee gift
• The amount requested was not fully recommended — Committee felt that $0.20 going toward expanding quality and flexibility of August events were unnecessary
• G. Block: How much of the $1.00 increase is going toward water bottles?
• A. Nicoletti: About $5,000 total will go toward the water bottles
• Call to question, seconded
• Vote: 20–1−1
• SA approves funding

Appropriations Committee Byline Funding Recommendation: CRP — A. Nicoletti

• Allocations: previous cycle: $6.00, requested $6.00, recommended $6.00
• CRP: Collegiate Readership Program
• Committee recommends increasing the proportion of NY Times to USA Today
• Another concern is that the current readings are very liberal — Committee suggests that they find another reading
• Call to question, seconded
• Vote: 22–0−0
• SA Approves Funding

VI. New Business

Resolution 26: Reinforcement of Accessibility for Student Activity Fee Funded Events — R. Desai, S. Breedon, Talia Shear

• Tabled until the next meeting

Resolution 28: Recognizing Indegenous Day on the Academic Calendar — U. Smith, A. Pinkney, Andrea Carter, Abraham Francis, Joshua Crofton-MacDonald, Alyssa Segal

• Amendment: In the first “Be it therefore resolved clause,” change to “that the academic calendar officially recognize International Day of the World’s Indigenous People on August 9 each year from this day forward”
• Amendment: In the second “Be it therefore resolved clause,” write “that Columbus Day also be recognized as Ta�no Remembrance Day on the academic calendar”
• Recognizing this day as acknowledgement of the Cayuga homelands on which Cornell is situated
• Recognizing indigenous people instead of white washing the public
• J. Mueller: Agrees with sentiment, but does not support putting these days on the academic calendar, which is use for add/drop, breaks, etc.
• U. Smith: Amendment: Change from “academic calendar” to “all calendars with the exception of the academic calendar”
• Call to question, seconded
• Call for acclamation, dissent expressed
• Vote: 10–4−6
• Resolution 28 passes

Resolutions 29, 30, 31, 32, and 34 tabled until the next meeting

Meeting adjourned at 6:40pm

Respectfully submitted,
Chelsea Cheng