MINUTES
Student Assembly
Thursday, February 6, 2014
4:45PM-6:30PM
Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by U. Smith at 4:46pm.
- Members Present
- S. Ali Khan, S. Balik, J. Batista, Y. Bhandari, G. Block, E. Bonatti, I. Chen, , , M. Henderson, T. Hittinger, J. Hutson, F. Jimenez, L. Liu, M. Lukasiewicz, S. Lutsic, N. Mileti, U. Smith, , T. Talbot, N. Tulsky, N. Vasko, L. Wershaw, Z. Zhou
- Member Absent (Excused)
- T. Drucker, R. Gademsky, I. Harris, Y. Ma, B. Thompson
- Member Absent (Unexcused)
- M. Stefanko
- Also Present
- J. Berger, R. Gitlin
II. Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve the minutes from the January 30, 2014 meeting by U. Smith. No dissent. Motion Approved.
III. Open Mic
No items presented.
IV. Announcements and Reports
Communications Committee Update — J. Hutson
- Organizational Spotlight initiative — Campus Connection
- Connects new students to upperclassmen with similar interests to provide guidance, create connections, and strengthen the Cornell community. All new students are guaranteed a match. www.cucampusconnection.com
Appropriations Committee Update — G. Block
- Committee is working on setting Appendix B, the document governing how By-line Funded organization pend money.
- Focus on developing a framework for organizations to do their accounting in, encouraging more fiscal responsibility. Also want to encourage tracking attendance and program effectiveness.
- Will likely come to the SA for consideration in late April.
SACIDI Update — L. Liu
- Finished the Diversity Initiative Plans (DIPs) for all By-line Funded organizations.
- Focusing on legislation concerning the bias response system and working out a evaluation plan for the DIPs.
Know the Power of Your Words Announcement — R. Gitlin
- Dining with Diverse Minds/Know the Power of your Words event being held on February 7, 2014. Free event featuring dinner, a keynote by Nate Shinagawa, and a short talk by VP Susan Murphy. No RSVPs.
Leadership Roundtable Announcement — U. Smith
- Will be held following the meeting with Renee Alexander, Director of Intercultural Programs.
Messages of Condolences for Sanya Hashmi ‘14 — U. Smith
- President Smith shared a letter of condolence from the University. The Assembly observed a moment of silence.
CORE RA and We Are Cornell Announcements — J. Batista
- Two on-campus initiatives to take notice of:
- Residential Programs initiated the CORE RA program to explore the underlying/cultural influences that contribute to disrespect, bias, and sexual violence, and to develop programs that counteract this.
- We Are Cornell campaign (sponsored by Slope Media Group, Cornell United Religious Works, and Ordinary People)
Community Life Committee Update — M. Henderson
- Following up on the Sustainable Net-Print initiative.
- Other topics include: donating extra Cornell Dining food to a homeless shelter and the cost of TCAT bus passes
V. Oath of Office
U. Smith administered the Oath of Office to I. Chen and F. Jimenez.
VI. Guest Presentation — Kathy Zoner, Chief of Cornell Police Department
- K. Zoner: The Annual Security report is available here. Students should be aware of the Crime Prevention Unit and the service they provide: ID tags for expensive items, keytags for keys, oversight of keys and accesses, and safety presentations for students, staff, and faculty. CUPD also conducts lighting and security surveys regularly to ensure that campus is safe and well lit. It is not possible to light every edge of campus — students should use the lit paths through campus.
- N. Milleti: Why are there so many burglaries? KZ: There are a couple of different levels of burglary, as explained by the law. There are so many residents on campus that don’t secure all their belongs, so it happens.
- L. Wershaw: How many students take part in the University mass alert program via text? KZ: Not enough students. We take a multilayered approach to mass alter (text, email, siren if needed, etc.) so that we are sure to reach every individual.
- N. Vasko: DUI statistics, and if there was a change/decrease when the University provided free bus passes on nights and weekends. KZ: Most students use the public transport system, but we will look into that specific question. Off hand, I know most DUI issues are not students.
- U. Smith: Can you please talk about reporting information with Sexual Assault and Harassment issues? With regard to University Policy 6.4. KZ: 6.4 is a administrative policy, not a criminal statute. We would not be compelled to get involved and investigated. According to the Cleary Act, we must report all incidents that are reported to us. When we can investigate, we are very thorough in our investigation. Role as a law enforcement agency is to not release any information until charges are filed.
VII. Business of the Day
Resolution 45: Enhancing Cornell Health Awareness — S. Lutsic
- Motion by S. Lutsic to refer R. 45 to the Dinning Committee. No dissent. Motion Passes.
Resolution 49: Special Projects Funding, Athlete Ally — G. Block
- The Appropriations Committee approved a request for special funding from Athlete Ally, who is trying to bring a speaker to campus. This would be their first big event.
- The SA needs to vote to agree with the decision the Appropriations Committee reached.
- T. Talbot: Point of Information, if approved, how is the money handled? Response: The Office of the Assemblies will internally transfer the money to their account.
- Motion to Approve. Resolution passes. 19–0−1
Future of the Endowment Fund — G. Block
- G. Block: About ten years ago, the Appropriations Committee set aside $5.00 of the SAFC by-line funding allocation to go towards an endowment fund. The goal was to endow part of the Student Activity Fee. Within the last two years, the Appropriations Committee has decided that this is unreasonable, as it would take more than 100 years to reach the amount needed. Currently the account is at around $300,000. The appropriations committee is trying to determine what to do with the money. There aren’t any hard regulations about what can be done with the money. We are looking to do something with the money this semester. Want to do something that will affect the most students possible.
- G. Block: Possible ways to spend the funds include: an “innovation” fund to act as a catalyst for student-driven innovation, a “special projects” fund created for activities or projects that aren’t part of a group, or a capital expenditure for renovating a building like Willard Straight Hall. The Appropriations Committee welcomes all ideas.
- E. Bonatti: Have we ceased collection of the $5.00/students from the SAFC allocation? Response: Yes.
- R. Gitlin: In favor of a Capital Expenditure, could jumpstart fund to renovate Willard Straight Hall.
- N. Miletti: Could be used to improve the freshman living experience and alleviate some of the housing inequality present on North Campus.
- U. Smith: Before this Assembly makes any decision, we must consider a Resolution that was passed last academic year regarding this fund. The legislation requires itself to be reconsidered by this Assembly before any further decisions can be made. (Clerk Note: http://assembly.cornell.edu/SA/2013SpringAction17)
VIII. New Business
Resolution 44: Improving Sustainability on North Campus — S. Lutsic, A. Zhou, N. Mileti, Y. Bhandari
- Resolution requests that several garbage containers be placed in and around Rawlings Green on North Campus. The action will be referred to the Division of Facilities Services. Passing a resolution increases the likelihood of actually seeing results.
- N. Tulsky motioned to move the item to Business of the Day. No dissent. Motion Passes. Now open for general discussion.
- R. Gitlin: Recommends that the garbage containers be placed near bus stops and that the title of the resolution be changed to something more relevant.
- S. Balik: Issue with upkeep: what staff will be assigned to empty the containers?
- G. Block: Motion to amend line 24 to read “�the implantation of a garbage container and recycling bin�”. General Discussion on the proposed amendment.
- G. Block: Motion to Call the Question. J. Batista expressed dissent. Motion rescinded.
- R. Gitlin: The language is not actually needed because all garbage containers are required to have a recycling bin next to them. But this is good form.
- G. Block: Motion to Call the Question. No dissent. Motion Passes.
- Vote on the proposed amendment: 20–0−0. Motion to Amend passes.
- J. Hutson: Motion to Call the Question. No dissent. Motion Passes.
- Vote on Resolution: community allocated to votes in favor of the resolution (2–0−1). 21–0−0. Resolution passes.
IX. Adjournment
U. Smith motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:28pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Brian Murphy
Clerk, Office of the Assemblies