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Cornell University

Office of the Assemblies

Student Assembly Meeting

Thursday, January 23, 2025

  • Term:
    2024-2025
  • Assembly/Committee: Student Assembly
  • Date & Time:
    Thu, Jan 23, 2025 - 4:45pm
    to
    6:30pm
  • Location:
    Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room (WSH407)/Zoom
  • Agenda:
  • Meeting Packet:
  • Audio Recording:
  • Minutes: No minutes available

Associated Resolutions

Resolution Abstract Status
SA R20 (2024-2025): Climate Renewal Vows Recognizing Cornell University's duty to address the global climate crisis, not only as a moral imperative but also due to the tangible and negative impacts of neglecting climate related issues on its operations, community, and reputation.

Sponsored by: Marissa Brucker ‘26, Jenna Saevitzon ‘25, Sierra Burror ‘25, Adam Vinson ‘25, Lydia Blum ‘27, Eeshaan Chaudhuri ‘27, Christian Tarala ‘27, Eric Yao ‘27
Type of Action: Recommendation
Originally Presented: 12/05/2024
Current Status: Presented to the Assembly, 12/05/2024

Whereas, recent IPCC reports indicate that human activities have caused approximately 1.1°C of warming since 2011-2020, temporarily exceeding 1.5°C since the pre-industrial period (1850-1900). The past few years have been the hottest on record, and intensifying climate-related catastrophes and increasing pressure on communities, economies, and ecosystems show signs of getting perilously close to the long-term warming limit of 1.5°C outlined in the Paris Agreement;

Whereas, these effects are evident in New York State, with rising temperatures driving changes in weather patterns that threaten agriculture, food security, and local economies reliant on stable climatic conditions;

Whereas, as a self-proclaimed leading institution in climate science and sustainability, Cornell University has a unique responsibility to act in alignment with the urgency of the climate crisis, safeguard the rights of students to a habitable future, and equip students with the tools and knowledge to navigate the challenges of the crisis ahead;

Whereas, Cornell’s current Climate Action Plan fails to adequately address the urgency of the crisis, as it lacks the bold, comprehensive measures needed to mitigate the immediate and long-term impacts of climate change on the university and broader community;

Whereas, prioritizing decarbonization in all future construction projects, reducing the demand for energy and resources, actively revising campus policies to avoid high-carbon activities, and ensuring all new construction undergoes rigorous oversight and certification under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards are critical measures Cornell must undertake;

Whereas, ensuring low-carbon, plant-based dining options, food waste donations, and composting program expansion should be prioritized in dining halls to combat the annual 800 tons of food scraps and organic kitchen waste generated by Cornell dining halls and cafés, promote environmentally friendly consumption habits, and align operations with climate goals;

Whereas, establishing additional composting drop-off sites in high-density student areas, such as Collegetown, Hasbrouck Apartments, and Pleasant Grove Apartments, in partnership with the Tompkins County Solid Waste Department, could further increase student participation in composting, reduce organic waste sent to landfills, and support broader waste diversion efforts;

Whereas, students call for leadership that prioritizes climate initiatives at the forefront, as was the case with past university presidents highlighting the need to appoint a full-time president who prioritizes environmental issues on campus and in the greater Ithaca community, and to enact broader institutional changes at the highest levels of university governance, including
expanding the Office of Sustainability, assigning a high-level administrator to promote climate actions on campus, and establishing regular meetings between senior administrators and a student climate advisory committee to ensure sustained and focused leadership on climate action;

Be it therefore resolved, Cornell University should adopt the following actions to enhance its Climate Action Plan and fulfill its obligation to its students, community, and global leadership role:
1. Leadership Commitment: Seek a full-time university president committed to addressing campus and community
environmental issues, ensuring that sustainability remains a core institutional priority.
2. Accelerate Decarbonization: Commit to halving carbon emissions (rather than net zero) by 2030, and rapid decreases
towards zero after that, integrating robust decarbonization and resource consumption reduction strategies across all
new campus construction and existing infrastructure, without relying on offsetting.
3. Restructure for Low-Carbon Living: Actively shift campus policies and infrastructure away from high-carbon activities
while encouraging low-carbon alternatives, particularly in dining, transportation, and housing.
4. Expand Dining Sustainability: Expand low-carbon footprint meal options in dining halls, strengthen food waste donation
programs, and expand composting initiatives for Cornell eateries and dense student living areas to minimize environ.
mental impact.
5. Accurate Emissions Reporting: A comprehensive emissions baseline inventory should include all significant emission
sources, such as methane, to guide equitable and science-based climate goals.
6. Advocate for Climate Equity: Mobilize academic and community resources to drive climate resilience, prioritizing the
voices of frontline and Indigenous communities in adaptation efforts.

Be it further resolved, Cornell University and the Office of Student Government Relations should commit to advocating for systemic legislative action and inspiring other institutions to address the climate crisis with urgency (e.g. enhancing energy efficiency in various campus operations or funding and supporting research specifically searching for climate solutions).

Be it finally resolved, Cornell University should affirm its responsibility to lead transformative shifts toward climate justice, ensuring students’ rights to a habitable future while protecting the community from the far-reaching impacts of inaction.

Respectfully Submitted,

Marissa Brucker ’26
Member, Environmental Committee, Student Assembly

Jenna Saevitzon ‘25
Member, Environmental Committee, Student Assembly

Sierra Burror ‘25
Member, Environmental Committee, Student Assembly

Adam Vinson ‘25
Executive Vice President of the Student Assembly

Lydia Blum ‘27
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Representative, Student Assembly

Eeshaan Chaudhuri ‘27
Brooks School of Public Policy Representative, Student Assembly

Christian Tarala ‘27
Nolan School of Hotel Administration Representative, Student Assembly

Eric Yao ‘27
Undesignated Representative At-Large, Student Assembly 		Submitted to the President
SA R21 (2024-2025): Amending Resolution 6: Creating an Ad-Hoc Committee to Improve Student Wages and Employment Abstract: This resolution amends the resolution to establish an ad-hoc committee to account for the possibility of a vacancy in the Student Workers Representative Position.

Sponsored by: Ezra Galperin ‘27
Type of Action: Internal Policy
Originally Presented: 01/23/2025
Current Status: Placed on the Second Readings Calendar, 01/23/2025

Whereas, Resolution 6 established the Ad-Hoc Committee to Improve Student Wages and Employment;

Whereas, the final resolved clause of Resolution 6 reads that “the Committee’s chair shall be the Student Workers Representative of the Student Assembly.”;

Whereas, the resolution does not provide guidance on filling the committee chair position when the role of Student Workers Representative is vacant;

Be it therefore resolved, that in the event that the Student Workers Representative seat is vacant, the President of the Student Assembly shall nominate another member of the assembly to chair the Student Wages Committee temporarily;

Be it further resolved, that the Student Assembly Member shall be an already-serving member of the committee;

Be it finally resolved, that the President’s nomination must be approved by a majority of voting members present.

Respectfully Submitted,

Ezra Galperin ‘27
Undesignated Representative-At-Large, Student Assembly 		Submitted to the President
SA R22 (2024-2025): Approval of the SAIFC’s Recommendation Abstract: This resolution provides for the disbursement of $8,000 to the Dilmun Hill Student Farm in support of the construction of an outdoor learning area and the clarification of decisions for the other two applications submitted to the Student Assembly Infrastructure Fund Commission (SAIFC) by December 10th, 2024.

Sponsored by: Flora Meng ‘27
Type of Action: Internal Policy
Originally Presented: 01/20/2024
Current Status: Placed on the Second Reading Calendar, 01/23/2025

Whereas, the Student Assembly Infrastructure Fund Commission has received three applications for the 2024 Fall semester.

Whereas, the $8,000 proposed allocation to Dilmun Hill Student Farm will fund the construction of an outdoor learning area on the Cornell Ithaca campus.

Whereas, the Pi Delta Psi Multicultural Greek & Fraternal Council Renovation project is proposed to be tabled indefinitely due to an eligibility concern.

Whereas, the decision for the Crosswalks on University Avenue project is proposed to be postponed till the second hearing of the 2024-2025 funding cycle to collect more information about alternative funding sources, such as the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council.

Be it therefore resolved, $8,000 be transferred from the Infrastructure Fund Disbursement Account to Dilmun Hill Student Farm for the construction of an outdoor learning area.

Be it further resolved, the Dilmun Hill Student Farm shall submit a report to the SAIFC no later than 6 months following the transfer of funds on how the allocated fund has been used, the expected time of project completion, and the latest person of contact. The report shall be provided to the SAIFC Chair at the time, or the President of the Student Assembly should such office be vacant.

Be it finally resolved, the resolution shall take effect upon approval of the Dean of Students.

Respectfully Submitted,
Flora Meng ‘27
Undesignated Representative at Large
Chair, Infrastructure Fund Commission 		Adopted by the Assembly
SA R23 (2024-2025): Authorizing the Committee on Vacancies to Review New Vacancies This resolution authorizes the Ad-Hoc Committee on Vacancies to review the vacancies in the Offices of Veterans Representative and Student Workers’ Representative.

Sponsored by: President deRham ‘27
Type of Action: Internal Policy
Originally Presented: 01/23/2025

Whereas, the Ad-Hoc Committee on Vacancies was formed in Fall 2024 through Resolution 3 to consider five vacancies in the Student Assembly’s voting membership.

Whereas, since the Committee was initially charged, two additional vacancies have formed within the Student Assembly: Veterans Representative and Student Workers’ Representative.

Be it therefore resolved, the Charge of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Vacancies be expanded to recommend candidates for the newly formed vacancies, as well as any vacancies that may occur through the end of the Academic Year 2024-2025.

Be it finally resolved, nothing in this resolution shall be interpreted to limit the authority of the Student Assembly in regards to the filling of vacancies.

Respectfully Submitted,
Zora deRham ‘27
President of the Student Assembly 		Submitted to the President
SA R24 (2024-2025): Soul Food Restaurant Row for Black History Month Abstract: A call for Cornell Dining, in alignment with Cornell University’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, to invest in and provide soul food offerings to the student body during Black History Month.

Sponsored by: Zora deRham ‘27, Adam Vinson ‘25, Niles Hite ‘26, Christian Flournoy ‘27, Ezra Galperin ‘27
Reviewed by: Student Assembly Executive Board
Type of Action: Recommendation
Originally Presented: January 22, 2025
Current Status: Placed on the Second Reading Calendar, 01/23/2025

Whereas, in recognition of Black History Month, and the cultural achievements of African American activists, artists, inventors, and scholars,
Whereas, a celebratory expression of these achievements is through the creation and enjoyment of African American cultural cuisine, specifically soul food,
Whereas, Cornell’s long history of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion prioritizes the necessity of valuing “people with diverse backgrounds and experiences,”

Be it therefore resolved, Cornell Dining invests funds into buying, cooking, and providing soul food for the Cornell student body during Black History Month,
Be it further resolved, Cornell Dining institutes a Restaurant Row for student dormitory halls on West Campus during Black History Month,
Be it further resolved, Cornell Dining institutes a Restaurant Row within Toni Morrison Dining Hall,
Be it finally resolved, Cornell Dining schedules a week or day to host a Restaurant Row on dining halls connected to dormitories on West Campus and Toni Morrison Dining Hall on North Campus.

Respectfully Submitted,
Niles Hite ‘26
Vice President for Finance of the Student Assembly
Christian Flournoy ‘27
Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of the Student Assembly 		Adopted by the Assembly
SA R25 (2024-2025): Approving Special Projects Funding Request for Med-In-Black Abstract: This resolution approves $5000 of Special Projects Funding to Med-In-Black Future Healers Boston Trip.

Sponsored by: Niles Hite ’26, Christian Flournoy ‘27
Reviewed by: Student Assembly Executive Board
Type of Action: Recommendation
Originally Presented: January 22, 2025
Current Status: Placed on the Second Reading Calendar, 01/23/2025

Whereas, the Student Assembly Standing Rules, Rule 12: Spending Guidelines, Part B: Special Projects Funding outlines the purpose of Special Projects Funding and the process of approving funding request.

Whereas, Part B: Special Projects Funding, section 1, of the Student Assembly Standing Rules explains the purpose of Special Projects Funding as follows:

"Section 1: The Student Assembly may choose to fund any project, program or service through the Assembly Special Projects that it deems to improve the quality of undergraduate student life. Special Projects funding is a type of category spending."

Whereas, Part B: Special Projects Funding, section 2, subsection a, of the Student Assembly Standing Rules describes the requirement to be considered for Special Projects Funding as follows:

"(a) Any Cornell registered student organization"

Whereas, Part B: Special Projects Funding, section 4, of the Student Assembly Standing Rules outlines the rules of Special Projects Funding based on amount as follows:

"Section 5: Requests $2,500 and over shall be decided upon by a majority vote of the Executive Board and confirmed by a majority vote of the Student Assembly, at large. The Assembly, at large, is only required to confirm requests of $2,500 or greater. The request should be presented to the Student Assembly in the form of a resolution."

Be it further resolved, that the Student Assembly approves the $5000.00 disbursement from the Student Assembly Reserve Account into the Student Assembly Special Projects Funding Account.

Be it further resolved, that the Student Assembly approves the $5000.00 Special Projects disbursement to Med-In-Black.

Be it further resolved, that Med-In-Black must ensure that they can register this event by the required deadline, as dictated by University Policy.

Be it finally resolved, that the Student Assembly urges that this funding be issued to Med-In-Black as soon as possible, in order to secure payments for their trip.

Respectfully Submitted,

Niles Hite ‘26
Vice President for Finance of the Student Assembly
Representative of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Student Assembly

Christian Flournoy ‘27
Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of the Student Assembly 		Adopted by the Assembly