Student Assembly Meeting
Thursday, February 6, 2025
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Term:
2024-2025
- Assembly/Committee: Student Assembly
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Date & Time:
Thu, Feb 6, 2025 - 4:45pmto6:30pm
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Location:
Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room (WSH407)/Zoom
- Agenda:
- Meeting Packet:
- Audio Recording:
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Minutes:
Student Assembly of Cornell University
Minutes of the February 6, 2025 Meeting 4:45 PM
Room 407, Willard-Straight Hall
- Call to Order
- Chair Z. deRham called the meeting to order at 4:45 PM.
- Members Present: R. Acharjee; A. Aftab D. Addoquaye; L. Berinde; L.Blum; S. Chan; Z. deRham; E. Galperin; D. Gekman; G. Gonzalez-Mulattieri; H. Hitchcock; N. Hite; C. Kim; J. Lederman; K. Liu; F. Meng; J. Purcell; S. Razzak; M. Scali; C. Tarala; A. Vinson; J. Wu; E. Yao; S. Zhuang
- Members Absent: S. Almosawi, M. Barberis; E. Chaudhuri (Proxied by F. Meng); K. Everett (excused absence); C. Flournoy (Proxied by N. Hite); M. O’Donnell; M. Scali; J. Silverman (Proxied by L. Berinde); D. Suarez; T. Waugespack; S. Zhuang
- Also Present: Rebecca Joffrey, CIT Director of Innovation and Strategy; Dr. Ben Maddox, Chief Information Officer
- Reading of the land acknowledgement
- Z. deRham stated the land acknowledgement.
- Approval of the minutes
- A. Aftab motioned to approve the minutes from the January 30th meeting with the correction that "A. Aftab" and "L. Blum" be added to the members present section (I-b), motion approved by unanimous consent.
- E. Galperin motioned to approve January 30th meeting minutes, motion approved by unanimous consent.
- Announcements
- No announcements.
- Reports of Officers, Committees, and Liaisons
- No Reports.
- Open Microphone
- Will Hooker spoke about the financial situation at the Museum of the Earth, emphasizing how the museum has enriched his knowledge and supported his graduate studies.
- Emilia discussed her efforts to spread awareness and how the Museum of the Earth helped her discover her passion for paleontology. She highlighted how many students benefit from the museum's resources.
- President of DLT gave a history of the organization, shared their goals, and stated how the requested funding will help them expand their network.
- Consent Calendar
- Nothing on the consent calendar.
- Presentations
- N. Maggard introduced Dr. Ben Maddox, Chief Information Officer, and Rebecca Joffrey, CIT Director of Innovation.
- Dr. Maddox and R. Joffrey addressed student concerns on IT security, cybersecurity resources, and the digital divide. They discussed improvements to the Student Center system, the new degree audit system, and Cornell’s AI initiatives, including concerns over data privacy. Dr. Maddox and R. Joffrey highlighted Cornell’s tech connections with other institutions, and provided insights on upcoming AI resources and advisement portals.
- Third Readings
- Resolution 27: Preventing an Extinction
- A. Vinson presents Resolution 27, urging Cornell to support the Paleontological Institute and the Museum of the Earth due to financial struggles.
- E. Galperin motions to approve.
- Resolution 27 is passed unanimously.
- Resolution 27: Preventing an Extinction
- Second Readings
- Resolution 26: Vending Self-Care Supplies
- D. Gekman presents the resolution, updating Resolution 20, highlighting limited access to vending machines with self-care supplies on South and West Campus. He proposes expanding payment options to include BRBs, aligning with peer institutions.
- B. Thompson (member of Student Health Advisory Committee Member) emphasizes the need for accessible reproductive health products, especially given political challenges restricting reproductive rights.
- D. Gekman motions to amend Line 21 to expand payment methods and to ensure vending machines are within a five-minute walk from each dorm.
- Z. deRham asks if they consulted with BRB entities; Gekman says no but believes it will be easier to implement post-approval.
- F. Meng raises concerns about West Campus building hours; Gekman suggests placing vending machines in entranceways.
- C. Tarala asks about using existing vending machines; Gekman says they lack medical supplies and are not all Cornell-owned but will explore options.
- C. Tarala asks if COVID tests will remain free; Gekman confirms they will.
- E. Galperin questions BRB usage for medical supplies due to legal restrictions; Gekman will investigate further.
- Z. deRham suggests separating unrelated clauses and inquires about funding sources; Gekman says Cornell Health lacks full funding but other sources are available.
- J. Lederman motions to approve the amendment; it passes unanimously.
- J. Lederman asks about the audit process for medical supplies; Gekman says the Student Health and Student Health Advisory Committee will oversee it.
- D. Gekman motions to change audits from yearly to monthly; E. Galperin motions to approve, but Z. deRham dissents, suggesting semesterly audits instead. Motion passes unanimously.
- E. Galperin motions to move the resolution to the Third Reading Calendar; motion passes unanimously.
- Resolution 28: Approving Special Projects Funding Request for Diverse Leaders for Tomorrow (DLT)
- N. Hite and the DLT president present the resolution, requesting funding for an upcoming conference in NYC. N. Hite argues that DLT aligns with SA values and should receive funding like NSBE and BSU.
- D. Gekman asks for a breakdown of expenses; the president states funds will cover transportation and a team dinner.
- Z. deRham asks if non-Cornell students will be at the dinner; the DLT president confirms the budget includes travel and lodging for five Howard students. Z. deRham clarifies Assembly funds must be restricted to Cornell students only.
- F. Meng asks about other funding sources; the president says they have no outside funding. F. Meng follows up on why the national chapter isn’t funding the event; the DLT president explains funding is limited.
- E. Galperin asks for event details; the DLT president says it’s on April 10-11 and emphasizes the conference provides key career opportunities for underrepresented students, marking a milestone as their first joint trip.
- C. Tarala asks how other clubs fund trips and if the Assembly has the budget; the DLT president is unsure about other clubs, but N. Hite confirms the money is available in reserves.
- Z. deRham notes SA’s special project fund is currently at -$145.
- E. Galperin asks if the request covers all costs; the DLT president confirms it does.
- S. Chan requests a breakdown of Cornell student-specific costs, and the DLT president agrees.
- F. Berry questions why the Assembly is the primary funding source, as many orgs manage NYC trips without this support. The DLT president says DLT receives only $500 per semester. N. Hite adds that the Assembly funds BSU’s trip every year similarly.
- E. Galperin asks about lodging costs for 20 students, and Z. deRham questions the team dinner expense. The DLT president clarifies the trip does not depend on the dinner cost.
- The debate had to stop because the Assembly did not have the required number of members to continue the meeting.
- Resolution 26: Vending Self-Care Supplies
- Appointments and Vacancies Calendar
- No appointments or vacancies.
- Adjournment
- The meeting was adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
- Z. deRham motions to extend the meeting to 6:45, with dissent from E. Yao. The motion passes with majority consent.
- E. Galperin motions to extend to 7:00, and the motion passes unanimously.
- Due to the number of members in attendance falling below the quorum threshold, the meeting was adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
- The meeting was adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kennedy Young
Clerk of the Assembly
SA Minutes (2-6-2025) copy 2.pdf (130.6 KB) - Call to Order
Associated Resolutions
Resolution | Abstract | Status |
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SA R26 (2024-2025): Vending Self-Care Supplies | This resolution proposes that every dormitory and social housing unit on Cornell's campus be equipped with vending machines offering a variety of essential health-related supplies, including non-prescription medications, sexual health supplies, COVID-19 antigen tests, and Narcan. Sponsored by: David Duan ’28, Davian Gekman ’27, Bianca Thompson ’26, Jinzhou Wu ‘28 Type of Action: Recommendation Originally Presented: 01/30/2025 Current Status: Adopted by the Assembly, Unanimous Consent, 02/20/2025 Whereas, student health and well-being are critical priorities at Cornell University, and the availability of essential health supplies directly supports these objectives; Whereas, vending machines offering health-related supplies in dormitories and social housing units provide discreet, convenient, and 24/7 access to these items for students, reducing barriers to obtaining necessary products; Whereas, similar initiatives at peer institutions have demonstrated success in promoting public health and student safety; Whereas, Cornell Health is well-positioned to advise on product selection and collaborate with the Student Assembly to secure funding and implement this initiative; Whereas, the medical needs of our community members do not cease with the conclusion of the business day, yet the Cornell Health pharmacy operates under 50 hours a week, limiting access to common business hours; Whereas, many residents of the Cornell community live far from the Cornell Health pharmacy on Ho Plaza, with a walk from Collegetown Apartments/Upperclassmen living facilities taking approximately 20 minutes both ways and a walk from the Vet School on East Campus taking approximately 25 minutes both ways Whereas, this resolution serves as an update and extension of Resolution 20: Dependable and Inclusive Supply of Pharmaceutical and Essential Nonprescription Supplies in 2023, which initiated a pilot program by installing vending machines at Cornell Health and RPCC to assess demand and feasibility. This resolution builds upon the findings from that study, expanding the program to additional campus locations; Whereas, collecting data on vending machine usage will help assess demand, optimize inventory, and ensure products align with student health needs; Whereas, illness rates increase during the winter, and access to cold medication and symptom relief supplies in vending machines can reduce transmission and support student well-being. Whereas, the cost of installing each vending machine is approximately $5,000, and students will be able to purchase items using Big Red Bucks (BRBs), credit card, and cash to ensure accessibility; Whereas, the following resolution will be applied to all on-campus housing, defined as dormitories, townhouses, co-ops, fraternities, sororities, and social-housing units; Whereas, partnerships with off-campus entities, such as Student Agencies and Lux Apartments, could expand the availability of resources under a similar framework; Be it therefore resolved, that every on-campus housing at Cornell University be equipped or be in a 5 minute walking distance vicinity of vending machines offering: ● Non-prescription medications and supplies, including but not limited to: pain relievers/fever reducers, thermometers, expectorants, allergy medications, gastrointestinal medications, band-aids, and antibiotic cream (products may change periodically based on demand and feedback); ● Sexual health supplies, including condoms, pregnancy tests, and emergency contraception (Plan B); ● COVID-19 antigen tests, limited to two per person at no cost, with bulk requests handled as per existing university guidelines; ● Naloxone spray (Narcan®), made available at no cost as part of New York State’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Program. Be it further resolved, that Cornell Health, the Student Health Advisory Committee and the Office of the Dean of Students collaborate to determine optimal product selection, pricing (where applicable), and vending machine placement within each housing unit; Be it further resolved, that Cornell Health and the Student Health Advisory Committee implement a data collection system to track vending machine usage, ensuring inventory optimization and alignment with student health needs; Be it further resolved, that Cornell Health and the Student Health Advisory Committee provide periodic education campaigns, including informational sessions and flyers, to inform students about the availability of these supplies and their proper use; Be it further resolved, that a semester audit assisted by the Student Health Advisory Committee be performed to ensure vending machines are operational and stocked with the prescribed resources; Be it further resolved, that Cornell Health allocate the necessary funds for the initial implementation of this initiative, with additional funding responsibilities falling to the Student Assembly and Office of the Dean of Students if required; Be it further resolved, that the Student Health Advisory Committee investigate and pursue partnerships with off-campus entities, such as Student Agencies and Lux Apartments, to provide these resources under a similar framework as on-campus housing; Be it finally resolved, that the Student Health Advisory Committee oversee the long-term sustainability of this initiative and ensure compliance with the provisions outlined in this resolution. Respectfully Submitted, David Bingkun Duan ‘27 Member, Student Health Advisory Committee, Student Assembly Chair, Student Health Benefits Sub-Committee, Student Assembly Davian Gekman ‘27 School of Industrial & Labor Relations Representative, Student Assembly Chair, Student Health Advisory Committee, Student Assembly |
Submitted to the President |
SA R27 (2024-2025): Preventing an Extinction | A resolution calling on Cornell University to intervene in the Paleontological Research Institution’s financial crisis. Sponsored by: Adam Vinson ‘25, Eeshaan Chaudhuri ‘27, Will Hooker ‘24, Lani Lin-Kissick ‘28, Nooriya Baxamusa ‘28, Eric Yao ‘27, Letiunasema Nuusila ‘27, Tianyi Chen ‘28 Reviewed by: Environmental Committee, 7-0-06 Type of Action: Recommendation Originally Presented: 01/30/2025 Current Status: Placed on the Second Reading Calendar, 01/30/2025 Whereas, the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) holds formal affiliation with Cornell University (since 20 November 2004) and the student body. PRI’s Museum of the Earth (MotE) is not only a natural history museum that students can visit for free as part of a Cornell class, or at a reduced charge on their own, but it is also an exciting field trip destination, an interactive classroom that teaches Earth history, climate, and the evolution of life, and an invaluable resource for student projects and honors theses. Whereas, the MotE is home to one of the world's largest fossil collections with over 7 million specimens, including those found on Cornell’s campus by Cornell students (e.g., members of the Pangea Club at Cornell). This collection is made publicly available for students who request to see them, which have formed the basis for many research projects. Students within the CALS departments of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS), Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), and Natural Resources and the Environment (DNRE) have incredibly close ties to the Museum. Several classes within these departments, including the popular introductory biology course BIOEE 1780 (An Introduction to Evolutionary Biology and Diversity) and 1,000-person lecture BIOEE/EAS 1540/1560 (Introductory Oceanography), hold frequent field trips to the MotE; many classes even hold lectures and laboratory sessions there, drawing upon the MotE’s vast collection for hands-on educational opportunities for student learning. Whereas, the MotE actively encourages students to study, and even borrow, specimens from its collections for their projects. As an example, a roommate of the lead sponsor asked to borrow several specimens and teaching aides from the museum for an educational video on bird anatomy. Additionally, the MotE accepts specimen donations from Cornell students, which are ultimately used for future teaching and/or research projects. Many research-grade fossils come directly from Cornell’s campus, found by students in the Pangea Club at Cornell. For example, a Cornell student discovered vast colonies of an exceptionally rare feather-shaped fossil, named Plumalina brevis along the bottom of Six Mile Creek at the Mulholland Wildflower Preserve during a severe drought in 2013 (Muscente & Allmon, 2013). Other rare specimens come from Fall Creek at Flat Rock, where the armor plates of extinct fish called ‘placoderms’ are found. More recently, in this past fall semester, the President of the Pangea Club discovered a new species of trilobite, an extinct group of arthropods related to horseshoe crabs, in fossil deposits at Beebe Lake. This discovery became the basis of her senior honors thesis, forever redirecting her career into the field of paleontology. All of these specimens described, among the seven million others, are now housed at the MotE and available for study. Whereas, in October 2023, the PRI, which runs the MotE and the Cayuga Nature Center (CNC), announced that it was in financial trouble and would likely have to foreclose on the MotE’s mortgage. This foreclosure is due to a group of large donors’ inability to fulfill their funding pledges. Since then, the PRI has downsized its operations, including staff reductions at MotE and CNC and the end of its live animal program at the CNC in January 2024. Whereas, if the MotE closes, not only will upstate New York lose one of its only natural history museums, but its collections are also put at great risk. Many fossils could be lost or disposed of, along with all of the unobtained data and information we could gain from them. The loss of the PRI, MotE, CNC, and the fossil collection would be a profound blow to the scientific community and the countless Cornell students who would benefit from its invaluable education and outreach programs. Be it therefore resolved, that the Student Assembly, as elected representatives of the student body, ask Interim President Kotlikoff and the Board of Trustees, as well as the deans of the academic colleges, to collaborate with and financially support the Paleontological Research Institution to keep the Museum of the Earth open. This institution holds scientific and intrinsic value and must be preserved for future generations. This can be achieved through collaboration with PRI’s Director and its Board of Trustees. Be it further resolved, that the university is recommended to take action to support the PRI and MotE in ways including but not limited to the following: I. Temporarily aiding the PRI financially and legally until they are able to find other, more stable means of procuring financial support via parent organizations and other museum support groups II. Assisting the PRI to connect with and secure other donors via internal communication lines and effective, relevant fundraising channels III. Partnering with PRI to absorb a portion of the museum’s collection into the university or the Lab of Ornithology for further educational research while supporting PRI’s continued operations IV. Collaborating with relevant departments at Cornell to partially fund a portion of the PRI’s day-to-day operating costs (e.g. ANTHR, EAS, NTRES, BIOEE, ENTOM, PLSCI, BIOL) V. Sponsoring the PRI entirely via financial support from the respective undergraduate colleges, allowing for continued operations and an enhanced learning experience for undergraduates Be it finally resolved, as representatives of the student body we understand that Cornell University and the PRI may not agree to any of the above listed solutions. However, we urge the University to make an effort to help PRI, by opening up a transparent line of communication. The constituencies we represent use this vital resource for their education and research and are opposed to its closure. Respectfully Submitted, Adam Vinson ‘25 Executive Vice President of the Student Assembly Lani Lin-Kissick ‘28 Member of the Environmental Committee, Student Assembly Eeshaan Chaudhuri ‘27 Brooks School Representative, Student Assembly Tianyi Chen ‘28 Member of the Environmental Committee, Student Assembly Nooriya Baxamusa ‘28 Member of the Environmental Committee, Student Assembly Eric Yao ‘27 Undesignated Representative At-Large, Student Assembly Letiunasema Nuusila ‘27 Member of the Environmental Committee, Student Assembly William Hooker ‘24 Ph.D. Student, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences |
Submitted to the President |
SA R28 (2024-2025): Approving Special Projects Funding Request for Diverse Leaders of Tomorrow (DLT) | This resolution approves $2,634.72 of Special Projects Funding to Diverse Leaders of Tomorrow New York Diversity Conference. Sponsored by: Niles Hite ’26, Christian Flournoy ‘27 Type of Action: Internal Policy Originally Presented: February 6, 2025 Current Status: Adopted by the Assembly, 18-0-4, 02/20/2025 Whereas, the Diverse Leaders of Tomorrow (DLT), has an annual allocation of $1000 or $500 per semester, which is not a sufficient amount to cover the cost of their trip. Whereas, the cost of the event (housing, transportation and food) total to $2634.72. Whereas, the Student Assembly Standing Rules, § 110: 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 5, 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. Whereas, the Diverse Leaders of Tomorrow (DLT), will be traveling to New York City to engage in a networking conference rooted in values surrounding diversity with other Diverse Leaders of Tomorrow college chapters across the country. Be it further resolved, that the Student Assembly approves the $2,634.72 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 $2,634.72 Special Projects disbursement to Diverse Leaders for Tomorrow (DLT). Be it further resolved, that Diverse Leaders for Tomorrow (DLT) must ensure that they can register this event by the required deadline, as dictated by University Policy. Be it further resolved, that Diverse Leaders for Tomorrow (DLT) must ensure that they are within the Risk Management guidelines, as dictated by University Policy. Be it further resolved, should guidelines set in place by Cornell University to ensure student safety be broken or violated by Diverse Leaders for Tomorrow (DLT) before their trip, this Special Projects Funding will be transferred back to the Student Assembly Reserve Accounts Be it finally resolved, that the Student Assembly urges that this funding be issued to Diverse Leaders for Tomorrow (DLT) 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 Christian Flournoy ‘27 Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion of the Student Assembly |
Adopted by the Assembly |
SA R29 (2024-2025): Checking Our Pulse | This resolution amends the governing documents to change the language of the Pulse Committee. Sponsored by: Zora deRham ‘27, Adam Vinson ‘25, Niles Hite ‘26, Davian Gekman ’27, Nicholas Maggard ‘25, Christian Flournoy '27 Reviewed by: Executive Board, 02/02/2025 Type of Action: Internal Policy Originally Presented: 02/06/2025 Current Status: Adopted by the Assembly, Unanimous Consent, 02/20/2025 Whereas, the Pulse Committee was created in the Spring of 2024 with the mission of combatting “all forms of bias including but not limited to sexism, racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, and transphobia.” It was given a secondary mission of improving the assembly's connections with the student body through the funding of programming and projects; Whereas, as it is currently structured, Pulse is unable to achieve these goals. The committee is too large, reliant upon liaisons, and includes a voting member from an organization that does not exist; Be it therefore resolved, Article VI, Section 5(C), of the Bylaws of the Student Assembly, or its successor section, be struck in its entirety and replaced with the following, conditional on the acceptance and implementation of Resolution 7: Campus Pulse Committee A. Charge: This committee shall serve as a programmatic body to increase the availability of resources to address the pressing needs of the Student Body. The charge of the committee shall be as follows: combating bias on campus and creating community conversations that will work towards increasing empathy and cross-cultural dialogue between individuals and groups on the Cornell Campus, implementing programming and infrastructure to address the pressing needs of the campus community, providing financial support to ongoing projects and programs focused on improving campus climate and school spirit, creating resolutions focused on improving campus climate and school spirit, engaging with various organizations and leaders of special projects to explore ways to support their initiatives to enhance campus climate and foster school spirit, including but not limited to financial support, and writing a monthly memo about their work, which will be distributed to the greater campus community via the Student Assembly newsletter. B. Membership: The committee shall consist of a Chair, the Vice President for DEI, the Women's Issues Representative, the LGBTQIA+ Representative, one Freshman / Transfer Representative, the President of ALANA or their designee, the Residential Student Council Liaison or their designee, the Student Athlete Liaison or their designee, one of the Minority Representatives, two additional voting members of the Assembly, and three additional community members, who shall not be affiliated with any organization otherwise already represented. C. Chair: The Chair of this committee shall be elected by the Assembly. The Vice Chair shall be the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The Chair shall contact and coordinate the membership of the Committee in coordination with the Vice President for DEI within the first two weeks following the election of the Chair. The Chair shall communicate all Pulse Committee updates to the Student Assembly President at least once every two weeks following the first committee meeting. The Chair shall meet with the Vice President for Policy at least twice per semester to discuss directives of the Student Assembly legislation and advocacy. Updates from these meetings shall be reported to the full Executive Cabinet. The Chair shall meet with the Vice President for Finance in advance of all financial decision making. Updates from these meetings shall be reported to the Executive Board. The Chair shall meet with the Vice President for Communications in advance of all outreach and to aid in event planning. Be it further resolved, the Pulse Committee be deemed to have priority over other committees for funding requests against the $400,000 allocated pursuant to Resolution 75 of the 2023-2024 Term of the Student Assembly. Be it finally resolved, the $400,000 allocation authorized by Resolution 75 of the 2023-2024 Term of the Student Assembly be moved to the Student Assembly Reserve Account, and any such language moving such funds to an endowed account be considered rescinded. Respectfully Submitted, Zora deRham ‘27 President of the Student Assembly Adam Vinson ‘25 Executive Vice President of the Student Assembly Niles Hite ‘26 Vice President for Finance of the Student Assembly Davian Gekman ‘27 School of Industrial & Labor Relations Representative, Student Assembly Nicholas Maggard ‘25 Deputy President of the Student Assembly Christian Flournoy ‘27 Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion of the Student Assembly |
Submitted to the President |