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Cornell University

Office of the Assemblies

Student Assembly Meeting

Thursday, February 6, 2025

  • Term:
    2024-2025
  • Assembly/Committee: Student Assembly
  • Date & Time:
    Thu, Feb 6, 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 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: Placed on the Third Reading Calendar, 02/06/2025

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 the range of products to include and
collaborate with the Student Assembly to secure funding and implement this initiative;

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 with
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 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 yearly 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 thisresolution.

Respectfully Submitted,

David Bingkun Duan ‘28
Member of the Student Health Advisory Committee, Student Assembly

Davian Gekman ‘27
Chair of the Student Health Advisory Committee, Student Assembly
School of Industrial & Labor Relations Representative, Student Assembly

Bianca Thompson ‘26
Member of the Student Health Advisory Committee, Student Assembly

Jinzhou Wu ‘28
Member of the Student Health Advisory Committee, Student Assembly 		In Discussion
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 		Adopted by the Assembly
SA R28 (2024-2025): Approving Special Projects Funding Request for Diverse Leaders of Tomorrow (DLT) This resolution approves $5000 of Special Projects Funding to Diverse Leaders of Tomorrow New York City Trip

Sponsored by: Niles Hite ’26, Christian Flournoy ‘27
Type of Action: Internal Policy
Originally Presented: February 6, 2025
Current Status: Placed on the Second Reading Calendar, 02/06/2025

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 requests.

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."

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 $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 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
Representative of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Student Assembly 		In Discussion