Student Assembly Meeting

Thursday, February 13, 2025

• Term:
  2024-2025
• Assembly/Committee: Student Assembly
• Date & Time:
  Thu, Feb 13, 2025 - 4:45pm
  to
  6:30pm
• Location:
  Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room (WSH407)/Zoom
• Agenda:

  1. Call to Order 

  2. Call of the Roll 

  3. Reading of the Land Acknowledgment 

  4. Approval of the February 6th, 2025 Meeting Minutes 

  5. Communications to the Student Assembly 

  6. Consent Calendar: 

  7. Reports of Officers, Committees, and Liaisons 

  8. Announcements 

  9. Presentations 1

  10.Public Comment 

  11.Appointments and Vacancies Calendar 

       1. Arts, Architecture, and Planning Representative Vacancy 

  12.Second Readings 

       1. Resolution 28: Approving Special Projects Funding Request for Diverse Leaders for Tomorrow (DLT) 

       2. Resolution 29: Checking our Pulse 

       3. Resolution 30: Resolution on the Sustainable Future of Anabel’s Grocery 

       4. Resolution 31: Implementing Meals-To-Go at Trillium Dining Hall 

  13.Third Readings 

  14.Adjournment

  Student Assembly Agenda 2_13_2025 (3).pdf (86.92 KB)
• Meeting Packet:
• Audio Recording:
• Minutes:

   

  Student Assembly of Cornell University 

  Minutes of the February 13, 2025 Meeting 4:45 PM

  Room 407, Willard-Straight Hall

  1. Call to Order
     1. Chair Z. deRham called the meeting to order at 4:45 PM.
     2. Members Present: R. Acharjee; S. Almosawi; L. Berinde; S. Chan; E. Chaudhuri; Z. deRham; K. Everett; C. Flournoy; E. Galperin; D. Gekman; N. Hite; C. Kim; J. Lederman; F. Meng; J. Purcell; S. Razzak; J. Silverman; D. Suarez (Late); C. Tarala; A. Vinson; T. Waugespack; J. Wu; E. Yao
     3. Members Absent: D. Addoquaye (Proxied by T. Waugespack); A. Aftab; L. Blum (Proxied by A. Vinson); D. Gekman (Proxied by E. Galperin); G. Gonzalez-Mulattieri; K. Liu; M. O’Donnell; M. Scali; S. Zhuang (Proxied by
     4. Also Present:
  2. Reading of the land acknowledgement
     1. Z. deRham stated the land acknowledgement
  3. Approval of the minutes
     1. E. Galperin motions to approve the meeting minutes from the February 6th meeting, this motion passes with unanimous consent.
  4. Announcements
     1. Z. deRham states that Resolutions 4, 11, and 13 have been acknowledged and approved by the president, and the bylaws have been updated with the new attendance policy.
  5. Reports of Officers, Committees, and Liaisons
     1. S. Razzak announces that the Academic Policy Committee will begin meeting next week and asks members to check Slack to coordinate scheduling.
     2. E. Galperin, on behalf of D. Gekman, promotes the Student Health Advisory Committee.
     3. F. Meng shares that the Infrastructure Fund Commission's final deadline is April 18th, with $53,000 still available for allocation.
     4. I. Gilenson (Director of Elections) notes that vacancies on the Elections Committee need to be filled, reminding members that assembly members cannot serve on the committee.
     5. R. Acharjee announces that the Financial Aid Review Committee is seeking more members.
     6. Z. deRham emphasizes that the Students Helping Students grant program requires a minimum number of participants to continue operating and urges members to join the financial aid committee.
     7. J. Lederman asks about the funding mechanism for the program, and Z. deRham explains that it is funded by the Financial Aid Department and the Student Activity Fee.
  6. Open Microphone
     1. No speakers
  7. Consent Calendar
     1. Resolution 32
        1. R. Acharjee introduces Resolution 32, which sets the Summer Experience Grant allocation at $150,000, as recommended by the Financial Aid Review Committee.
        2. Z. deRham motions to approve and adopt the resolution.
        3. Resolution 32 is passed by unanimous consent.
  8. Presentations
     1. No presentations.

  9. Second Readings

     1. Resolution 28
        1. N. Hite reintroduces Resolution 28, stating that edits were made to ensure it adheres to Cornell's policies. The president of DLT confirms that the proposal now only includes costs for Cornell students.
        2. E. Galperin asks about the conference's content, and the president of DLT explains that it supports underrepresented undergraduates in career exploration and networking through corporate office visits.
        3. J. Swenson inquired about funding allocation, with the president outlining $1,500 for hotel rooms, $894 for transportation, and $240 for food.
        4. H. Hitchcock asks if the national chapter hosts the conference, and the president of DLT clarifies that it is exclusive to Cornell’s chapter, referencing a slide deck for more details.
        5. J. Swenson asks how participants are selected, and the president of DLT states that all 15 attendees are members of the organization.
        6. Z. deRham asks if any SAIFC funds are allocated for the trip, and the president of DLT confirms only $300 remains, so the funding will come from the reserve account.

        7. L. Berinde motions to end debate and move the resolution to the third reading calendar. The motion passes with unanimous consent.

           b. Resolution 29

           i. A. Vinson motions to amend the resolution to add C. Flournoy as a sponsor, this motion passes unanimously.

           ii. A. Vinson discusses the creation of the Pulse Committee, aimed at reducing biases and connecting the Assembly to the student body. The resolution addresses confusing language and clarifies Pulse's large budget. The proposal moves committee members around, adds active liaisons, and focuses on increasing school spirit. The resolution also freezes Pulse's large budget and clarifies leadership structure.

           iii. Z. deRham explains the $400,000 budget comes from the SAFC reserve account, which exceeds $2 million. Leadership will shift to align with the executive board due to the large budget. A. Vinson mentions an appendix with language changes.

           iv. E. Galperin suggests a minority representative would be more fitting for committee membership and asks about the ALANA president. A. Vinson explains the minority representative was not part of the original language, and Z. deRham clarifies that ALANA oversees cultural groups and intercultural programming.

           v. K. Everett asks about the committee's previous actions. A. Vinson and Z. deRham confirm it has done nothing yet.

           vi. E. Galperin motions to amend line 35 to include a minority student representative, which passes unanimously.

           vii. N. Hite emphasizes the committee should include diverse perspectives, especially students who can hold members accountable.

           viii. S. Razzak motions to close debate, which passes unanimously, and the resolution moves to the third reading calendar.

     c. Resolution 30

     i. Z. deRham introduces Resolution 30, addressing Anabel's grocery store's financial troubles due to a budget decrease from its parent organization. The Assembly, as the founding organization, aims to help find a solution by creating a committee to provide support. The resolution also calls for a public comment period posted on the Office of the Assemblies website.

     ii. N. Hite asks if Anabel’s could become a byline, and Z. deRham says they have until September 12 to meet the requirements.

     iii. E. Chaudhuri asks about prior resolutions and the inclusion of public comments on the student assembly website. N. Maggard explains that the public comment period achieves similar goals as a referendum by allowing all undergraduates to share feedback.

     iv. F. Meng asks about alternative funding sources for Anabel's. Z. deRham mentions potential small loans from the Assembly and alumni donations, but acknowledges the general nature of these plans.

     v. J. Swenson questions the Assembly’s allocation of funds to smaller clubs and suggests a more inclusive approach. A. Vinson agrees but mentions they were told not to allocate funds that way. Z. deRham explains that they were restricted from using emergency funds for Anabel's due to administrative pushback.

     vi. K. Everett suggests a referendum from Anabel's, as they have already gathered substantial support.

     vii. S. Almosawi motions to amend the language from "been impacted by" to "been impacted from," which passes unanimously

     viii. Z. deRham shares frustrations over unproductive meetings with Anabel’s and Dean Love, revealing lack of clarity about the situation.

     ix. H. Hitchcock asks about Anabel's staffing issues and the ad hoc committee’s composition. Z. deRham will be reviewing Anabel's financials next week.

     x. J. Lederman suggests allocating Pulse funds to Anabel's, but Z. deRham notes restrictions on the funds.

     xi. N. Hite suggests connecting the issue to CALS, and Z. deRham acknowledges potential but challenges in the process.

     xii. E. Galperin praises the resolution and asks about alternative funding research. Z. deRham mentions CTA has begun exploring grants, but there has been no administrative proposal. 

     xiii. S. Almosawi advocates for Anabel's and calls on Dean Love to explain her decision to defund CTA.

     ix. E. Galperin motions to close debate, which passes unanimously. The resolution moves to the third reading calendar.

     d. Resolution 31

     i. E. Chaudhuri reintroduces the resolution advocating for a meals on wheels program at Trillium due to $400 BRB limitations. The proposal seeks to allow students to use meal swipes for boxed lunches.

     ii.A. Vinson expresses support for the resolution.

     iii. F. Meng agrees, highlighting issues with budgeting for BRBs.

     iv. E. Yao mentions the existing "Meals in Motion" program and suggests expanding it at Trillium.

     v. E. Chaudhuri is concerned about Cornell’s reluctance to allow hot meals at Trillium and proposes amending the existing program instead.

     vi. E. Galperin shares that this idea stems from a conversation with dining services.

     vii. T. Waguespack asks for clarification on the lunch options and confirms they are not catered.

     viii. A. Aftab asks if Halal and Kosher options will be available, and E. Chaudhuri confirms they will be.

     ix. E. Galperin motions to close debate, which passes unanimously. The resolution moves to the third reading calendar.

  10. Third Readings
      1. Nothing on the third reading calendar.

  11. Appointments and Vacancies Calendar

      1. Z. deRham entertains motion to move into Executive Session to interview nominees for a vacancy. Motion is approved by unanimous consent.

      b. Sebastian Bartnik is confirmed as College of Architecture, Art & Planning Representative.

  12. Adjournment
      1. The meeting was adjourned at 6:16 pm.

  Respectfully Submitted, 

  Kennedy Young

  Clerk of the Assembly

  SA Minutes (2_13_2025.pdf (132.26 KB)