Student Assembly Meeting

Thursday, October 9, 2025

• Term:
  2025-2026
• Assembly/Committee: Student Assembly
• Date & Time:
  Thu, Oct 9, 2025 - 4:45pm
  to
  6:30pm
• Location:
  Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room (WSH407)/Zoom
• Agenda:
  Student Assembly Agenda 10_09_2025 (1).pdf (145.3 KB)
• Meeting Packet:
• Audio Recording:
  SA20251009-1.MP3 (56.99 MB)

  SA20251009-2.MP3 (82.04 MB)

  SA20251009-3.MP3 (77.69 MB)
• Minutes:

  I. Call to Order

      a. Chair Z. deRham called the meeting to order at 4:45 PM.

      b. Members Present: D. Addoquaye, A. Aftab, S. Agarwal, L. Blum, D. Carson, Z.

         deRham, G. Dorward, M. Ehrlich, C. Flournoy, L. Han, V. Kakra, C. Kim, K.

         Krishtopa, J. Purcell, H. Spector, J. Swavy, C. Tarala, A. Vallecillo, T. Waguespack, H.

         Watkins, J. Wu, E. Yao, K. Young

      c. Members Absent: E. Galperin (Excused), C. Kim, J. Purcell, A. Walters

      d. Also Present: University President Michael Kotlikoff, Vice President Ryan Lombardi.

  II. Reading of the Land Acknowledgment

      a. Z. deRham stated the land acknowledgement

  III. Approval of the Minutes

      a. Approval of the September 25, 2025 Meeting Minutes

          i. Z. deRham motions to approve the minutes.

          ii. Z. deRham motions to move Presentations to right after approval of

              meeting minutes and move on to public comments next. The motion to

              change agenda passes by unanimous consent.

          iii. The motion to approve the minutes passes through unanimous consent.

  IV. Presentations

      a. University President Michael Kotlikoff and Vice President of Student & Campus

         Life Ryan Lombardi. They discuss Cornell's current relationship with the federal

         government, attempt to restore federal grants, and the updates on the Student Code

         of Conduct.

  V. Public Comments

      a. A. Vallecillo motions to extend public comment indefinitely until all speakers are

         finished. The motion to extend speaking time was rejected by a vote of 7-9-1. 

      b. Speakers argued for a judiciary independent of the university and urged the

         committee to pass resolution 10 unamended.

      c. Several speakers shared concerns of budget cuts, especially for ALANA and MGFC.

         They argue that Cornell cannot be world class without being open to the world and

         that these cuts cultivate culture, community, and belonging at Cornell.

      d. M. Ehrlich motions to extend public comment by five minutes, no dissent.

      e. The chair would smile favorably upon a motion to extend the meeting to 7:45 PM.

         The motion to extend the meeting was approved by unanimous consent.

  VI. Consent Calendar

      a. None.

  VII. Reports of Officers, Committees, and Liaisons

      a. Finance Committee recommendation

          i. Presented by H. Watkins and C. Tarala.

          ii. African Latino Asian and Native American Intercultural Board submits a

              petition, requesting an allocation of $14.00.

          iii. The Appropriations Committee's original recommendation to decrease

               allocation for ALANA to $9.90 is rejected by unanimous consent.

          iv. Multicultural Greek & Fraternal Council submits a petition, requesting an

              allocation of $3.00.

          v. H. Watkins moves to enter into the executive session. Approved by vote of

             9-7-0. The assembly enters executive session.

          vi. H. Watkin moves to reject the Appropriations Committee's original

              recommendation to decrease allocation for MGFC to $0.90. Approved by

              vote of 16-0-2.

          vii. International Students Association submits a petition, requesting an

               allocation of $10.00.

          viii. M. Ehrlich moves to close debate and reject The Appropriations

                Committee's original recommendation. No dissent against closing debate.

          ix. The Appropriations Committee's original recommendation to decrease

              allocation for ISA to $8.00 is rejected by a vote of 11-4-0.

  VIII. Second Readings

      a. Resolution 11

          i. H. Specter addresses the concern that many on campus park their bikes in

             handicap-accessible aisles and ramps, making people unable to get around

             them. This act is illegal and goes against the Americans with Disabilities Act,

             so they request Campus facilities and services to put up signs to inform

             students it's illegal and their bikes may be removed by the police.

          ii. L. Han motions to mass the resolution. The motion to pass the resolution

              was approved by unanimous consent.

  IX. Third Readings

      a. Resolution 10

          i. A. Vallecillo reiterates the student's desire for rights to be respected.

          ii. T. Waguespack comments that adding staff and faculty dilutes and drowns

              out student voices. He moves to strike 83 and 88 and replace it with "Be it

              further resolved that the Student Code of Conduct be revised by a

              committee composed exclusively of undergraduate, graduate, and

              professional students, ensuring that the process reflects student perspectives

              across all divisions of the university. Be it finally resolved that this committee

              shall be composed of 15 student members confirmed by the Student

              Assembly, consisting of 4 representatives of the Student Assembly, 4

              representatives of the Graduate Professional Student Assembly, 1 graduate

              student trustee, one undergraduate student trustee, one residence hall

              association representative, one student-athlete Advisory Council

              representative, one multicultural Greek and Fraternal council representative,

              1 inter-fraternity council representative, and one Panhellenic Council

              Representative, and that the revised Code of Conduct produced by this

              committee shall be submitted for approval to the Student Assembly and

              Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, followed by review and

              ratification by the University Assembly, the Faculty Senate, and the

              University Administration in accordance with shared governance

              procedures".

          iii. A. Aftab moves to end debate on the amendment, no seconds, debate

               continues.

          iv. A. Vallecillo argues that the University Administration wants to reject the

              amendment and that the faculty acts as a counterbalance to prevent a

              student majority that may push their own interests. He advises not to pass

              this amendment, as it would make it easier for the University Administration

              to shoot down the resolution.

          v. T. Waguespack counters that the committee is just a way for people to talk to

             the administrators and has nothing it can do. He doesn't think there should

             be voices that don't represent student interests.

          vi. The Chief of Staff agrees that students should have the only say, as they also

              don't have a say in faculty code of conduct. He expresses uncertainty about

              the incentive to include faculty other than make it more easily approved by

              the administration.

          vii. D. Carson shares that incorporating staff is a part of the history of shared

               governance.

          viii. A. Aftab reminds the committee that the students don't want any

                amendments, and just wants it to pass. She moves to end the debate. The

                motion to close the debate is approved by a vote of 6-4-2.

          ix. The amendment fails by a vote of 3-8.

          x. M. Ehrlich moves to vote by roll call on Resolution 10 by unanimous

             consent.

          xi. Resolution 10 passes by a vote of 21-2-1.

  X. Announcements

      a. Z. deRham announces for the committee to check their emails about SUNY Student

         Assembly.

      b. Z. deRham announces that committee lists are updated in the box. Committee

         chairs must email their membership to set up a meeting by the 16th.

  XI. Appointments and Vacancies Calendar

      a. There will be 8 people interviewing for vacancies next week.
   

  The meeting was adjourned at 7:39 PM by unanimous consent.
   

  Respectfully Submitted,

  Sophia Lin

  Clerk of the Assembly

  SA Minutes 10-9-25 (2).pdf (170.42 KB)