Student Assembly Meeting

Thursday, October 16, 2025

• Term:
  2025-2026
• Assembly/Committee: Student Assembly
• Date & Time:
  Thu, Oct 16, 2025 - 4:45pm
  to
  6:30pm
• Location:
  Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room (WSH407)/Zoom
• Agenda:
  SA Minutes 10-16-25.docx (2).pdf (150.74 KB)
• Meeting Packet:
• Audio Recording:
• Minutes:

  I. Call to Order
       a. C. Flournoy called the meeting to order at 4:50.
       b. Members Present: D. Addoquaye, A. Aftab, S. Agarwal, L. Blum, D. Carson, Z. deRham, G. Dorward, C. Flournoy, 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: M. Ehrlich, E. Galperin, L. Han, K. Young
       d. Also Present: None.

  
  II. Reading of the Land Acknowledgment
       a. C. Flournoy stated the land acknowledgement.

  
  III. Moment of Silence & Mourning
       a. Moment of silence and mourning for Thaddeus Lucentini

  
  IV. Approval of the October 9, 2025 Meeting Minutes
       a. C. Flournoy motions to approve the minutes.
       b. The motion to approve the minutes passes through unanimous consent.

  
  V. Consent Calendar
       a. None.

  
  VI. Reports of Officers, Committees, and Liaisons
       a. None.

  
  VII. Announcements
       a. The Executive Board received an email from the Director of External Affairs at Michigan School of Public Policy. They were interested in discussing how Cornell sets up its student government and ways they could improve theirs.
       b. H. Watkins announces that the Finance Committee will meet with Athletics and Physical Education, Cornell University Emergency Medical Services, Student Assembly, and Haven on October 18th in 106 RPCC, at 10 AM. The committee also plans to meet with Collegiate Readership, Ears, Outdoor Odyssey, and CU Tonight on October 19th, in 106, Robert Purcell, at 10 AM.
       c. H. Spector announces that the Dining Committee will be considering Resolution 6 at the meeting on Monday.
       d. C. Tarala expresses that the Finance Committee has more information than the general public and they’re not making decisions in bad faith. He hopes for more trust that the committee is doing their job right and is personally in favor of adjusting some things, such as Slope Day.

  
  VIII. Presentations
       a. None.

  
  IX. Open Microphone
       a. No speakers.

  
  X. Second Readings
       a. Resolution 12
            i. Appendix A: Finance Club Campus Groups Application
                 1. H. Watkins shares a special projects request from the Finance Club at Cornell.
                 2. The club asks for $5,000 from the Special Projects Fund in order to make a trip to New York City more equitable for people. This trip has a lot of really great career opportunities for members of the club, including getting job interviews, meeting top financial firms, and participating in a student pitch competition.
                 3. Next week, there will be some CFC members, including those who've gone on this trip in the past to share their experiences, as well as the president to talk about the logistics.
                 4. D. Carson asks if the club has applied for special projects funding before for this trip
                      a. H. Watkins shares that they have not and the reason they’re applying this time is that the total cost is $7,204. He adds that the remaining funding comes from students' pockets.
                 5. C. Tarala asks to confirm that in previous years the trip was completely student funded.
                      a. H. Watkins shares that this is true, but the president and students who come next week will share more information.
                 6. The Chair smiles favorably upon a motion to close debate. The debate was closed.
                 7. The Chair smiled favorably upon a motion to move the Second Reading Calendar to the Third Reading Calendar. The resolution will be moved to the third reading calendar for next week.
  
  XI. Third Readings
       a. Resolution 11
            i. Presented by H. Spector and D. Carson.
            ii. H. Spector reiterates that people have been locking bikes and scooters in handicap aisles, parking lots, and on the railings for the ramps on campus, preventing students from entering buildings.
            iii. D. Carson moves to amend line 28 to read “wheelchair accessible walkways across campus, or consider other solutions it deems effective, in order to protect accessibility and student safety.”
            iv. The motion passes by unanimous consent.
            v. A. Vallecillo shares that he witnessed that same person in a wheelchair trying to get up into Willard Straight Hall, but there was a scooter and a bike parked on the same ramp.
            vi. E. Yao asks if they have any ideas for disincentives to prevent people from repeatedly blocking these walkways?
                 1. H. Spector shares that the act itself is illegal and can result in the bike getting cut off and a fine. The resolution is not an immediate solution, but a preventative measure.
            vii. H. Watkins moves to close debate. The motion passes.
            viii. The resolution passes by unanimous consent.

  XII. Appointments and Vacancies Calendar
       a. Z. deRham motions to go into vacancies and appointments. Passes by unanimous consent.
       b. Sophia Arnold shares why she wants to be the Director of the Office of Ethics. Z. deRham motions to approve Sophia Arnold as Director of the Office of Ethics. By a vote of 12-0-6, the motion fails for the bylaws.
       c. Ian Gilenson shares why he wants to be the Director of Elections. Z. deRham motions to approve Ian Gilenson as Director of the Office of Elections. By a vote of 18-0-2, Ian is approved as Director of the Office of Elections.
       d. Colton Cook has been appointed the Veterans Representative.
       e. Yasmeen Masoud has been appointed the Brooks Schools Representative.
       f. Jeffrey Mui has been appointed the Architecture, Art, and Planning Representative.
       g. H. Watkin moves to extend the meeting until 7 PM, no dissent.
       h. Isabella Gayle has been appointed the Human Ecology Representative
       i. C. Flournoy moves to extend the meeting until 7:15 PM, no dissent.
       j. Admir Cekic has been appointed the First Generation Representative
  
  The meeting was adjourned at 7:32 PM by unanimous consent.

  
  Respectfully Submitted,
  Sophia Lin
  Clerk of the Assembly

  SA Minutes 10-16-25.docx (3).pdf (150.74 KB)