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Cornell University

Office of the Assemblies

Student Assembly Meeting

Thursday, November 6, 2025

  • Term:
    2025-2026
  • Assembly/Committee: Student Assembly
  • Date & Time:
    Thu, Nov 6, 2025 - 4:45pm
    to
    6:30pm
  • Location:
    Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room (WSH407)/Zoom
  • Agenda:

    1. Call to Order 


    2. Reading of the Land Acknowledgment 


    3. Approval of the October 23rd, 2025 Meeting Minutes 


    4. Referendum 
         1. Relevant Information About Referendum 


    5. Consent Calendar 


    6. Announcements 


    7. Presentations 


    8. Open Microphone 

    9. Reports of Officers, Committees, and Liaisons 
         1. Finance Committee Recommendations 
              1. GJAC 
              2. CMM 
              3. CUTonight 
              4. CPFB 
              5. Outdoor Odyssey 
              6. ICC 
              7. ALANA 
              8. ISA 
              9. MGFC 
              10.EARS 

    10.Second Readings
    (11-6-25) Student Assembly Meeting Agenda (1).pdf (130.69 KB)
  • Meeting Packet:
  • Audio Recording:
  • Minutes:

    I. Call to Order
         a. Z. deRham called the meeting to order at 4:45 PM.
         b. Members Present: D. Addoquaye, A. Aftab, L. Blum, D. Carson, A. Cekic, C. Cook, Z. deRham, G. Dorward, M. Ehrlich, C. Flournoy, E. Galperin, I. Gayle, L. Han, V. Kakra, C. Kim, K. Krishtopa, Y. Masoud, J. Mui, J. Purcell, H. Spector, J. Swavy, C. Tarala, A. Vallecillo, T. Waguespack, A. Walters, H. Watkins, J. Wu, E. Yao, K. Young
         c. Members Absent: None.
         d. Also Present: E. Chaudhuri (proxy for S. Agarwal), I. Gilenson


    II. Reading of the Land Acknowledgement
         a. Z. deRham stated the land acknowledgement.


    III. Approval of the October 23rd, 2025 Meeting Minutes
         a. The motion to approve the minutes passes through unanimous consent.
         b. A. Vallecillo moves to move public comment above the Referendum. Motion fails by a vote of 8-14-6.


    IV. Referendum
         a. H. Watkins motions to close debate. The motion fails by a vote of 7-8-10.
         b. E. Chaudhuri explains that in order for it to work, the percentage that votes needsto be high enough to represent the student body. He adds that not only should you vote, but you should tell everyone around you to go vote.
         c. A. Cekic further emphasizes the importance of passing with an overwhelming response rate. He adds that the current system only allows University employees to call for witnesses and ask them questions, going against what the University believes. 
         d. K. Young motions to close debate, no dissent.
         e. Community Vote Period
              i. Question 1 - 91 votes yes, 4 votes no.
              ii. Question 2 - 93 votes yes, 2 votes no.
              iii. Both community votes go into the affirmative tally.
         f. Student Assembly Roll Call Vote
              i. D. Addoquaye voted yes.
              ii. A. Aftab voted yes.
              iii. L. Blum voted yes.
              iv. D. Carson voted yes.
              v. A. Cekic voted yes.
              vi. C. Cook voted yes.
              vii. G. Dorward voted yes.
              viii. M. Ehrlich voted yes.
              ix. C. Flournoy voted yes.
              x. E. Galperin (proxied by H. Spector) voted yes.
              xi. I. Gayle voted yes.
              xii. L. Han voted yes.
              xiii. V. Kakra voted yes.
              xiv. C. Kim voted yes.
              xv. K. Krishtopa voted yes.
              xvi. Y. Masoud voted yes.
              xvii. J. Mui voted yes.
              xviii. J. Purcell voted yes.
              xix. H. Spector abstained.
              xx. J. Swavy voted yes.
              xxi. C. Tarala voted yes.
              xxii. A. Vallecillo voted yes.
              xxiii. T. Waguespack voted yes.
              xxiv. A. Walters voted yes.
              xxv. H. Watkins voted yes.
              xxvi. J. Wu voted yes.
              xxvii. E. Yao voted yes.
              xxviii. K. Young voted yes.
              xxix. Z. deRham voted yes.
              xxx. Roll call vote of 28-0-1.
         g. This referendum will be presented to the public.


    V. Consent Calendar
         a. None

    VI. Announcements
         a. None.
         b. H. Watkins motions to move Reports of Officers, Committees, and Liaisons to the bottom of the agenda, no dissent.


    VII. Presentations
         a. None.


    VIII. Open Microphone
         a. None.


    IX. Second Readings
         a. Resolution 15: Approving Special Projects Funding Request for the Black Ivy Pre Law Society
              i. H. Watkins shares that this trip provides students and organizations the ability to go to law schools and requested $3,000 to cover the bus fare.
              ii. The Black Ivy Pre Law Society shares that this is a 2026 trip to Washington DC with the goal of expanding access to Cornell students of color. This is a yearly trip and they have received funding from SAFC and ALANA. They came to the Student Assembly in an attempt to make the trip fully free. They have already taken into consideration proximity, pricing, and accessibility.
              iii. A. Aftab motions to move the resolution to the Third Reading Calendar, no dissent.


    X. Third Readings
         a. Resolution 6: Making Meal Plans Equitable for South Campus Program Houses
              i. H. Watkins motions to table the resolution until the November 20 meeting, no dissent.


    XI. Reports of Officers, Committees, and Liaisons
         a. C. Flournoy announces that the referendum will go through a process involving a statement period, promotional period, and a voting period later down the line.
         b. J. Wu announces that he created a Google Calendar called Essay Committee Meetings to have all committee meetings. That way, Student Assembly members that are not inside the committee can go to those meetings. Everyone should have access to it and committee chairs should all have the editing access. If a meeting is being set up, Student Assembly members can just add the meeting inside that folder or attach the announcement email and cc C. Flournoy. He adds that there’s been a delay in
    setting up the Technology and Student Employment Policy Committees because the Office of the Assemblies have to update the bylaws first. Since the bylaws have been updated, the website is now updated with the committees, and soon the Office of the Assemblies will set up the application links, website, and webpages for those committees.
         c. Z. deRham shares that committee chairs can ask Erik if they need to book a room. She also adds that Student Assembly members who know anyone interested in being on those two committees can connect them directly with the chairs, herself or C. Flournoy.
         d. I. Gilesman reports that everything is going well for Freshmen and Transfer elections. There are 16 freshmen candidates and 4 transfer candidates. The election closes at 10AM on Monday and their first meeting will be the next one.
         e. Finance Committee Recommendations
              i. Gender Justice Advocacy Coalition to be decreased to $2.10. H. Watkins motions to enter into executive session, no dissent. The chair smiles upon a motion to extend the meeting time to 7:30 PM, no dissent. C. Tarala motions to end debate, no dissent. Rejected by a vote of 1-18-2.
              ii. Cornell Minds Matter to be increased to $1.00. H. Watkins motions to enter into executive session, no dissent. Motion to vote on voting passes by a vote of 13-3-2. Approved by a vote of 15-1-2.


    The meeting was adjourned at 7:06 PM by unanimous consent.


    Respectfully Submitted,
    Sophia Lin
    Clerk of the Assembly

    SA Minutes 11-6-25.docx (2).pdf (145.72 KB)