Student Assembly Meeting

Thursday, November 13, 2025

• Term:
  2025-2026
• Assembly/Committee: Student Assembly
• Date & Time:
  Thu, Nov 13, 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 November 6th, 2025 Meeting Minutes

  4. Referendum

  5. Consent Calendar

  6. Announcements

  7. Presentations

  8. Open Microphone

  9. Reports of Officers, Committees, and Liaisons

                 a. Finance Committee Recommendations

                             i. CUTonight

                            ii. CPFB

                           iii. EARS

                           iv. Outdoor Odyssey

                            v. ICC

                           vi. ALANA

                          vii. ISA

                         viii. MGFC

  10. Second Readings

                a. Resolution 16: Amending the Standing Rules to Require Special

                    Projects Funding be Used in Tompkins County

               b. Resolution 17: Reinstating the A&S Peer Mentoring Program

  11. Third Readings

              a. Resolution 15: Approving Special Projects Funding Request for the

                  Black Ivy Pre-Law Society

                             i. Appendix A: Black Ivy CampusGroups Application

  12. Appointments and Vacancies Calendar

  13. Adjournment

• 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, S. Agarwal, J. Anand, L. Blum, D. Carson,
  M. Causey, A. Cekic, C. Cook, Z. deRham, G. Dorward, M. Ehrlich, A. Fard, C.
  Flournoy, E. Galperin, L. Han, V. Kakra, K. Krishtopa, Y. Masoud, J. Mui, E. Porter,
  J. Purcell, H. Spector, J. Swavy, C. Tarala, A. Vallecillo, A. Walters, H. Watkins, J. Wu,
  Z. Yabut, E. Yao, K. Young
        c. Members Absent: I. Gayle, C. Kim, T. Waguespack
        d. Also Present: E. Chaudhuri, I. Gilenson

  
  II. Reading of the Land Acknowledgment
        a. Z. deRham stated the land acknowledgement.
        b. I. Gilenson announces that the first year and transfer classes of Cornell University
  had the opportunity to elect their members. In the freshman race, there were 1,493
  votes for a 40% turnout, the highest on record. In the transfer race, there was a total
  of 142 votes, for a turnout of 23%. In a crowded race of 16 candidates, the
  following four first years won: Ellie Porter, Jai Anand, Myshay Causey, and Arman
  Fard. In a field of 4, the following transfer student won: Zachary Yabut. The
  Elections Committee recognized these votes as valid and concludes the elections
  process.
        c. The meeting began with the swearing-in of the Student Assembly’s new members.

  
  III. Approval of the November 6th, 2025 Meeting Minutes
        a. E. Galperin moves to change “Gilesman” in Section 6, Subsection d to “Gilenson”.
  Approved by unanimous consent.
        b. The motion to approve the minutes passes through unanimous consent.
        c. Z. deRham motions to move presentations to right after the approval of the meeting
  minutes. Approved by unanimous consent.

  
  IV. Presentations
        a. Presentation by Dr. Avery August, the Deputy Provost and Co-Chair of the Task
  Force on Institutional Voice.

  
  V. Referendum
        a. None.

  
  VI. Consent Calendar
        a. Z. deRham moves to approve the consent calendar items by unanimous consent.
  The motion passes by unanimous consent.
        b. Resolution 18 passes, approving the budget for finals week airport shuttle.

  
  VII. Announcements
        a. None.

  
  VIII. Reports of Officers, Committees, and Liaisons
        a. E. Galperin reports that the Dining Committee’s next meeting will be on Monday at
  4:45, where they will be discussing Resolution 6.
        b. E. Chaudhuri reports that there are two open slots on the UA committee and notes
  that the first attempt to amend the Student Code of Conduct via the Assemblies is
  going through the University Assembly right now.
        c. S. Agarwal reports that the Student Health Advisory Committee will have their next
  meeting with Cornell Health on Tuesday, November 18th, from 4 to 5 PM at
  Cornell Health.
        d. J. Wu reports that the Technology Committee and the Student Employment Policy
  Committee are now up on the Student Assembly's website, including the committee
  application form.
        e. L. Blum reports that the Environmental Committee is still having meetings. As of
  right now, it's been every Sunday from 5 to 6 at varying locations. They’ve been
  discussing Cornell on Fire and a couple other side projects. She’s been outreaching
  to other environmental chairs or sustainability chairs at different Ivies, such as
  University of Pennsylvania and Princeton.
        f. G. Dorward reports that Infrastructure meetings have mostly been on Zoom.
        g. Z. deRham reports that there was an update on an SAIFC project that the Student
  Assembly funded last semester, which will be sent out in her communications email.
  She adds that she and trustee Abebe will host a town hall on the 19. SUNY Student
  Assembly Advocacy Day is also on February 3rd, 2026, in Albany, where they
  advocate to the state for money in the state budget to go to programs and
  SUNY-wide policy change.
        h. Finance Committee Recommendations
              i. CUTonight to be decreased to $11.00. H. Watkins motions to enter into
  executive session, no dissent. E. Galperin moves to vote on the
  recommendation, no dissent. Approved by a vote of 20-3-3.
              ii. Community Partnership Funding Board (CPFB) to receive a consistent
  allocation of $2.00. Approved by unanimous consent.
              iii. Empathy, Assistance and Referral Service (EARS) to be decreased to $0.00.
  Approved by a vote of 26-0-0.
              iv. Outdoor Odyssey to receive a consistent allocation of $35.50. Approved by
  unanimous consent.
              v. Interfaith Council at Cornell (ICC) to be increased to $11.50. Approved by
  unanimous consent.
              vi. African Latino Asian and Native American Intercultural Board (ALANA) to
  be increased to $15.80. Approved by unanimous consent.
              vii. International Students Association (ISA) to be increased to $9.50. Approved
  by unanimous consent.
              viii. Multicultural Greek & Fraternal Council (MGFC) to be decreased to $0.60.
  Rejected by unanimous consent.
              i. H. Watkins reports that the Finance Committee will be meeting at 10 AM with
  GJAC and with Class Councils at 12:30 PM. In between, the committee will be
  talking about the Collegiate Readership Program and Students Helping Students
  Awards, which are two programs organized by the Student Assembly. Collegiate
  Readership funds the New York Times and Wall Street Journal subscriptions, while
  Students Helping Students Awards go towards the Summer Experience Grant and
  Emergency Funds approved by the Financial Aid Review Commission.
        j. Z. deRham adds that there will be special meetings on Wednesday, December 3rd,
  during the normal meeting time and Sunday, December 7th, to go over finance
  recommendations.

  
  IX. Open Microphone
        a. Many speakers express that placing a geographic limit takes away many opportunities from students
        b. A speaker urges against Resolution 16, as Special Projects Funding is used mainly
  for off-campus trips.

  
  X. Second Readings
        a. Resolution 16: Amending the Standing Rules to Require Special Projects Funding be
  Used in Tompkins County
              i. A. Cekic imagines a project to be at Cornell and is open to hearing from
  other Assembly members.
              ii. K. Young motions to table the resolution indefinitely. The resolution has
  been approved by a vote of 23-0-4.

  
  XI. Third Readings
        a. Resolution 15: Approving Special Projects Funding Request for the Black Ivy
  Pre-Law Society
              i. H. Watkins reiterates that this resolution is to approve a disbursement of
  $3,408.03 to cover bus tickets for the Black Ivy Pre-Law Society Advantage
  Tour. This provides many students the opportunity to visit law schools
  across the nation.
              ii. E. Galperin moves to end debate, no dissent.
              iii. The resolution has been approved by a vote of 28-0-0.

  
  The meeting was adjourned at 6:17 PM by unanimous consent.
  
   

  SA Minutes 11-13-25.docx.pdf (153.02 KB)