Student Assembly Meeting

Thursday, March 5, 2026

• Term:
  2025-2026
• Assembly/Committee: Student Assembly
• Date & Time:
  Thu, Mar 5, 2026 - 4:45pm
  to
  4:45pm
• Location:
  Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room (WSH407)/Zoom
• Agenda:
  1. Call to Order
  2. Reading of the Land Acknowledgment
  3. Consent Calendar
  4. Reports of Officers, Committees, and Liaisons
  5. Announcements
  6. Presentations
     1. Committee on the Future of the American University 
  7. Public Comment Microphone
  8. Second Readings
     1. Resolution 36: Establishing a Student Assembly Year-Round Grant and Review Committee
        1. R36 Appendix A: Updated Bylaws 
     2. Resolution 60: Free Laundry
     3. Resolution 61: Calling for the Termination of Cornell University’s Partnership with the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology While Preserving Cornell Tech
     4. Resolution 62: Health Vending Machine Expansion to West & Collegetown Communities
     5. Resolution 63: Recognizing September 25 and Establishing a “Survey Service Window” Administered by Student & Campus Life
     6. Resolution 64: Approving Special Projects Request for Bhangra at Cornell
        1. R64 Appendix A: Bhangra at Cornell Special Projects Funding Request Form
     7. Resolution 65: Approving Additional Special Projects Request for the Young Democratic Socialists of America
        1. R65 Appendix A: Young Democratic Socialists of America Special Projects Funding Request Form
        2. R65 Appendix B: Young Democratic Socialists of America Special Projects Funding Request Form
     8. Resolution 66: Reassessing Resolution 21: Approving the Recommendation for the 2026-2028 Student Activity Fee
     9. Resolution 67: Transferring Funds to the Multicultural Greek Fraternal Council
     10. Resolution 68: Investigating the Cornell Greek Community Account
     11. Resolution 69: Urging Cornell to Support Higher TCAT Funding
     12. Resolution 70: The Last Straw: Single-Use Plastic Phaseout
         1. R70 Appendix A - Appendix & Notes      
  9. Third Readings
     1. Resolution 53: Approving Special Projects Request for the International Affairs Society at Cornell
        1. R53 Appendix A: International Affairs Society at Cornell Special Projects Funding Request Form
     2. Resolution 54: Approving Special Projects Request for the Cornell Persian Students Organization
        1. R54 Appendix A: Cornell Persian Students Organization (PSO) Special Projects Funding Request Form
     3. Resolution 48: Public Comment Duration
        1. R48 Appendix A: Updated Bylaws 
     4. Resolution 49: Attendance Callouts
     5. Resolution 50: Tri-Semesterly Committee Chair and Liaison Reports
     6. Resolution 51: Updating the Bylaws With a Contingency Plan for Vacancies in the Independent Offices
        1. R51 Appendix A: Updated Bylaws 
     7. Resolution 52: Expanding College Credit Limits
     8. Resolution 55: Condemning the University Administration’s Use of Programming to Platform Individuals Implicated in War Crimes
     9. Resolution 56: Improving Accessibility Information and Support for Disabled Students in Residential Housing
     10. Resolution 57: Ensuring Equitable Evaluation of Special Projects Funding Request
     11. Resolution 58: Winter Sidewalk Maintenance
  10. Appointments and Vacancies Calendar
  11. Adjournment

   

  StudentAssemblyMeetingAgendaMarch52026.pdf (163.17 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, 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, I. Gayle, L. Han, V. Kakra, K. Krishtopa, Y. Masoud, E. Porter, J. Purcell, H. Spector, J. Swavy, C. Tarala, T. Waguespack, A. Walters, H. Watkins, Z. Yabut, E. Yao, K. Young
       c. Members Absent: C. Kim, J. Mui
       d. Also Present: E. Chaudhuri, K. Abebe
  
  II. Reading of the Land Acknowledgment
       a. Z. deRham stated the land acknowledgement.
  
  III. Consent Calendar
       a. None.
  IV. Reports of Officers, Committees, and Liaisons
       a. L. Blum reported that the Environmental Committee will be tabling the next day at Olin from 1 to 4 and will be meeting on Sunday from 5-6PM. She added that they’ve been working on Resolution 70 with Plastic Free Cornell.
       b. E. Galperin reported that the Dining Committee will be meeting this Monday at 4:45 in PSB and will be rediscussing Resolution 6, which will hopefully be returned to the assembly the next week.
       c. S. Agarwal reported that the Student Health Advisory Committee is discussing transportation between North and West Campus to the Health Center, providing feedback for programs at Cornell Health, and has been discussing Resolution 62, expanding health care vending machines.
       d. E. Chaudhuri reported that there are four resolutions on the table next week from the Campus Codes Committee in relation to the Student Code of Conduct and its history.
       e. E. Porter reported that she will be tabling next Tuesday with Jai and Dylan around 4PM or 5PM.
       f. C. Tarala reported that the International Students Committee still has vacancies.
  
  V. Announcements
       a. Z. deRham announced that she had a meeting with the administration relevant to the Summer Experience Grant and Students Helping Students Grant, will be talking with D. Carson and E. Chaudhuri about the grant-related resolution and the types of policies and initiatives, and that the assembly can be proud of its heritage, continued work, and hopefully expansions on these projects.
       b. Z. deRham motioned to move appointment and vacancies to right now, no dissent.
  
  VI. Appointments and Vacancies Calendar
       a. Z. deRham appointed C. Tarala as the Chair of the Financial Review Committee, no dissent.
  
  VII. Presentations
       a. Committee on the Future of the American University
       b. Presentation by the co-chairs of the Future of the American University Committee: Phoebe Sengers, professor of Information Science and Science and Technology Studies, and Praveen Sethupathy, professor of Biomedical and Translational Sciences at Cornell, to discuss the committee, the direction of the university, and the pathway of success. They add that the goal is to understand various stakeholders’ concerns and are considering the rapid pace of technological advancement, the changing relationship with the federal government, and the loss of public trust.
       c. Many members of the assembly share suggestions, student concerns, and what path and actions they believe the university should take.
  
  VIII. Public Comment Microphone
       a. M. Ehrlich motioned to rescind Resolution 43, no dissent.
            i. K. Young motioned for a roll call vote.
            ii. Student Assembly Roll Call Vote
                 1. D. Addoquaye voted yes.
                 2. A. Aftab voted yes.
                 3. S. Agarwal voted yes.
                 4. J. Anand voted no.
                 5. L. Blum voted no.
                 6. D. Carson voted yes.
                 7. M. Causey voted yes.
                 8. A. Cekic voted no.
                 9. C. Cook abstained.
                 10. Z. deRham voted no.
                 11. G. Dorward voted yes.
                 12. M. Ehrlich voted yes.
                 13. A. Fard (proxied by E. Chaudhuri) voted no.
                 14. E. Galperin voted no.
                 15. I. Gayle voted yes.
                 16. L. Han voted no.
                 17. V. Kakra voted yes.
                 18. K. Krishtopa voted no.
                 19. Y. Masoud voted yes.
                 20. E. Porter voted no.
                 21. J. Purcell voted yes.
                 22. H. Spector voted no.
                 23. J. Swavy voted yes.
                 24. C. Tarala voted no.
                 25. T. Waguespack voted yes.
                 26. A. Walters voted no.
                 27. H. Watkins voted no.
                 28. Z. Yabut voted yes.
                 29. E. Yao voted no.
                 30. K. Young voted yes.
                 31. C. Flournoy voted yes.
                 32. Roll call vote of 16-14-1.
       b. The chair smiled favorably upon a motion to extend public comment to 6:30PM, no dissent.
       c. Some speakers spoke in favor of tabling or voting against Resolution 61 and voting against Resolution 55.
       d. Some speakers spoke in favor of voting for Resolution 61 and Resolution 55.
       e. H. Watkins motioned to extend the meeting time to 7:30PM, no dissent.
       f. E. Chaudhuri motioned to extend public comment to 6:40PM, passed.
       g. H. Watkins motioned to move Resolution 66 to the top, no dissent.
  
  IX. Second Readings
       a. Resolution 66: Reassessing Resolution 21: Approving the Recommendation for the 2026-2028 Student Activity Fee
            i. H. Watkins shared that the Finance Committee discussed the student activity fee in the last meeting and shared its updated allocations. He added that many organizations that originally had an increase in fees were adjusted to the same allocation or less of an increase.
            ii. C. Flournoy moved the assembly into a discussion period, where they discussed budget suggestions.
            iii. J. Anand motioned to table the resolution for a week.
                      1. E. Galperin motioned to end debate, dissent. The motion to end debate passed by unanimous vote.
                      2. The motion to table the resolution failed.
            iv. C. Flournoy moved the assembly back into a discussion period, where they discussed overall fund allocation and the Collegiate Readership Program.
            v. M. Ehrlich motioned to close debate, no dissent.
            vi. The resolution moved to the Third Reading Calendar.
            vii. K. Young motioned to move Resolution 61 to the top of the Second Reading Calendar, passed.
       b. Resolution 61: Calling for the Termination of Cornell University’s Partnership with the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology While Preserving Cornell Tech
            i. Y. Masoud shared that there are many undergraduate students doing research at Cornell Tech through various summer programs and addressed funding concerns.
            ii. E. Galperin motioned to table the resolution indefinitely, dissent. The motion to table the resolution indefinitely failed to pass.
            iii. C. Flournoy moved the assembly into a discussion period, where they discussed whether the resolution is under the jurisdiction of another assembly, the honor of being a Cornellian, and the use of student money.
            iv. M. Ehrlich motioned to close debate, no dissent.
            v. The resolution moved to the Third Reading Calendar.
            vi. E. Chaudhuri motioned to table Resolution 36 for a week, no dissent.
            vii. D. Addoqueye motioned to move Resolutions 64 and 65 to the top of the Second Reading Calendar, no dissent.
       c. Resolution 60: Free Laundry
            i. M. Causey argued that because Cornell is already constantly increasing fees, those fees should go towards laundry so that it’s not a hidden fee.
            ii. E. Chaudhuri recommended defining hidden fees and proposing a way to estimate laundry cost per student.
                 1. M. Causey shared that once this is passed in the assembly, the resolution would allow her to go to meetings with the Housing Committee to find a solid solution.
            iii. M. Ehrlich motioned to close debate, no dissent.
            iv. The resolution moved to the Third Reading Calendar.
       d. Resolution 64: Approving Special Projects Request for Bhangra at Cornell
            i. R64 Appendix A: Bhangra at Cornell Special Projects Funding Request Form
            ii. Two representatives shared details of this event, including attendees, budget, and where the proceeds go to.
            iii. H. Watkins added that the event served many students on campus and that the organization is well run.
            iv. C. Flournoy moved the assembly into a discussion period, where they discussed why the organization is requesting for funding.
            v. M. Ehrlich motioned to close debate, no dissent.
            vi. The resolution moved to the Third Reading Calendar.
            vii. H. Watkins motioned to move Resolution 65 to next week, no dissent.
       e. Resolution 62: Health Vending Machine Expansion to West & Collegetown Communities
            i. E. Chaudhuri shared that this is something that the assembly should do with the money without simply giving it away. He added that this would be a committee-led initiative to stock vending machines, with one on west campus, one on collegetown, both in dorms.
            ii. C. Flournoy moved the assembly into a discussion period, where they discussed financing specificities, benefits of having student assembly led projects, and possibly applying for Infrastructure Fund.
            iii. M. Ehrlich motioned to close debate, no dissent.
            iv. The resolution moved to the Third Reading Calendar.
            v. H. Watkins motioned to put resolution 65 back on the Second Reading Calendar right now, no dissent.
       f. Resolution 65: Approving Additional Special Projects Request for the Young Democratic Socialists of America
            i. R65 Appendix A: Young Democratic Socialists of America Special Projects Funding Request Form
            ii. E. Chaudhuri motioned to end debate, no dissent.
            iii. The resolution moved to the Third Reading Calendar.
       g. Resolution 63: Recognizing September 25 and Establishing a “Survey Service Window” Administered by Student & Campus Life
            i. E. Chaudhuri shared that the admin doesn’t collect student data well, with many important behavioral surveys receiving extremely low response rates, resulting in bad decisions. The resolution is a proposal to honor a day as National Research Day and create a big 3-hour window where undergraduates are encouraged to fill out a 45-minute long survey that combines smaller sub-surveys, with incentive structures like having different dorms compete.
            ii. M. Ehrlich motioned to adjourn, no dissent.

  SA Minutes 3-5-26.docx.pdf (161.9 KB)