Student Assembly Meeting

Thursday, September 24, 2026

• Term:
  2026-2027
• Assembly/Committee: Student Assembly
• Date & Time:
  Thu, Sep 24, 2026 - 4:45pm
  to
  6:30pm
• Location:
  Robert Purcell Community Center 218 (RPC218ABC)/Zoom
• Agenda:

  1. Call to Order
  2. Call of the Roll
  3. Reading of the Land Acknowledgment 
  4. Approval of the September 17, 2026 Meeting Minutes
  5. Communications to the Student Assembly
  6. Consent Calendar
  7. Reports of Officers, Committees, and Liaisons
  8. Announcements
  9. Presentations
  10. Appointments and Fillings of Vacancies
  11. Public Comment
  12. Public Hearings
  13. Second Reading Calendar

  1. Resolution 11: Modernizing the Student Assembly Charter by Removing Organizations Not Funded Directly by the Student Activity Fee
  2. Resolution 12: Enforcing Transparency for Student Activity Fee Spending
  3. Resolution 13: Reframing Policy Committee
  4. Resolution 14: Promoting Transparency in Additional Course Material​​​​Costs

  14. Third Reading Calendar

  1. Resolution 9: Expanding the Office of Ethics and the Office of Elections, Requiring Continuity of Membership, and Establishing an ROTC Liasion
  2. Resolution 10: Upholding Cornell’s Health Excuse Policy and Ending Faculty Requests for Medical Notes

  15. Adjournment

  StudentAssemblyMeetingAgendaSep242026 (1).pdf (84.84 KB)
• Meeting Packet:
• Audio Recording:
• Minutes:

  I. Call to Order
       a. E. Chaudhuri called the meeting to order at 4:45 PM.
  
  II. Call of the Roll
       a. Members Present: D. Addoquaye, S. Agarwal (proxied), J. Anand, S. Augustin, T. Aye, L. Blum, M. Causey, E. Chaudhuri, C. Flournoy (proxied), T. Japal, J. Kimball, K. Krishtopa, D. Lee, A. Lyons, Y. Masoud (proxied), J. Orief (proxied), E. Porter, A. Sendelbach, C. Tarala, A. Walters, H. Watkins, K. Young
       b. Members Absent: A. Ayoola, J. Chung, S. Dunn, J. Swavy, A. Vink
       c. Also Present: None.
  
  III. Reading of the Land Acknowledgment
       a. E. Chaudhuri stated the land acknowledgement.
  
  IV. Communications to the Student Assembly
       a. E. Chaudhuri shared that the administration wants to collaborate with the Assembly on different initiatives, from sexual assault issues on campus to political speakers on campus, and determining the best way to keep campus community strong and engaged.
  
  V. Consent Calendar
       a. None.
  
  VI. Reports of Officers, Committees, and Liaisons
       a. A. Walters shared that the Communications Committee had its second meeting the past Saturday, though it was really empty. The committee sits in Goldwin Smith and they talk about Instagram.
       b. A. Walters shared that the Academic Policy Committee had its first meeting Sunday night, which was super productive. They discussed some Faculty Senate resolutions, academic policy-related resolutions, etc.
       c. J. Kimball shared that the Dining Committee had a productive first meeting.
       d. H. Watkins shared that the Executive Cabinet this Saturday was cancelled and will instead be an office hours session. He added that Student Assembly fall conference registration is out, with the dates being November 20 to 22 in Syracuse, with preferences given to those who are part of contract colleges.
       e. J. Anand shared that the Environmental Policy Committee will be meeting the next day at 6PM at Goldwin Smith Hall 156.
       f. L. Blum shared that she will start reaching out to people who have not tabled or are not on the calendar to table. She added that Assembly representatives must attend their committee meetings.
       g. A. Lyons shared that the Infrastructure Fund had its second meeting last night, though they are having community attendance issues.
       h. A. Walters shared that he and Jessica placed an order for two more Student Assembly tablecloths.
       i. E. Chaudhuri shared that he and Lydia will start reaching out to check-in to ensure committee times work with everyone. He added that around 50% of the assembly signed up for the first month and that tabling expenses can come out of the Executive Fund. He further added that they’d like to plan a Student Assembly social and are looking for partnership organizations.
  
  VII. Announcements
       a. E. Chaudhuri announced that J. Swavy stepped down from her position.
  
  VIII. Public Comment
       a. A few speakers commented on a resolution from the Faculty Senate regarding the drop-deadline.
  
  IX. Second Reading Calendar
       a. Resolution 11: Modernizing the Student Assembly Charter by Removing Organizations Not Funded Directly by the Student Activity Fee
            i. H. Watkins shared that there are three organizations that used to be funded by the Student Activity Fee, which are the Environmental Collaborative, Alternative Brakes, and Empathy Systems and Referral Services. The current charter has different byline-specific regulations, but non-byline organizations don't need regulations. The resolution would remove those organizations that are no longer a part of the Student Activity Fee.
            ii. The assembly entered debate to clarify what the resolution would do.
            iii. K. Young motioned to close debate, no dissent.
            iv. The resolution has been moved to the Third Reading Calendar.
       b. Resolution 12: Enforcing Transparency for Student Activity Fee Spending
            i. H. Watkins shared that some criticisms regarding the allocation of the Student Activity Fee last year was the lack of transparency from the assembly and the organizations. The resolution would add a subsection Q to Section 3, Appendix B to the Student Assembly Charter that requires the Student Assembly Vice President for Finance to provide a template for organizations to publish on their Campus Groups and public-facing website that tracks their spendings. This could encourage more purposeful spending.
            ii. The assembly entered debate to discuss updating frequency.
            iii. A. Walters motioned to close debate, no dissent.
            iv. The resolution has been moved to the Third Reading Calendar.
       c. Resolution 13: Reframing Policy Committee
            i. L. Blum shared that she believed the Vice President of Policy would work better with open office hours to help with writing resolutions instead of the current structure of committee meetings.
            ii. The assembly entered debate to discuss potentially constraining future VPs and determining whether this is a long-term solution.
            iii. C. Tarala motioned to close debate, no dissent.
            iv. The resolution has been moved to the Third Reading Calendar.
       d. Resolution 14: Promoting Transparency in Additional Course Material Costs
            i. S. Augustin shared that CAMP should cover all course materials needed, but students report finding out there are additional costs on the first day. The resolution would request to amend section 6.1 of the Faculty Handbook to add additional course fees to the class roster.
            ii. The assembly entered debate to discuss additional costs to incorporate and using an estimated cost.
            iii. A. Walters motioned to close debate, no dissent.
            iv. The resolution has been moved to the Third Reading Calendar.
            v. E. Chaudhuri ceded the chair to H. Watkins.
  
  X. Third Reading Calendar
       a. Resolution 9: Expanding the Office of Ethics and the Office of Elections, Requiring Continuity of Membership, and Establishing an ROTC Liaison
            i. E. Chaudhuri reiterated that the resolution would allow the Office of Elections and Office of Ethics to recruit and create a non-voting ex-officio seat for ROTC.
            ii. The assembly entered debate to discuss additional benefits for creating the ROTC seat, the size of ROTC and the scale of ROTC’s issues.
            iii. E. Chaudhuri motioned to table the resolution, passed by a vote of 24-0-0.
            iv. The resolution has been tabled.
       b. Resolution 10: Upholding Cornell’s Health Excuse Policy and Ending Faculty Requests for Medical Notes
            i. A. Walters motioned to close debate, no dissent.
            ii. The resolution passed by a vote of 24-0-0.
  
  The meeting was adjourned at 5:33 PM by unanimous consent.
  Respectfully Submitted,
  Sophia Lin
  Clerk of the Assembly

  StudentAssemblyMeetingMinutesSeptember242026.pdf (148.64 KB)