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Cornell University

Office of the Assemblies

University Assembly Meeting

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

  • Term:
    2024-2025
  • Assembly/Committee: University Assembly
  • Date & Time:
    Tue, Oct 29, 2024 - 4:45pm
    to
    6:15pm
  • Location:
    401 Physical Sciences Building/Zoom
  • Agenda:
  • Meeting Packet:
  • Audio Recording:
  • Minutes:

    Cornell University’s University Assembly  

    Minutes of the October 29, 2024 Meeting  

    4:45 pm – 6:15 pm 

    401 Physical Sciences Building | Zoom 

     

    1. Call to Order
      1. A. LaGressa called the meeting to order at 4:49pm.
        1. Members Present: D. Bateman, M. Benda, N. Brennan, J. Butcher, E. Crawley, Z. deRham, E. DeRosa, E. Gainor, A. Haenlin-Mott, O. Karim, A. LaGressa, N. Maggard, S. Matan, C. Tarala, W. Treat, A. Vinson
        2. Members Absent: D. Dinner, A. Garcia-Ortiz, S. Modadugula, S. Resue
        3. Also Present: E. Kalweit, J. Siciliano, J. Withers 

    2.  Land Acknowledgement of the Gayogo̱ho꞉nǫ (Cayuga Nation) 

    a. A. LaGressa stated the UA’s acknowledgment of the Cayuga Nation. 

    3. Approval of the Minutes from the October 1st, 2024 

    1. A. LaGressa motioned to approve the minutes from the October 1st, 2024 meeting.
    2. J. Butcher seconded the motion.
    3. The motion passed with unanimous consent. 

    4. Call for Late Additions to the Agenda 

    a. A. LaGressa called for late additions to the agenda. None were provided.  

    5. Business of the day

    1. Discussion of the Expressive Activity Policy
      1. D. Bateman led the Assembly’s discussion of the draft of the Expressive Activity policy, which will be presented on or after October 30th.
    2. Discussion of administrative surveillance of teaching 
      1. D. Bateman led the Assembly’s discussion of events related to administrative surveillance of teaching on campus.
    3. Interim Provost John Siciliano’s Presentation on Temporary Suspensions
      1. J. Siciliano provided a presentation on the university’s interim suspension policy and took questions from the Assembly.
      2. During the question period, O. Karim put forward a motion to extend the question time by five minutes.
        1. N. Brennan seconded the motion.
        2. The motion to extend the question period passed by unanimous consent.
    4. Discussion of protections for all Cornell employees’ private political beliefs and actions
      1. D. Bateman led the Assembly’s discussion of establishing protections for all Cornell employees’ private political beliefs and actions. 
      2. O. Karim put forward a motion to table the topic of discussion to a future meeting.
        1. A. Haenlin-Mott seconded the motion.
        2. The motion passed by unanimous consent.
      3. O. Karim put forward a motion to table the topic of discussion of administrative surveillance teaching to a future meeting.
        1. A. Vinson seconded the motion.
        2. The motion passed by unanimous consent. 

    8. Committee Reports 

    a. Executive Committee 

         i. M. Benda stated that Dean Barry would provide a presentation on the Expressive Activity policy at the Assembly’s November 12th meeting. 

    b. Campus Codes Committee  

         i. Nothing to report. 

    c. Campus Welfare Committee 

         i. Nothing to report. 

    d. Campus Committee on Infrastructure, Technology, and the Environment 

         i. Nothing to report. 

    9. Assembly Reports 

    1. Student Assembly
      1. Z. deRham stated that the SA passed a resolution regarding the availability of Narcan, drug testing kits, and fentanyl testing strips around campus. 
    2. Graduate and Professional Student Assembly
      1. O. Karim stated that the GPSA passed Resolution 3 focused on internal fiscal structures, that the Department of Transportation Services would present at the November 4th meeting, and that Dean Barry would present at the November 18th meeting to discuss the Expressive Activity policy. He also stated that the GPSA would hold an extra meeting at which Interim President Kotlikoff would attend.
    3. Employee Assembly
      1. E. Crawley stated that Gordon Bargor, Senior Director of Benefits Stategy and Initiatives, attended the EA’s last meeting. She also stated that the EA discussed the potentiality of a conversation on divestment and that Kenneth Miranda, Chief Investment Officer, would attend their November 6th meeting to present on the topic.
      2. The Assembly discussed the EA’s potential consideration of divestment.
      3. O. Karim put forward a motion to extend the meeting by five minutes.
        1. E. DeRosa seconded the motion.
        2. The motion passed by unanimous consent.
    4. Faculty Senate
      1. E. DeRosa stated that the Faculty Senate approved the president moving a part-time Bachelor’s degree program for non-traditional students forward. She also stated that at their last meeting, Interim Provost Siciliano presented on an interim suspension policy and that they discussed a resolution protecting academic freedom in the classroom to discuss and amend the resolution at their next meeting. She also stated that the Senate will have the Expressive Activity committee at their next meeting and will likely invite Ken Miranda, Chief Investment Officer, to their next meeting. 

    10. Liaison Reports 

    a. Campus Planning Committee 

    1.  Haenlin-Mott stated that at the committee’s October 17th meeting, they received updates on earth-source heat on campus, the expansion of Duffield Hall, and discussed how Cornell fits into the city and town of Ithaca.

    b. Coalition for Sexual Violence Prevention 

    1. E. Gainor stated that at the Coalition’s October 23rd meeting, they had a presentation from Michelle Artibee, Director of Workforce Well-Being in the Division of Human Resources.
    2. O. Karim put forward a motion to extend the meeting by five minutes.
      1. The motion passed by unanimous consent. 

    c. Student Health Benefits Advisory Committee 

    1. Nothing to report 

    d. Sustainable Cornell Council’s Carbon Neutral Campus Steering Committee 

    1. Nothing to report 

    e. Sustainable Cornell Council’s Education & Engagement Steering Committee 

    1. Nothing to report 

    f. Sustainable Cornell Council’s Campus Operations Steering Committee 

    1. Nothing to report 

    11. Open Discussion 

    1. The Assembly discussed the possibility of Cornell University having menstrual products in restrooms on campus. 

    12. Adjournment 

    1. O. Karim motioned to adjourn the meeting.
    2. A. Vinson seconded the motion.
    3. The motion passed with unanimous consent. 

    This meeting was adjourned at 6:23pm. 

    Respectfully Submitted, 

    P.J. Brown 

    Clerk of the Assembly 

     

    UA Minutes, 10_29_24.pdf (176.62 KB)