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Cornell University

Office of the Assemblies

University Assembly Meeting

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

  • Term:
    2024-2025
  • Assembly/Committee: University Assembly
  • Date & Time:
    Tue, Jan 21, 2025 - 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 January 21st, 2025 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 4:48pm.
        1. Members Present: D. Bateman, M. Benda, N. Brennan, J. Butcher, E. Crawley, Z. deRham, E. DeRosa, A. Garcia-Ortiz, A. Haenlin-Mott, O. Karim, A. LaGressa, N. Maggard, S. Matan, S. Modadugula, C. Tarala, W. Treat, A. Vinson
        2. Members Absent: D. Dinner, E. Gainor, S. Resue
        3. Also Present: J. Edwards, M. Love, R. Platt, J. Withers

     

    1. Land Acknowledgement of the Gayogo̱ho꞉nǫ (Cayuga Nation)
      1. A. LaGressa stated the UA’s acknowledgment of the Cayuga Nation.

     

    1. Approval of the Minutes from the December 3rd, 2024 meeting.
      1. W. Treat motioned to approve the minutes from the December 3rd, 2024 meeting.
        1. E. Crawley seconded the motion.
        2. The motion passed with unanimous consent.

     

    1. Call for Late Additions to the Agenda
      1. A. LaGressa called for late additions to the agenda. None were provided.

     

    1. Business of the Day
      1. M. Love, VP of Students, and J. Edwards, VP for Student Health and Wellness, provided a presentation on student mental health resources and took questions from the Assembly.

     

    1. Committee Reports
      1. Executive Committee
        1. M. Benda stated that the committee has discussed hosting a Title IX and transportation representative at their next meeting. She also stated that the committee will attend other committee meetings.
      2. Campus Codes Committee
        1. N. Maggard stated that the committee will be scheduling their next meeting to discuss the proposed Expressive Activity policy and that the entire UA is welcome to attend.
      3. Campus Welfare Committee
        1. C. Tarala stated he is looking to recruit students to gain perspectives on the committee and that the committee is working on a resolution on rest days. He also stated that he is in contact with individuals at Stonybrook University to find out how funding could work for putting women’s hygiene products in bathrooms.
      4. Campus Committee on Infrastructure, Technology, and the Environment
        1. A. Vinson stated that the committee is scheduling meetings for this semester.

     

    1. Assembly Reports
      1. Student Assembly
        1. Z. deRham stated that the Assembly will be meeting this week.
      2. Graduate and Professional Student Assembly
        1. N. Brennan stated that the GPSA met on December 2nd to support a message from President Kotlikoff and passed a detailed response to the Expressive Activity Policy.
      3. Employee Assembly
        1. E. Crawley stated that the Assembly met on January 15th to discuss the President’s Address to Staff held on January 9th and discussed staff resources on campus for tragedies.
      4. Faculty Senate
        1. E. DeRosa stated that the senate will not meet until February, but will hold a forum tomorrow on community agreements and how to improve decorum.

     

    1. Liaison Reports
      1. Campus Planning Committee
        1. A. Haenlin-Mott stated that the committee does not have a schedule for the semester yet.
      2. Coalition for Sexual Violence Prevention
        1. Nothing to report
      3. Student Health Benefits Advisory Committee
        1. W. Treat stated that the committee met on December 10th and that there is an anticipated vote for the 2025-2026 health benefit rate.
      4. Sustainable Cornell Council’s Carbon Neutral Campus Steering Committee
        1. A. Vinson stated that the committee has met twice since the UA’s last meeting and has reviewed presentations on projects in which Cornell is now involved. He stated that the council has been more involved with the county government and its energy facilities. He also stated that the council will give a presentation at a national conference on campus sustainability policies and the committee reviewed a Student Assembly resolution and discussed emissions on campus.
      5. Sustainable Cornell Council’s Education and Engagement Steering Committee
        1. E. Crawley stated that the committee will meet bimonthly starting in February.
      6. Sustainable Cornell Council’s Campus Operations Steering Committee
        1. Nothing to report

     

    1. Open Discussion
      1. The Assembly discussed their respective Assemblies’ responses to the Expressive Activity policy.

     

    1. Adjournment
      1. N. Brennan motioned to adjourn the meeting.
        1. E. Crawley seconded the motion.
        2. The motion passed with unanimous consent.

     

    This meeting was adjourned at 5:49pm.

     

    Respectfully Submitted,

    P.J. Brown

    Clerk of the Assembly

     

    UA Minutes, 1.21.2025.pdf (156.92 KB)