Student Assembly Candidate Profiles - Spring 2020 Election (reactivation) and Fall 2020 (new seats)
Candidates for the Dyson School of Business seat
Candidates for the College of Engineering seats
Candidates for the School of Hotel Administration seat
Candidates for the First Generation Students Liaison At-Large seat
Candidates for the Freshman Representative seats
Candidates for President
Candidates for the Transfer Representative seats
Candidates for Undergraduate Representative to the University Assembly (one available position as other seated in Spring 2020)
Uncontested Races
Candidates for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences seats
Candidates for the College of Architecture, Art & Planning seat
Candidates for the College of Arts and Sciences seats
Candidate for the College of Human Ecology seat
Candidate for the School of Industrial and Labor Relations seat
Candidate for Executive Vice President
Candidate for the International Students Liaision At-Large seat
Candidate for the LGBTQIA+ Liaison At-Large seat
Candidates for the Minority Students Liaison At-Large seats
Candidates for the Students with Disabilities Represenative seat
Candidate for the Womxn's Issues Liaison At-Large seat
Candidates for the Undesignated Representative At-Large seats
Carlo Castillo College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Biological Sciences cgc97 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Representative Hello Everyone! My name is Carlo Castillo and I am running to be your representative in the Student Assembly. As a sophomore transfer to the college, I fell in love with CALS and all it has to offer. Now as a junior, I hope to be more involved on Cornell’s campus by campaigning for the SA CALS Rep seat. With this position I will be able to better cater to the CALS population on campus, and be the voice for the second largest undergraduate college here at Cornell. Since our presence is so large at Cornell, I find it vital that we have our voices heard in the Student Assembly. I am the candidate for this job. Some issues to bring to the table on my agenda include: 1. To make sure the campus is protecting its students during this semester. COVID-19 has changed our lives one way or another and we all must work together to keep students, Ithaca and Cornell safe. Live Smarter. 2. Promoting diversity and inclusion through changes in policy in CALS, student organizations, and the Student Assembly. The prevalence of the BLM movement is not over and we must continue to fight for what is right. 3. Ensure that all students have accessible mental health services at adequate times/spaces at Cornell Health and throughout campus, as it can be a burden to many If elected, I hope to continue the distinction that CALS has always maintained throughout the university's history, and advocate for its students at the highest standards. Laila Abd Elmagid College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Biology and SocietyGovernment lma98 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Representative Hello! My name is Laila Abd Elmagid, and I am excited to have the opportunity to stand for you and the rest of CALS’ diverse student body. A vote for me means a vote for: 1. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: Cornell invests millions of dollars in fossil fuels, which violates the ethics of sustainability and accountability central to the CALS mission. In order to align our values, I will fight alongside you and urge the university and Board of Trustees to commit to fully divesting from fossil fuels. 2. TEXTBOOK AFFORDABILITY & ACCESSIBILITY: Textbooks are expensive and add on to our financial burden. I will speak with faculty and administrators to ensure that students have the opportunity to borrow textbooks for the semester rather than buying them. 3. DIVERSITY & INCLUSION: Both Cornell and CALS embody students from diverse backgrounds and academic disciplines. I will make sure that voices from every minority group are heard by promoting open discourse between multicultural organizations and the student assembly. Feel free to reach out lma98@cornell.edu. Vote Laila for CALS rep!
Jocelyn Noriega College of Architecture, Art, and Planning Urban and Regional Studies jn498 College of Achitecture, Art, and Planning Representative Hi Y'all, My name is Josie Noriega, I am a sophomore majoring in Urban Planning, and I am running for student assembly. As an underclassman, I have come to love the uniquely driven and close-knit community of APP. If elected, I want to do my part to maintain this collective culture and use my influence to provoke positive change to better aid the real needs of students within our school. During my campaign, and if elected, I want to hear from you on how I can help make AAP cater to your needs and what is most important to you. I plan to focus specifically on assistance for mental health concerns as well as strive to garner support and enact policy to benefit those working on and off-campus during the school year. Any suggestions or concerns raised to me by fellow students will be taken with the utmost urgency to try and make everyone's Cornell experience more positive. If you are interested in chatting about my policies or have any concerns, I am available at jn498@cornell.edu. Please reach out so your voice can be heard, and don't forget to vote. Thank you for your support!
Morgan Baker College of Arts and Sciences Government, Economics mhb228 College of Arts and Sciences Representative Hi A&S! I'm Morgan Baker, and I’m running to be your Representative. As a current Freshman Rep, I hope to continue my work making your college experience more enjoyable. My platform consists of five pillars: 1. Mapping out YOUR Future: Students should have available more class information targetting career paths. I will publicize existing data on successful career trajectories and course evaluations. 2. Prioritizing YOUR Safety: Students are exposed to harmful chemicals in buildings with outdated ventilation systems. I will work with Cornell’s Asbestos Management Program to rid vents of asbestos. 3. Improving YOUR Textbook Availability: Students lack efficient textbook exchange capabilities and free rentals. I will work to supply the lending library with more textbooks and develop an exchange system. 4. Amplifying YOUR Voice: Students with the diverse backgrounds and ideas that make A&S so special need defending. I will work to provide support and guidance to underrepresented groups. 5. Increasing YOUR Caffeine Options: Students should have available better caffeinated drinks in dining halls. I will work with Cornell Dining to install latte machines. Vote for a Change Maker, Vote Morgan Baker Reach out at mhb228@cornell.edu! Evan Moy College of Arts and Sciences Economics elm249 College of Arts and Sciences Representative Attending Cornell University is a great asset to anybody’s life, an Ivy League education that is unparalleled by anything else in the world. This quality comes with an extraordinary financial burden; Cornell is almost always ranked in the top 25 most expensive colleges in the US. Cornellians also suffer from many hidden costs that are not reflected in that already high price tag. One of the largest burdens that students face is the cost of textbooks. Despite certain majors paying thousands in a single year to cover these necessary materials, it is not factored in financial aid packages. It will get worse before it gets better: rising textbook prices have outpaced inflation by a factor of four. My goal for my candidacy is to decrease these kinds of costs, which are a particular burden on students from low-income backgrounds. I will expand the course reserves so that all students have equal access to their necessary educational resources and support programs like the Lending Library. Cornell needs to be more affordable, more accountable, and more equitable. Maintaining the status quo does nothing to achieve these goals. Help me do what needs to be done. Elect Evan Moy to the Student Assembly. Estefania Perez College of Arts and Sciences Government and History ep395 College of Arts and Sciences Representative Hello everyone, my name is Estefania Perez and I am a Posse Scholar in the College of Arts and Sciences double-majoring in Government and History. As Chair of the Orientation Steering Committee and a member of the Slope Day Programming Board, I have substantial experience planning events for the Cornell Community that promote student well-being. While I love these roles, I would like to offer my experience and determination to the SA, an institution that continuously seeks to improve student life and access to resources. I would like to push a resolution that requires diversity training for faculty and staff. Among Cornell faculty are brilliant scholars and dedicated workers in the world, but there have been cases of cultural insensitivity that have gone unchecked. If our freshmen have to go through training such as IDP, members of the entire Cornell community should be expected to meet this benchmark as well. Regarding CAS specifically: we need cohesion and pride. One way of doing this is by working with the A&S Advisory Council. It is my hope to collaborate with fellow SA members to accomplish this. At the same time, I hope to build a "One Cornell" sentiment throughout the entire student body with the help of my peers.
Mardiya Shardow Dyson School of Business Applied Economics and Management mhs296 Dyson School of Business Representative Hi! I’m Mardiya Shardow a first-year at Dyson! My platform consists of three pillars: accessibility, transparency, and a better Dyson. I’m committed to transparency and accessibility. I want to make sure that all voices are heard and utilize my access to administrators to create a better Dyson. A Better Dyson includes:
- Gender-neutral bathrooms;
- Diversity in terms of opportunity, if you’re not in IB or consulting you don’t have many opportunities (We have all these concentrations but not enough resources offered for all of them);
- A designated prayer room or serenity room.
Osai Egharevba College of Engineering Computer Science oe34 College of Engineering Representative Hello everyone, my name is Osai Egharevba and I am a senior Computer Science Major currently serving on the Student Assembly. With coronavirus changing life as we know it, it is imperative that we have a strong and steady voice with regards to SA Reform, safeguarding student rights and achieving more. The Platform:
- Pursue SA Reform – If elected I will bring the following to a vote within the first 30 days of the first SA meeting: establishment of an oversight board, conflict resolution and mediation training for SA Members, create a remote student representative for those outside Ithaca and more.
- Protect Student Rights – Maintain the current evidentiary standard for Campus Code of Conduct hearings. Given there is already a significant power dynamic between administration and students and many Black and brown students are low-income and thus may not be able to afford an attorney, lowering the evidentiary standard would increase the role of racial and socioeconomic bias in these proceedings.
- Achieve More – Eliminating student contribution, increasing transportation options and making office hours less stressful (especially in Zoom) are the issues I also aim to focus on this year.
Jenniviv Bansah School of Hotel Administration Hotel Administration jyb22 School of Hotel Administration Representative Hi everyone! I’m Jenniviv, and I want to represent you and your voice on the Student Assembly. It is with great pleasure and passion that I submit my application to run for and serve on the Student Assembly as a Hotelie Representative. I have been a part of the student assembly at a previous institution, Syracuse University, where I heard a Director of Collaborations position. This experience exposed me to various audiences as I would interact with diverse groups of students every week to execute an initiative. Also, in this position, I executed initiatives that helped food insecure students have access to nutritious meals, created a committee of student veterans to uplift their voice in campus decisions, and planned events during mental health awareness week to spread the resources available for students. I understand what it means to represent the voice of a community and I am committed to ensuring I uphold the values of the Hotel School in every way possible and drive results in various initiatives. I plan on implementing heat lamps at bus stops to help students stay warm as they wait for a bus, increasing opportunities available for underprivileged communities in the Hotel School (equity), and representing the school to the Rafael Bitanga School of Hotel Administration Hospitality Administration rpb235 School of Hotel Administration Representative My name is Rafael Bitanga, I am a first-generation student and the son of two Filipinx immigrants. I am first-year student studying at the School of Hotel Administration, happily pursuing my passion for videography, culinary arts, and hospitality. Service comes from the heart, and to me it is about addressing concerns that will help others have a better time–and sometimes they do not even know they have a concern. Although it is my first year at the Hotel School, I noticed that we need to eat after 3pm (Mac’s Café). As a student currently serving on the Student Advisory Board to the Dean, I have heard and tried to work upon this need. In the coming year, I hope to extend our voices from the hotel school to the student assembly. Focusing on one task at hand will have greater impact than having many. I hope that you will allow me to envelope us to become ONE, so together WE can achieve more. In your free time, I’d invite you to learn more about my story and my capabilities: rafaelbitanga.com / bitangaproductions.com.
Samuel Zverev College of Human Ecology Human Biology, Health, and Society srz26 College of Human Ecology Representative Hello HumEc! My name is Samuel Zverev and I am a junior in the College of Human Ecology running for Human Ecology Representative in the SA and participating in the Diversity & Inclusion Committee. I am a first-generation college student and extremely thankful for everything I have been able to be part of at Cornell. Since transferring as a sophomore, I have fallen in love with Human Ecology and its tightly-knit community through incredible friendships, meaningful relationships with professors, and unique formative day-to-day experiences. I am passionate about furthering the Human Ecology mission and maintaining the college’s prestige, representing transfer and first-generation students in addition to the rest of our student body. I have 3 main missions that I plan to further during my candidacy: 1) Maintaining the College of Human Ecology’s integrity, by keeping it separate from the new Policy School. 2) Divesting from the use of fossil fuels in Human Ecology buildings and furthering sustainability efforts. 3) Promoting diversity and inclusion in the classroom setting, college committees, extra-curricular organizations, and the SA as a whole. I hope to voice all of the opinions and concerns of the HumEc student body.
Lucas Zumpano School of Industrial and Labor Relations Industrial and Labor Relations lgz4 School of Industrial and Labor Relations Representative Hello ILRies! My name is Lucas Zumpano and I am running for ILR Student Representative because I know I have the talent and drive to enhance the student experience at the school. The three most significant aspects of my platform follow: 1. Promoting experiential equality (with respect to studying abroad, internships, etc.) by enhancing resources available to the ILR student body. 2. Intense fundraising efforts to support the aforementioned strategic goal: expanding access to programs and opportunities traditionally reserved for privileged students. 3. Establish bi-monthly alumni networking opportunities on ILR campus. These policy proposals will be implemented by the end of Spring 2020, taking a step towards improving the student experience for semesters to come. Being a minority myself (of Cuban descent) and coming from a diverse background, I am positioned to bring a unique collective voice as your ILR representative.
Lucas Smith College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Agricultural Sciences ls678 Undesignated Representative At-Large My name is Lucas Smith and I running for Undesignated Representative At-Large. After serving as CALS Representative on the Assembly this past year I have established myself as an advocate for students in the greater Ithaca community. In tandem with my seat on the Assembly I also served as the chair of the City and and Local Affairs Committee for the Student Assembly, striving to build a positive relationship with local leaders and and ensure that our interests as students in Ithaca, our home away from home, are represented. Building on my experience on the Assembly, I believe I am well positioned to advocate on behalf of student from all across campus and continue to ensure that student voices are heard and responded to. If elected I plan to: 1) Continue to advocate for transparent and equitable renting/housing support from the University 2) Push for the establishment of a strategic plan to offer free on-campus bus services for all students 3) Pressure the University for timely updates regarding sustainability policies If you believe in affecting change not only across campus, but across Ithaca then I would appreciate your vote this year! Valentina Xu School of Hotel Administration Hotel Administration jx63 Undesignated Representative At-Large Hi, my name is Valentina Xu and I am running to be reelected as an Undesignated Representative on Student Assembly because I care deeply about students' wellbeing throughout their college experience, and I want to make sure school's policies are sensible to allow students to thrive. Last year, as a Freshman Representative, I was able to lower Bear Necessities’ medicine price and extend EARS mental health office hours during finals week. This year, I am Undesignated Representative and VP of Internal, which I chaired the cabinet committee and built a translation program for international parents at graduation. For next year, my goals mainly focus on students' physical health and mental health: Physical Health: 1. Plan more Central Campus dining options with meal swipes (transferability between BRBs and meal swipes). 2. Make mandatory West Campus meal plans more flexible. 3. Make Explore free gym access options. Mental Health: 1. Lower financial burden, such as Student Contribution Fee and Student Activity Fee 2. Higher quality and more availabilities for mental health appointments. 3. Improve the Leave of Absence system. Thank you so much for your consideration. You have a vote that will shape Cornell’s future student life.
Salima Ali School of Industrial and Labor Relations Industrial and Labor Relations sa848 First Generation Student Representative At-Large Candidate Statement video Hi! I’m Salima! I am running to be YOUR first-generation student rep. Having to handle the unique pressures from family life in addition to the regular stress associated with being at an Ivy league, first generation students are faced with unique circumstances. Covid-19’s impact on first generation students shows why we need strong leadership to advocate for first gen needs. As someone who understands what it is like being the first one in your family figuring out college life, I plan to do everything possible to improve your time at Cornell. I plan to
- Vocalize first generation opinions- Many first gen students have great ideas and concerns about campus life. I want to help these students bring their ideas into fruition.
- Promote opportunities- Cornell has several great opportunities that first gen students can take advantage of. I plan on creating effective platforms that will connect first gen students with on-campus resources.
- Create programs- Transitioning to college as a first gen student is a difficult process. I would create events to foster a community for all first gen students during o-week.
Alex Arejian School of Industrial and Labor Relations Industrial and Labor Relations ana68 Freshman Representative Hi everyone! My name's Alex Arejian, I'm a freshman in ILR from Los Angeles, California! I'm running to be one of your next four Freshman Representatives to the Cornell Student Assembly. For the sake of brevity I’ve listed a few things I'd like to work on as a Freshman Rep:
- Kickstart a voter registration initiative specifically geared towards freshman on campus. I want to increase political participation and get as many people to vote in this year's election, especially freshman!
- Sponsor more socially-distanced events on the weekends for freshmen on North Campus.
- Amplify the voices of marginalized students on campus through diversity initiatives and advocate for greater representation.
- Promote more outreach between academic and career advising and students. Students should have more accessibility and support from advisors while choosing class schedules that align with career goals.
- Increase accessibility to the Office of Student Services and freshmen. It is important for freshmen to have easy access to career, internship and research opportunities.
- Expand social activities amongst the dorm buildings and floors. Freshman year can be isolating, especially now with the COVID-19 pandemic it is difficult to create meaningful connections with others. I want to create more in-person socially distanced programs that will allow freshmen to meet others!
- Ensuring that the voices, beliefs, and opinions of the Class of 2024 are acknowledged in the Student Assembly and in the Cornell community as a whole.
- Advocating to lessen the financial burden on all Cornell Students, specifically those coming from low-income families, through campaigning to decrease the Student Contribution Fee.
- Campaigning to make campus more affordable, through the lowering of laundry fees and the implementation of a textbook lending program.
- Expanding the accessibility of mental health service, and working toward the de-stigmatization of mental illness on campus.
- Providing additional resources for first generation students that would help smoothen the college transition process.
- Ensuring that the Cornell community is held accountable on issues including but not limited to diversity, inclusion, bias, socioeconomic status, and sustainability.
- Transparency - What are we paying for? We came here for the college experience: the classes, professors and clubs. Now 2/3 of the curriculum is virtual, so we're using fewer resources. We need to know where all our money is going.
- Dining - Variety and food quality usually make up for meal plan cost. But now we're not being served the food Cornell was praised for. The food we eat should reflect its cost.
- Fitness - Gyms are closed, and PE classes can't get weight training equipment. With Cornell's resources, material shortage should not be an issue. Cornell should make more efforts to provide more engaging fitness experiences.
- Ecology - COVID care should not make the University less environmentally responsible. I'll work to reduce plastic waster, improve recycling and install more trash cans in the Appel Field, the Slope, etc.
- Academic Support during COVID - I will work with academic deans/counselors across colleges to develop protocols that are considerate to student problems that uniquely arise during remote learning/test taking.
- Reduced Wait Times - For those of you on North Campus, I will strategize with the parties responsible so that you spend less time in line for COVID tests, dining, and mail pickup.
- Dashboard Transparency - I will push for more detailed and transparent statistics to be shown on the Cornell COVID dashboard, so that you don't have to attend class uncertain about our status.
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Improving campus and the freshman experience through:
- Adding more trash and recycling bins. Students are ordering takeout more than ever, and our infrastructure cannot keep up!
- Advocating for more swipe dining halls on North and Central campus to reduce congestion at RPCC and Appel.
- Supporting the RPCC Service Center to reduce wait and processing times. Students are reliant on the mail more than ever, and the SA must meet this demand.
- Reducing cost of laundry and adding more free printing stations on campus.
- Ensuring improved communication of COVID-19 testing location closures and the ability to book tests beforehand.
- Continuing to support diversity initiatives by working closely with student-led organizations to create change beyond symbolic gestures. I believe it is paramount that the SA works to help every Cornell student.
- Community: We can all agree that Covid-19 has greatly harmed the ability to meet and socialize with new people. This has been worsened by Cornell’s encouragement of students implicating others for Behavioral Compact violations. If elected, I will work to reduce Cornell’s reliance on students to enforce their policies. This will reduce the amount of toxicity between freshmen on North Campus, as explained by Cornell Professor Karen Levy in the NYT here: nyti.ms/33Mx6vU.
- Sustainability: As an E&S major, I am extremely passionate about protecting our environment. Unfortunately, the necessity of takeout dining has created an extreme amount of waste. If elected, I will work with Cornell Dining to introduce compost and recycling bins near the dining halls. I hope to eventually transition to compostable plastic so that everything can simply be thrown into one bin.
Youhan Yuan College of Arts and Sciences Government and Computer Science yy435 International Students Liaison At-Large Hi, my friends! I'm Youhan, a junior in CAS from Nanjing, China. International students face unique difficulties on campus compared to their domestic peers. Here are several things I would like to work on as international students representative: 1. Working with ISU, create safe spaces (like hilc) and expand their programs for international student on campus 2. Ensure equal opportunity for international students across all social and economic background in financial opportunities 3. Include translations in emails to international students' parents I believe every candidate will bring in their own experience in the office. I want to be the representative not only of the community that I'm most familiar with but also of everyone in the international student community. Feel free to contact me on yy435@cornell.edu. We are all in it together!
Tomás Reuning College of Arts and Sciences English rmr282 LGBTQIA+ Liaison At-Large Hi! My name is Tomás Reuning, and I am running to remain as the LGBTQIA+ Liaison At Large. I am a junior studying English with minors in Latina/o Studies, Spanish, and Animal Science in the College of Arts & Sciences. As someone who is transmasculine, bi, and Latinx, I have always sought to serve and uplift my communities. As the LGBTQIA+ Liaison At Large, I hope to increase QTPOC visibility on campus, so that our needs and concerns are at the forefront of conversations about how we can improve Cornell. On a campus where too many are unwilling to put the needs of their communities over their professional reputations, I promise to always be vocal about what our community needs and deserves.
Valeria Valencia School of Industrial and Labor Relations Industrial and Labor Relations vnv8 Minority Students Liaison At-Large Hi! My name is Valeria Valencia and I'm a sophomore in ILR. Being a first-generation low-income immigrant from Mexico, I understand the unique barriers that underrepresented minorities deal with on a daily basis at a campus like Cornell. As Minority Students Liaison At-Large, I hope to bridge the gap between minority students and Cornell administration. There are plenty of programs aimed at minority students, but these are mostly underused. By working with OADI and LSC, I hope to not only inform the community of these programs, but also expand them to better suit our needs. Often times, we find ourselves lost in the craziness that is Cornell, to help with that I hope to implement a peer mentoring program to match students with similar backgrounds and interests. With this position, I plan to work with on-campus organizations to collectively hear the needs of the community and work on finding solutions to our problems. I hope to amplify the voices of minority students here at Cornell, to make sure we are given a seat at the table. With your vote, I am confident I can improve the undergraduate experience for minority students here at Cornell while also fighting for the equality and representation that is long overdue. Selam Woldai School of Industrial and Labor Relations Industrial and Labor Relations sw685 Minority Students Liaison At-Large Hello! My name is Selam Woldai. I am currently a freshman studying Industrial and Labor Relations. I have always had a passion to aid the underrepresented communities, and try to show this through organizations on campus. For example, as the Deputy Speaker and one of the original founding members of the Black Caucus I work with my talented peers to stand in solidarity and help the black community on campus. If elected as Minority Students Liaison At-Large, I will make my goals oriented to accessibility. My main goal is to create an initiative to reuse BRBs. Under this, people would have the option to charge their BRBs to round up and put their change in a fund. This fund would be used by those without a meal plan or the fewest meal swipes in order to solve food insecurity on campus. This is simply one of my ideas to bridge the gap between the minority voices on campus. If elected, I will make it my duty to be the needed voice.
Raquel Zohar School of Industrial and Labor Relations Industrial and Labor Relations rz235 Students with Disabilities Representative My name is Raquel Zohar and I am a sophomore in the ILR School. Growing up, I had a great deal of personal exposure to learning and cognitive disabilities. My sister was born under stressful conditions that left her in the hospital for the first month of her life fighting to survive. She gratefully did, but she has struggled with memory and learning disabilities since. She was never received well by her peers or accommodated by her teachers, and as I myself progressed through school, I struggled with the concepts of inclusion and accommodation. I looked for answers in a multitude of places. I worked with individuals with disabilities of all ages and socioeconomic standings in my hometown of Miami, Florida, with impoverished elementary school students with disabilities in Costa Rica, and with homeless teens with disabilities in Peru. Across my work in those corners of the world, I came to realize that while society’s barriers are persistent, they are nothing one cannot overcome, and for students with disabilities, accommodations are not an advantage—they are vital. I hope to complement existing systems and services and serve as a reliable liaison in becoming your next Students with Disabilities Representative At-Large.
Alexia Anderson College of Arts and Sciences Environment and Sustainability ama386 Transfer Representative Candidate Statement video Hi! I'm Alexis, and I am running to be your transfer representative. I have only been in Ithaca for a little while, but I have already found some amazing people. One of my roommates encouraged me to run because I had certain goals in mind on how to improve the transfer process. Whether it be working on the administrative side of the transfer process to create an easier transition to Cornell or working on how to become integrated into Cornell culture, I would like to improve the transfer experience. Specifically, I want to create a questionnaire to pair you with an immediate advisor upon your admittance to answer any specific questions you may have that the registrar can't answer. Secondly, once the pandemic is under control, I would like to host a transfer cookout (with vegetarian/vegan options as well) in order for all transfer students to meet each other in a relaxed environment. Thirdly, I would like to create a transfer web site that compares on and off campus housing, includes a sign up page for personal campus tours, and an explanation page of all the Cornell nicknames. Like what is nasties? I made the right choice to transfer, and I hope to make our time at Cornell the best it can be. Don't be reckless and vote for Alexis! Troy Bailey Dyson School of Business Applied Economics and Management ttb35 Transfer Representative Candidate Statement video I’m Troy Bailey and am running for the Transfer Representative position. I’m a sophomore from Seattle, and I transferred from Pomona College into the Dyson School, where I plan to concentrate in International Trade in Development. Cornell has the biggest transfer community of the Ivy League, so it is imperative that our opinions and interests are voiced properly. My goal is to make your transition seamless, alleviate your concerns, and make sure you feel like Cornell is the home you wanted it to be when you applied. I look forward to meeting with you and hearing how you want your voice to be heard on campus. Kayla Bakhshi School of Industrial and Labor Relations School of Industrial and Labor Relations kb693 Transfer Representative Transferring is not an easy decision. A transfer student is choosing to leave behind a life they made for themselves at another school and completely start over, and that is no easy task. As transfer representative, I want to give every transfer a voice because not only do we have a right to one but we have earned one. As transfers, we should strive for success, and I plan on making sure that everyone achieves their goals. Voting for me is a vote for reaching your potential and succeeding within your new environment. I want to ensure that workshops, mentors, and research opportunities are put aside solely for transfers along with more efforts to create a social community within us. There should be more social gatherings created for transfers to meet one another and our professors because the transfer community should feel like a family. I transferred to Cornell because it was always my dream to go here, and I want to achieve that dream with every single one of you by my side. Paul Havern School of Industrial and Labor Relations Industrial and Labor Relations pjh243 Transfer Representative Candidate Statement video Greetings classmates of Zoom University (oops! I mean Cornell)! This entire year has throw us for a loop, and we would all appreciate a straightforward, clear path of our future. While I may be unable to provide all aspects of that path to you, I can present to you my goals as your transfer representative:
- ENSURE a welcoming, exciting transition for transfer students through multiple campus events
- STRIVE to create a better and more environmentally sustainable Cornell
- FIGHT for the marginalized students by combating stigma and hatred
- COLLABORATE with Greek life so as to promote a healthy and safe community for Cornell students to thrive To those that have truthfully read this far: Cornell is Cornell because of you.
- Ensure transparency between the Student Assembly and Student Body
- Promote a smooth transition into the University - regardless of program or academic department
- Expand Mental Health Resources
- Create a stronger, more united Student Assembly across all Cornell campuses
- Improve safety on/off campus
- Increase student study rooms - laptops/computers
- Advocate on behalf of all transfer students via resolutions/initiatives
Katarina Bentley College of Human Ecology Human Development with a minor in Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies keb294 Womxn's Issues Liaison At-Large Hi everyone! My name is Katarina Bentley, I am running for the Womxn’s Issues Liaison position. As a child of a family where traditional heteronormative gender roles were completely reversed, I was raised with the ideals of acceptance and inclusivity which I continue to promote today. I held leadership positions including, Junior Class President and Student Body President while at a public high school. These experiences allowed me to understand the importance of serving all members of the student body, most importantly those traditionally underrepresented in government. My platform as Womxn’s Issues Liaison includes but is not limited to:
- improve safety for all Cornellians when walking between their place of residence and libraries, Collegetown, or houses within the greek system - especially at night.
- improve access to sex education that is nonbinary and all-inclusive.
- ensure that all members of the Cornell community know that their voice is represented on the Student Assembly.
Dillon Anadkat College of Arts and Sciences Government dha43 President My fellow Cornellians, My platform aims to modernise our university to align more with our values as students today. My primary objective is to mount pressure on the university administration to reverse the recent Greek life reforms. At the beginning of the school year I did not intend to pursue elected office on campus, but Cornell faces incredible challenges this year, and the solutions offered thus far are well-intended but miss the mark. Real reforms are made in consultation with students and Greek leaders. These reforms should be reviewed and adjusted so as they adequately address real issues, while preserving Greek life on our campus so students can continue reap its benefits. We must work to make Cornell a more environmentally friendly campus. I believe that more financial aid should be distributed to students in need. I want us to work in closer consultation with minority groups and organisations on campus. Let’s push for better access to mental health resources. We should request a full review of Cornell’s endowment to ensure that it is being disbursed and invested wisely. If elected president I shall push for these things. I urge you to reflect on what matters to you, and to make the right decision by voting for me. Uchenna Chukwukere College of Arts and Sciences Biological Sciences and Chemistry ukc3 President Candidate Statement video Hi! My name is Uche Chukwukere and I am a Senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am running to become your next Student Assembly President! My platform consists of four major points:
- Crisis Response: Calling for the disarming, defunding, and disbanding of CUPD. Supporting the creation of a Student Honor Board or Alternative Justice Board and working with administration to ensure that ALL students are supported amidst the pandemic.
- Accountability and Transparency: I will push for the reformation of the Professional and Social Greek systems, mandating diversity/cultural/inclusivity training of employees, faculty, and staff; a centralized reporting system for students to submit anonymous feedback about professors instituting unfair grading policies; and a Campus Code of Conduct that is rooted in educational rather than punitive measures.
- Accessibility: I plan to work to institutionalize a financial plan to provide free menstrual products, abolish classist taxes such as the Student Contribution Fee, Laundry prices, expanding the Swipe Out Hunger Program, and providing a Matching program for the ACCESS Fund. Urging Cornell to reevaluate campus infrastructure to ensure that it is ADA compliant.
- Equity: Pushing for the creation of more Gender Neutral Restrooms, covering the Student Health Plan under financial aid, pushing for Fossil Fuel Divestment and creation of sustainable campus infrastructure.
- Health and Safety: This includes addressing the COVID-19 health concerns that have been raised by students in quarantine, demanding equitable healthcare for our first-gen, DACA/undocumented, and our low income community, pushing for a review of the Student Health Insurance Plan, increased support for survivors in regards to new Title IX Policy, and disarming and defunding the CUPD.
- Equity and Accessibility: I will create a centralized resource bank so students can access resources for food insecurity, academic support, mental health support, and financial aid. I promise to continue my work in housing reform to push for affordable housing, free laundry, and creating a mutual aid/access fund for off campus housing payments.
- Sustainability: I will advocate for an administrative recommitment to Carbon Neutrality by 2030, increased dining hall sustainability, and push for renovation and construction plans that are carbon neutral, climate smart, and centered around clean energy.
Noah Watson College of Agriculture and Life Sciences International Agriculture and Rural Development ncw47 Executive Vice President Hi! I’m Noah Watson and I’m running for Executive Vice President. I currently serve as the Transfer Representative on the SA and co-chair the Housing Policy Review committee. I’m running for EVP because I want to make our campus more accessible and inclusive for all Cornellians. As your EVP, I will continue working in three areas: 1. AFFORDABILITY — Cornell should not be profiting off its students. I will fight to abolish the Student Contribution Fee, reduce the price of laundry services, and expand financial aid for all students. I will also advocate to increase funding for textbook loan services and the Students Helping Students Fund. 2. HOUSING — I will push to institutionalize fair and equitable housing policies for all Cornell students. This includes reworking pricing policies, guaranteeing housing for transfers, reducing program house fees, and recognizing co-op events. 3. ACCESSIBILITY — I want Cornell to work for all students, and I believe this begins with an accessible and inclusive governing body. As EVP, I will make sure the SA properly represents the strength and diversity of all communities on campus. See more about my current work and future plans @ https://WinWithWatson.com #WinWithWatson—Vote Noah for EVP!
Avery Bower College of Arts and Sciences Government awb98 Undergraduate Representative to the University Assembly Candidate Statement video My name is Avery Bower and I’m a 2nd year from Syracuse majoring in Government in CAS. I am running for UA because it is clear that Cornell’s institutions lack accountability. The SA has been plagued by bullying and misconduct, harming students. If elected, I’ll introduce oversight reforms that will ensure the recent misappropriation of student funds will not happen again. Cornell’s pandemic response lacks real accountability. Like too many students, my financial aid did not arrive before tuition was due. It is simply unacceptable for the University to delay their awards. In the UA, I will introduce a deadline for financial aid awards and remove late fees for tuition payments. Despite Cornell encouraging us to seek spiritual support, it has failed to provide any. Students at Cornell have been unable to worship on campus. I will promote access to local religious services for students of all faiths and in-person and tele-health mental health resources. I’ll work towards freezing tuition for the duration of the pandemic, distributing sufficient provisions of PPE for all students, ensuring access to mental and spiritual health services, and increasing University transparency for decisions regarding our financial and physical needs. Jacob Feit (seated Spring 2020) College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Environment and Sustainability (Environmental Policy and Governance) jjf228 Undergraduate Representative to the University Assembly I'm honored to have represented the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences this past academic year. I've seen the power of student's voices to envoke change through serving on the Student Assembly, the Infrastructure and Research & Accountability Committees, and the Hearing and Review Boards. I adamantly believe in bringing all students to the table, and as an Undergraduate Representative to the University Assembly, that will be my #1 priority. I'm running to represent those who feel they don't have a voice. Socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, (dis)ability, and/or religion should never deny students' right to achieve their potential. The student body needs a bold leader to take on archaic policies, systemic institutions of discrimination, and continued negligence. It's time to be the University "where ANY PERSON can find instruction in any study"... AND THRIVE. It's time we eliminate the archaic, potential-binding Student Contribution Fee, which continues to solidify cycles of poverty. It's time we fully divest from fossil fuels and use the monetary surplus gained from a renewable energy investment to ensure no student goes hungry, to provide cheaper, accessible mental healthcare, & fix housing. Erik Kirakosyan College of Arts and Sciences Chemistry ek665 Undergraduate Representative to the University Assembly Candidate Statement video One of my most memorable experiences from last year was a general chemistry lecture. Each day, our professor would spend ten minutes tossing a beanbag at people and having a conversation with them. In his words, he wanted to ensure that no one felt anxious about participating, as discussions facilitated understanding. I am running to be your Undergraduate Representative to the University Assembly on this basis of communication and accessibility. No shared governance functions unless members speak up and contribute new ideas. This means electing representatives who will bring new perspectives that challenge the modus operandi. As a transfer student who served as a UA rep and as Freshman Class Council President at my previous university, I can bring such novelty to the assembly. Further, undergraduates are tired of student leaders who make bold promises to get elected and come up short. I’ll follow through—that’s my promise to you :)
- Weekly meeting with constituents to hear concerns & ideas
- University-funded “One Tree Per Graduate” program
- Protect breaks in the case of a truncated spring semester (for mental wellness)
- Free university-based rideshare modeled on other institutions
- “Any Person, Any Study”: Establish Cornell OpenCourseWare