Office of the Assemblies

Dear Gabe,

Thank you for submitting UA Resolution #5, “Bylaws Change Clarifying the Charge of the Codes & Judicial Committee.” I appreciate the assembly’s review of its bylaws to best reflect its internal operations and align practice with written procedure. As you are aware, the UA’s bylaws already delegate to the CJC review of motions related to the Campus Code of Conduct and the recruitment and appointment of UHRB members. I also accept the proposed bylaws change that would delegate to the CJC review of motions related to the assembly’s approval of the Guidelines for the Display of Religious Symbols.

I do have concerns, however, about the other two bullet points in the resolution. Changes to the UA’s bylaws need to be consistent with the UA Charter and other university policies. While I would, of course, solicit the UA’s ideas and opinions regarding matters of general community concern related to Policy 6.4 (or any successor policy), I will note that Policy 4.1 does not define particular individuals or groups as stakeholders for Policy 6.4. While it is up to the UA to decide what matters in its purview are given to the CJC for review, I cannot accept a version of UA R5 that creates an automatic stakeholder status for the UA with respect to any potential change to Policy 6.4.     

With respect to the proposed addition to written behavioral policies regarding non-matriculated minors who are outside the full Campus Code of Conduct, as I noted in my response to UA R4 and subsequently, in my response to UA R24, the Code should not specify anything about non-matriculated minors and neither the CJC nor the UA should have cause to review any motion concerning policies governing non-matriculated minors on campus.   

Thank you again for your work to ensure the smooth functioning of our system of shared governance.

Sincerely,

Martha E. Pollack

President, Cornell University

300 Day Hall

Ithaca, NY 14853

Tel: 607-255-5201

www.cornell.ed