Abstract: This resolution condemns Cornell’s settlement with the Trump Administration as a compromise of Cornell’s values.
Authored by: Hayden Watkins ’28, Alexander Walters ’28
Sponsored by: Christian Flournoy ’27, Daniel Addoquaye ’28, Kennedy Young ’28, Saanya Agarwal ’27, Lydia Blum ’27, Myshay Causey ’29, Grace Dorward ’26, Max Ehrlich ’26, Jocelyn Swavy ’28, Ellie Porter ’29
Reviewed by:
Type of Action: Sense-of-the-Body
Originally Presented: 12/03/2025
Current Status: Adopted by the Assembly, Unanimous Consent, 12/04/2025
Whereas, Cornell’s founding principle and guiding philosophy is “any person, any study,”
Whereas, Cornell agreed to a settlement that will restore $250 million in federal funding,
Whereas, a condition of this settlement entails the removal of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and anti-discrimination resources from its Equal Education and Employment Opportunity Statement,
Whereas, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives uphold “any person, any study,”
Whereas, agreement to this settlement entails the submission of student admissions data to the federal government,
Whereas, the aforementioned student admissions data will likely be used to justify anti-DEI practices and further impugn the university,
Whereas, adherence to the terms of this settlement instructs the University to direct $30 million in funding towards agriculture research,
Whereas, the terms of this agreement establish a dangerous precedent in delegating the present and future direction of Cornell University to the federal government,
Whereas, undergraduate student input was not considered in the agreement to this settlement, the ramifications of which will impact us directly, constituting a sell-out, and prior to the sell-out and after the settlement, community feedback was minimized, as President Kolitkoff held a Town Hall hours after the announcement of the settlement,
Whereas, peer institutions have stood up to the Trump administration on the grounds that funding freezes are illegal and politically motivated,
Whereas, “acute fiscal pressures” do not override Cornell’s identity,
Be it therefore resolved, the Student Assembly condemns the sell-out of Cornell’s values,
Be it further resolved, this institution must uphold its core values despite ongoing pressures from the federal government.
Respectfully Submitted,
Hayden Watkins ’28
Vice President for Finance, Student Assembly
Alexander Walters ’28
LGBTQIA+ Representative, Student Assembly
Christian Flournoy ’27
Executive Vice President of the Student Assembly
Daniel Addoquaye ’28
Vice President of Policy, Student Assembly
Kennedy Young ’28
Vice President of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Student Assembly
Saanya Agarwal ’27
Women’s Issues Representative, Student Assembly
Lydia Blum ’27
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Representative, Student Assembly
Myshay Causey ’29
Freshman Representative, Student Assembly
Grace Dorward ’26
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Representative, Student Assembly
Max Ehrlich ’26
School of Industrial and Labor Relations Representative, Student Assembly
Jocelyn Swavy ’28
College of Arts & Sciences Representative, Student Assembly
Ellie Porter ’29
Freshman Representative, Student Assembly
