SA R34 (2020-2021): A Manifesto Calling Upon Cornell to Actionably Support the Asian American Community

Acknowledged by the President

• Resolution:
  SA R34 (2020-2021): A Manifesto Calling Upon Cornell to Actionably Support the Asian American Community
• Day:
  May 5, 2021
• Action:
  Acknowledged by the President
• Summary / Notes:

       

• File Attachments:
• Text Attachment:
  Dear Cat,

   

  Thank you for conveying Resolution 34: A Manifesto Calling Upon Cornell to Actionably Support the Asian American Community. Cornell actively works to support all its student body, including Asian and Asian American students. The following responds to each of your recommendations.

   

  1. Mental health training is currently available online to members of the Cornell community—including faculty— through the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives at Cornell Health. In-person training will resume as soon as it is safe to do so. An intentional campaign to promote mental health training, specifically Notice and Respond, which already is available, allows for faculty to engage with tools to support students. In addition to training, a new web resource is under development, modeled after Stanford University’s ‘Red Folder’ initiative, to provide current mental health resources and training materials on an ongoing basis.
  2. The College of Arts and Sciences has made a strong commitment to the Asian American Studies Program.
  3. New majors are the domain of faculty members. They are in the best position to understand the disciplinary context and student interest in a new major and can assess and propose resources to support the proposal. The major in Latinx Studies that was crafted and proposed by faculty, voted on favorably by the college faculty, and received Board of Trustees approval, is awaiting the final step of New York state approval. If faculty of the Asian American Studies Program determine a major is warranted, they would follow the same process as the Latinx major.
  4. When Sigma Alpha Epsilon was closed in spring 2011, the organization was suspended for a period of at least five years. As a part of the judicial outcome, it was determined that if the fraternity were granted the ability to return after five years, they would return on probationary recognition for a minimum of three years. In 2017, SAE’s return to campus proposal was denied by the Growth Committee. SAE has now applied again to expand and start a new chapter on the campus. The organization has made many efforts on a national level to address the concerns of the committee that denied the proposal in 2017, and the university feels it is appropriate to give SAE the opportunity to be successful here at Cornell. When the chapter returns, they will be on probationary status for a minimum of three years. They will also be required to have a full-time staff member living in Ithaca for the first year of the chapter’s re-start.
  5. Policies related to the Greek system are reviewed and updated regularly. For example, reforms and initiatives announced in May 2018 and December 2019 are focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, alcohol abuse and sexual violence prevention, accountability, and leadership training and education. The Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life would be happy to provide additional information about these initiatives.
  6. A fraternity member (or any student) who is found responsible for sexual harassment/assault (or other prohibited conduct) in violation of Cornell University Policy 6.4 (“Prohibited Bias, Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual and Related Misconduct”) is subject to disciplinary sanctions up to and including dismissal from the University. If others facilitate the prohibited conduct, they also can be found responsible for a violation of Policy 6.4 and face disciplinary sanctions. Only individuals, and not organizations, can be respondents under Policy 6.4. Additionally, the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX (OIETIX) consults with the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life regarding reports involving fraternities/sororities which may indicate potential patterns and/or culture/climate issues within the chapter.
  7. Cornell’s Title IX process complies with federal and state legal requirements. These include the Title IX (sexual harassment) regulations and the NYS Student Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights includes, among others, the following rights: 
     • Participate in a process that is fair, impartial, and provides adequate notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard 
     • Be free from any suggestion that a complainant is at fault when these crimes and violations are committed, or should have acted in a different manner to avoid such crimes or violations 
     • Be protected from retaliation by Cornell, any student, the accused and/or the respondent, and/or their friends, family, and acquaintances (within the jurisdiction of Cornell) 

  The OIETIX sends communications to students explaining resources, supportive measures, the amnesty provision, the NYS Bill of Rights, and the Policy 6.4 process.

  8. Cornell's Public Safety Advisor Committee (PSAC), comprising students, faculty, and staff, released the findings of its campus survey, which will help PSAC better understand the many complexities involved with the role of police in our community. The PSAC is currently reviewing the role of the Cornell Police and will have their final report and recommendations complete by the end of the semester.

   

  I look forward to ongoing conversations between students and the administration to continue to improve the student experience and appreciate the time that went into writing this resolution.

   

  Sincerely,

   

  Martha Pollack

   

   

  Martha E. Pollack

  President, Cornell University

  300 Day Hall

  Ithaca, NY  14853

  www.cornell.edu