Whereas, various colleges at Cornell University depend on federal funding for research funding, including, but not limited to, money distributed by the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Education.
Whereas, the federal government primarily, but not only, through the Department of Government Efficiency, has sought to slash these funding programs and undermine important research.
Whereas, this Assembly has recognized the threat posed by global warming through Resolution 20 which was passed with unanimous consent. The Paris Climate Accords is an important worldwide effort to address the existential danger posed by global warming.
Whereas, on the first day of the second Trump Administration, the Executive Order titled “PUTTING AMERICA FIRST IN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS” withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accords.
Whereas, the circumstances leading up to and during the COVID-19 Pandemic demonstrated the vital importance of international cooperation on health-related matters and the World Health Organization (WHO) is the primary forum for this. The COVID-19 Worldwide Pandemic led to massive disruptions in the education and daily lives of Cornell Students, demonstrating the importance of international cooperation on health.
Whereas, on the first day of the second Trump Administration, the Executive Order titled “WITHDRAWING THE UNITED STATES FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION” withdrew the United States from the WHO.
Whereas, Cornell has robust Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies that move the University toward Ezra Cornell’s vision of “Any person, Any Study”. Cornell’s Diversity and Inclusion Commitment “recognize[s] people with diverse backgrounds and experiences bring great value to education, discovery, creativity, and engagement”[1].
Whereas, Cornell is a federal grantee and is bound by specific rules and regulations that come with federal money.
Whereas, On the first day of the second Trump administration, the Executive Order titled “ENDING RADICAL AND WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT DEI PROGRAMS AND PREFERENCING” was issued.
Whereas, this Executive Order directed the Office of Management and Budget to terminate all DEI Programs in the federal government, contractors, and grantees, including Cornell.
Whereas, the United States benefits from the liberal international order, including free trade with our allies in Canada and Mexico, as well as our role as a leader on the global stage, including in various international organizations.
Whereas, these international institutions have strengthened the role of the US as a global leader in research, diplomacy, and finance and have helped cultivate American soft power. This influence has helped make Cornell a globally significant educational institution.
Whereas, the second Trump administration has sought to undermine these institutions and their functions by imposing trade barriers and eroding the international order.
Whereas, the United States has become the greatest country in the world due to our Constitution and its institutions and norms, including the separation of powers and checks and balances between the branches of the federal government.
Whereas, independent agencies within the Executive Branch of the US federal government have a strong impact on the lives of students at Cornell.
Whereas, independent agencies such as the National Science Foundation provide research funding that is used to employ students and allow them to pursue their own research.
Whereas, The Environmental Protection Agency, which is an independent agency, is important to combat climate change, to which Cornell is committed.
Whereas, The National Labor Relations Board, an independent agency, has sought to protect workers in the Ithaca community.
Whereas, the nonpartisan nature of these independent agencies is necessary for them to function properly and yet they were brought under partisan oversight by the Executive Order titled “Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies”.
Be it therefore resolved, the Student Assembly, representing the undergraduate student body of Cornell University, condemns these extraordinary actions of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government.
Be it further resolved, the Undergraduate Student Assembly recognizes the dangers posed by cuts to various federal agencies, including research funding and support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
Be it further resolved, the Undergraduate Student Assembly calls on Cornell to continue its commitment to establishing a diverse community despite the attacks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.
Be it further resolved, the Undergraduate Student Assembly calls on Cornell to maintain the position of Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion position within the Cornell Undergraduate Student Assembly to ensure that the University’s principle of “any person … any study” continues to be represented within the governing body of Cornell students.
Be it further resolved, the Undergraduate Student Assembly calls on Cornell University to continue cooperating with international research partners despite the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization.
Be it further resolved, the Undergraduate Student Assembly calls on Cornell University to continue to adhere to the climate goals set forth in Resolution 20, which was passed by the Undergraduate Student Assembly with unanimous consent.
Be it further resolved, the Undergraduate Student Assembly lauds Cornell University for attempting to protect existing research by joining the lawsuit filed by the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), and the American Council on Education (ACE)[2].
Be it further resolved, the University will seek to find alternative sources of funding for research projects and other groups that receive federal grants if their funding is cut to allow them to continue their work.
Be it further resolved, that the University’s administration work with the Student Assembly to develop resources for those students impacted by the actions of the federal government. We call on the administration of Cornell University to join the Assembly in combating these draconian policies.
Be it further resolved, the Student Assembly, representing the Undergraduate body at Cornell, calls on the other assemblies of the shared governance structure and the Board of Trustees to join us in condemning these policies.
Be it finally resolved, the Student Assembly calls on Cornell to continue to follow the law- including, but not limited to, federal and NY state statutes that have been passed by their respective legislatures and signed by the President and Governor respectively and regulations put in place by state and federal agencies pursuant to power delegated to them by the legislature. If a federal executive order tries to force Cornell to violate these laws, the Assembly calls on the University to seek legal action to uphold the law.
Respectfully Submitted,
Saad Razzak ‘26
Representative of the College of Arts and Sciences, Student Assembly
Niles Hite ‘26
Vice President for Finance of the Student Assembly
Rajat Acharjee ‘26
Representative of the Dyson School of Business, Student Assembly
Adam Vinson ‘25
Executive Vice President of the Student Assembly
Sowad Ocean Karim ‘25
Liaison to the Student Assembly, Graduate and Professional Student Assembly
Mackenzie Barberis ‘26
Women’s Issues Representative at Large, Student Assembly
John Purcell ‘28
Freshman Representative, Student Assembly
Lydia Blum ‘27
Representative of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Student Assembly
Christian Flournoy ‘27
Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion of the Student Assembly
[1] https://diversity.cornell.edu/our-commitments
[2]https://cornellsun.com/2025/02/11/cornell-11-other-universities-sue-nih-after-multi-million-dollar-grant-cuts-announced/
