Whereas, the mission of the Student Activities Funding Commission (SAFC) “is to support undergraduate organizations in their ability to foster community and belonging at Cornell through funding opportunities.”
Whereas, organizations with membership fees create socioeconomic barriers for low-income students, which does not foster community and belonging at Cornell.
Whereas, organizations with membership fees generally are not open to the entire undergraduate population.
Whereas, these organizations still take Student Activity Fee money that is paid for by all students.
Whereas, organizations with membership fees use this funding for opportunities and events that exclude non-members.
Be it therefore resolved, that Appendix A, Section 3, Subsection B of the charter be amended to include a sixth clause, reading:
vi. not provide a yearly allocation to subsidiary registered student organizations that charge a “membership fee,” which will be defined as:
a. Any required payment that is a condition of obtaining or maintaining general membership status in an organization, including dues charged upon joining, per semester, or annually
b. This definition does not include:
i. Opt-in fees, that are not required (including suggested fees that are not actively enforced, tracked, or required for participation)
ii. Event specific fees that are for funding particular events, trips, or activities that are paid by the participants in those discrete events, trips, or activities
iii. Fees that directly correspond to the cost of participation in travel-based, recreational, or activity-based programming (including transportation, lodging, equipment, or admission), provided that: such fees are limited to cost recovery and not used to restrict general membership and the organization maintains open and free general membership for undergraduate students.
