Authored by: Alexander Walters ’28, Hayden Watkins ’28
Sponsored by: Amelia Lyons ’29, Admir Cekic ’26
Type of Action: Sense-of-the-Body
Originally Presented: 04/23/2026
Current Status: Adopted by the Assembly, 18-0-0, 04/23/2026
Whereas, the Cornell Grounds Department is tasked with providing “quality services, consistent with responsible fiscal and environmental stewardship, to support the landscape maintenance and landscape construction needs of the Cornell Community.”, per the department’s website,
Whereas, “Cornell Days,” otherwise known as “admitted students’ weekend” began the weekend of April 10-12, 2026,
Whereas, prior to Cornell Days, students wrote political messages critical of University administration and its suppression of free speech,
Whereas, on April 15, 2026, the Cornell Daily Sun reported that the Grounds Department washed away this political messaging,
Whereas, the messages adhered to the principles and permissions of the Expressive Activity Policy, as bystanders were reported to have informed responding officers on the scene,
Whereas, Cornell is a university with a long history of claiming respect for democratic values and touts the philosophy of “any person...any study” as central to its mission,
Whereas, concerted action to silence the voices of students in the name of maintaining the institution’s image violates the University’s mission and serves to justify further antidemocratic action,
Whereas, admitted students ought to have an accurate view of a university they are considering attending,
Be it therefore resolved, the Student Assembly questions the compatibility of removing opposing viewpoints from public conversation with Cornell’s stated mission and respect for democratic values,
Be it therefore resolved, the Student Assembly condemns the University’s abuse of the Expressive Activity Policy to further its own ends and maintain its appearance,
Be it further resolved, the Student Assembly calls on Cornell to remember its founding principle of “any person...any study” and respect the right of varying and opposing viewpoints to be discussed on campus,
Be it finally resolved, that students’ rights to free speech be respected by the University, even in cases in which it is being criticized.
Respectfully Submitted,
Alexander Walters ’28
Vice President for Communications, Student Assembly
Hayden Watkins ’28
Vice President for Finance, Student Assembly
Amelia Lyons ’29
College of Architecture, Art and Planning Representative, Student Assembly
Admir Cekic ’26
First-Generation College Students Representative, Student Assembly
