Authored by: Hayden Watkins ’28

Endorsed by: Zora deRham ’27

Type of Action: Internal Policy

Originally Presented: 04/16/2026

Current Status: Adopted by the Assembly, Unanimous Consent, 04/16/2026

Abstract: This resolution calls on the Code and Procedures Review Committee to implement changes to the Student Code of Conduct to address repeated issues of excessive littering in Cascadilla Gorge, occurring since at least 2008.

Whereas, Cornell Minds Matter (CMM) annual hosts an annual campus wellness event, known as “Light Up the Season”, every winter,

Whereas, Light Up the Season requires the installment and maintenance of weatherproof winter lights that cost approximately $25,000 per installment package,

Whereas, under 2026-2028 SAF funding guidelines, CMM will not have enough money to fund their beloved Light Up the Season tradition,

Whereas, the Student Assembly currently has $489,944.31 in its reserve account,

Whereas, Cornell University maintains numerous websites and digital platforms across departments, colleges, and administrative offices to provide students with information on campus
resources, services, and opportunities,
Whereas, the volume and fragmentation of these websites frequently results in outdated, duplicated, or difficult to locate information, requiring students to navigate multiple sources to  find answers to straightforward questions,

Whereas, students ought to know the structure and content of courses they enroll in at the beginning of the pre-enrollment period,
Whereas, course enrollment for the upcoming semester respective to the current one typically occurs in the current semester’s closing weeks,
Whereas, the vast majority of courses listed on Student Center, Scheduler, or other class roster platforms at the time of course enrollment do not have finalized or even preliminarily drafted syllabi,

Whereas, Cornell’s on-campus housing system serves thousands of residents, and routine wear, vendor delays, and parts availability mean that maintenance issues will occur and some will take time to resolve,
Whereas, Housing & Residential Life (HRL) provides multiple channels for housing support, each with distinct avenues for support and operations including the following: Housing & Residential Life Central Office, Service Centers, and Residential Staff,