Whereas, the Employee Assembly serves as the official shared governance body responsible for representing and advocating on matters that directly impact the staff community at Cornell University; and

Whereas, the staff community comprises non-academic employees working across multiple colleges, schools, and administrative units of the university, including those in hybrid and fully remote roles whose experiences and contributions are integral to the institution’s operations and culture; and

Whereas, Cornell University prides itself on valuing difference and diversity, promoting cross-cultural and cross-national understanding, and treating all individuals with dignity, respect and fairness as three (3) of its core principles;

Whereas, during the Fall 2024 semester, the GPSA Executive Board funded a Day of Dialogue event on November 22nd in collaboration with Cornell EARS, Vaccination Conversations with Scientists (VaCS), and Cornell Political Union (CPU).

Whereas, the Day of Dialogue event included workshops, listening sessions, and an expert panel, co-hosted by EARS, CPU, and VaCS, on topics ranging from confronting misinformation to embracing empathy in polarizing environments.

Context & Problem Statement

Whereas, Cornell Dining serves approximately 19,000 meals per day across over 30 dining locations and is nationally ranked for quality, yet the existing on-site signage beside food items only includes food names, allergen markers, and whether the item is vegan or vegetarian;

Whereas, the Student Assembly Infrastructure Fund Commission has received four applications for the 2025 Spring semester;

Whereas, the $8,001.67 proposed allocation to the Cornell Astronomical Society will fund the renovation of Fuertes Observatory’s dome on the Cornell Ithaca campus;

Whereas, the $2,700.00 proposed allocation to the Library IT Department will fund the addition of 8 more monitor screens in libraries on the Cornell Ithaca campus;

Context & Problem Statement

Whereas, Cornell University currently charges between $600 and $1,200 annually for most student parking permits, with limited availability even at that price, creating a significant cost burden for students with financial need;

Whereas, students who live off-campus or commute from surrounding areas often have no viable alternative transportation, especially those working night shifts, attending clinical placements, or residing in housing not served by TCAT’s main lines;

Context & Problem Statement

Whereas, Cornell’s Student Health Plan (SHP) costs $3,828 per year, plus an additional $550 in annual health fees, totaling $4,378 annually per student, which imposes a financial burden on students who already qualify for federal insurance through Medicaid or Medicare;

Whereas, there are less than five years left to prevent the effects of climate change to 1.5°C according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Whereas, one of Cornell University’s “core values” is Respect for the Natural Environment, where “we value our role in advancing solutions for a sustainable future and we recognize the close relationship between people and the Earth, acting in ways to live and work sustainably.”

Whereas, the Charter of the Student Assembly exists to help outline the rules and operations of the Assembly;

Whereas, Appendix A of the Charter of the Student Assembly outlines the guidelines that should be followed when handling matters of the student activity fee;

Whereas, Appendix B of the Charter of the Student Assembly outlines the guidelines that should be followed for organizations that are funded by the Student Assembly;