Summary of the main changes in the GPSAFC Guidelines (04/08/2019)
*Commenting is now closed*
GPSAFC Funding Guidelines for Graduate Student Organizations
The new GPSAFC guidelines
- Broaden the definition of “Cornell Campus:” now “Cornell Campus” includes Cornell Tech’s NYC campus and Auxiliary Cornell Properties (lines 67-77)
- Clarify the budget request submission process. The new FC Guidelines
- Eliminate the budget types “Annual Budgets” and “Special Project Request;” this means that organizations, if they choose so, can submit separate budget requests for their events
- Clarify certain details of the budget submission process (e.g., budgets must be submitted before the event takes place) (lines 26-31)
- Make minor revisions in the deadline chart for budget submissions and tier increase requests (line 86) • introduces principles for why certain budget items are ineligible for funding: “GPSAFC funding is inclusive, need-based, and extracurricular” (lines 166-175)
- Include a clause about allocating funds for alcoholic beverages and spending cap on alcohol (lines 210-214)
- Introduce rules for reassigning and cancelling allocated funds (lines 216-236)
- Clarify some aspects of the tier assignment process (such as, when and how to submit tier increase requests and how the tier appeal process works) (lines 279-282, 302-316)
- Clarify summer funding (lines 406-408)
- Clarify the requirements for applying for Initiative Funding (GPCI funding) (lines 353-368)
Comments
** Commenting is closed.Proposed Expenditure Cap Would Diminish Graduate Collegiality
Submitted by Brooke A Dekolf on Fri, 2019-04-26 17:00The proposed spending cap on allocation of funding for alcoholic beverages should be struck as it would effectively eliminate the Society of Wine and Jurisprudence ("SJW") at Cornell Law School. SWJ is not only a rare social reprieve for law students, but SWJ is one of the few, if only, organization that allows students from the law school to co-mingle with other members of the graduate and professional community in such a way to increase graduate collegiality.
Please Remove Limitation on Alcohol Spending
Submitted by Sal J Diaz on Fri, 2019-04-26 16:54I am a member of the society of wine and jurisprudence (SJW) and I am writing to express my concern about the limitations to alcohol spending. While I understand the inclination to limit this sort of spending for many clubs, it simply does not make sense for clubs like SJW that have a legitimate educational purpose surrounding their spending on alcohol. If this proposal is enacted it would drastically limit SJW’s ability to operate as a club. I therefore request that this proposal either be eliminated in its entirety or be amended to allow for exceptions for clubs like SJW.
Strike Proposed Limitation on Alcohol Expenditures
Submitted by Ryan H Zehner on Fri, 2019-04-26 16:35The proposed clause limiting the allocation of funds for alcohol would effectively withhold finances from the Law School's Society for Wine & Jurisprudence (SWJ) that are necessary for the organization's continued existence.
This organization serves a number of wonderful functions in the Law School community. It facilitates a great deal of social interaction within the Law School, particularly among first-year students. For these students, SWJ events provide opportunities not only to cultivate new, strong friendships in an unfamiliar place, but also to begin constructing a network of contacts within the legal community that will be invaluable to them throughout their careers.
The knowledge that SWJ seeks to impart is of equal importance to the community-building impact of the organization. By educating students on the evolution of jurisprudence concerning wine production and regulation, this organization serves a unique educational function that no curriculum in the Law School currently reflects. Additionally, a general knowledge of wines and wine etiquette can be extraordinarily helpful in greater legal and professional communities. Early on in one's legal career, social aptitude is necessary to securing gainful employment. It is of great importance that law students have an opportunity to cultivate and/or refine certain skills before the stakes become too high.
As a rising 2L who deeply enjoyed and benefited from SWJ events throughout the year, I hope that the proposed limitation on alcohol expenditures will be struck.
Do Not Proceed with Proposed Limitation on Alcohol Expenditures
Submitted by Justin M Zaretzky on Fri, 2019-04-26 16:34The proposed limitation on alcohol expenditure would severely restrict the budget of the Society of Wine and Jurisprudence, one of Cornell Law's organizations. Not only is SJW an amazing way for students to socialize and upperclass students to get to meet their fellow peers, but it is crucial to further our knowledge on wine. With most law students going to big law firms, it is necessary to be able to pair certain wines and food together and to know various details about wines when at dinners with partners and firm clients. By going forward with the proposed restriction and effectively eliminating SJW from Cornell Law, the GPSAFC would be harming law students' careers.
Arbitrary cap would destroy SWJ
Submitted by Michael Dylan Thompson on Fri, 2019-04-26 16:33The Cornell Law School Society of Wine and Jurisprudence is an informative and cross-disciplinary organization that fills a niche spot within the Law School's extracurricular activities. Applying an arbitrary cap across the board on alcohol expenditures would disproportionately impact this group, effectively eliminating it. Please reconsider.
Don't Kill SWJ!
Submitted by Brandon Hanley on Fri, 2019-04-26 16:16SWJ is one of those few organizations on campus that offers an escape from the daily grind and allows students to enjoy their time here in Ithaca. Effectively eliminating SWJ by limiting alcohol expenditures, would be devastating, not just for the organization, but for the larger graduate school community.
-Brandon Hanley, 1L
Proposed Limitation on Alcohol Expenditures
Submitted by Andrew P Melendez on Fri, 2019-04-26 16:08The alcohol expenditure limitation would be devastating to the budget of the Society of Wine and Jurisprudence. SWJ serves as an important role in the extremely stressful law school environment by serving as one of the best ways for first year students to get to know upperclass students and their fellow peers. As a naturally introverted person who does not enjoy the bar scene, there are not many other mostly social opportunities to get to know upper class students that do not involve going to a bar. The other clubs at the law school, though important, are all much more inevitably linked with law and therefore do not provide the same kind of escape and easy socializing. Losing the SWJ would be a terrible loss for Cornell Law, and the grad student community as a whole.
Andrew Melendez, incoming treasurer, Society of Wine and Jurisprudence.
The law school is severely
Submitted by Adrian Rabin on Fri, 2019-04-26 16:01The law school is severely lacking in social organizations and the Society of Wine and Jurisprudence has been successful at filling that gap. It would be a shame for them to lose their funding because of this regulation, which would also impair other law school organizations' abilities to host similar social events, since the organizations depend primarily on GPSAFC funding. We request that the clause limiting alcohol expenditures not be approved.
Re: Strike proposed limitation on alcohol expenditures
Submitted by Rachel G Wolf on Fri, 2019-04-26 15:51The Society of Wine and Jurisprudence is one of the most popular clubs at Cornell Law School and they host many fun and educational events that are widely attended by both law students and graduate students. SWJ is one of the only social clubs at the law school and it provides an important space for first year students to get to know their peers and upperclassmen students. It would be a tremendous loss to the Cornell Law community and the larger graduate community if SWJ were to lose their funding. I completely second everything written above by the board members of SWJ.
Please Reconsider Proposed Cap
Submitted by Angeline Linsy Premraj on Fri, 2019-04-26 17:06The proposed cap would be majorly detrimental to the Society of Wine and Jurisprudence (SWJ) at Cornell Law School. SWJ is a fantastic organization that encourages discussing legal issues against the backdrop of a collegial environment. The cap would effectively restrict SWJ's activities, and this is a harsh message against small, collaborative groups like SWJ. Please reconsider the cap.
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