Student Assembly

As introduced Thursday, 22 February 2007.

Whereas, HIV testing is an important, life-saving component of health care that is even more crucial during a world HIV epidemic;

Whereas, free HIV testing is an important resource at university campuses, and a service that Gannett offered with certain no cost options to students until the beginning of this academic year;

Whereas, due to cuts in state funding for the ELISA test that was previously free, Gannett now charges $25 for the lowest-cost HIV test;

Whereas, this billing change means that Cornell is no longer one of the Ivy League schools (Columbia, Yale) and many other universities across the country that offer free HIV testing on campus;

Whereas, the combined factors of the stigma, students’ budgets, and the fear associated with HIV testing are best addressed by reducing obstacles to testing itself, such as cost;

Whereas, restoring free testing as a service to students will require broad support from representative bodies on campus like the Student Assembly;

Be it therefore resolved that the Student Assembly urge the administration to seek out a funding solution to provide free HIV testing at Cornell University, which according to Gannett will cost approximately $18,000, less than one dollar per student attending Cornell;

Be it finally resolved that the sponsors of this resolution will be authorized to support similar resolutions on behalf of the SA in similar presentations to the GPSA, UA, and EA, should this resolution be supported by at least two-thirds of the SA.

Respectfully submitted,

Calvin Geoffrey Selth ‘07 LGBTQ Representative

Sarah Boxer ‘07 Vice President of Finance College of Arts & Sciences Representative

Adam Gay ‘08 College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Representative