Student Assembly

As discussed Thursday, 29 March 2007.

Whereas, the Student Assembly, responding to both the concerns of undergraduate students and the work of Kyoto Now!, coordinated a referendum in the 2007 Spring SA elections to determine student interest in the creation of a Green Energy Fee;

Whereas, more than 78% of undergraduates voting in the referendum expressed their support for the creation of such a fee, as a part of the Student Activity Fee;

Whereas, the sponsors of the resolution feel that, in light of the many related issues’ current importance on campus, as exemplified by the President’s Climate commitment, action should be taken to support student’s opinions on the referendum;

Whereas, the sponsors of the resolution that instituted the referendum, as well as the members of Kyoto Now! upon more careful consideration have come to the opinion that the question was poorly worded, particularly in reference to the Student Activity Fee as the most appropriate funding source;

Whereas, the Student Activity Fee is a question of major concern for the Student Assembly, as it has grown and been increasingly difficult to manage from year to year, while undergraduates bear the burden of a larger, mandatory activity fee;

Whereas, while the substance and text of the results cannot be changed, the strong undergraduate support for the creation of such a fee is clear;

Whereas, the Student Assembly has the ability to consider its policies and the most suitable means of acting on issues of undergraduate concern;

Be it therefore resolved that the Student Assembly urge the administration to collaborate with the Kyoto Task Team, the SA, and the sponsors of the referendum resolution to institute an opt-out, bursar-charged, $5 per semester Green Energy Fee to be first collected in the fall semester of 2007;

Be it further resolved that the Student Assembly find that the Student Activity Fee is not a suitable funding stream for the Green Energy Fee, as it does not allow for an opt-in/opt-out mechanism, the option of not paying that portion of the fee, while unduly placing the burden of the fee within a fund designed for undergraduate activities;

Be it further resolved that the Student Assembly request the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly to consider adding graduate students to the fee, so that all Cornell students may have the option to contribute to the fund;

Be it finally resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to President Skorton and other senior members of the administration.

Respectfully submitted,

Calvin Geoffrey Selth ‘07 Neal Nisargand ‘07 LGBTQ Representative Engineering Representative Liaison to the Provost Chair, SA Environmental Committee

Matthew Perkins ‘08 Emily Rochon grad Kyoto Now! Kyoto Now!

Kenneth Sauer ‘08 Kyoto Now!