Student Assembly

MINUTES
Cornell University Student Assembly
February 25, 2010
4:45pm
Willard Straight Hall, Memorial Room

I. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 4:45 pm

II. Roll Call

Voting Members Present: I. Akinpelu, V. Andrews, C. Basil, A. Brokman, M. Danzer, M. DeLucia, R. Desai, A.Gitlin, N. Kumar, A. Latella, C. Moreno, S. Purdy, J. Rau, A. Ravaret, R. Salem, U. Smith, K. Welch

Non-voting members Present: A. Cowen, R. Rodewald

Representatives Excused: Z. Glasser, N. Junewicz, A. Nicoletti, N. Raps

Representatives Unexcused: J. Min, H. Yang

III. Approval of Minutes

Minutes from February 11 and 18 were up for approval. R. Desai called for acclimation. It was seconded without dissent and the minutes were approved.

IV. Announcements/Reports

1. Office Hours- Rammy Salem

A sign up sheet for office hours was passed around.

2. Relay for Life- Adam Gitlin

A. Gitlin was going to send out an email. They have a group going to walk around the track for Relay for Life. It runs from six pm to six am and they have to have someone walking around the track at all times.

3. Upcoming Speech by Gov. Luis Fortu�o- Ray Mensah

R. Mensah is the chairmen emeritus of the Cornell republicans. He came to give an update. They are going to host the governor of Puerto Rico on March 8 at Bailey Hall. The speech begins at 7 pm. Tickets are free and were made available at the ticket office. He asked the SA to forward the information to whoever they can. If anyone has access to list-serves, please let him know, his netid is ram429. He also had a brief update on the external program house review focus group. He and several other students that are members have been meeting for the past two months and talking about issues. They are giving their assessment on the information gathered. They met with 10 or 12 students. They had a good conversation and were honest about perceived issues with program houses and how to improve them. One example is that facilities are in a poor state. They feel like it’s a big reason why fewer people live there. They hope to have an update on the process in coming weeks.

4. Strategic Planning- University Librarian Anne Kenney

Like all other deans, she was asked to look at the impact of a 15% budget cut. Their budget is split between two areas collections which receives14 million dollars per year and everything else, which receives 30 million dollars. A 10 percent cut is a significant amount of money. Their key recommendations was to exempt the collections budget from further cuts. Costs of scholarly publishing has skyrocketed. It increases 8–15% per year, where collections budget increased at 5%. The gap went from $35,000 to $8 million. Harvard spent $11 million more, then $17 million. Ten years ago, we were able to acquire access to 1000 journals, last year 400. They are re-orienting the library campaign toward collection building and trying to focus on open access. She and the provost have a joint fund to look at open access. We are one of seven institutions in on this. We sold a duplicated collection in Uris to china. Harvard gave away a collection to a library in china. They are looking further into how to join forces with Columbia. Unit library reviews have been controversial. Last year, the physical sciences library closed and is now essentially a virtual one. Reviews are underway for the entomology, vet, engineering, hotel, business, and ILR libraries. They are also working on enhancing borrow direct and extending loan time. They have put out an invitation to Harvard to join. They are going to make tough choices and want to engage students. They have to decide between building collections, reducing hours, deciding what to do about computer access and laptop loans, as well as various other issues. They are at a fork in the road. To be able to maintain excellence, they need to change the ways they do things.

N. Kumar saw an interview with the chronicle this morning. They asked how strategic planning is integrated with and/or affected by the budget model. How would that affect undergrad students? The goals in looking at it are in the direct support units. A lot of expenses that are covered by the provost — heat, light, space — will come to the library as a budgeted expense. They are working with deans whose library facilities are in their domains. The wise thing would be to wait until the 2012 fiscal year to implement. There are concerns from deans about being controlled by the university library. The state side and endowed ones are managed by her. State collections budget only increased 3%, while endowed increased 21%. For students, the impact is the voice of other constituents is strong. Student interests are important. They have extended hours in Uris. They get over 200 students per hour between 2 and 8 am.

VP Andrews asked if there would be any direct impact about library hours, for instance, being cut at all. That is the last thing she would do out of necessity. Undergrads are nocturnal and grads are diurnal. They want earlier hours but she understands the need to have them open late at night.

A. Brokman said that earlier in the semester, he had to return a book because it was sold and shipped to china. How many books were lost? No unique copies were lost. All the ones which were sold were duplicate copies. She would’ve preferred that books which were out to wait until end of semester. Where we need multiple copies for reserves and such, do have. But she will go with more unique titles over fewer titles with more copies. All the Ivies are divesting from duplications

M. Danzer asked what she sees happening to smaller, specialized libraries. The only ones discussed were those which are under review. They do remain concerned about the Fine Arts library. The deans and she are launching a joint investigation for synergies. To what extent do they need to be full service libraries? Can management be shared? The investigation that is being launched will have student, faculty, and library staff recommendations. Every month, she and deans will be meeting.

R. Desai asked how feasible it would be to limit hours of other libraries to make one library open 24/7? They already have one open 24 hours, 5 days a week. 24/7 will depend on other tough choices. Will other libraries give up extended hours so there is a space that’s open 24/7? Part is economic, part is political. Are they going to want to give up support to extend Uris library hours? They are looking to having fewer libraries which are full service. They are maybe looking at extending hours that are less costly in that environment than in full service. They could have fewer hours during intersessions, but then that kicks into grad student concerns. They went to 24/7 because of such a united expression of interest. In the last ten years, they have done that, also opened libraries later and earlier. They are stretched to the max at this point.

R. Salem asked if there was anything the SA could do. She thinks the timing should be carefully considered. At this point, they are looking at cost cutting. They expect to cut more than she has to give back because of redirections. That would be the time to look at weighing two more days of access. How do you balance demands? It would be great to seek advice in the fall.

U. Smith said that he knows the Fine Arts Library has been having issues about how to use space and lots of people are looking at Fine Arts Library toward being more open and talk of moving the library to Rand Hall. How involved are you in the process of planning with it and will they be halted because of what’s going on now? She responded that the new dean is visionary. His idea of moving toward a design school is inspirational. He recognizes the importance of it and has aspirations to make it the number 1 or 2 Fine Arts Library in the country. She knows that she has to balance life of the materials there to proximity of the school and students. Also, the physical visual materials are quite critical for many years to come.

5. Trustee Update - Asa Craig

They all should’ve received an email from Don Wozinski regarding trustee meetings. If you haven’t responded or RSVP’d please do. He can re-send out the email. They need the numbers by tomorrow. They should all be there. This is something they’ve been working on. Other meetings getting students involved. Please respond. It is March 11.

6. AAP Update-Ulysses Smith

The AAP School has invested in 8 plasma televisions for visual arts to help broadcast students’ work. They are strategically placed in Jayden and Rand, primarily in Sibley. The big news is that last Thursday, the dean of student council met. The dean agreed to meet with and hold an information session for students in AAP who are interested in learning about the vision of the design school, where concept came from. He hasn’t pushed him to come to an SA meeting yet. If anyone wants to help, he would appreciate that.

7. North Campus Garbage Cans Update�Adam Gitlin

As of next week, will be a few more cans on North after storm is cleared. They had proposed this resolution last semester and are happy to see it through.

8. JAMIC — N Kumar

The meeting is next Monday, and he will email with the time and place. Let him know if you want things to be discussed.

9. Vice President of Internal Operations Update — Alex Latella

Ivy Council is this weekend at Yale. The dining committee had a meal at Moosewood. They met with the information director of campus life. They are looking on how to improve Cornell dining, including text messaging about meals. Also, on Monday, Rusty’s opened in Uris Hall. It was a significant investment. So far there have been 300 transactions a day.

V. Unfinished Business

1. R. 46- Making the Swim Test Optional- Rammy Salem

This has been tabled indefinitely due to a meeting with VP Murphy that had to be canceled because of inclement weather. They want to talk about it with more people.

2. R. 49- New Group Application Review Committee- Vincent Andrews

This committee is a result of SAO coming to the SA with the issue between student groups on campus. They want to aid student groups to determine conflict between a few salsa dance groups where there are three salsa dance groups, a fourth is trying to come on campus. The three current groups say the fourth is not a legitimate group, it’s a professor trying to bring it on campus. They are worried about diluting the population of salsa dance groups. All these issues need to be addressed. Instead of having administrators make the final decision, students should be involved. They want an ad-hoc committee. This was formed just for this one endeavor. The goal is to create a non-permanent committee to aid Katherine Holmes on this one issue.

A. Ravaret asked if there was a judicial group on campus that does stuff like this. A. Cowen said that there is not, but there is something to mediate conflicts. A. Ravaret asked if this is a conflict between groups or legitimacy of a group. VP Andrews said that this is not a conflict between groups because one is a pending one. One requirement is that there are students who are registering it. They are claiming it’s not students who are registering it. Holmes came to the SA because she wants student input on how to proceed.

A. Cowen asked if the first Be It Therefore Resolved clause, it should read “Between organizations as it deems necessary.” It should. R. Desai asked for more clarification. VP Andrews said that there is no framework set up. The ad hoc committee will help create the framework. They could’ve outlined a process, but it’s ad-hoc. It’s advisory. No decisions are being made.

It was called to question. It was seconded. The resolution passed by a roll call vote of 16–0−0.

R. 56 — Chris Basil

VP Basil proposed a sense of body resolution, asking the SA to recommend a snow day tomorrow to the faculty. It was seconded. The resolution passed by acclimation.

VI. New Business

1. R. 34: Amendment- Clarification of at-large Seats�Matt Danzer

This was nearly identical to the first resolution, with clarifications added that President Skorton asked for.

J. Rau asked if the ambiguity leaves wiggle room. What if another group needed to be represented? M. Danzer said that if the SA deemed another group on campus, by a 2/3 vote, could include another seat for them. The purpose of this amendment is that under the current wording, it says they’re supposed to be allocated but don’t know where and when. For all he knows, the majority vote could get rid of seats. This would take 2/3 vote to add seats or get rid of.

A. Cowen suggested a change. By a handvote of 16–0−0, the amendment passed.

The resolution was called to question. By a roll call vote of 16–0−0, the resolution passed.

2. SA website

The new website was unveiled. It should be a lot easier to navigate. They want a moderator for more discussion.

3. Student Innovation Council Update - Phoebe Yu

There are 15 more people on the council working on 7 or 8 projects. They welcome anyone to come. The next meeting is Sunday at 1pm in Flora Rose.

N. Kumar asked what projects they were working on and how are they partnering. P. Yu said that beyond partnering, they feel as if it is their role to bring everything together.

4. R. 50- Requiring Deans to Speak at SA Meetings�Ulysses Smith and Rammy Salem

They changed the word to “requesting” instead of requiring. U. Smith said that he was waiting on this until resolution 43 was passed. This asks deans (along with the letter attached) to at least come to speak to at least one SA meeting to give initiatives of their undertaking because we offered a lot of info and even President Skorton has offered to come to speak and be more involved in SA meetings. It is also fitting for deans to come help transparency. The letter was forwarded to them all. It encourages college representatives to encourage deans to come speak to SA meetings.

VP Basil in the Be It Finally Resolved clause, it should have an amendment to specify that it’s 7 undergraduate deans because there are more graduate deans. He wanted to know why he didn’t just send the letter. U. Smith said that it gave the letter a firmer foundation. M. Danzer motioned to move to business of the day. It was seconded without dissent.

A. Brokman thought it was wonderful and was important to make things more transparent.

M. Delucia wanted to echo what VP Basil said. He wanted to ask if it gets passed, what’s to make them come and say something meaningful.

J. Rau agreed with VP Basil and M. Delucia. He called to question. It was seconded. U. Smith is doing his best to work with his dean, the dean of student councils. They work within bureaucracy. They might not apply or see it applying to all colleges but it isn’t just him. There are lots of students who want this done. If the dean came here and only said two words, he wouldn’t be dean for long.

The community members voted 3 — 1 in favor. There were thus two votes allocated to yes. The roll call vote was 8–4−3. With the community votes, the final vote was 10–4−3. The resolution passes.

5. R. 52- Resolution in Support of the Student Statement on the Right to Research�Roneal Desai

The initiative was started by two senators of the state of NY. Our library doesn’t have every journal. Some have yearly subscriptions in the 20,000 range. The argument was that a lot of research done by grads and undergrads is government funded. They want open access instead of paying for articles. This was forwarded and has to be passed by every grad university. He felt like it affected undergrads as well.

The goal is to encourage open access. There is a country-wide movement toward open access.

VP Basil motioned to table until next week to include the statement which is endorsing this resolution. It was seconded without dissent.

6. R. 54- Removing the Charter Test for SA Members�Alex Cowen and Nikhil Kumar

There was a change to “section” from “bylaw.” He doesn’t think it’s useful and currently they are all in violation. As there was no discussion, it was tabled until next week because they could not vote on it yet.

7. R. 55- Charter Amendments�Alex Cowen and Nikhil Kumar

This clarifies the way for charter amendments to be made. They currently said they were “made and voted on within two weeks” which means they could make one right now and have it voted on. And in addition, the voting specification isn’t specific. The 2/3 doesn’t say whether it has to be membership present, or all members. This changes to have to present a week before. They want it so that charter changes have to have 2/3 of ALL members, regardless of their being present. For bylaw changes, it will be 2/3 of members present. This enables assembly to amend.

VP Basil said that what is said basically is that bylaws are easier to change because they are more flexible. Looking at charter, does that make sense? Are they things that deserve a lower standard to be changed. A. Cowen said that was a good point.

Also, President Skorton doesn’t need to approve of bylaw changes.

This was tabled until next week.

VII. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:17 pm.