Student Assembly

« | 2008Spring | Oversight »

This page contains comments posted by members of the Cornell community pertaining to Structure of Meetings in the Student Assembly. Before posting to this forum, please read the comments below to make sure that the information you are providing is pertinent to the discussion. Comments are especially valuable if they add new information or points of view.

Initial Findings

Those students that do attend are often discouraged from speaking due to the nature of open microphone. It is an intimidating experience, and students often feel that they are being ‘grilled’ by representatives as opposed to being heard. Students must feel as if they are welcomed at Student Assembly meetings and encouraged to share their opinions.

Roberts Rules of Order is an essential mechanism for conducting formal hearings and financial issues, however, it can be very cumbersome when representatives are engaged in an informal debate.

Potential Solutions

1. The Student Assembly should utilize Roberts Rules of Order at the discretion of the chair and only when required due to the nature of the discussion or the issue being heard.
2. The Student Assembly must encourage its representatives to remain ever-respectful and tactful when addressing a member of the community. Conduct will be discussed later in this analysis.
3. Each Student Assembly meeting should include a period of informal discussion, at the discretion of the chair, which, time permitting, should include members of the community. This will be an opportunity for Student Assembly representatives or members of the community to begin a conversation on an issue of concern without having to prepare a formal presentation.

Community Comments

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« | 2008Spring | Oversight »