Student Assembly Diversity Affairs Coalition

SA Diversity Affairs Coalition Committee Meeting Minutes
March 8, 2013
Sibley Hall 115
4:30–5:30 PM

I. Call to Order

II. Announcements

1. Several administrators are not able to make it to the meeting today

III. Arts & Sciences Dean Search — Karan Javaji

1. 4 candidates: two are current administrators
2. ALANA and the South Asian Council greatly support the multicultural candidate: Srinivas

Aravamudan

1. A decision will most likely be reached within 2–3 weeks
2. SADAC members would like to see the initiatives each candidate has worked on
3. When the Engineering College was looking for someone to fill Trey’s position, they reached out to students he had affected and asked them to have dinner with the candidates and provide their opinions. Something similar can be done here — casual dinner, lunch forums, etc.
4. It has been a while since a Cornell candidate has moved into the position of A&S Dean — the fact that there are two on the list is significant and should be taken into account
5. The Provost’s office isn’t the most transparent. However, an email should be sent to the search committee to suggest ways for students to provide input on the decision
6. Needs to be tactfully done — don’t want to upset the committee by providing them with a student request this late in the process
7. A&S Ambassadors might be a good group to engage in the process

IV. Inclusive Book Policy — Ulysses Smith

1. Looking to provide books for students that can’t afford them
2. Policy: for every book you require, one copy (variable depending on class size) must be kept on library reserve
3. Research: Who to talk to, who to engage, what policies to change
4. Currently in practice by many professors but it is not a formal process
5. Any professor can contact their department and request that a copy be kept on reserve, but the most recent editions are not always maintained
6. Course packs should also be included in this policy
7. Should keep in mind the question of how e-textbooks will fit into this policy
8. Librarians, professors, and college reps should be involved
9. Possibly look into financial aid and look for some way to divert some grant money for this purpose
10. Should be hammered out before it is brought to the Provost

V. 161 Diverse Things — Ian Harris

1. Goal: to encourage and engage students with the community more — get list published in Cornell Sun and publicize through FB
2. If clubs are partnered with initiatives, they can hold events that advertise the crossing off of a number on the list
3. An app should be made to mark progress
4. Maybe the list number should be changed — suggestion: 150 before 150
5. Maybe work with the Dairy Bar to give out free ice cream for progress or some other similar incentive
6. Members should make additions to the list

VI. Questions

VII. Adjournment

1. U. Smith adjourned the meeting at 5:40pm

Respectfully submitted,

Chelsea Cheng