Minutes
University Assembly Meeting
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
4:30–6:00 p.m.
401 Physical Science Building

I. Call to Order

J. Cai called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m.

Attendance:

Present: K. Albert, J. Blair, J. Burns, J. Cai, A. Gitlin, R. Kay, N. La Celle, E. McNelis, G. Mezey, E. Newbury, M. Paine, B. Schaffner, R. Wayne

Absent: T. Grove, J. Ill Lee, P. Scelfo

Others Present: A. Kleinberger, L. Falkson, M. Lukasiewicz, C. Walcott, A. Epstein, A. O’Donnell

II. Approval of the Minutes

The minutes from the November 27, 2012 meeting were unanimously approved.

III. Reports from Assemblies

Executive Board

E. Newbury reported the Executive board discussed committee vacancies at their last meeting. They also discussed future resolutions about housing, childcare, safety, and transportation, all of which they would like to address this year. The childcare resolution focuses on the issues of graduate students, recognizing the difficulty they face in attaining a grant subsidy. The housing resolution pertains mostly to off campus housing and the safety issues that have arisen related to this. The resolution will also contain something regarding the accessibility of on campus housing for graduate students. The safety resolution seeks to put the resources of the Ithaca Police Department and CUPD together to address safety issues in the area surrounding the university. The transportation resolution will cover parking issues and availability of public transit.

Student Assembly

A. Gitlin reported Diversity Affairs would meet to look at a potential social justice class requirement. This week and the following week the diversity and inclusion committee would meet to discuss the student life aspect of their work.

GPSA

M. Paine reported the GPSA amended its charter to include field representatives from the Tech Campus in New York City and Geneva. He also said he would be going to New York City to meet with the new Tech Campus students to initiate communication.

Employee Assembly

B. Schaffner delivered the report in place of T. Grove. She reported the EA had moved their election schedule up. Also, they are working with the committees on follow up to the employee survey to make final adjustments. G. Mezey added the EA is also discussing how to raise money to create a permanent endowment for the employee CARE fund.

Faculty Senate

J. Burns reported three resolutions were passed at the last FS meeting. The first allows eCornell to work for more courses. The other two addressed the incident on Ho Plaza that arose among protesters demonstrating the Palestine/Israeli conflict. One of the resolutions recognizes the issues and that there are allegations of misconduct of various staff members. The resolution also asks for President Skorton’s response to the issue. The second of the resolutions pertaining to this incident forms an investigative committee. Additionally, J. Burns reported a forum about the future of research libraries would be held on February 14, 2013.

IV. Reports from Committees

Codes and Judicial

G. Mezey had no report, but indicated he hopes to hold a committee meeting soon.

Campus Welfare

J. Cai reported the committee discussed diversity issues from a range of perspectives including the role of syllabi. They also discussed admissions issues and current diversity initiatives for undergraduate students. She also stated the committee considered a town hall style meeting to talk about diversity and welfare on campus. They also discussed long-term goals.

Campus Infrastructure

B. Schaffner had no report.

V. Business of the Day

A. Kleinberger, C. Walcott, and L. Falkson from the Office of the University Ombudsman

Charlie Walcott introduced himself and stated he would speak generally of the purpose of the Ombudsman. First, he reminded the UA it is responsible for the office. In turn, the Ombudsman must report to the UA. He stated his office serves as a place where people with issues can come for counsel and advice off the record. They are informal, neutral, and confidential. The office sees about 250 to 300 cases per year, ranging from staff problems regarding supervision to tenure issues, students’ issues with grades, and more.

The office also reports systemic issues to the administration. He stated the main problem the Office faces is the fact its presence and function on campus is not well known and they are beginning to work to publicize themselves more effectively. Additionally, he described the need for an updated charter. The current one was drawn up in 1969 and no longer complies fully with the tenets of the International Ombudsman Association. The UA will have to approve this new charter when it becomes available.

M. Paine asked if they ever get cases where they cannot assist. L. Falkson responded they are generally able to help by being a safe place for the person to figure out the appropriate course of action.

R. Wayne asked if any trends have appeared regarding the sorts of problems the office sees. L. Falkson reported fewer undergraduate students coming to the office for assistance and noted they see many more employment related cases.

E. Newbury asked if there would be any other charter changes. L. Falkson responded language would be updated to apply to current issues and to be less general in nature.

J. Cai asked if there was a timeline for these changes. L. Falkson responded the office would send a draft to the UA for review in February so the UA could make a final decision this semester.

M. Paine asked the office present to the SA and GPSA. E. Newbury suggested the Office use the TV monitors around campus to advertise.

G. Mezey asked whether the Office plays a role in student or faculty orientation. C. Walcott responded that they do not currently do a presentation for new students or staff.

Discussion of Committee Structure

E. Newbury opened the discussion by making several points about the state of the committee structure of the assemblies. First, she stated that there are vacancies on committees as well as the general body. She stressed the importance of moving appointment schedules to before the end of the semester. Finally, she spoke of the need to increase participation in the committees in general, suggesting that N. La Celle or other officers should attend more meetings of other assemblies in an effort to increase committee membership.

N. La Celle stated he and A. Epstein had decided he would attend the meetings of each assembly and remind them of the vacancies.

M. Paine presented the perspective of the GPSA regarding the issue of filling committee vacancies. He stated the GPSA has usually filled 90 −100 seats in about two to three weeks. He also suggested the UA could communicate with the Vice President of Operations for each of the assemblies in the event of seats that remain vacant.

A. Gitlin added he can attempt to help by moving the SA appointment schedule up, as proposed. However, he mentioned this is will be met with considerable difficulty because undergraduate students tend not to have a good understanding of what their time commitments for the following fall will be. He also stated the SA begins recruiting around late April.

G. Mezey asked about the true number of appointments currently needed. This number was estimated to be around thirty. G. Mezey asked if this might be too much. He added it is unreasonable to stop conducting business until people participate in the committee work.

J. Blair added committees should conduct business regardless of attendance. He said there is no documentation of an attendance requirement to do business. He pointed out unrepresented constituencies would strongly tend to participate when an issue arises that they have an interest in. Additionally, he advised if the UA comes to believe there is a university wide shortage in participants in campus government, then a resolution should be sent to President Skorton requesting assistance in increasing participation.

A. Epstein added the current rate at which new resolutions are being sent to and from committees is very low. He suggested this might be one of the causes of low committee attendance and, if so, a resolution would not solve the problem.

J. Blair reiterated that when manpower is short, it is important to focus efforts. It is important for committees to continue to work despite vacancies. Separately, he brought up the Title IX issues from last year, stating the Policy Office still has not brought forward the changes to Policy 6.4.

G. Mezey suggested a deadline for staffing the committees be set. If an assembly does not meet the deadline then the UA could attempt to fill the vacant positions. He also added during this process the UA could still give preference to people volunteered by the assembly that originally failed to fill the seat.

E. Newbury stated the plan G. Mezey laid out was similar to her opinion on the topic. She noted the current charted endows N. La Celle with the ability to place people on committees. She also stated that, last year, people signed up for the Campus Welfare Committee, but dropped the commitment by the time the committee began to do business. She said this points to a timing issue and not an interest issue.

R. Kay said he has spoken with J. Burns regarding nominations and elections. J. Burns will also make an announcement at an FS meeting in February.

A. Gitlin added the SA would definitely place an emphasis on staffing the committees earlier.

VI. Open Discussion

No topics were discussed.

VII. Adjournment

J. Cai adjourned the meeting at 5:43 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Noah Wegener,
Assemblies Clerk