This past year has been filled with numerous challenges faced by the student body. Once again, it will be the responsibility of voters to express their voices and concerns through the ongoing 2020 Student Assembly election. At stake in this election are the future direction of Cornell’s Greek system, adjustments to the student activities fee, and votes on divestment.
One issue that is of great concern to many Cornellians is Greek life reform. After the tragic death of freshman, Antonio Tsialas, student leadership in campus Greek life initiated a series of meaningful reforms, including the barring of alcohol from Spring recruitment, the reinforcement of sober-monitors at social events, and fines imposed on whole fraternities who violate imposed restrictions. Without letting these student-crafted measures be implemented, President Pollack announced a series of additional restrictions in event scheduling, BYOB policies in the absence of approved catering, restrictions on hard alcohol, and a requirement to hire Cornell-approved security for certain events. Although these policies were made by the administration with good intent, a Prohibition-level crisis of underground drinking may soon ensue in Ithaca. These policies do not tackle off-campus parties, which could produce as many alcohol-related risks as much as larger events. Certainly, reforms must be made, but such measures should be taken with additional consultation from students, along with decisions about other issues.
Another issue has been the constant increase in student taxation, otherwise known as the student activities fee (SAF). While college becomes more and more expensive for the average student, the Student Assembly has recklessly increased the SAF by 40% (from $234 to $321) under the Anderson administration. While assembly members have justified this policy as a means to increase club funding, it takes a lot of selection power away from students. What Assembly candidates should realize is that spending money is one way that students express their support for organizations. Each student should choose to fund clubs that they truly want to advocate for and support. No environmentalist should ever be forced to fund organizations that defend fossil fuels, neither should any pro-life student be forced to support Planned Parenthood. Any sensible candidate should put forward a plan to restore student control of the activities fee.
Lastly, there is the issue of divestment. In the previous election, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction (BDS) of Israeli businesses was a “hot-topic,” with students across the country unknowingly fighting for a cause which affiliates with Hamas (a designated terrorist organization). Now, in addition to a possible vote on BDS, a new form of divestment has come to Cornell: fossil fuel divestment. Not only would divestment from fossil fuels, without reinvestment into nuclear energy, harm our already excessive budget deficit, but it would also inevitably lead to Cornell increasing tuition fees on students. Furthermore, it has the potential to divide the student population as much as the BDS vote of 2017. For the sake of unity and prevention of fiscal disaster, Student Assembly members should actively oppose divestment votes in any form.
Regardless of where you affiliate, these Student Assembly elections will affect you in one way or another. Thus, it is in the interest of all Cornellians to study the candidates and choose an Assembly that will be by, of, and for the people.
