International

Michael M. Matly

As a member of Int’l Student Programming Board, Int’l Students & Scholars Office, Hillel, and Arab Clubs, Michael Matley is intimate with the int’l community here on campus. Turn Left saw his passion for the issues throughout the interview. Matley will fight for the 285 of 300 international students who receive no aid from Cornell. He will also fight to keep the int’l seat in the SA, and increase funding for diversity. He is a progressive who sides with students on issues like hockey subsidy, WRC funding, living wage for Cornell employees, Students-Helping-Students, the Greek system (it’s an alternative to campus housing, too), and Kyoto Now.

Matley will fight for maintaining a Cornell bond for overseas alumni. He also supports Program Houses; they serve as a bridge for students, he says, that dorms cannot replace. He started a culture diversity club in his high school, organizing activities to increase international awareness. 

... PK Agarwalla’s campaign motto is “Experience and Objectivity.” Turn Left feels that Agarwalla is a good candidate, though not the best, for the International seat on the SA. 
Agarwalla is currently in a New Student seat on the Assembly, and has worked closely with the Dining Committee and campus life.

While Agarwalla often does not back the funding for the organizations that we would like to see funded, he takes a strong stance against discrimination on campus, and has voted against elimination of the minority seats on the SA. If elected, Agarwalla would work to improve financial aid for international students, and continue to work with Campus Life to improve the student living situation.

LGBTQ

Joelle Meniktos-Nolting

Joelle Meniktos-Nolting evoked strong commitment to DASH (Direct Action to Stop Homophobia), and displayed a knowledge of the challenges facing the LGBTQ community as only a member can possess. For instance, she pointed out that forcing freshmen to live in dorms without regard to sexual orientation means that transgenders will face great difficulty with their roommates. She also questioned Cornell’s relationship with ROTC, which while providing critical financial assistance to many students practices discrimination that has resulted in dismissal of several students from a university that claims to be free of such prejudice in admission and campus life practices. Furthermore, Joelle pointed out that efforts to provide better lighting can address only the results, but cannot prevent hate and other crimes. 
Turn Left believes that Ms. Meniktos-Nolting will do a great job. She promises to listen to her constituency and other minority groups as well. It is only fitting that she faces no opposition.

Minority

Funa Maduka

Although we did not have the opportunity to converse with Funa Maduka, we are impressed by her experience. As president of the Cornell chapter of NAACP, Maduka has worked to enhance campus diversity and racial relations. Serving for Faculty Senate Committee on Minority Affairs and on the Residential Life Committee, Turn Left feels that Maduka has proven that she is an effective leader on issues dear to Cornell students, including better wages for its employees, conservation measures, student group funding, funding for Women’s Resource Center, etc. Turn Left is sure that she will represent minorities well, and help foster a tolerant atmosphere for all.

Joan Luu

Joan Luu is an ILR student who has participated in Cornell Debate. Among her experiences was an internship at NBC in the employee relations office, where she observed contract negotiations. She will seek a balance between unions and smooth corporate operations. She supports funding for Women’s Resource Center, hockey ticket subsidy, living wage, and conservation measures. If elected, Luu will work to resolve racial tensions (as reflected in attacks on Asian women) and campus security (lighting, patrols, etc.). She will regularly visit minority groups and others to listen to their concerns.

Undesignated

Tom Mendez

The Student Assembly’s only Minority representative, Tom Mendez, secured his position with the second-highest number of votes ever. Turn Left quickly found out why.

Mendez is a strong supporter of affirmative action, and would combat any effort to cut off funding to or eliminate the program houses. Cornell workers also have a friend in Mendez. He believes our workers deserve a living wage: “In order to have a friendly environment, our workers need to be paid top-notch.” 
As a sophomore in ILR, he is currently the Vice-President of Internal Operations of the SA; basically, Mendez keeps the SA running smoothly.

Mendez will work tirelessly on the SA if reelected, and has a vision beyond most candidates: “My goal is to have Cornell among the top five schools in the country.” Turn Left was quite impressed with Mendez, and believes he will shine again as an Undesignated representative.

Noah Doyle

Noah Doyle, also a sophomore in ILR, has a passion for workers’ rights. Doyle sees a parallel between sweatshop labor today and conditions many workers were subjected to in the late nineteenth-century. He believes that as a large commodity buyer, Cornell needs to pay stricter attention to the sources of its purchases. Doyle will petition the university to use union labor wherever feasible. Doyle remains a staunch proponent of reducing Cornell’s impact on the environment.

Receiving funding by the SA has historically been a lengthy, inefficient process. Doyle intends to streamline the process, and to make access to the money available earlier in the year, which would help SAFC-funded campus groups greatly: “What good are these clubs if they have no means?” He feels the Womens’ Resource Center should be administration-funded, and should not have to rely on the SA to grant funding for such an essential campus resource.

Turn Left believes that Noah Doyle will make a great representative.

Uxo Asonye

Former University Assembly Vice-Chair Uzo Asonye has worked with professors, graduates and undergraduates, and employees. As President, he has transformed the Student Assembly from a raucous bunch into a well-respected group that has power and influence. Uzo wants to make sure student groups are well-funded. He wants to reform the allocation process for hockey tickets so that diehard fans will not be the only ones to get them. Uzo will stand up to the Board of Trustees and administrators to protest the tuition burden and to increase financial aid. He will push for a Cornell representative on transportation. He declared support for a living wage and opposition to any building “under Cornell purview that is not union-built.”

Mr. Asonye displayed uncommon knowledge and insight during the interview. The Undesignated seat is waiting for him.