To the Editor:

Re: “In Defense of Our Cinema,” Opinion, Nov. 2

As Assembly members, we respect the opinions of The Sun’s editors, but we must note that their involvement in the process is both late and sensational. In an effort to better inform undergraduate students, we feel that the Cornell community must first understand the reasoning and method behind the Student Activity Fee funding process before we can address the issues surrounding Cornell Cinema’s allocation.

Every other year the Student Assembly allocates around $5.8 million in Student Activity Fee money to 31 different on-campus organizations. This “Activity Fee” is charged to all undergraduates as a part of their tuition to support a variety of organizations on campus such as Cornell EMS, Concert Commission and EARS. Therefore, when organizations ask the S.A. to increase the Activity Fee, representatives must balance the added tuition burden with the benefit the program provides to all students. By design, this is a funding process which is run entirely by students under the purview of the S.A., so as to ensure the organizations benefit all students.

Two years ago when the S.A. discussed the funding allocation of Cornell Cinema, a concern was raised that the organization did not have adequate student involvement both in its structure — a feature that distinguished it from other by-line funded organizations — and its low per screening movie attendance. Two years later the S.A. faces a disconcertingly similar scenario, with no students at the helm of the decision-making process and continued low attendance. As a result, the Appropriations Committee reduced Cinema’s allocation. The S.A. agrees that Cornell Cinema benefits the undergraduate student body, but the Assembly funds on the quality of the proposal submitted, and the Assembly through its funding allocation is initiating a conversation to encourage the Cinema to look to restructure and reorient its strategy.

Finally, we would like to point out that the decision made last Thursday is not final. The Student Activity Fee in its entirety must be approved by the Assembly at the end of the semester. Between now and then, the S.A. will be following up with Cornell Cinema’s leadership and holding a conversation about Cinema’s structure, which could precipitate a higher funding allocation. Lastly, the final vote was extremely close, with 10 Assembly representatives voting in favor of the budget cut while 10 representatives opposed, demonstrating the Assembly itself contains differing opinions. Therefore, we welcome and encourage all students to take part in these discussions by attending Assembly meetings and contacting their representatives.

Rammy Salem ’10

Student Assembly President

Vincent Andrews ’11

Vice President for Public Relations