University administrators met with students at a Black Students United town hall on March 10, where attendees raised concerns about housing assignments, financial aid policies, federal agreements and access to student support services.
Students repeatedly emphasized a lack of transparency and consistency in these systems, particularly in housing placements and financial aid calculations, while administrators pointed to existing processes and resource constraints.
The panel comprised President Michael Kotlikoff, Ryan Lombardi, vice president of Student and Campus Life, Dean of Students Marla Love, Kath Fenzel, director of housing operations and administration, Director of Residential Life Abby Price and Dan Sweeney, assistant vice president of finance and operations in Student and Campus Life.
Students asked prepared questions before an open forum discussion.
Housing
Questions about housing assignments, specifically about placement in Ujamaa Residential College, were a central focus of the discussion.
“What criteria are used when determining placement, and how are those criteria aligned with Ujamaa’s historic mission as a cultural and community center?” one student asked the panelists.
Administrators said there is no formal application process for most program houses and that students are expected to “respect the mission” of the community they have been placed or chosen to reside in.
In February 2025, the U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to federally-funded educational institutions, including Cornell, ordering the widespread elimination of “racial preferences” and otherwise race-conscious decisions in areas including admissions, hiring and institutional programming including housing, threatening loss of funding if universities failed to comply.
In response, BSU held an “Emergency Meeting” on Feb. 12, 2025, where students expressed dissatisfaction with the University’s handling of the directive, citing limited communication and a lack of clarity about how affinity groups and program houses, which many feared could be affected, would be protected or restructured under the new federal diversity, equity and inclusion guidelines.
During the town hall, panelists acknowledged that conflicts can arise between a student’s preferred placement and approved disability accommodations, in which case students may need to choose between options. They encouraged students with concerns to contact the housing office directly.
Concerns were also raised about the extent to which the current housing assignment process supports Ujamaa’s identity as a cultural and residential community.
Ujamaa Residential College was established to provide a dedicated space for Black students and allies to build community and engage with Black culture and identity. Named after the Kiswahili word for “familyhood,” Ujamaa is intended to foster a sense of belonging, shared responsibility and mutual support. While centered on Black student experiences, the program house is open to all students.
Ujamaa is one of several program houses on campus designed to foster themed residential communities centered on shared interests, identities or academic focuses. In the case of Ujamaa, that mission is rooted in supporting Black student life and community.
Administrators said housing placements are determined through a combination of student preferences, room availability and logistical factors such as disability accommodations and roommate groupings. Although students rank housing options during selection, placements are not guaranteed.
Financial Aid Concerns
Students also raised concerns about financial aid, particularly regarding the remaining cost of attendance not covered by financial aid, including tuition, housing and other expenses.
Several students said that even after receiving financial aid packages, they are expected to cover thousands of dollars out of pocket, often through outside scholarships, loans or family contributions. This is because funds procured outside of University aid are subtracted from the amount of financial assistance the University provides.
“If I go out and get a scholarship to cover my gap… I’m still back where I started,” a student said, questioning why additional funding reduces University grant aid rather than filling unmet need.
The University operates under a need-based financial aid model, in which aid is calculated based on a student’s demonstrated financial need. Under this system, outside scholarships are typically treated as additional resources.
Kotlikoff said the policy is intended to ensure consistency in how aid is distributed.
If a student gets a scholarship, “we would reduce it because we’re really not funding you above full need,” he said.
Some students questioned how this policy accounts for financial gaps that persist despite aid packages.
Administrators pointed to the financial aid appeals process, which allows students to request adjustments based on changes in financial circumstances or additional obligations. They also highlighted the availability of emergency funding for students experiencing unexpected financial hardship.
“There are many different financial situations… it needs more context or understanding to make sure every student feels they can be here in a way that works for them,” BSU Co-President Musa Jallow ’26 told The Sun in an interview.
University Settlement
Students then asked whether the University’s settlement with the Trump administration could affect identity-based student organizations.
“What safeguards are in place to ensure that identity-based programming and affinity spaces are not weakened or eliminated under shifting federal interpretations?” one student asked.
Administrators said the agreement does not introduce new restrictions on student groups or campus programming. They emphasized that existing federal civil rights law already requires student organizations to be open to all students, regardless of identity.
“There’s nothing in the agreement that changes our policies at all,” Kotlikoff said.
He added that these non-discrimination requirements predate the agreement and apply broadly across universities. Affinity-based organizations must remain open to all students and are forbidden from implementing exclusionary policies or preferences that would impede participation from the general student body.
BSU and other affinity groups are open to all students regardless of nationality or identity.
“Even before [the federal agreement,] anyone could come to any Black, BSU event. We’ve never set out to be a[n] exclusionary space or anything… We really are just trying to be spaces that showcase pockets of community,” Jallow said.
Mental health resources were another area of concern expressed by students.
Lombardi responded saying the University has increased funding for mental health services and is adding additional therapists across campus via Counseling and Psychological Services at Cornell Health.
“We’ve increased the budget for mental health services by 100% in my time at Cornell,” he said.
Administrators also pointed to existing resources, including crisis support services and student advocacy offices.
Visa Concerns
In regards to visa concerns, Kotlikoff said visa decisions are outside the University’s control but emphasized that administrators are working to support affected students.
“If the government restricts visas… we’ll do everything we can to try and make it possible for those students to matriculate to Cornell,” he said.
The University has hotlines for international students who are stopped during border-crossings, and has explicit policies forbidding federal officials from entering campus facilities without a judicial warrant.
Kotlikoff referenced Cornell’s various international programs as possible solutions to visa issues but stressed that there is no general protocol for handling individual cases.
With Global Operations, the University “maintains nearly 180 active agreements with universities and institutions around the world,” and primarily serve as collaborative partnerships, but Kotlikoff shared they could be used to facilitate students’ education if there are pending immigration proceedings.
Love added that International Student Services and housing programs can help students navigate uncertainty related to travel and residency.
Concluding Remarks
Following the town hall, BSU Co-President Musa Jallow ’26 met with the Sun to discuss the outcome of the town hall.
“I think it was important to have this conversation in this setting,” Jallow said. “It gives students a chance to directly voice their concerns.”
He added that while many concerns raised at the town hall affect the Black community, they also reflect broader student experiences.
“A lot of issues… aren’t just redistributed to the Cornell Black community,” Jallow said. “They’ll be a positive change for everyone.”
Jallow said BSU plans to follow up with administrators on key issues, including housing, financial aid and campus resources.
“I think the conversation shouldn’t end where it ended at town hall,” Jallow said. “Their answers… allow us a path to continue iterating upon these problems.”
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