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The Housing Office
Believing in the housing office is sort of like believing in crop circles. Sure, they're there, but who are they accountable to? Our guess is that at some point in your medical school career, you will have to deal with the housing officers directly.
Unfortunately, the cGuide editors are unable to offer much useful advice on negotiating with the housing office. Proponents of the pet petition, members of the Class of 2002 slighted by the Olin renovation process, cAMP coordinators, and miscellaneous other tenants all serve as evidence that the housing office decision often remain non-negotiable, and that most actions or decrees are meant to soothe tempers rather than adjust policy.
That being said, there are official means of appealing to the housing office, namely, through your class housing representative, and your class housing appeals representative. Working through them and being persistent may pay off.
The only loophole, however, that you may exploit is offered by tenant law, which, for instance, allows you to move rooms if you believe that the room places you at medical risk, e.g. pet allergies. Incidentally, this may be one of the reasons behind the current no-pets policy; sources also cite that the current pet policy was also influenced by the rapid turnover of many rooms and the housing needs of postdoctoral fellows. Realize, however, that the housing office is effectively bulletproof -- idle threats of legal action do not help negotiation, because there simply is no negotiation. For instance, if you do want to keep a pet, your option is to move off-campus and pay an unsubsidized monthly rent. Alternatively, the housing office will be more than willing to evict your pet for you when it's time to put the smack down.
All that being said, it's difficult not to villanize the Housing Office if you've ever had to deal with them, even though they truly aren't consciously trying to be tough to deal with. They want to be helpful, but they're also reportedly bound by policy, precedent, and bureaucratic inertia. Try your best, but realize that, after all is said and done, if you live in Cornell housing, then you're saving a bundle vs. living off-campus.
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(Your mileage may vary. The contributors, editors, and owners of this site are not responsible or liable for any damages or losses incurred as a result of anything published on this site. Hello, meet our lawyers.)