Complex sentence: Before the university opened, the State Legislature amended Cornell's charter on April 24,1867 to specify alumni elected trustees, however that provision did not become operative until there were at least 100 alumni in 1872.
Split into simpler sentences: Before the university opened, the State Legislature amended Cornell's charter on April 24,1867 to specify alumni elected trustees. However that provision did not become operative until there were at least 100 alumni in 1872.