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Cornell Debate Focuses on Candidate Positions

By Nathan Sermonis | November 29, 2007

With the 2008 election season drawing near, members of Democrat, Republican and Libertarian campus organizations addressed Cornellians from the political podium last night in a debate sponsored by The Sun. Each party presented platforms and opinions on a number of issues from national security to minorities in politics.
Fielding questions from Sun organizers and audience members, the club representatives presented views on important subjects facing the country from the perspectives of presidential candidates running in the primaries and their respective parties.

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Skorton Looks to China For Academic Partnership

By Nathan Sermonis | November 19, 2007

After spending nearly two weeks in East Asia promoting University aspirations and higher education abroad, President David Skorton and an eight-member Cornell delegation recently returned to Ithaca, ending a tour that included China, South Korea and Japan.
Welcomed to the region by government and university leaders, the delegation discussed ideas for future cooperative efforts between Cornell and the region’s academic communities including possibilities for creating and expanding programs in the performing arts, history, government and engineering, according to Prof. David Wippman, law, vice provost of international affairs and a member of the delegation.

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U.A. Committee Passes Revised Code of Conduct

By Nathan Sermonis | November 6, 2007

After unanimously approving a revised version of the Campus Code of Conduct last night, the University Assembly’s Codes and Judicial Committee plans to pass on the proposal to the full U.A. for review next week.
At the request of President David Skorton last May, the CJC began a revision process to refine the Code to address concerns raised by the Cornell community over the past year. In September, the CJC presented the resulting draft, inviting students, staff and faculty to make comments and suggestions to the proposed Code.

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Gannett: No Need For Outcry Over ‘Super Bug’

By Nathan Sermonis | October 31, 2007

A recent series of deadly methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infections — the “super bug” — have driven the nation into a panic, but some health officials are saying this widespread fear is a severe overreaction.
“It’s not a threat to the average person. It can cause minor to serious cases only under specific circumstances,” said Claire Pospisil, spokesperson for the New York State Department of Health.

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Racism Drives Local Debate

By Nathan Sermonis | October 24, 2007

Correction appended. See below.

Amid a storm of publicity and unfaltering community protest against a recent challenge to human rights by the Ithaca City School District, the ICSD Board of Education voted unanimously last night to allow investigation into a racially charged case that happened two years ago.
Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo ’08, co-president of Black Students United, celebrated the decision as a long-awaited victory after a difficult battle to convince the Board to allow the New York State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR) to investigate the issue.
“I’m so excited … I think we really, really got to them,” she said.

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Cornellians Design Unmanned Vehicle to Identify Landmines

By Nathan Sermonis | October 23, 2007

Correction appended. See below.
Recognizing the deadly humanitarian crisis posed by landmines throughout the world — indiscriminately killing upwards of 20,000 people every year, according to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) — Cornell engineering students are developing a new machine to aid in mine removal projects around the globe.
Starting last fall, a team of students in the College of Engineering began designing an autonomous robotic vehicle — the Cornell Mines­weeper — that can detect and mark underground landmines.

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‘Healthy’ Food, Unhealthy Choices?

By Nathan Sermonis | October 12, 2007

New research by Cornell’s Prof. Brian Wansink, director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab, shows that dining at “healthy” fast food restaurants may not be as beneficial as advertised, often leading to poor eating habits.
Despite a growing health conscience in America, two-thirds of the national population is considered overweight according the National Center for Health Statistics. Wansink’s research may help to explain one of the reasons behind this perplexing paradox.

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City Officials Discuss C-Town Moratorium

By Nathan Sermonis | September 27, 2007

New development in Collegetown may come to a halt for the next year as City officials discuss a proposed moratorium for the area.
After a unanimous decision by the City’s Planning and Economic Development Committee last week to pass the moratorium, Common Council members are preparing to make the final vote.
If passed, the measure would mean no new proposals for development in Collegetown would be accepted for a period of 12 months. Exceptions, however, would be made for minor alterations of existing buildings within the affected area and for owners able to prove financial hardship as a result of the moratorium.

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Equal Rights Amendment Re-Introduced in Congress

By Nathan Sermonis | September 19, 2007

After more than twenty years since its last stand in Congress, the Equal Rights Amendment – the constitutional guarantee for equal treatment of women – is back on Washington’s agenda.
This spring, Democrats in both the House and the Senate reintroduced the measure as the Women’s Equality Amendment, a new name for an old idea. Empowered by the Democratic sweep of Congress during the 2006 elections, the new majority plans to hold a vote on the issue by the end of the session.
“I think this is something that should be key to the Democratic agenda,” said Dr. Francine Moccio, director of Cornell’s Institute for Women and Work.