In an Oct. 10 article in the New York Times, columnist Thomas L. Friedman calls our generation “Generation Q.” Q means Quiet. Friedman is “impressed because [students] are so much more optimistic and idealistic than they should be.” But he is “baffled because [students] are so much less radical and politically engaged than they need to be.” He goes on to laud us for doing quiet but meaningful activities, such as joining ROTC, volunteering in AIDS clinics and working for organizations like Teach for America in record numbers. However, Friedman also criticizes Generation Q for its passivity and unwillingness to become a political force, while in my opinion, suggesting that our generation should take after the student movements of the 60’s and 70’s.

Cornell, for an institution that has to manage nearly 20,000 students, does a remarkable job in a lot of areas. The education is first rate (as if I had to tell you that). The food, exquisite. And the campus always looks great. Yes, the Cornell decision-makers deserve many laudatory praises.