Editorial
Jumping Fences
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Gorge safety. It’s easy to be tongue-in-cheek about what often seems like a common sense issue. That is, until another student dies.
This summer, Doug Lowe, a rising Cornell sophomore, drowned in Fall Creek Gorge. Lowe is not the first student to drown on the Cornell campus, but his death has provoked another University-wide discussion about the problems tied to our one of our school’s most prized resources.
Who bears responsibility for a life lost in the gorges?
For its part, Cornell has published a pamphlet on gorge safety that students can access online. Following this summer’s incident, the administration also placed a fence around the Fall Creek Gorge. But unless you’re looking for it, the pamphlet, with warnings about falling rock and powerful currents, is out of sight. And for most of us over four feet tall, a flimsy fence doesn’t pose much of an obstacle.
As of now, the involvement of the school has remained minimal. Still, even the token gestures already made have stirred up some controversy. Why should Cornell build a fence around the gorges, critics ask, when such a move signals that students are not responsible for their own behavior? After all, swimming in the gorges is illegal, and the University should not be held accountable for accidents that occur as a result of illicit activities.
The gorges, though, are a reality of Cornell. They encircle our campus, they are plastered on our t-shirts and they make delightful cameos in Kurt Vonnegut novels. Like underage drinking, gorge jumping is an illegal activity that Cornell students are going to do anyway. And, as is the case with drinking, some students will take it too far.
The medical amnesty program and health services at Gannett are designed under the assumption that injury and illness resulting from excessive drinking will happen. An infrastructure has been put in place based on this assumption. Similarly, Cornell must develop an infrastructure to more effectively manage gorge safety issues. No, it shouldn’t have to, because in theory gorge jumping is illegal … and we’re not children anymore. But until theory matches reality, the Cornell community needs to step up and take some action.
There are things that could be done immediately to enhance safety in the area. Signs aren’t enough, because information is not the problem. More emergency phones and better lighting would be a start. Emergency personnel could also be dispatched to popular swimming areas during the warmer months. And safety equipment, like bandages and floating devices, could be stored at various locations along the water.
In the meantime, while Skorton is off at Target buying life preservers, let’s turn our personal responsibility dial up to full force. Such is the price of independence.