In recent weeks, evidence of the recession has surfaced in Collegetown. With the closing of Sinbad’s and Collegetown Candy and Nuts, upperclassmen walking to and from class are nearly guaranteed to pass a vacant storefront or two. It is worrisome to witness businesses shutting down in the area, but now may be a defining time for redevelopment of Collegetown’s commercial landscape.

The University’s response to last Monday’s stabbing incident raises concern about Cornell’s safety protocols and alert procedures. Cornell’s crime alert e-mail reported the incident as merely a robbery and was sent over two and a half hours after it happened, both downplaying the fact that a student was physically harmed and failing to alert the community about suspects who remained at large.

Questions persist surrounding the details of the situation, particularly about the degree of physical harm endured by the student. While The Sun reported the incident as a stabbing, the University has refused to acknowledge this wording, insisting that only a “small puncture wound” was endured.

I met her at a rest stop in Blandford, Mass. this past Sunday. I was standing in front of a wall of snack food at the gift shop when I saw her slowly pacing through the adjoining Sbarro’s, squinting through her glasses at the grease-soaked pizzas on display.

I went numb.

I’d caught just a glimpse of her, out of the corner of my eye no less, but I knew it was her instantly. It was a sub-conscious recognition, as if I’d already memorized her every dimension, as if hours of television exposure allowed me to keep a mental blueprint of each of her distinguishing traits.

“Our legacy is reflected in the diverse composition of our community, the breadth of our curriculum, the strength of our public service, and the depth of our commitment to freedom, equity, and reason. Each member of the Cornell community has a responsibility to honor this legacy and to support a more diverse and inclusive campus in which to work, study, teach, research and serve.”

— Cornell’s statement on diversity, from: www.cornell.edu/diversity/history/statement.cfm

A major problem of diversity at Cornell is how to include American Indians and American Indian Studies into the broad University community. American Indians are not simply another “ethnic minority” here at Cornell; instead, it should be remembered that American Indians are the indigenous people of this land. Thus, indigenous America is distinctly important, and should be understood in its relationship to “Euro-America” and all other “Americas.”

As I went through the door of my apartment, the opening between the literal wall of books at the entrance to our house revealed a brand new bookcase my husband had just made. Eight feet long and three rows high, it fit perfectly between the piano and the smaller black bookcase right next to my desk. The house completely filled with sawdust, we happily set out to finally fight back what I have started referring to as “the book invasion.” And, to our surprise and relative dismay, it turns out we filled the entire thing.

“Cornell’s mission is to foster personal discovery and growth, nurture scholarship and creativity across a broad range of common knowledge…[o]ur legacy is reflected in the diverse composition of our community.”

— Cornell’s Statement on Diversity, from cornell.edu.

In 1993, a group of predominantly Latino students reacted to acts of discrimination and racism on campus by staging a nonviolent takeover of Day Hall. This protest culminated in a series of demands that the University agreed to address. Among the University’s commitments was the hiring of more underrepresented faculty and the strengthening of programs such as Latino Studies.

Last week’s Sun news article “Libe Café Employees Protest Uniform Policy” explored the widespread opposition of Libe’s employees to Cornell Dining’s policy of wearing hats while serving. Their dissent was understandable. However, what struck me about the article were the statements made by a number of “regular customers.” They noted that the hats looked “silly” and made Libe “look like a dining hall”; to that end, one employee was told she “looked like a lunch lady.” Some workers therefore felt that the policy “hurts relationships with their customers.”

So, you’ve decided to read my column, huh? Probably not because of my sassy intro. Or that classy title my lovely editor has managed to come up with this time. No, I’m pretty sure it was that sexy, breathtaking picture of me lurking slightly down and to the right. The one that made you mutter those three fateful words: “What a fox.”

When Cornell Dining recently revamped its uniform policy, mandating that employees in the ever-so-hip(ster) Green Dragon wear hats, student-employees started to complain. Hats?! Really? Clearly appalled by this fascist proclamation, our team of crack reporters has consulted with a slew of fashion experts — from Nylon to latfh.com to Tim Gunn — in order to develop “alternative” options that will please these individually-minded students. So, without further ado, here is the list of suggestions ...

We’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting for the VILLAINOUS cold to take hold of our fair hippie college town, but it’s been so mild this week we’ve been in VILLAINOUS weather purgatory.