Recent Contributions from Jasmine Marcus

Red Favored in Season-Opening Tournament

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

This Sunday, the fencing team will host its only home tournament of the season when Stevens Institute of Technology and Yeshiva University travel to Ithaca for the Cornell Fencing Invitational.

“We have a good relationship with these schools,” said head coach Iryna Dolgikh. “And I’m very sure my girls will show good results.”

Tag, you're it: The fencing team will host its only home tournament of the year this Sunday.

Cornell beat both schools last year, as well as Johns Hopkins, which will not be returning this year. In all three matchups, Cornell’s score was 63-18.

The tournament is significant in that it is the first team-based tournament of the semester.

Spotlight On: Hadag Nachash

Jasmine Marcus — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Hadag Nachash (“Snake Fish” in Hebrew) is one of Israel’s most famous hip-hop bands — and beloved the world over, by Hebrew speakers and non-Hebrew speakers alike. Sun News Editor Jasmine Marcus ’10 called up Sha’anan Streett, the band’s lead singer and songwriter, and spoke to him about their tour, politics and why even non-Hebrew speakers can “get down to the groove”.

The Sun: How’s your tour been going so far?

Sha’anan Streett: It’s been going great. Right now we’re in Los Angeles. We were in San Francisco, D.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan, New York City and we’re going to hit Cornell tomorrow!

Sun: And what are your plans for after the tour?

S.S.: We’re gonna go back to Israel and rest a little. Then we’ll start rehearsal and writing for the new album.

Three Fencers Crack Top 10 in First Tourney of Year

Jasmine Marcus — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The fencing team got off to a great start this weekend with its first tournament of the season. After two open pools, several Red fencers made it to the direct elimination round, with three women making placing in the top-10.

The Temple Collegiate Open, which was attended by 32 colleges, is an individual tournament and therefore does not count towards the NCAA championships. Nevertheless, head coach Iryna Dolgikh said the team used the event to “check our power” and introduce the freshmen to college-level fencing.

Open Is First Test for Red Freshman

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The fencing team is heading to Philadelphia for the Temple Collegiate Open this Saturday.

“This weekend will be some of the best fencing, because there will be lots of people with lots of experience,” said junior captain Katherine Thompson.

Touche: The women’s fencing team places first in last year’s Cornell Invitational. This Saturday, the team is heading to Philadelphia to compete in the Temple Collegiate Open.

The open is an individual tournament that consists of two sessions of round robin style open pools, followed by a direct elimination round. Since the tournament is individual, it does not count towards the team’s record or for the team members’ NCAA records.

Red QB Nathan Ford Reacts to NBC’s Primetime Name Dropping

Jasmine Marcus — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Cornell students who watch The Office were excited two weeks ago to find out that Dwight had his heart set on becoming a Cornellian. In keeping with their usual attention to detail, the show’s writers sprinkled the episode with details about Comstock Hall, the Ag School and students’ love of a cappella groups. But for fans of the Big Red, perhaps the greatest moment in the episode was when Dwight said to Andy, “So, uh, how do you think we’re gonna do against Penn this year? Nathan Ford’s arm looks pretty strong,” referring to the football team’s starting quarterback. Sun News Editor Jasmine Marcus asked Nathan Ford a few questions about the primetime shout-out.

Did you know ahead of time that they were going to say your name on the show?

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Re-established

Jasmine Marcus — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:40:00 -0400

The Alpha Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, the first intercollegiate fraternity established by African-Americans, was re-established last week on October 18. The fraternity was founded at Cornell in 1906, but had been inactive recently after being suspended. 17 new members were initiated into the fraternity, which is a member of the Multicultural Greek Letter Council. President Ruke Ufomata ’09 said he hoped the fraternity would “honor its re-establishment by keeping the chapter active and upholding its high standards of service and scholarship.” According to the national APA website, the fraternity was founded by seven founders known as the “seven jewels” in order to provide support for its members in the racially charged campus environment.

Protest Against Review Erupts During Clubfest

Jasmine Marcus — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

It wasn’t all fun and games at this year’s Clubfest, an annual start-of-the-year event where students can learn about campus organizations.

On Sunday afternoon, students protested The Cornell Review during the event held in Barton Hall. Around 3:00 p.m., some students began circulating quarter cards calling the Cornell Review “racist.” The protesters also chanted at the members of The Review sitting at the magazine’s booth, causing members of the Cornell University Police Department to be called in. The CUPD refused to comment on the incident.

Cornell Names New Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:16:18 -0400

On July 15, Elizabeth A. "Beta" Mannix, the Ann Whitney Olin Professor of Management at Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management and the Robert S. Harrison Director of the University's Institute for Social Sciences, became Cornell’s vice provost for equity and inclusion.

The position is a one-year transitional post as the vice provost for diversity and faculty development spot becomes the future vice provost for diversity and chief diversity officer spot. Robert L. Harris, the former vice provost for diversity and faculty development, said Mannix’s role will include supervising the University’s diversity initiatives. These include the summer institute for diversity, the Breaking Bread program and the University Diversity Committee Working Group.

C.U. Unveils Plan for Campus Winery

Jasmine Marcus — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

On April 2, Susan A. Henry, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, announced that Cornell will build a 2,400-square-foot teaching winery this fall. The winery will be built in the Cornell Orchards as an addition to the Pomology Cold Storage Building.

The announcement was made at a dinner and auction in New York City in honor of Cornell’s 100-year-long partnership with New York’s wine industry called “Cornell Celebrates New York Wines.”

C.U. Creative Writing Graduate Junot Diaz MFA ’95 Wins Pulitzer

Jasmine Marcus — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Junot Diaz MFA ’95 won this year’s Pulitzer Prize for distinguished fiction by an American author for his novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which was published by Riverhead Books in 2007.

Diaz, who was born in the Dominican Republic, and raised there and in New Jersey, received his Master of Fine Arts from Cornell after graduating from Rutgers. He was then on the faculty for a year teaching Creative Writing and freshman writing seminars at Cornell.

According to the book’s jacket, Oscar Wao is about “a sweet but disastrously overweight, lovesick Dominican ghetto nerd.”

The book was greatly anticipated since it was published 10 years after Diaz’s last book, a collection of short stories called Drown.

New S.A. Elects Executive Board

Jasmine Marcus — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Last night, the new members of the 2008-2009 Student Assembly elected its Executive Board. The new president will be Ryan Lavin ’09, Chris Basil ’10 will be the executive vice president, Tony Miller ’10 will be vice president for internal operations, Greg Mezey ’09 will be vice president for finance and Nikki Junewicz ’10 will be vice president for public relations.

In an e-mail, current SA President C.J. Slicklen ’09 said, “I’m confident the Assembly will be in good hands as Ryan and Chris take the lead on June 1.”

Next week, the S.A. will elect its new director of elections and committee chairs. The freshmen and transfer representatives will be elected in the fall.

Admissions Data for Class of 2012 Released

Jasmine Marcus — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

On Monday, the official mailing date for the Ivy League, the undergraduate admissions selection process for Cornell’s Class of 2012 was finished.

Cornell received 33,011 applications for freshman admission, an all-time high. This number represents a 9-percent increase over last year’s class, and a 17-percent increase over the past two years. Overall, there was a 20.4 percent admit rate for both Early Decision and Regular Decision applicants combined, a decrease from last year’s 20.5 percent rate. Admissions: Admissions Data for Class of 2012 Released

CUPD, IPD Find Links in Recent Armed Robberies

Jasmine Marcus — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Since Spring Break, there has been an increase in criminal activity at Cornell and the surrounding neighborhoods. Last night, a University Crime Alert e-mail sent to the Cornell community reported that two armed robberies that occurred in the last week, but were not immediately reported, seem to be related to each other, as well as a third incident reported in the Crime Alert issued on March 24, near the Chapter House.

Before that incident, which occurred around 11:15 p.m. on the 400 block of Stewart Ave., a non-Cornell student male victim reported he was inside his apartment when two subjects entered the apartment, one armed with a handgun, and robbed him of cash and other items around 11 p.m.

Former Poet Laureate Maya Angelou To Address Class of 2008 Graduates

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Convocation Chair Rohan Thakkar ’08 announced yesterday that Maya Angelou, the world-renowned poet and author, will be this year’s convocation speaker. The announcement was made at yesterday’s Student Assembly meeting, a day after Angelou confirmed and signed her contract with Cornell.

Pan-African Scholars Host Africa Week 2008

Jasmine Marcus — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

This week, the coalition of Pan-African Scholars is sponsoring the fourth annual Africa Week. This year’s theme is “A Decent Dissent: Cultural Activism Towards a Sustainable Africa.”

Throughout the week, lecturers, artists and vendors will come together to “celebrate the diversity and splendor of African peoples, cultures and forms,” according to the Africa Week 2008 website.Word power: As part of Africa Week 2008, the Coalition of Pan-African Scholars presented Dr. Micere Mugo, a professor from Syracuse University, who delivered a lecture about poetry and cultural activism yesterday in Kaufmann Auditorium.

S.A. Broaches Concealed Carry

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

At yesterday’s Student Assembly meeting, Mark Coombs ’08, director of elections, and Ahmed Salem ’08, an S.A. representative at-large and chair of the Cornell College Republicans, presented Resolution 17, which calls for “Concealed Carry [of weapons] on Campus.”

Although the resolution was originally brought up as “new business,” members of the S.A. approved a motion to move the resolution to “business of the day.” This meant that members would have the opportunity to vote on the resolution yesterday, rather than waiting a week, as is the rule with “new business.”

S.A. to Vote on Weapon Policy

Jasmine Marcus — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

This afternoon, Mark Coombs ’08, director of election on the Student Assembly, and Ahmed Salem ’08, an at-large S.A. representative and chair of the Cornell College Republicans, will present a resolution on the subject of concealed carry of weapons on campus to the S.A. If the resolution passes, the S.A. will ask the administration to allow Cornellians to carry concealed weapons on campus.

Coombs, a Sun columnist, and Salem are pushing for this cause in light of the fact that “recent campus shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University represent an intolerable failure of the ‘gun-free zone’ to ensure the safety and the security of the students within it,” according to their resolution.

A Day in the Life

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

“While most Cornell students are waiting to do what they want until after graduation . . . we’re doing what we want to do every single day,” said Fine Arts major Nicole Militello ’09.

Although the architects get most of the attention, the College of Arts, Architecture and Planning is also home to 13 other majors, including Fine Arts. Students choosing to major in fine arts must choose a concentration in combined media, electronic imaging, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture by the end of their sophomore year. Upon graduation, fine arts majors receive a Batchelor of Fine Arts, however sophomores have the opportunity to apply for a duel degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Human Ecology or the College of Engineering.

Student Assembly Discusses Slope Day, Faculty Replacement

Jasmine Marcus — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Over 50 people attended Thursday’s Student Assembly meeting to find out who the performers for Slope Day will be this year. Slope Day Programming Board Chair Liz Rapoport ’09 and Selections Director Mike Chua ’08 announced the Gym Class Heroes and Hot Hot Heat, while acknowledging that the SDPB “trie[d] its best to gauge the musical pulse of the Cornell community.”

After the announcement was made, the majority of the audience left, with approximately a dozen people staying to hear the continuation of the S.A. meeting.

New Undergrad Application Lets Students Pick Two Schools

Jasmine Marcus — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Starting this year with the Class of 2012, applicants to Cornell now have the opportunity to apply to two colleges or schools within the University rather than just one. In addition to their primary choice, applicants also have the option of selecting one alternate choice college. The change to the application — the first since the University switched to the Common Application in 2004 — is permanent.

In addition to satisfying the admissions requirements for both colleges, these applicants must also write an essay for each college about why they have selected the particular school. Applicants, however, will only receive one decision.

Superintendent of Ithaca City School District Pressured to Resign

Jasmine Marcus — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

After months of criticism, Ithaca City School District Superintendent Judith Pastel may soon leave office. The Ithaca Journal reports that anonymous sources have confirmed that the ICSD Board of Education has held at least two meetings discussing Pastel’s departure.

The talks follow months of disapproval over the way Pastel has handled recent racially charged incidents in the ICSD. Ithaca resident Amelia Kearney is currently involved in a lawsuit against the ICSD for what she describes as the negligence the district showed her after her daughter was racially harassed in school and on a school bus.

ILR Profs Clash Over Daily Show

Jasmine Marcus — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

On Jan. 7, Prof. Ron Seeber, industrial and labor relations, made the first appearance on The Daily Show with John Stewart since the Writers Guild of America strike began on Nov. 5.

Before Seeber, who is the associate dean of the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, appeared on the show, many people in the ILR community urged him to cancel his appearance.

Ellen Stutzman ’04, a senior research analyst to the WGA, West, sent out e-mails to current ILR students, alumni and faculty. She wrote, “We prefer that guests not go on these shows” out of respect for the writers’ rights.

C.U. Law School Announces Exchange With Peking Univ.

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Starting in the fall of 2008, the Cornell Law School will begin an exchange program with Peking University Law School in Beijing, China, known informally as Beida.

The program will be the Law School’s first with a University on mainland China, a country that Leslie Burke, executive director of the Clarke Program in East Asian Law and Culture, called “a huge player on the global scene.”

The exchange program will involve both students and professors. Chinese professors will teach Chinese corporate law in Ithaca next semester.

Cornell law students will benefit, according to Larry Bush, executive director of the Clarke Center for International and Comparative Legal Studies, because Beida has “the best law faculty in China.”

Cornell Joins Solar Energy Consortium

Jasmine Marcus — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:25:41 -0500

On Dec. 4, U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-22nd District) announced that Cornell will be one of five universities joining New York State’s Solar Energy Consortium, which he helped create.

The consortium, according to a press release, is “a not-for-profit solar consortium driven by industry, in collaboration with public, private, academic, environmental, labor and economic development partners - with the goal of creating fully integrated solar-powered systems.”

The Other ‘Most Scene’ Cornellians

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

You may have read about Cornell’s top 25 “scene-iors” yesterday, but there are 25 people whose heads adorn buildings all over campus who have been getting face time long before the Class of 2008’ers stepped foot on campus.

Possibly the most famous head belongs to Benjamin Franklin, whose face adorns the door of Tjaden Hall, formerly known as Franklin Hall.

Yet closest to Cornellians' hearts is our very own Ezra Cornell whose presence looms over the Arts Quad as he waits to shake hands with A.D. White when virgins cross the Quad at midnight. Perhaps it’s a good thing he can’t see the naked statue of Zeus outside the Temple of Zeus Café in Goldwin Smith Hall.

University Creates Chief Diversity Officer Position

Jasmine Marcus — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Starting in July, the Vice Provost of Diversity and Faculty Development position will become Chief Diversity Officer. Current Vice Provost Robert Harris will retire and return to his faculty position in the Africana Center, and a search is being conducted to find someone to fill the new position.

Whereas the Vice Provost of Diversity dealt mainly with faculty, the new CDO will also work with staff and students in an attempt to “link together” the three main Cornell populations, according to David Harris, vice provost for social sciences.

The position is being changed, according to Harris, because the current “response [to diversity issues] is not as good as it can be.”

Graduation Rates Differ Greatly by Race, Gender

Jasmine Marcus — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Although it is not as large as the national average, there is a gap in graduation rates between black and Latino students at Cornell compared with their Caucasian and Asian peers.

According to Cornell’s First-Time Freshman Graduation Rates Fall 1980 - Fall 1999 Entering Classes Biennial Report, the six-year graduation rates for Caucasian and Asian students entering Cornell as freshmen between 1980 and 1999 is around 90 percent. For blacks and Latinos, this number is closer to 80 percent. In 1999 alone, these numbers were 93.6 and 86.6 percent, respectively.

Nationally, the numbers are 67 percent for white students, 71 percent for Asian students, 47 percent for Latino students and 46 percent for black students, according to the Teagle Working Group.

Theft, Criminal Mischief Dominate C.U. Crime Stats Report

Jasmine Marcus — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Despite the occasional crime alert emailed to members of the Cornell community, Ithaca is often considered to be a relatively safe town. This belief is supported by current crime statistics as given in the Clery Report, an annual report that colleges and universities must publish.

The reports, which are mandated by the Higher Education Act of 1865, focus on seven different types of crime, where the crimes take place and what actions are taken against the criminal. The reports are made public and can be viewed online.

Captain Kathy Zoner of the Cornell University Police Department acknowledged that the most common crimes on campus are “crimes of opportunity”: property crimes such as theft and criminal mischief.

District Faces New Charges of Racism

Jasmine Marcus — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

“Ithaca is supposedly ‘10 square miles surrounded by reality,’ but right now reality is right up against our faces,” said Nathan Shinagawa ’05, a Tompkins County legislator, Friday afternoon at the first of two press conferences held in Ithaca to address new charges of racial discrimination within the Ithaca City School District.

The charges were brought about by Bryce Houseal, a freshman at Ithaca High School, and his mother Keisha Hicks, a graduate student at Cornell. Houseal claims that at school Nov. 8, a white student directed a racial epithet at him. When he reported the incident to an assistant principal, he says, nothing was done.

Ithaca High School Alums Reflect on Racial Tensions

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:01:00 -0500

“The racist tensions [at Ithaca High School] were always there, but people never brought it to the next level,” said Longze Yuan ’10, expressing one of many viewpoints held by Cornell students who are recent I.H.S. alumni about the recent racial allegations brewing in the school.

Some alumni expressed surprise at all the commotion being made. Chris Beyers ’10 said, “I find that a bit surprising. I’ve always felt safe in Ithaca.”

Taylor Quan ’10 said, “As far as I knew, racism wasn’t really prevalent.”

Although many of the alumni disagreed about the degree of tensions and whether the tensions were racially charged, most agreed that there were conflicts between various groups of students.

Recap: Legal Action Sparks Community Outcry

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

The case at the front of the recent racism charges against the Ithaca City School District stems from Amelia Kearney, whose black daughter was physically and emotionally abused by her white classmates two years ago at the district’s DeWitt Middle School. Kearney is bringing her case to the Tompkins County Human Rights Commission with the allegations that the school district is racist for not helping Kearney’s daughter.

On Nov. 9th, a community meeting was held in Ithaca to develop a plan of action. Parents were instructed how best to support, protect and advocate for their children. They also planned what actions they will take against the school district in the future, including asking the district to institute diversity training. The next meeting will be held Dec. 6 at 6 p.m.

And Here’s What’s Happening in Your Neck of the Woods

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Cornell students hoping to become the next Al Roker have the option of majoring in Atmospheric Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. However, not all students majoring in AS, Cornell’s term for meteorology according to Cathy Radonic ’08, dream of becoming weathermen. Some AS majors hope to become storm chasers or weather forecasters, while others will go on to research issues such as global warming.

Since there are only about 15 people in each year, AS students become very close-knit. Pat Meyers ’08 said, “It’s not very competitive within the major. Everyone helps each other out.”

Radonic agreed saying, “If one kid is good at programming, he’ll help us out, and then the other kid who’s good at forecasting will help whoever needs help with that.”

Fmr. Pakistani Ambassador Talks Politics

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

This past Wednesday evening, retired Ambassador Mansoor Alam gave a talk entitled, “The Pakistani Conundrum” to about 40 members of the Cornell community in the Alice Cook House. Alam has represented Pakistan in Russia, Finland, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Mexico throughout his career.

The event was sponsored by Dialogue, the South Asia Program, Alice Cook House and the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies. Hatice Bilici ’09, president of Dialogue, said in her introduction that her group “tries to bring speakers from conflict regions.”

Bilici said she hoped Alam would add intellectual discourse to Cornell by increasing the number of speakers on campus.

Language House Fosters Cultural Experience

Jasmine Marcus — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Cornell students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a foreign language without ever having to leave Ithaca. Students with an intermediate knowledge of Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin or Spanish can choose to live in Boldt Hall’s language houses, a part of the Alice Cook House on West Campus.

Students live in the language houses in order to become fluent in the language of their choice and to learn more about the culture of the various places where their target language is spoken.

Mike Magdovitz ’10 called the Language House “an interesting place to live,” saying that although he lives in the French part of the house, he also has the opportunity to practice his Spanish on a daily basis.

Cornell EMTs Suit Up for a Safer Campus

Jasmine Marcus — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

As the saying goes at Cornell University Emergency Medical Services, “Your worst hour is our best hour.”

“It’s never that we want someone to get hurt; we just want to be there to help them,” said Emergency Medical Technician Andy Lazar ’10 in explaining his group’s catchphrase.

Lazar is one of CUEMS’s 80 EMTs who volunteer their time to help injured or sick people on campus. On nights and weekends there are always at least three EMTs on call and at least one or two on weekdays. In addition, CUEMS members can be requested to cover events such as concerts and club sport matches.

Insta-Interview

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Name: Alessandra West.

What year are you? Freshman.

Major: Linguistics. Maybe a double major with history.

Hometown: Topeka, Kan.

How is Kansas different from Cornell? There’s a lot more tolerance here since this isn’t the Bible Belt. Also, there are so many more cultural opportunities here. There are so many libraries, choirs and dance groups. Also, theater is a lot more respected here. And it’s prettier here — there are more trees. And everything is so close together.

Justice O’Connor Addresses Oral Argument, Supreme Court

Jasmine Marcus — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Yesterday afternoon, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor spoke before a packed Bailey Hall on the importance of oral argument in the Supreme Court.

O’Connor, the first female justice, told the audience that she chose to speak about oral arguments to correct the false assumption that the Supreme Court Justices make their decisions “without outside assistance.”

She stressed the importance of lawyers’ oral arguments, which “identify and spell out the legal issues [of cases] . . . and shape a consistent, coherent body of law.”

Snapshot: A Day in the Life

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

“Everyone loves bugs when they’re little,” said Suzie Finkbeiner ’09. “Entomology majors just never grow out of it.”

The major, situated in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is full of students like Finkbeiner who share a passion for studying insects. Jeffry Petracca ’11 goes so far as to say, “I actually enjoy coming to class just because they’re all so interesting.”

One assignment that most entomology majors complete as freshmen is creating their own insect collections. Finkbeiner said, “We go out and collect insects while other people are cooped up in the library.” The students find specific insects, pin them down and identify them, a process that can be very time-consuming, but also “lots of fun,” Petracca said.

Insta-Interview

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Name: Cyrus Dochow

Major: Architecture

What year are you? Fifth-year

Hometown: Portland, Ore.

Where do you live at Cornell? I live in a house on North Campus with some of my architecture friends. They’re pretty much the only people I see.

So, it’s true that architecture students only hang out with other architecture students? Yeah, well at least it’s true for me, especially now that I’m in my fifth year and most of my other friends have all graduated. Although by the end, our work had gotten so intense, I wasn’t seeing most of them anyway.

Chitchat With Fiber Science and Apparel Design

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Fiber Science and Apparel Design majors want you to know that despite putting on the Cornell Design League fashion show each spring, their major isn’t all glamorous.

“We don’t just sit around reading magazines,” said Laura Kung ’10.

While the students may not be dealing with problem sets and essays, they have weekly assignments to create clothing such as skirts and shirts. In fact, students spend so long perfecting their projects that they have been known to keep toothbrushes and face wash inside their “second home” at Martha Van Rensselaer Hall.

Public Confronts Board of Education on Racism

Jasmine Marcus — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

On Tuesday night, as many Cornellians returned to campus, a group of students joined Ithaca residents and Ithaca College students at the Ithaca City School District’s Board of Education Meeting to speak up about the issues of racism facing the town.

Around 100 people attended the meeting, held at 7 p.m. at Ithaca High School’s Kulp Auditorium, to take advantage of the opportunity to speak out during the “Receiving and Hearing of Delegations” by the public that follows the opening of the Board’s meetings.

‘D.P. No’ Brings C.U. Students to Noyes

Jasmine Marcus — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Students gathered last night at Noyes Community Recreation Center on West Campus to discuss a race-related incident that occurred at an Ithaca restaurant last month. On Sept. 18, four female Cornell students from the black and Latino communities claim that they were victims of racism after two white men allegedly verbally harassed them inside D.P. Dough.

The gathering was originally intended to protest D.P. Dough, since the restaurant was planning to distribute free food as part of Noyes’s Take Out Tuesday! Program.

Ithaca School District Accused of Racism

Jasmine Marcus — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Local residents and students gathered yesterday at the Ithaca City School District’s offices to rally against what they see as tolerance of racism by the district.

The most publicized accusation of racism came from Ithaca resident Amelia Kearney, whose daughter reported she was physically and emotionally abused by her classmates two years ago at the district’s DeWitt Middle School.

Students Hunger for Diversity

Jasmine Marcus — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

On Saturday night, Jewish and Muslim Cornell students gathered at 104West!, the multi-cultural kosher dining hall, to break the fasts of Yom Kippur and Ramadan.

Insta-Interview

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Name: Ben Staadecker

Major: Hotel Administration

Hometown: Seattle, Wash.

Where do you live at Cornell? I live four miles off campus on the edge of a maple forest.

Why do you live so far away? Part of it is to get a physical distance from Cornell and be able to ride my bike. I like living near the forest so I can help the trees. I also apprentice for a leather craftsman who lives nearby.

How did you end up doing that? I met him because my sister who also went to Cornell was his sales representative. I wanted to do something where I could work with my hands.

Cornellians, Ithacans Rally for Jena 6

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Correction appended. See below.

Yesterday afternoon, a large group, most dressed in black, gathered on Ho Plaza under a tree strung with six nooses.

The group, consisting of students, faculty and members of the Ithaca community, was gathered for a demonstration held by the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., in support of the Jena Six, each represented by a noose.

Racial tensions erupted in violence in Jena, Louisiana last August, when a group of black students sat under a tree at Jena High School where white students typically sat.

U.A. Discusses Code of Conduct

Jasmine Marcus — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The University Assembly’s Codes and Judicial Committee held a meeting yesterday to discuss its work on the Campus Code of Conduct.

The CJC’s main order of business was deciding how best to inform the Cornell community of an open forum it is holding Oct. 2 in the Memorial Room of The Straight. At the forum, all community members will be invited to share their comments and concerns regarding what CJC chair Kathleen Rourke calls the CJC’s “revised” Code of Conduct.

The CJC contains 12 voting members who represent undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff. According to Peggy Beach, supervisor of the office of assemblies and director of campus relations, the 12 members are responsible for reviewing and suggesting changes of the Code of Conduct to the U.A.

Cornell Considers Gender-Neutral Living

Jasmine Marcus — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Cornell University has been making an effort in recent years to foster diversity and tolerance, promoting concepts like gender-neutrality to ensure the comfort and safety of students who Gwendolyn Dean, coordinator of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered or Questioning Resource Center called “gender non-conforming.”

One event at Cornell featuring a gender-neutral environment occured last fall in the form of Hillel-sponsored speed dating. Ga’avah, Cornell’s LGBTQ Jewish group, held speed-dating for members of the LGTBQ community upstairs in Trillium. Graduate students also had a speed-dating event on the second floor, so that, according to Nomi Fridman, Ga’avah’s faculty advisor, no one going upstairs would stand out.

Try a Craft Beer at the Ithaca Brew Fest

Jasmine Marcus — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:00:00 -0400

Many Cornell students are used to drinking foul-tasting beer — think “Beast,” free beer and any typical fraternity party libation. However, Dan Mitchell ’00, the President of Ithaca Beer Company and organizer of the first-ever Ithaca Brew Festival, is looking to change that. He hopes that the Brew Fest will “introduce people to new styles of beer.”

The festival, which will take place this Saturday from 4 - 8 p.m. in Stewart Park in downtown Ithaca, will host about 30 different breweries that specialize in traditional craft beer. According to Mitchell, craft beers, also known as microbrews, are made in smaller batches and have more flavor options than most mainstream beer.

Remembering Hurricane Katrina

Jasmine Marcus — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

A vigil to commemorate the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina was held yesterday in Anabel Taylor Hall. The event was organized by the Cornell students who traveled with Hillel and Black Students United on the trip to help rebuild New Orleans after the disaster. Approximately 40 people attended.