Recent Contributions from Christine Ryu

PostSecret Creator Shares Insights to Others’ Secrets

Christine Ryu — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Frank Warren, the founder of the PostSecret project, has often been called “the most trusted stranger in America,” a moniker well-deserved when considering the over 200,000 secrets he has received in the mail as part of the project.

Those familiar with PostSecret are used to the heavy themes and the oft-serious undertones found in many of the project’s collected postcards — displayed in a weekly blog and four books — but Warren began his speech at Cornell by sharing a light-hearted secret that had been submitted anonymously: “I pee in the sink.”

Hunger Banquet Serves Community

Christine Ryu — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

At last night’s Ithaca Hunger Banquet, each diner was served a meal based on assigned economic brackets. The proceeds from ticket sales for the dinner, which was held at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Collegetown, went to benefit the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.

BSU and Hillel Discuss Cultural Implications of Exodus Stories

Christine Ryu — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Two prominent student organizations gathered yesterday to compare what seemed like two very different stories: the American antislavery movement and the Old Testament-era Jewish flight from Egypt.

Take Off That Toga and Throw On a Suit

Christine Ryu — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

At first glance, 214 Thurston Avenue seems no different than its Greek-system neighbors: the building is home to Alpha Zeta, one of the many fraternities whose houses dot North Campus. Unlike most Cornell fraternities, though, Alpha Zeta is one of the University’s few professional fraternities whose members share similar professional interests and aspirations.

Behind the Screens With Dear Uncle Ezra

Christine Ryu — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Most Cornell students know little about Ezra Cornell, the New York native who made his fortune in the telegraph business and invested his wealth into founding “an institution where any person can find instruction in any study.” Two centuries after his birth, Ezra Cornell is most readily identified by his green statue on the Arts Quad — across from close friend and first Cornell president Andrew Dickson White — and endless speculation about his choice of university location from those living below Libe Slope.

Behind the Screens with Dear Uncle Ezra

Christine Ryu — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Ezra Cornell most people haven’t met has undergone a radical transformation since his Western Union days, embracing an unlikely new role: that of “Dear Uncle Ezra,” hip Internet advice columnist (www.ezra.cornell.edu).

Townsend Reflects on Council Term

Christine Ryu — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Sun sat down with Gayraud Townsend ’05, whose four-year term as a member of the Ithaca Common Council (D-4th Ward) ended last December. Townsend, who was elected during his junior year at Cornell, reflected on the accomplishments of his term, his continuing hopes for Collegetown and advice for students looking to follow in his footsteps.

The Sun: What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Campus Republicans, Dems Debate Terrorism, Iraq War

Christine Ryu — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Rockefeller Hall may be far from Washington, but it played host to a decidedly political event last night as the Cornell Democrats and College Republicans met to debate the War on Terror. In their first debate of the year, panelists from each side discussed Iraq, multilateralism and the nature of terrorism.

Each club had three panelists. Tim Krueger ’08, Randy Lariar ’08 and Ethan Felder ’09 represented the Democrats while David Goochee ’09, John Farragut ’11 and Brian Wolfel ’10 spoke for the Republicans. Each side was given three minutes for opening statements.

Burning Question Zippee

Christine Ryu — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500

There have recently been calls for a community center in Collegetown for students living off-campus. What other businesses do you want to see open in Collegetown?

Jackson Wang '09 said: "How about another Starbucks? Sometimes I'm all the way on the other side of the street."

Grace Park '09 said: "A gym."

Erik Kopache '08 said: "A tram up the hill."

Kelvin Yang '09 said: "A casino."

Nora Barlow '09 said: "I think the town of Ithaca should put a trolley or ski lift up the hills. But I'm lazy."

Jenni Moon '10 said: "An affordable spa."

Colleges Re-evaluate SAT

Christine Ryu — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The SAT has long been considered an academic rite of passage: a four-hour educational interrogation later distilled into a four-digit summation of test-taking prowess. However, recent changes in admissions policies at a growing number of colleges are increasingly sparing students from this longstanding tradition, allowing them instead to take advantage of newly-offered “score optional” policies.

Students Go Into the Streets for an Afternoon of Service

Christine Ryu — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Over 1,200 Cornell students found themselves doing everything from cleaning up Collegetown to harvesting carrots Saturday as Into the Streets celebrated its 16th annual day of service in Ithaca. Organized into approximately 140 student-led teams, volunteers made their way to over 60 Ithaca-area agencies to lend a much-appreciated hand.

The day began with an 11 a.m. kickoff in Barton Hall, where groups had a chance to mingle and have lunch before their projects began. While the 1,268 registered volunteers, a substantial increase from the 500 students in 2005, represented a wide variety of Cornell clubs and organizations, volunteers were motivated by a similar interest in community service.

U.S. News Ranks C.U. Graduate Programs

Christine Ryu — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:30:10 -0400

Article body:

Once again, college students across the country will be able to turn to U.S. News and World Report for their updated ranking list of college programs. In the recently released non-professional graduate program list, a range of Cornell programs, including engineering and fine arts, made the list.

C.U. Grad School Rankings Rise

Christine Ryu — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:40:45 -0400

Article body:

U.S. News and World Report, purveyor of all things rankings related, has recently issued its yearly rankings of graduate schools across the nation. This year’s surprise, however, lies not in Cornell’s consistently strong showing, but in the ranking system itself as it is becoming obsolete.

Students Face Risks Overseas

Christine Ryu — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:31:46 -0400

Deckhead:

Univ. emphasizes safety

Article body:

Only one percent of students enrolled in higher-education programs choose to study abroad. At Cornell, the number is significantly higher — nearly one in five students choose to spend time studying outside of Ithaca. With twenty percent of Cornellians traveling to programs in nations from Japan to Ecuador, safety for students abroad has become a major issue.

Queen of Tarts Opens in Ithaca

Christine Ryu — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 01:47:18 -0500

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The odds are good for hungry students in Ithaca — the last few months have seen a diverse new crop of eateries open near Cornell, from the familiar coffeehouse Starbucks to the new That Burrito Place. Just above Collegetown, another new eatery is joining the competition, offering coffee, pastries and soup to hungry Ithacans.

Burning Question

Christine Ryu — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 00:59:30 -0500

Deckhead:

What's the best place to nap on campus?

Article body:

Alice Chuang ’09 said:

“Duffield.”

Ariadne Buffery ’09 said:

“The Fine Arts library.”

Mary Gilliam ’09 said:

“The classic: the leather couches in the A.D. White room. Everyone does it; that’s what they’re there for.”

The Sun Speaks With Arizona Congresswoman

Christine Ryu — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 01:44:25 -0500

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Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) M.R.P. ’96 was the youngest woman ever to be elected to the Arizona State Senate and is only the third woman in Arizona’s history to be elected to U.S. Congress. The Cornell alumna also holds the distinction of being Arizona’s first Jewish female representative. Recently named one of “America’s Eight Young Leaders Worth Watching,” she took time in between votes at the House of Representatives to answer a few questions about healthcare, immigration and her time on the Hill.

Profs: TV May Trigger Autism

Christine Ryu — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 01:38:44 -0400

Article body:

Prof. Mike Waldman, an economics professor at the Johnson School of Management, likes to work on puzzles. So when he noticed an increasing number of articles reporting a rise in autism rates, he set out to discover a possible cause of the neurological condition and discovered an unlikely suspect: television.

C.U. Hosts Parents

Christine Ryu — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 00:24:57 -0400

Article body:

The hallucinogenic subject matter of Plant Pathology professor George Hudler’s lecture on “Magical Mushrooms, Mischievous Molds” does little to faze the average Cornellian, but is the same true for their parents? Cornell had a chance to find out this weekend as the annual First-Year Family Weekend kicked off Friday, featuring a weekend of lectures, a cappella concerts and the chance for parents to experience life on the hill.

Activist Pushes the Vote

Christine Ryu — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 23:29:16 -0400

Deckhead:

Greene stresses need to energize the disenfranchised

Article body:

The first time Project Vote national director and voters’ rights advocate Jehmu Greene tried to vote, she was turned away from the polls. This experience became the driving motivation behind her growth into a powerful voters’ rights advocate and helped her land the presidency of youth voting organization Rock the Vote!

Students Praise Milstein Design But Question Practicality

Christine Ryu — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:21:27 -0400

Article body:

The scene was bizarre: renowned architect Rem Koolhaas was dressed in a track suit and standing behind a turntable as a disco ball spun and a stray llama drifted by in the background. Watching this animation on a screen, the Bailey Hall audience who had come to hear Koolhaas’ plans for Milstein Hall was surprised — to say the least.

Solar House Designers Encourage Sustainability

Christine Ryu — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:50:29 -0400

Article body:

Cornell’s Solar Decathlon team made headlines last year when they placed second overall in the Solar Decathlon, a Department of Energy-sponsored international competition featuring 18 university teams. Now, four former members of the Solar Decathlon team are making a name for themselves with their newest project, the design firm Independence Energy Homes.