By wpengine April 4, 2003
Yesterday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., there was a fair on Ho Plaza as part of the weeklong “Have a Heart” fundraising campaign for the American Heart Association (AHA). In spite of bad weather, there was a sizable turnout. Events included a silent auction with several organizations selling various items. The fair will continue today during the same time, located on Ho Plaza if the weather permits or the Memorial Room of the Straight. “Even though I was worried about the weather, it was successful,” said Kim Le ’05, president of the Society for the Advancement of Excellence in Premedical Education (SAEPE). “We made about $150 from the tables, a lot of people wrote down bids for the auction and I’d say there were a couple of hundred [students] who stopped by today.” Le, a residential advisor, noted that “Have a Heart” was originally intended to be a philanthropic event, but she also wanted to get the community involved. “I cross-programmed it as a community development program,” she said. “To make it more successful, I also wanted more organizations involved, so I sent an e-mail to all club presidents.” Among the clubs selling items at tables today included SAEPE, Court Hall, the Singapore Students Association, Class Council 2005 and the sorority Chi Omega. “We sold little spring flowers,” said Matt Parry ’05, vice president of public relations for SAEPE. “There seemed to be a decent turnout, and we’ve gotten positive feedback from the community.” Today, the silent auction will conclude at 2 p.m. “I anticipate that a lot of people will come back for the silent auction,” Le said. Items being auctioned off include a signed hockey stick from the men’s hockey team, a coupon for 50 percent off of a Kaplan course, gift certificates, Cornell Cinema tickets, lessons from various clubs and T-shirts. Other events for the rest of the week include “Penny Wars,” which will be going on between all the residence halls until Sunday; a fitness fundraiser relay in Teagle Hall tomorrow morning; and a benefit concert with local bands Exit Ocean, We Are Scientists, Brown Means Go and Space Dawg at 7:30 p.m. in the Just About Music program house, sponsored by the Fanclub Collective. Le stressed that the purpose of the week was not only to raise money for AHA but also to raise health awareness. “Heart disease and stroke are [the] first- and third-leading causes of death in America,” Le said. Le added that she hopes that this will become an annual fundraiser and that there will be even more participation next year. Archived article by David Hillis
By wpengine April 4, 2003
On a wet, cold afternoon, the softball team (13-3) came from behind to defeat Siena (3-10) by an 8-5 score yesterday. Junior Erin Sweeney led Cornell’s offensive charge, slamming two home runs, including the go-ahead grand slam. Classmate Kate Varde also homered, hitting a three-run shot. The game didn’t start well for the Red, though, as Siena took an early 2-0 lead. The Saints struck for single runs in the first and the third. Sarah Rose drove in Siena’s first run, doubling home Carrie Gatz, who had led off the game with a single. The Saints scored their second run on a Cornell defensive miscue, as an errant throw on a stolen base attempt allowed pitcher Tara Campell to score from third. The Red struck back in the bottom of the third, as Sweeney launched a solo shot to halve the deficit. Leading 2-1, Siena extended its lead to 4-1 in the top of the fifth, as Adrian St. Cin hit a bases-loaded two-run single. The run-scoring hit came after junior pitcher Sarah Sterman ceded two singles and a walk. In the bottom of the inning, Cornell finally put a serious dent in the Siena armor. Sweeney got on base via a fielder’s choice before junior co-captain Melissa Cannon reached on an error. With runners on first and second, Varde hit a gargantuan three-run shot to even the score. “Kate Varde hit a huge home run,” Cornell head coach Dick Blood said. “That ball was really crushed.” The deadlock was short-lived, however, as Siena immediately regained the lead in the top of the sixth. Rose drove in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly, plating Campbell to give the Saints the 5-4 advantage. Cornell was unfazed by the deficit, though, taking the lead on a grand slam from Sweeney in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Melissa Heintz walked to open the inning. Sophomore Erin Kizer and senior Drew Martin greeted relief pitcher Tisha Salamino with singles to load the bases. With the bases packed, Sweeney drove a pitch over the center field wall to give the Red its first lead of the game and an advantage it would not relinquish. “She had a career day. She hit the ball well the other day against Drexel and she’s carried that over,” Blood said. “She had a big day today and we needed every bit of it, too.” Junior pitcher Sarah Sterman pitched a perfect seventh inning to up her record to 9-2 on the season. Meanwhile, Salamino took the loss, with Campbell getting a no-decision despite five innings of solid work. “Both pitchers did a marvelous job despite the frigid temperatures,” Blood said. “It was just too cold for softball. I thought that both teams played good defense despite the poor conditions.” For the Red, which had been relying on strong pitching and had taken large leads in recent games, yesterday’s game showed the team’s versatility and resiliency. “For us, it was a matter of getting three balls out of the yard. All three home runs accounted for all the runs. It was nice to get some clutch hitting. Our kids really did a nice job of battling at the plate,” Blood said. “It was really nice to come back.” Cornell will open the Ivy portion of its schedule when it travels to Columbia tomorrow for a doubleheader. “We’re really looking forward to it,” Blood said of the start of the Ivy campaign. “Columbia is very stingy. I know that their pitching is really tough.” Cornell will then play Manhattan in a Sunday morning twinbill. Archived article by Alex Ip