Uncategorized

Provost Explores the Causes of Racial Economic Disparity

By |

Deputy Provost and Sociology Professor David Harris felt that previous books correlating race and poverty failed to accurately and completely identify the mechanisms that lead to the existing socioeconomic race disparities. To address these shortcomings, he wrote a book entitled The Colors of Poverty: Why Racial and Ethnic Disparities Exist. During a lecture yesterday, Harris discussed the analysis of his book as well as how it was composed.
As deputy provost, Harris focuses on University diversity, admissions and financial aid. Harris is also responsible for enhancing the profile of social sciences at the University.

Uncategorized

Panel Challenges Student Trustee Hopefuls to Distinguish Platforms

By |

This year’s undergraduate student trustee elections hold special significance for Cornell. It was 40 years ago that the Takeover of Willard Straight Hall helped elucidate the need for a transparent University. Many credit the Takeover, and a series of tumultuous events that followed, with Cornell allowing four students to serve as voting members on the Board of Trustees.
Four decades later and with two fewer student Trustees seats, 11 Cornellians are vying to continue the tradition of student governance.

Uncategorized

Skorton, S.A. Discuss University Cuts

By |

President David Skorton attended the Student Assembly’s weekly meeting yesterday to field Assembly member’s questions and concerns regarding University adaptations to the current recession.
Skorton addressed the Assembly on numerous financial issues including next year’s rise in tuition. “We have agonized over the decision to increase tuition. It is quite a bit more than inflation and I am aware of that,” Skorton said.
To manage the effects of this raise in tuition, Skorton described the University’s efforts to appropriately adjust financial aid.
“We have moved millions of dollars from the construction of campus buildings towards giving students financial aid [and] we have greatly increased financial aid for families at or below the mean family income.”

Uncategorized

Rally Protests Hamas Rule, Calls For Peace

By |

Over the past three weeks, Cornell’s campus has been gripped by discussions and demonstrations surrounding the current escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Yesterday, the Cornell Israel Public Affair’s Committee (CIPAC) and Hillel hosted a march and rally in support of a vision of peace for Israelis and Palestinians.
The march, which began outside Olin Hall, was a demonstration supporting a solution to the perpetual violence occurring between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Before beginning the march, Jesse Berkowsky ’09, executive vice president of CIPAC, urged supporters to act in accordance with their stated message.
“We are in support of Israel and peace. Let’s keep our conduct that way,” he said.

Uncategorized

Faculty Debates Milstein Merits

By |

In an auditorium filled to the brim with students, faculty and administrators, the Faculty Senate Committee met yesterday to discuss Cornell’s state in the recent financial downturn. After Provost Kent Fuchs discussed Cornell’s reaction to the economic crisis, Prof. Abby Cohn, linguistics, introduced a resolution to pause construction of Milstein Hall, the proposed new building for the College of Architecture, Art and Planning that has been in the works for over a decade.
“This resolution is neither for nor against Milstein Hall, but is about the process and decisions made during these difficult [financial] times,” Cohn said.

Uncategorized

Rutgers Prof Talks About State Of Patient Health in Botswana

By |

Yesterday, about 30 graduate students, faculty and post docs gathered in Rockefeller Hall to hear Rutgers’ Prof. Julia Livingston speak about her experiences with oncology in Botswana’s hospitals. Livingston spoke as part of Cornell’s Department of Science and Technology Studies’ (STS) colloquium series.
“The colloquium series is an opportunity for graduate students, post docs and faculty to forge ties with related disciplines across campus [through various speakers],” said Prof. Sara Pritchard, science and technology studies, and colloquium series coordinator.

Uncategorized

Students Honor Kau ’12 at Sage Chapel

By |

Approximately 200 students gathered in Sage Chapel this Saturday afternoon to honor the memory of Nicholas Kau ’12, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, who died over winter break at the age of 18.
Although Kau’s family held a funeral service at St. Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church New York City on Jan. 17, Kau’s parents, grandparents and two brothers gathered with members of the Cornell community to pay tribute to Kau. Reve­rend Dr. Ken­neth I. Clarke Sr. pre­sided over the cere­mo­ny.

Uncategorized

Number of Students Studying Abroad in China Rises Quickly

By |

On Nov. 17, the Institute of Internal Education released a report revealing that record numbers of American students are studying abroad. According to the Institute of Internal Education’s Open Doors Report, China is now the fifth most popular study abroad destination.
The report emphasized that American students are “increasingly seeking non-traditional study abroad destinations [and that there is a] strong growth in students going to China, India, South Africa, Argentina and Ecuador.”

Uncategorized

MGLC Elects New Executive Board

By |

Yesterday, the Multicultural Greek Letter Council held elections for the council’s executive vice president and vice president of finance. Although the MGLC had its first election of officers last Wednesday, yesterday’s election was meant to fill the council’s empty slates. President-elect Nicholas Diaz ’10 stated that the council “wanted to have the entire executive board elected before Thanksgiving break.”