Uncategorized

Ithaca Chooses New Police Chief

By |

Edward Vallely was officially named the new police chief of the Ithaca Police Department last night after the Common Council’s unanimous vote confirmed the mayor’s appointment. Vallely, who is the current acting police chief, will oversee a $10 million budget and more than 100 employees, according to the Ithaca Journal.
The selection process began last October after Police Chief Lauren Signer unexpectedly announced her retirement. A search committee — which included Common Council members and representatives from the Community Police Board — then submitted a list of finalists to Mayor Carolyn Peterson. The two finalists for the job, Vallely and Deputy Police Chief John Barber, were internal candidates.

Uncategorized

Student Groups Struggle With ‘Severe’ Shortage of Practice Space

By |

It is 10:30 p.m and while many students slowly drag their feet home after a long day’s work, some others, carrying drum sticks or hockey pads, set off in the opposite direction to begin practice sessions.
Many students, staff and alumni alike have voiced concern over a “severe” shortage of and “dire need” for sports and performing arts facilities on campus.
“The issue is that the University gives priority to classes, athletic teams and other academic or University sponsored meetings and events above student groups. Student groups get last priority for reservations, often leaving them to meet at night,” explained Elyse Feldman ’09, vice president of public relations of the Student Assembly Finance Commission.

Uncategorized

Risley Kitchen Fire Causes Evacuation

By |

At about 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, a small fire broke out in the third floor kitchen of Risley Hall, keeping its residents from their rooms for about three hours. No serious damage was done, as the fire was quickly put out by Devin Conathan ’08, who received first to second degree burns on his left hand.
“I walked by the kitchen and saw a four-foot flame coming out of a pan in the stove,” Conathan said.
Upon seeing the fire, Conathan was “a little scared,” but he maintained his calm and put out the flame with a fire extinguisher.
The resident who set off the fire by leaving an oiled pan on the stove unattended apologized to the entire Risley community through an e-mail later that night.

Uncategorized

Presidency Not Only Issue: Ballot Measures Reassessed

By |

On Nov. 4, voting was a particularly arduous task in Colorado. Apart from choosing the next president of the United States, as well as Senators and House Representatives, Coloradans were also asked to vote on a grand total of 14 ballot measures.
Across the nation, 153 ballot initiatives were presented to voters in this year’s election. Apart from Colorado, the ballots of a few other states were also crowded with up to 12 questions. While it is possible that voters may get worn out by the seemingly never-ending list of questions, Prof. Josh Chafetz, law, believes voters can still make sensible choices.

Uncategorized

Election Excitement Grips C.U., Ithaca

By |

Obamania erupted in Collegetown just after 11 p.m. as Barack Obama was declared the next president of the United States. People poured out of bars and crowded the streets as they soaked in the historic moment.
“It’s crazy, oh my God,” Leslie Tseng ’10 said. “Everyone is running up and down Dryden Road, yelling ‘Barack Obama’ and setting off fireworks.”
It was a time of unbridled celebration across campus.
“After McCain conceded, everyone was on cell phones, smiling and screaming. Everyone was really happy and the atmosphere was great,” Claudia Mattos ’11 said.[img_assist|nid=33305|title=Obamania|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=|height=0]

Uncategorized

Tom Wolfe Talks Journalism at I.C.

By |

Donned in a pale-cream suit and a shiny white tie, the forerunner of new journalism Tom Wolfe addressed an enthusiastic audience of at least 500 in Ithaca College last night.
“He is a legend and a true hero of American journalism,” said Dianne Lynch, dean of Ithaca College’s Roy H. Park School of Communications in her introduction. “Like Mark Twain, he’s a signifier and chronicler of our times.”

Uncategorized

‘Bot’ Epidemic Infects Campus

By |

More than 1,000 Windows computers at Cornell fell victim to a widespread “bot” infection, the Cornell Information Technologies Security Office announced Friday evening through a University-wide e-mail alert.
A bot is a piece of malicious software, or “malware,” that can automatically perform various tasks that may range from downloading more malware to stealing passwords to attacking non-Cornell internet websites or servers.
None of the infected computers have shown observable change that can be seen by the user, according to Wyman Miles, manager of security engineering at the CIT security office. He explained that the lack of symptoms was probably a “deliberate attempt by the malware authors to conceal an infection for as long as possible.”

Uncategorized

Still on Campus?

By |

We have all been on a rollercoaster ride of prelims, quizzes, essays and problem sets for a few long weeks. Now we can all take a breather and catch up with some sleep (9.25 hours anyone?) before the cycle resumes again.
But for those who try to restore your physical wellbeing and mental sanity in Ithaca, you may find the following helpful:
Meal plans will take a break as well after lunch on Saturday. Don’t worry — they will be back for dinner on Tuesday.
On West, Jansen’s at Bethe House will be closed at 2 p.m. today while Alice Cook Dining will be closed at 8 p.m. tonight. Carl Becker Dining will close at 2 p.m. on Saturday. All three dining rooms will reopen at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Uncategorized

Former Lehman Bros. Director Speaks of Wall Street’s Decline

By |

The Wall Street financial catastrophe that has shaken the world was analyzed and explained yesterday in “The Financial Crisis: Implications for Washington, Wall Street and Main Street,” a panel discussion hosted by the Cornell International Affairs Review.
Three panelists dissected the causes and implications of the crisis from the perspectives of finance, economics and politics to an audience of about 220, filling Goldwin Smith’s Hollis Auditorium.
“This is a crisis. It is not obvious to many people, but this is not just a Wall Street problem, but also a Main Street problem,” said Prof. David Easley, economics, one of the three panelists.

Uncategorized

C.U. Democrats Have Mixed Opinions On Debates

By |

It was almost 9 p.m. on Friday and the countdown had started.
About 35 members of the Cornell Democrats huddled in a small living room in Ravenwood Apartments and passed around home-made Obama cupcakes while counting down the minutes to the first presidential debate in Mississippi.
When the faces of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) finally appeared, all chattering in the room died down, and all eyes were fixed on the screen.
Obama’s attacks on McCain, whether on flawed tax codes or on the invasion of Iraq, were met with approving nods, a raised fist in the air and a few high-fives.