“Divest from death” and “occupation=death” were spray painted in dark red on the Andrew Dickson White statue on the Arts Quad on the first day of the spring 2025 semester.
Do not look away from Gaza, and let your shock at such images drive you to action — not despair. Direct action against our University’s material support for the Israeli occupation is a moral necessity given the gravity of what we are up against.
According to a Coalition for Mutual Liberation press statement sent to The Sun on Sunday, Cornell’s administration agreed to open negotiations over the encampment demonstrators’ eight demands on Saturday. As the encampment enters its fifth day, watch The Sun’s explanation of what CML is specifically asking for.
Climate Justice Cornell, Cornell on Fire and Native American Indigenous and Indigenous Students at Cornell gathered on the Arts Quad for a demonstrative art build and protest to support clean energy and the repatriation of mineral rights on sacred native land in Wisconsin.
“Like a real Urchin, you can look at it, but it’s best not to touch it,” said director of the Masters of Architecture Program Prof. Caroline O’Donnell, on her new Arts Quad exhibit. O’Donnell created the exhibit, “Urchin (Impossible Circus), with the help of Christopher Morse ’17 and John Lai ’17 as a part of the Cornell Council of the Arts’ 2016 Biennial celebration. The exhibit — installed on the arts quad this past weekend — attempts to transform 500 plastic lawn chairs into a living organism. “The idea is that when you see it from afar, it seems like a designed object,” O’Donnell said. “As you get closer, at some point you realize that it’s just a plastic chair that you’ve already sat in 100 times.
“We hope that this celebration will increase awareness and allow more people to learn about what we do, and better understand the resources on campus,” said Prawallika Gangidi ’17, director of CUEMS.
“It’s what Holi is like in India too,” said Samir Durvasula ’17, treasurer of Hindu Student Council. “The only difference is that it’s entire country that’s taking over the streets with powdered colors.”
After the chimes concert, members of the Cornell University Chorus and the Cornell Glee Club gathered together to sing “The Cornell Evening Song” on Ho Plaza.