Columns

KANKANHALLI | On Blue Eyes and Other Pretty Things

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In somewhat heartwarming, somewhat disturbing news, a “super hot tea-seller” has gone viral in Pakistan — not for his flavorful chai, but for his dreamy blue eyes, fair skin, angular cheekbones, strong-but-not-too-strong brows, bushy black hair, firm jawline…*ahem* — because he’s a good-looking guy. Sure, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I’m talking about the kind of beauty that transcends personal preference and pays no homage to taste. The dangerous kind. The kind that earns you a modeling contract when, just days ago, you were supporting your seventeen siblings with a monthly income of less than $90. This eighteen-year-old Pashtun boy, Arshad Khan, now signed to model for a clothing line, embodies the rags-to-riches storyline in a grand way, but what does this mean for the brown-eyed population living in abject poverty?

Blogs

TALK IS CHIC | Fashion for Thought

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Feeling way too cold for the month of April, locked out of Greta’s room, we cuddled on the couch to exchange spring break tales, or rather, spring adventures.  Greta traveled a grueling 20 hours to Hoi An, Vietnam; meanwhile, Eleni went without wifi (gasp!) for a week in Havana, Cuba. Of course, after a play-by-play about how much pho Greta consumed and Eleni’s evenings spent salsa dancing, we naturally shifted to a more serious discussion about fashion. GO: I think people, myself included, forget that the fashion industry exists everywhere. Fashion and clothes are a part of every culture: it extends past the Core Four: New York City, London, Milan and Paris.

Blogs

POP CULTURE, POLITICS AND PERCEPTION | The Mythical Now

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The mythical demigod Theseus is a testament to the heroic ideal of the ancient Greeks. King of the Athenians, his mythical slaying of the minotaur is still present in the western cultural narrative. He performed many acts of heroism throughout his reign, including the valiant defense of Hippodamia. This young bride was stolen by the lecherous centaurs on her wedding day. Thankfully, she was restored to her groom by the noble Theseus.

Columns

MALPASS | What Will the Rest of the World Think?

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Quite the circus our election is this cycle. Although I was once greatly interested in the politics and the political sphere (at one point I even toyed with the idea of following the career path of a politician), I have recently reached a point of sincere disinterest in the entire process. Maybe “disinterest” is the wrong word, seeing as I still understand the frightening gravity of whom we elect to public office. Perhaps “disgust” is a better term. How can you not be fed up with the entire process?

Columns

HABR | Intro to the World

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I walked up the stairs to the sixth floor of Balch carrying a box of my belongings. A shy and anxious freshman on move-in day, I was eagerly awaiting my first human contact at Cornell. I met my first hallmate once I reached my floor and we exchanged nervous smiles and greetings. “Where are you from?” I asked. “California,” she replied, “what about you?”
“I just moved from Kuwait,” I answered.

Columns

GUEST ROOM | Full Aid for Every Admitted Student with Need

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Following last Thursday’s announcement that starting this Fall, Cornell will be need-aware when considering international undergraduate applications, concerns have been raised about the policy change potentially leading to a decrease in the economic diversity of Cornell’s international student population or a decrease in applicants. There are misperceptions that this is a budget-cutting move. In reality, this change in policy will enable admissions committees to act affirmatively based on more complete information to admit truly high-achieving, low-income applicants from around the world. Admissions officers will have more accurate and robust information about which applicants are low-income. This will, therefore, have the ability to act affirmatively with explicit consideration to achieving economic diversity goals for our undergraduate international student population, rather than engaging in practices suggested in Wednesday’s editorial such as inferring “a student’s financial situation from where one was raised or a parent’s level of education” which are questionable indicators of family income status.

Columns

GRANT & FALLON | Deceptive Identities of a Textbook World

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Every winter, spring and summer break, Cornellians can be found around the world volunteering their time to communities abroad. Most students perform marvelous achievements, acts of good and return to campus refreshed to take on the next semester. Yet, at the moment of return, the coming home to Ithaca, we are forced to ask ourselves if our work was truly in the spirit of service and cross cultural exchange. This winter break my co-writer, a Cornell Traditions Fellow in the school of Hotel Administration, explored the complexity of cross-cultural volunteerism with the organization Unearth the World, a nonprofit that prides itself on its mission to provide both opportunities for service and authentic cultural immersion. In the spirit of service-based learning, we had been sent articles to prepare us for our excursions, ranging from country ‘quick facts’ to the importance of ethical photography.

News

Garrett to Visit Alumni on International Tour

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Correction appended

President Elizabeth Garrett is embarking on a six-month tour, aspiring to connect with Cornellians across the nation and overseas and explore Cornell’s role as a “global university.”
Garrett’s presidential tour, which was organized by the Division of Alumni Affairs, includes 12 stops in locations including Washington D.C., Seattle, Mumbai, Beijing and Hong Kong, according to the University. Jim Mazza ’88, associate vice president for alumni affairs, said the tour will allow Garrett to interact directly with a diverse selection of alumni and discuss her vision for Cornell’s future. “Thanks to our close partnerships with, and the good work of, Cornell club volunteers around the globe, this tour promises to be a terrific opportunity to introduce our inspiring president to Cornellians far and wide,” Mazza said in a University press release. Garrett also said she is eager to connect with Cornellians nationally and internationally, both to present her priorities for Cornell and to receive feedback. “Cornell is a global university, and I want to connect with our alumni, families and friends in the places they now live and work,” Garrett said in the release.

Columns

HABR | International Activism

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By KATY HABR
When I applied to college in America, I wasn’t looking to get an education in a vacuum. I wanted to experience and engage in a different environment and culture, and immerse myself in issues that affect not only Americans, but also many others around the world. Yet, as I engage with some activist communities and clubs across campus, I have noticed a distinct lack of international students on the front lines. I understand the reason behind this, as it stems from a fear that I share. Though American students are definitely still not safe from legal repercussions (especially when taking into consideration their gender and race), they are sheltered from the specific risks we face as international students participating in action.