INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun 8 Pages – Free
Vol. 139, No. 14
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022 n ITHACA, NEW YORK
News
Dining
Science
Weather
Financial Aid Changes
The Yellow Deli
Artificial Artists
Sunny and Clear
Unlike previous years, the Office of Financial aid has delivered aid packages to students on time. | Page 3
Jimmy Crawley '25 discusses the upcoming opening of the new restaurant and its reported ties to a cult. | Page 5
Cornell professors explain the rise of AI-Generated art as its popularity rises among the general public. | Page 8
HIGH: 73º LOW: 45º
Cocktail Lounge Closes for Repairs Central Campus' go-to 24-hour study space leaves students searching for new spots By ELI PALLRAND Sun News Editor
The cocktail lounge, a popular Uris library study space, is closed until further notice for repairs. According to a sign left on the door by University maintenance, the closure is due to a water leak. As a result, students have had to find new spaces on campus to study. Part of the appeal of the cocktail lounge for students is that it is open 24-hours a day. Students who got comfortable studying there late at night now have to adjust to other libraries. “I really liked going there to study. I’ve got a prelim coming up, and now I can’t go study [there], so I’ve gotta find a new space that I’m comfortable with,” said Aiden Lee ’26. “[I’ve been studying in] the Asian studies lounge in Olin, it’s pretty quiet and spacious … but Cocktail Lounge is better.” Some students have opted to return to dorm study spaces instead of moving to other libraries. Bella Cuomo ’25 said her friends frequently went to the cocktail lounge because of its late hours, but they are now packing into their residence hall lounge. “Some of [my friends] have actually complained about having to be in our lounge because the other 24 hour ones are different, they don’t wanna go there,” Cuomo said. “We’re [in the residence hall lounge] every night now, there’s a lot more people — like my whole building.”
The closure hasn’t had as much of an effect on older students like Jalen Knight ’23, who use the lounge less. Knight used the cocktail lounge more often as a freshman and again as a junior, once many COVID-19 restrictions had been lifted. To read the rest of this story, please visit www.cornellsun.com. Eli Pallrand can be reached at epallrand@cornellsun.com.
By ERIN YOON Sun Contributor ELI PALLRAND / SUN NEWS EDITOR
Lounge | One of campus' go-to 24 hour study spaces will be closed for repairs until further notice due to a water leak.
Steh wrote in a statement to The Sun. “We decided to sponsor the blood drive to help the community, On Friday, Sept. 30, the Facilities create teamwork within our council and Campus Services Diversity and and bring awareness to Sickle Cell Inclusion Council hosted a blood disease.” drive in collaboration with the The month of September is Red Cross to donate much-needed National Sickle Cell Awareness blood and raise awareness about Month. Any donor who identifies sickle cell disease. as Black or African American was Helen Steh, co-chair of the FCS tested for the Sickle Cell Trait. Diversity and Inclusion Council, People who carry this trait can said the idea behind the drive came help to save the lives of patients from the need to engage division who suffer from Sickle Cell Disease staff. and require closely matched blood “The Facilities and Campus types. Services Diversity and Inclusion Sickle Cell Disease is the most Council is dedicated to creating common inherited blood disorengagement opportunities for divi- der in the U.S., mostly affecting sion staff where we can meet, get to patients of African descent as well as know one another, and give back Latinx people who may require freto the community in some way,” quent blood transfusions throughout their lifetime. Seasonal changes can trigger pain crises for those battling Sickle Cell Disease — possibly increasing the need for lifesaving blood transfusions. Currently, only 4 percent of the donors identify as African American. Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic disease that affects Black and some Latino patients, and may require a lifetime of blood transfusions from donors who are closely matched ethnically and carry the "Sickle Cell Trait." MING DEMERS / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The Sickle Cell Initiative was Donate | The blood drive hopes to help launched last year in an effort to those with Sickle Cell Disease in time for increase the Red Cross Back donor its awareness month. base. This initiative, Our Blood Sun Contributor
weekend off recovering from the first stretch of prelims.
Cornellians Prep for Relaxation After Prelim Week
Willard Straight Hosts Blood Drive By CAROLINE MICHAILOFF
JASON WU / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Fall break | Students plan to spend their extended
Saves Lives, launched with community partners in 2021 to grow the number of blood donors who are Black and improve health outcomes for patients with sickle cell disease. The FCS Diversity and Inclusion Council reached out to biomedi-
“I hope that a lot of other students also join in the donations because there is always a need.” Annie Gardella, grad
cal services at the University after learning that they offer recruitment opportunities for students, faculty and staff of diversity and color. The American Red Cross is teaming up with organizations including the National Pan-Hellenic Council in the Black community to rally blood donors who are Black to support patients with sickle cell disease. Natalie Mattrazzo, the account manager in Biomedical services at Cornell stated that this year's drive turnout was exceptional. “The American Red Cross holds blood drives on Cornell campus throughout the school year, partnering with many different groups,” Mattrazzo said. See DONATE page 3
As the first round of prelims conclude, Cornellians are excited about their plans for the extended fall break weekend. Whether they are visiting friends and family back home, traveling or simply staying in Ithaca, students look forward to releasing some of the stress that they have accumulated during prelim season. Morgan Hunt ’25 is flying back home to Boulder, Colorado where she looks forward to hiking and spending leisurely time in Coloradan nature, giving her time and space to relax both physically and mentally. “I don’t think many of my friends will be home since we all have different breaks,” Hunt said. “So, I’ll probably be hanging out with my parents a lot.” Anushka Shorewala ’26 will also be heading home, returning to Long Island, New York, where she will spend time with her family. “I like to watch movies [with my family] when I’m at home,” Shorewala said. “I think it will be a relaxing weekend, and I’m really excited.” Like Shorewala, many first year students are thrilled to reunite with their families after being separated from them for the first time. Noah Salzman ’26 is traveling to his home in New York City to meet his family and enjoy the urban scene that cannot be seen in Ithaca. “I like that I’m going to see my family,” Salzman said. “I haven’t seen my twin sister in a while because she goes to [another school]. I’m also looking forward to playing with my little cousins.” Aside from reuniting with family members, Salzman hopes to visit coffee shops and venture through his home city. Fiona Neibart ’26 plans to travel to New Haven, Connecticut, to visit her twin sister at Yale University in time for Yale’s Family Weekend. “I’m just excited to see my family again,” Neibart said. “As a freshman, it’s strange having been away from them for so long.” Meanwhile, other Cornellians view the break as an opportunity to be adventurous; some are traveling to new places to collect memorable experiences. Quinn Reinhardt ’25 will be driving to the Adirondacks to go camping with his friends. See BREAK page 3