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The Corne¬ Daily Sun 16 Pages – Free
Vol. 141, No. 7
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2024 n ITHACA, NEW YORK
News
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Science
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Latest Laureate
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Exploring Europa
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John Hopfield Ph.D. ’58, a professor emeritus at Princeton, was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics. | Page 5
Varsha Bhargava ’27 reviews the Cap ArtSpace exhibit, which featured the work of over 50 local artists. | Page 14
NASA’s Europa Clipper will orbit Jupiter to collect data on one of the Gas Giant’s icy moons. | Page 8
HIGH: 57º LOW: 41º
Jewish Leaders Reflect on First Anniversary of Oct. 7
Four students emphasized resilience following a tense year on Cornell’s campus and beyond By MATTHEW KIVIAT Sun News Editor
Oct. 7 — One year after the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel, which threw college campuses across the United States into turmoil, The Sun sat down with Jewish student leaders to understand the impact Oct. 7 had on their lives. Oct. 7 saw the worst massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. Hamas, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of State since 1997, killed more than 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostage. Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip over the last year, killing more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. The Gaza Ministry of Health does not distinguish civilians and Hamas soldiers in its numbers. “It’s been really challenging that the Jewish community, not just at Cornell, but all over the world, is hurting,” said Melanie Schwartz ’25, president of Cornell Hillel. “It feels like Oct. 7 wasn’t just one day — it feels never-ending and it’s been a privilege leading during this time, but it’s been very challenging, and I know that my community is hurting.” Netanel Shapira ’25, president of Cornellians for Israel, reflected on his personal ties to the Oct. 7 attack as an Israeli student. See RESILIENCE page 12
MING DEMERS / SUN PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Emotional embrace | Two attendees hug at a vigil held by the Jewish communituy at Ho Plaza on Sept. 2.
BSU Protests After Cornell Community Holds Administrator’s Vigils for Israel and Gaza KKK Comment By MAX TROIANO and ISABELLA HANSON Sun Contributor and Sun Senior Writer
By GABRIEL MUÑOZ Sun City Editor
Oct. 5 — Vice President of University Relations Joel Malina said the University would allow a Ku Klux Klan representative on campus if invited by a faculty member or student group, after being asked by Cornell Hillel’s Executive Director Rabbi Ari Weiss on a private Zoom call with Jewish parents on Monday evening. Concerned about the implications of the statement on minority students’ safety, Black Students United is now calling for Malina’s removal from office, with about 180 students rallying from William Straight Hall to Day Hall at noon on Friday. “Fire Joel Malina!” and “Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! Joel Malina has got to go,” protesters chanted as they marched to Day Hall. Once there, they taped a sheet with their demands to the entrance of the building. In addition to firing Malina, BSU urged the University to reverse the suspension of interna-
tional graduate student Momodou Taal, bargain with Cornell Graduate Students United over Taal’s working conditions, revise the Interim Expressive Activity Policy and decrease police presence and surveillance at protests. BSU, which encompasses dozens of cultural, mentorship, performance, professional and Greek organizations, argued Malina’s remarks endanger students. In the days leading up to the rally, BSU held an emergency meeting and community action night to advocate for Malina’s firing. “All students of color at Cornell are under attack by administration. We do not feel safe, seen or heard. Help amplify our voices, we are stronger together,” an Instagram post advertising the community action night read. Other campus organizations including La Asociación Latina, Native American and Indigenous Students at Cornell, the South Asian Council and Haven also condemned Malina’s remarks through social media. See PROTEST page 15
Oct. 8 — A crowd of about 500 attended a vigil led by Cornell Hillel at Ho Plaza to mourn, remember and pray for Israeli hostages on Monday night, the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel. There was a somber mood among the Cornell students and Ithaca community members gathered there, some carrying Israeli and American flags and many holding candles. Hillel President Melanie Schwartz ’25 and Cornell Chabad Co-President Abbey Charlamb ’25 gave opening remarks before leading a moment of silence. “We … pray for the safe return of every single one of the remaining hostages, to send comfort to those grieving loved ones and to send courage and strength to our brothers and sisters in the IDF defending the State of Israel,” Charlamb said. Prof. Yuval Grossman, physics, thanked Cornell for support that went beyond the Jewish community after the events of October 7. “Working for peace is the only way forward,” said Grossman, who is Israeli-American. The crowd stood silent as the names of the 101 hostages still in Gaza were read aloud. Some vigil-goers broke into tears as a TV played a video of Rachel Goldberg-Polin’s eulogy for her son Hersh, a hostage killed by Hamas. Vice President for Student and Campus Life Ryan Lombardi, Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives Josh Riley and Republican candidate for the New York State Senate Mike Sigler were in attendance. “I’m here to support the community as people are coming together and mourning,” Riley said. “It was beautiful,” Sigler said of the Ho Plaza vigil. “I loved the reading of the names. I think that’s important.” A simultaneous vigil hosted by Cornell’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace
outside Bailey Hall drew about 50 mourners. Hasham Khan ’26, a speaker for SJP, opened the event. “I do know that people on this campus realize that there is a deep-rooted injustice going on in the world, and we are directly contributing to it,” Khan said. “When I use my voice to say, ‘maybe we should not be contributing to this genocide,’ I was told … that it’s not true. I was told that this is antisemitic. I was told that I am supporting terrorism by supporting the people of Palestine. And I just did not understand … why people’s right to liberty and self-determination was so controversial.” To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.
Max Troiano can be reached at mt857@cornell.edu and Isabella Hanson can be reached at ihanson@cornellsun.
KARLIE MCGANN / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Moment of mourning | Over 500 community members gather on the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.