11-04-21 entire issue hi res

Local Elections Bring New Faces

Two Cornell students slated to join Common Council; Democratic representatives take Tompkins County Legislature

By JOHN YOON Sun City Editor

As Ithacans cast their last votes for Common Council representatives on Tuesday night, they decided a new slate of local officials — including two Cornell students.

The current vote counts only include early voting and Election Day voting; mail-in ballots have yet to be added to the voting results as of Wednesday night.

Ithaca is divided into five wards. Each ward has two representatives, making up 10 Common Council seats, all of which were up for election this year. Four of the five previous representatives chose to not run, making Cythnia Brock (D-1st Ward) the only incumbent.

In the First Ward, Brock is defending her seat against

Maddie Halpert, the Solidarity Slate representative that replaced Shaniya Foster on the ballot when Foster dropped out for personal reasons in June. Brock is ahead, receiving 487 votes — with Halpert receiving 187 and Foster with 31. There were two write-in votes.

In the Second Ward, Phoebe Brown, another Solidarity Slate candidate, pulls ahead with 532 votes. Rick Murray, part of the Rick Murray Party, sits in second with 225 votes.

In the Third Ward, Jeffrey Barken, the Democratic nominee, ran as the sole candidate, receiving 292 regular votes and six write-in votes.

In the Fourth Ward, which makes up part of West Campus and Collegetown, Solidarity State candidate George DeFendini ’21 is ahead with 72 votes. Alejandro Santana, an independent, follows with 30 votes. DeFendini

Push for Menstrual Resources Continues

Three years after the reboot of Free Period Products, a 2016 program to offer free menstrual products across campus, several community organizations have continued to expand this goal by advocating for and providing these resources.

Members of the Gender Justice Advocacy Coalition and Student Assembly Infrastructure Fund Commission comprise the FPP team. Through a partnership with Cornell facilities, FPP has been able to make free menstrual products available in public women’s, men’s and all-gender bathrooms across campus.

“The impetus behind the initiative is simple,” GJAC president Clara Drimmer ’22 wrote in an email to The Sun. “Toilet paper is free in any public bathroom. Why shouldn’t period products be free for all people who need them?”

Drimmer said that historically, cost is one of the largest barriers to menstrual product access worldwide. She noted that the average menstruator spends thousands of dollars on period products throughout their lifetime.

“A lot of people are becoming aware of the pink tax and how gender-related menstrual products are overpriced with respect to people who identify as women, and that is an economic justice issue,” said Joseph Mullen ’24, vice president of internal operations on the Student Assembly.

Free menstrual products reached all public bathrooms on Cornell’s campus in 2020. According to Drimmer, FPP is in the process of changing their signage, switching “mxnstrual” to “menstrual,” recognizing that menstruation is not a strictly gendered term.

“As of 2017, they had put menstrual products in women's and gender-neutral bathrooms on campus,” Mullen said. “In 2020, they decided to put them in all bathrooms on campus, and the rationale behind that was that regardless of how people identify biologically or gender-wise,

will likely join fellow Cornell student Patrick Mehler ’23 as Fourth Ward representative. The Fourth Ward saw one write-in vote.

In the Fifth Ward, Robert Cantelmo grad, a fourth-year doctoral candidate in Cornell’s government department, ran unopposed, receiving 502 votes. The district received four write-in votes.

Along with Common Council, all 14 districts in Tompkins County held their elections. In Tompkins County, districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 represent the City of Ithaca on the Tompkins County Legislature. Districts 7, 11 and 12 represent the Town of Ithaca.

In District 1, Travis Brooks, the Democratic nominee, is

See ELECTION page 3

Maven Society Features C.U. Artists

Trough auctions and events, club promotes diverse works

By JULIETTE EGAN Sun Contributor

The Maven Society brought fantasy to life in its Friday event, a runway show themed after film producer George Lucas’ movie, The Labyrinth, and featuring Cornell designers. The artist’s collective has hosted similar pop-ups, auctions and gallery events since its founding in spring 2020.

The event took place at the New Park Event Venue and Suites, where viewers could eat dinner and view canvases across the walls.

Walking into the event, a large white tent hosted a runway in the

center, with artwork on the walls and a D.J. booth on the side.

Maven organizes events catered to the next generation of Cornell

“Maven gave me the opportunity to have my first runway show to display my work.”

Maisie McDonald ’23

artists, said Maven CEO Ravi Patel ’22. According to Patel, the society aims to bring students together across different art forms

and walks of life at Cornell.

The idea for the society sprung to life at the end of Patel’s sophomore year, inspired by two visits to an empty New York City Art gallery and a historic cafe in Paris, Café de Flore.

“I got to visit a cafe — this place where Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Salvador Dali, everyone came together and shared ideas in a social setting, sharing drinks and stories,” Patel said.

Patel saw potential in creating a social space for the art world at Cornell, inspired by this history.

See MAVEN page 3

A LISTING OF FREE CAMPUS EVENTS

Joint S.C. Tsiang Macroeconomics Workshop and Public Economics Workshop: Fatih Guvenen

11:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., Virtual Event

Policing Armed Conflict

11:25 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Virtual Event

Gatty Lecture Series: Placing Blame: Climate, Culpability and Indigenous Lives in the Philippines 12:15 p.m., Kahin Center

Health Econ Seminar: Shyam Raman, Ph.D. Student Noon - 1 p.m., 1155 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall

Midday Music in Lincoln 11/4: C.U. Music

12:30 - 1:10 p.m., B20 Lincoln Hall

Institute for African Development Seminar: Into Women’s Hands: Misoprostol and the Politics of Reproduction in Francophone Africa

2:40 - 4:35 p.m., G08 Uris Hall

Cornell Department of Astronomy And Space Sciences Fall 2021 Colloquium Series: The William E. And Elva F. Gordon Distinguished Lectureship 4 - 5 p.m., 105 Space Sciences Building

FIND Seminar: Steven H. Low: Optimal Power Flow And Smart EV Charging 4:10 p.m., 233 Phillips Hall

Musicology Colloquium: Bamba Ndiaye, “Mbas Mi”: Fighting COVID-19 Through Music in Senegal 4:30 p.m., 124 Lincoln Hall

Tomorrow

The Lifespans of Lamas: Mining Biographical Data to Examine Tibetan Longevity Noon, Virtual Event

Franck Daphnis: A Planner’s Pathway To a Career in International Development: Key Trends and What You Need in Your Toolbox

12:25 p.m., Abby and Howard Milstein Auditorium

Jingle Dress Dancers in the Modern World: Ojibwe People and Pandemics 12:25 p.m., Guerlac Room A.D. White House

Fashioning a “Male Actress”: Charles Pierce 12:30 - 1:30 p.m., T01 Human Ecology Building

Recognizing and Addressing Structural Violence in Nutrition: Applying a Liberation Research Lens to Dietary Outcomes in Black Americans

1 p.m., 132 Goldwin Smith Hall

“Democracy And The University” With A.D. White Professor-at-Large Wynton Marsalis 12:30 p.m. - 1:10 p.m., Sage Chapel

Legitimating the State: China, 1300 - Present 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Virtual Event

Classics Speakers Series: Melissa Mueller 4:30 p.m., G64 Goldwin Smith Hall

Cornell Winter Session to Remain Virtual

School of Continuing Education ofers online winter classes, continuing years of virtual winter instruction

By JIWOOK JUNG Sun Contributor

While students are back in the swing of classes across campus, online instruction is here to stay: In the thick of the approaching Ithaca winter, Cornell will offer fully online instruction through the School of Continuing Education.

The Cornell community’s high vaccination rates and continued COVID-19 protocols have led to a significant decrease in recent on-campus cases, according to the COVID-19 dashboard. In contrast to the University’s 57 new cases in a single day on Aug. 28, case numbers have remained a consistent single digit for the past few weeks. This Tuesday, out of the 4,994 tests, Cornell reported only two positive cases.

Despite this decrease in cases, Ann Morse, executive director of Cornell SCE, wrote to The Sun that students prefer to take courses online during winter.

Online instruction during winter is not something new for the Cornell students, as the Cornell SCE offered its first credit-bearing online course in the communications department during the 1997–1998 winter session.

“By popular demand, the SCE has been working for a number of years to offer more online Winter Session classes,” Morse said. “Students and faculty overwhelmingly prefer this option for the Winter Session.”

Morse added that past student course enrollment data builds a strong case for continuing online winter instruction.

“For example, the 2019 and 2020 Winter Sessions included only two on-campus classes,” Morse wrote, “so it made sense to focus our efforts on offering as many high-quality online courses as possible.”

As of Wednesday, SCE plans to offer more than 50 online

Maven Society

courses from Jan. 3 to 21, with additional courses being added to the class roster every day.

Taking courses through SCE, students can earn academic credits in just three weeks of instruction. According to Morse, this option can provide a great opportunity for students who are pursuing early graduation, double majors or are simply trying to get ahead in their studies.

The tuition this year is $1,620 per credit. If a student chooses to enroll in a three-credit course, tuition totals to $4,860.

Many students have been taking advantage of this opportunity during winter breaks, saying that it helps them take courses that otherwise wouldn’t fit into their schedules, while fostering friendship in a small cohort.

Sayo Ajagbe ’24 took Economics 1110: Introductory Microeconomics with Prof. Jennifer Wissink, economics. He said that taking a winter course last year allowed him to pursue a double major in economics, despite his packed schedule during the regular semesters.

“As a biology major, my schedule during the fall and spring semesters are packed, and being able to fit this class into my break was a great decision,” Ajagbe wrote in an SCE survey form last year. “It allowed me to make use of my time at home and learn new information that I would've had time to otherwise … It has been an amazing experience.”

Students also said that taking a class during the winter semester can help to build strong connections with a small cohort. Alexandra Yiachos ’24 took Nutritional Sciences 1600: Introduction to Public Health and said she found it a great opportunity to meet other students and study in an engaging environment.

“It offers a great chance to study with a small group of people and develop connections that wouldn't have been

Hosts Runway

Show, Features Cornell Artists

social media, body image and fashion culture.

“I wanted to create something for people to come together and exchange ideas similar to Hemingway’s cafe,” he said. “But also, I think there isn’t a better conversation starter than a really cool piece of art.”

Patel said each Maven Society event begins with picking a theme. Next, the society releases a Google form to take submissions, reaching out on Instagram to Cornell artists of many mediums, such as oil paints, pastels, charcoals and sketches. From there, Maven plans transportation, venue, food and beverages.

“We’re looking into bringing different mediums of art,” Patel said. “Every single event, we’ve tried to bring a new medium of art, whether it be through fashion or music.”

The mission of the Maven Society that Patel describes — creating a community of young art appreciators and fostering a platform for undiscovered and rising artists — progressed at their 220 person event.

For last weekend’s event, Maven partnered with the Cornell Fashion Collective, which gives space and resources to students starting out in the fashion industry and hosts an annual fashion show, according to CFC president Cardinal Robinson ’23. He said he appreciated the opportunity to pursue those goals and showcase his work with Maven.

Since COVID-19 restrictions canceled CFC’s spring 2020 and 2021 fashion shows, Maven’s stage was the first to show Robinson’s work.

“There are not a lot of spaces — especially in Ithaca, especially for designers — to present work to a larger audience besides Instagram, and that doesn’t have the same effect at all,” Robinson said.

Robinson originally created his sheer dress, featured by Maven, for the canceled 2020 CFC show, themed “Modern Royalty.” To Robinson, today’s royalty are those that thrive in a world of likes and comments, such as the Kardashians. The sheer dress presents a commentary on

The in-person event, according to Robinson, rebukes the “hyper image-centric social media world.” His dress intends to reveal the true form of the body, celebrating his model’s humanity.

“Everything I make is restricted to the canvas of the human form,” Robinson said. “That’s what fashion is. It's an expression of who you are. It’s not just about the clothes.”

Drew Brown ’25, who is also studying fashion in the College of Human Ecology, appreciated how the Maven event expanded the audience of his fashion designs.

Maven charges tickets to attendees to fund the venue and pay participating artists. Brown said that CFC artists spend their own money on fabric and materials, so he appreciated being compensated for his work.

Designer Maisie McDonald ’23 made her dress for a draping class and spent about 60 hours on it. She currently runs an Instagram fashion brand, MODSLOP.

“I would love to have my own fashion brand one day,” McDonald said. “Maven gave me the opportunity to have my first runway show to display my work, and it’s letting me show it to a group of people that I normally wouldn’t have had exposure to.”

Walking the line between painter and designer, Montse Longoria ’22 showcased denim jackets with quotes and designs painted onto them. In high school, Longoria started painting and selling her designs in her hometown.

“I think that Maven has given me that confidence to go even bigger,” she said.

Longoria said she paints the things she feels for other people to relate to. One of her jackets displays teeth and the words “I don’t know” at the end of both sleeves.

“I don’t know what I’m doing, and that’s OK. That’s fine, and I’ll express it,” she said.

Winter wonders | A student walks across a snowy Arts Quad in December, 2020.

possible during the normal semester,” Yiachos wrote. “The class was short, but engaging and valuable.”

According to Morse, Cornell SCE is planning to continue to offer online instruction during future winter semesters.

“Winter Session courses will be offered primarily online for the foreseeable future,” Morse said. “We’re dedicated to continuing to expand our online offerings to give students in Ithaca and around the world access to outstanding Cornell courses and faculty.”

C.U. Orgs Call for Free Menstrual Products

MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS

Continued from page 1

everybody should get access to these products.”

Ellie Month ’21, the previous SAIFC chair, said she has seen a major shift in public attitude toward menstruation in the time since the initial reboot of FPP.

“The thought of having menstrual products in all bathrooms was really taboo for the University,” Month said.

In the 2020-2021 school year, FPP provided at least 126,000 tampons, 70,000 pads and 33,600 liners across Cornell’s campus. Despite this success, according to Drimmer, they’ve had a harder time securing long-term funding for continued free menstrual products.

Without this funding, free menstrual products might not be around for the long run.

“FPP has yet to find a way to fund the program long term through University budgetary avenues, including the new $5 billion campaign ‘to do the greatest good,’” Drimmer said. “If we cannot find a permanent funding source, these products will likely disappear by the end of the spring semester.”

The Women’s Health Initiative is another organization that strives to aid and raise awareness around women’s health. Co-presidents Sophia Mathews ’22 and Sydney Flannigan ’22 described their work to alleviate the financial pressures caused by menstruation for community members.

The Women’s Health Initiative is currently

holding its period drive, which has run throughout every semester since the organization’s start in the spring of 2018, donating pads and tampons to St. John’s Homeless Shelter in Ithaca. Students are able to donate any menstrual product by dropping them off in the labeled cardboard boxes located in certain bathrooms on campus.

“Shelters are always looking for various hygiene products, whether it's toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, pads or tampons,” Flannigan said. “It's something that they always need. On our part, it's relatively easy to do, and it was a really great way for us to get involved in the community and help people who need it.”

The Women’s Resource Center also offers free menstrual products to students. Located on the second floor of Willard Straight Hall within the Office of the Dean of Students, the center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The WRC provides additional services such as information on various health topics, opportunities to get involved in community service and CHAT THAT, a series of conversations that address gender-related topics.

“As any institution who cares about the wellbeing of their community, but especially an educational institution that serves so many people, it is vital that Cornell offers free and public menstrual products to its students, faculty, and staff,” Drimmer wrote.

Kelsey Xu can be reached at kxu@cornellsun.com.

Tompkins Elects New Slate of Ofcials

ELECTION

Continued from page 1

ahead with 980 votes, compared to Republican Christoper Hyer Jr.’s 74 votes. There were six write-in votes.

In District 2, Democrat Veronica Pillar ran as the sole candidate, receiving 497 votes. Pillar previously ran in the special election to fill the position after Assemblymember Anna Kelles (D-125th district) vacated the seat but lost to Leslie Schill MRP '02 in April. However, Pillar beat Schill in the Democratic primary that occurred in July. There were 16 write-in votes.

In districts 3, 4 and 5, incumbent Democratic representatives Henry Granison, Rich John and Anne Koreman all ran unop-

posed — receiving 591, 198 and 1,086 votes with 17, one and 14 write-in votes, respectively.

The districts that represent the Town of Ithaca saw a similar story. In districts 7, 11 and 12, the incumbent Democratic representatives Daniel Klein, Shawna Black and Amanda Champion all ran unopposed — receiving 1141, 867 and 525 votes, with 16, four and one write-in votes respectively.

The incoming Common Council and Tompkins County Legislature members will serve a four-year term before they are up for reelection.

Plant-Based Eating Takes Root in Fast Food Industry

By SADIE GROBERG Sun Staff Writer

Along with the majority of young drivers, I have long held a deep affinity for drive-throughs. After all, there’s nothing quite like sipping on a refreshing Dunkin’ iced coffee on the way to class or balancing a carton of piping hot french fries in your cup holder. During the first year of the pandemic, as restaurants remained shut down and we were all prevented from socializing, I would often find myself coasting through the Taco Bell line just to feel some sort of human interaction. Drive-through fast food became both a social activity and an appetite-quencher when my friends and I needed a quick snack or just an activity to fill our time.

I did not grow up with fast food as a large part of my diet, but many Americans did. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 36 percent of children and adults eat fast food everyday. Despite the widely recognized fact that it’s a generally unhealthy and non-nutritious option, many families turn to fast food fare because of its accessibility and low cost. The success of the fast food industry is indisputable, best exemplified by the fact that there are currently 13,673 McDonald’s locations in the United States. And it’s not just the golden arches — many restaurants have established themselves as American “staples,” with franchises avail-

able in every major city. It’s now possible to receive low-cost, faster-than-ever servings of almost every cuisine, from burgers to tacos. Drive-throughs give us rapid access to so many different foods but often, one thing is missing: plant-based options.

Currently, only about five percent of Americans identify as vegetarian and three percent as vegan, according to Gallup polling. However, the plantbased food market is booming, serving as a major source of growth for grocery retailers and racking up a seven billion dollar industry. According to data from the Good Food Institute, the total sales of plant-based food are growing at twice the pace of overall food sales. The contrast between this huge source of spending and the low number of self-identifying vegans is significant. It demonstrates an interest in plant-based eating across the board, even from people who don’t specifically designate their diets. Although many people associate veganism with a preference toward health-conscious eating, a diverse interest in plant-based options suggests that cheap, vegan fast-food is marketable. Research is showing us that our stereotypes about veganism are incorrect; people don’t just eat vegan food because they think it’s healthier. Many go vegan out of curiosity, to lessen their impact on the environment and for ethical reasons.

Veganism has often remained restricted to high-income communities, but plant-based fast

food options could be the catalyst to change this. When chains like Burger King and Dunkin’ create popular faux-meat menu options, investments in Beyond Meat (these restaurants’ vegan “meat” of choice) spike. These success stories also provide some beneficial competition, encouraging other brands to hop on the vegan wave (look out for the McPlant at McDonalds in the next year or so!). Sustained industry growth isn’t promised; nevertheless, if we want to make veganism more mainstream, now is the time to demand plantbased options from American restaurant chains.

Some of us are hungry vegans (or vegan-curious), and want a quick bite on a budget. Although the market is lacking, there are definitely solid options if you know where to look. One resource which has proved to be useful for me is PETA’s comprehensive vegan fast food guide. Additionally, PETA has specialized menus for how to order plant-based offerings at individual restaurants. It might take some confidence to ask for an altered order, but it pays off to know that you’re getting exactly what you want. You might wonder what a vegan can order at a place like McDonalds or Five Guys, but the options are there if you know where to look. Keep reading for a basic guide to vegan fast food, all of which you can find right here in Ithaca.

Dunkin’

In addition to the fact that they offer almond, oat and coconut milks, Dunkin’s hash browns and avocado toast are both vegan fan favorites. Additionally, their cinnamon raisin, plain, sesame and everything bagels as well as their english muffins are vegan. The avocado spread can be purchased as a great topping for any of these bases. Although Dunkin’ was one of the first

brands to partner with Beyond Meat, you may have noticed that their popular “Beyond Sausage Sandwich” has disappeared from the majority of menus in the U.S., including the Ithaca locations. However, this disappointing news might be a sign that a new meatless option will soon be joining their vegan lineup. Fingers crossed!

Taco Bell

This “How to Eat Vegan at Taco Bell” guide was my go-to during high school. Substitute beef for beans in any taco or burrito to keep some level of protein and flavor. The best trick? Ask for your order “Fresco Style,” and they will replace any mayobased sauces, cheese or sour cream with fresh pico de gallo.

Burger King

In August 2019, Burger King launched one of the most universally loved plant-based fast-food items: the Impossible Whopper. If you’re looking for a greasy, salty, fast meal that you won’t believe is meatless, look no further. However, the Whopper has mayo and is cooked on the same broiler as hamburgers at some locations, so make sure that you specify that it is prepared vegan.

Subway

In the last year, Subway became the next brand to partner with Beyond Meat, unveiling their Meatless Marinara Sub, complete with vegan mozzarella cheese. Unfortunately, the sandwich does not seem to be available at any of the Ithaca locations, but maybe your home franchise will carry it! Otherwise, the Veggie Delite is basically just a DIY salad on bread. Obviously, all of the fresh vegetables are vegan, as well as the yellow mustard, deli brown mustard, mustard seed spread, oil and vinegar, Subway vinaigrette,

sweet onion sauce and fat-free Italian dressing.

Papa John’s

Although Papa John’s does not carry vegan cheese and it seems unlikely they will start anytime soon, it’s not impossible to get a plant-based meal there. Their breadsticks are vegan, as well as their doughs and red sauce, so you could build a veggie-packed cheeseless pizza if that sounds up your alley.

Chipotle

Although I would define Chipotle as more of a “fast-casual” option, their vegan offerings are too good not to mention. They serve “sofritas,” a flavorful, tofu-based faux-meat that is amazing in bowls or burritos. Additionally, the beans, rice and vegetables are all meatless, so Chipotle is an amazing option for hearty, healthy, plant-based meals.

Before eating anything from a fast-food restaurant, I would make sure to ask questions and be specific about what you ask for. If you are a strict vegan, it’s important to clarify about cross-contamination and make sure your meal won’t be cooked in the same oils as meat. However, trying out some of these alternatives is a great idea for anyone, regardless of dietary preference. By cutting out high-cholesterol meats and dairy-based spreads, your meal will likely become lighter and less greasy. Fast-food is far from a sustainable industry, but as a college student, chances are you’re going to frequent a drive-through once in a while. Switch up your classic order, move around some ingredients and who knows? Your stomach (and wallet) might thank you.

KATHRYN STAMM ’22

ANUSHYA ALANDUR ’23

CATHERINE ST. HILAIRE ’22

Editor

PRANAV KENGERI ’24

Advertising Manager

ODEYA ROSENBAND ’22 Opinion Editor

JYOTHSNA BOLLEDULA ’24

Editor

TAMARA KAMIS ’22

CAMERON HAMIDI ’22 App Editor

KRISTEN D’SOUZA ’24

HANNAH ROSENBERG ’23

OMSALAMA AYOUB ’22

PUJA OAK ’24

ANNIE WU ’22

MIHIKA BADJATE ’23

SERENA HUANG ’24

Assistant Business Editor

ANGELA BUNAY ’24

Assistant News Editor

JOHN COLIE ’23

Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

AMELIA CLUTE ’22

Assistant Dining Editor

WILLIAM BODENMAN ’23

Assistant Sports Editor

AARON SNYDER ’23

Assistant Sports Editor

MEGHANA SRIVASTAVA ’23

Compet Manager

Working on today’s sun

ad layout Christine Wu ’23

opinion desker Odeya Rosenband ’22

managing desker Madeline Rosenberg ’23

news deskers Vee Cipperman ’23

Mihika Badjate ’23

production deskers Dennis Quizhpi ’24 Katherine Chang ’25

layout deskers Kristen D’Souza ’24

photo desker Hannah Rosenberg ’23

dining desker Julia Nagel ’24

sports desker Will Bodenman ’23

ROSENBERG ’23

KOH ’23

OZA ’22

HEO ’24

CIPPERMAN ’23

PLOWE ’23

YOON ’23

VELANI ’22

PICHINI ’22

TYAGI ’22

MENDOZA ’24

ARANDA ’23

RIGGS ’24

LEYNSE ’23

NAGEL ’24

’22

Anuli Ononye Womansplaining

Anuli Ononye is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at aononye@cornellsun.com. Womansplaining runs every other Monday this semester.

Simone Biles

As My Halloween Costume

About a week before Halloween this year, I started seeing the annual “Costumes Don’t Equal Consent” infographics all over my Instagram feed. This year, the most widely-circulated post I saw was the CHC Rape Crisis Center’s “However You Dress, Wherever You Go: Yes Means Yes & No Means No – Costumes Are Not Consent” picture. I was proud to see so many of my friends at Cornell repost the picture, raising awareness about the seriousness of assault on college campuses. But at the same time, my inner response was “duh…. Why do we need that extra reminder on Halloween?”

Halloweekend costume, because it was one that I actually felt good about. My overthinking and overanalyzing brain, could rest knowing that my arms were mostly covered and that although my legs were out, my costume was basically a onepiece swimsuit?

This was by far my favorite Cornell Halloweekend costume, because it was one that I ... felt good about.

Which segues us into the way overanalyzed and over discussed topic of sexy Halloween costumes. I am far from the first person to write about sexy Halloween costumes: I’m not even close to the first person to write about them in The Sun. But since this is a Feminist column, I thought I’d add my own two cents on the topic and how this year I had the world’s best Halloween costume.

I dressed up as Simone Biles. My Halloween costume was long in the making. I decided I wanted to dress up as Biles after she passed the qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics and was so proud of this idea that I hid it from all my friends, hoping I’d be the only Biles at any on-campus events.

I didn’t know then that beyond representing her phenomenal athletic ability, I would also be paying homage to a woman who has significantly changed how we discuss mental health in the United States. She also displayed incredible courage testifying to the Senate Judiciary as a survivor of assault and harassment. I dressed up as someone I really admire and look up to.

The truth is, Halloween is A LOT of pressure for young women. At least it’s a lot of pressure for me. Amongst other things, you need a costume that’s: 1) original 2) sexy 3) eye-catching 4) flattering to your body shape 5) funny 6) partnered (with a friend group or your significant other) 7) meaningful and 8) unproblematic. Obviously, hardly any costume checks all of those boxes, which often leaves me (and some of my friends) discontented when you see that one woman who pulled off what you were trying to pull off just a little bit better.

I could come here and tell you to, “Wear that sexy costume! Who cares what anyone thinks?” And if that works, power to you! But I’d be a hypocrite to do that because I can almost guarantee you that you will never see me in lingerie at a frat house. Although deep down I kind of wish you would. I am just not that person. I am, however, the person to hype up my friends who do.

The truth is, Halloween is a lot of pressure for young women. At least it’s a lot of pressure for me.

In addition to representing a remarkable woman, Biles also checked off my just-sexy-enough criteria for my Halloween costume. I ordered Biles’ Olympic GK Elite leotard off Amazon, wore my extra flat white Converse, and tied off the ensemble with a fluffy red bow. This was by far my favorite Cornell

So, I guess I am here to tell you (whoever you are) that it is okay to be as sexy as you want to be for Halloween. This year, I saw a student dressed head-to-toe in an authentic Big Bird costume and a friend of mine in lingerie and bunny ears. They both seemed like they were having a good time. One of my best friends from high school commented on my Simone Biles Instagram post “Woah! Scandyyyy” because the outfit was definitely out of my usual comfort zone. My comfort zone was beyond modest for the majority of our campus. Which makes sexy Halloween costumes a major double edged sword: take the excuse to be as sexy as you want to be, but don’t feel pressured to be sexy at all. The most important thing about Halloween is to be safe, feel comfortable and enjoy yourself. And of course, costumes don’t equal consent.

Fill in the empty cells, one number in each, so that each column, row, and region contains the numbers 1-9 exactly once. Each number in the solution therefore occurs only once in each of the three “directions,” hence the “single numbers” implied by the puzzle’s name. (Rules from wikipedia.org/wiki/ Sudoku)

I Am Going To Be Small

office@ithacastudentapartments.com 607-277-1234 Ithacastudentapartments.com

Collegetown Terrace Apartments

Semester & 22-23 Availability

Collegetownterraceithaca.com

1/2 Thurston Avenue

8/16/2022

Women’s Sailing Wins Tird Straight MAISA Championship

By MITCH HOY Sun Staff Writer

Cornell sailing won the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association Fall Women’s Championship for the third consecutive season over the weekend.

Impressive performances in both the A and B division boats allowed the Red to hold first place for most of the tournament. The team finished with a total score of 63, scoring 32 in A division and 31 in the B division. The University of Pennsylvania finished in second place with a combined score of 73, while the United States Naval Academy coasted into third with a score of 98.

Nine races were held on Saturday, six in A division and three in B division, while 10 races were held the next day, four in A division and six in B division. Fourteen teams in total competed at the event, which was hosted by Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, New York.

The Red sailing has enjoyed success at the event in

recent years, winning the tournament in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Junior crew Gabbi DelBello, a key contributor in the women’s victory over the weekend, was ecstatic that the team could go out with a win.

“I am so happy we get to end this season with a win, because it will allow us to start the spring semester confident in our ability to perform,” DelBello said.

She explained that the third consecutive championship win did not come easy, and that the competition was tough and set on stopping Cornell this year.

“The level of competition at this event was high, and our competitors had it out for us for sure,” DelBello said. “Having competitors strategically attack us on the water was a new experience for some, and a great taste of what the spring national qualifiers will be like.”

The coed team also sailed over the weekend and placed 10th out of 18 at the War Memorial competition, hosted by Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The

team closed out its performance Sunday with a total score of 207.

George Washington University took first with a 121 total score, while SUNY Maritime and Hobart and William Smith College took second and third with scores of 149 and 150, respectively.

Though the fall season has ended, the heat only turns up for the sailing team, with nationals rapidly approaching and a full spring season of tough competition ahead of them.

Up next are the Women’s Single-handed National Championship on Nov. 6 in Annapolis, Maryland. Cornell’s junior Lillian Myers and sophomores Lucija Ruzevic and Lauren Ehnot will be competing. After the Single-handed Nationals competition, there will be an extended break from competition until the Rose Bowl Regatta in January.

Sun Staf Football Picks — Week Eight