Say as university leader, she sought collaboration, advanced innovative ideas
By BENJAMIN FINEGAN Sun Staff Writer
e ,
Un i ve r s i t y o f Mi c h i g a n , s a i d h e h a s k n ow n Po l l a c k f o r
2 5 ye a r s a s a f e l l ow re s e a rc h e r i n t h e f i e l d o f a r t i f i c i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e Fo r We l l m a n , Po l l a c k’s m o s t i m p o r t a n t l e g a c y a t Mi c h i g a n i s h e r a c a d e m i c i n n ova t i o n
We l l m a n s a i d h e c a m e t o u n d e r s t a n d Po l l a c k’s l e a d -
e r s h i p a b i l i t y w h e n , a s a s s o c i a t e c h a i r o f c o m p u t e r s c ie n c e a n d e n g i n e e r i n g , s h e re o r g a n i ze d t h e u n i ve r s i t y ’ s e l e c t r i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g a n d c o m p u t e r s c i e n c e d e p a r tm e n t “ Ma r t h a we n t t o g re a t l e n g t h s t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e c o re i s s u e s a t s t a k e f o r t h e va r i o u s c o n s t i t u e n c y g ro u p s , a n d f o u n d a s o l u t i o n t h a t a d va n c e d t h e o b j e c t i ve o f re s t r u c -
t u r i n g t h i s d e p a r t m e n t , ” h e s a i d “ In f a c t , t h e n e w s t r u c -
t u re h a s w o rk e d e x t re m e l y we l l , a n d t h e s e a re a s a re
t i n g t h e Hu m
n i t i e s C o l l a b o r a t o r y, a n i n i t i a t i ve t h a t
e s “ c
r a t i ve , t e a m - b a s e d” h u m a n i t i e s re s e a rc h a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n a m o n g s t ud e n t s S c h l i s s e l c a l l e d t h e c o l l a b o r a t o r y “ a n o u t s t a n d i n g a n d i n n ova t i
t h r i v i n g a t t h e Un i ve r s i t y o f Mi c h i g a n ” Un i ve r s i t y o f Mi c h i g a n Pre s i d e n t Ma rk S c h l i s s e l e l a b o r a t e d o n Po l l a c k’s l e g a c y o f i n n ova t i o n , d i s c u s s i n g h e r ro l e i n c re
p p ro a c h t o a d d re s s t h e p e r s i s t e n t c h a ll e n g e o f d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h e re l e va n c e o f h u m a n i t i e s s c h o l a r s h i p ” He a d d e d t h a t h e h a s w o rk e d c l o s e l y w i t h Po l l a c k f o r ove r t w o ye a r s , d u r i n g h e r t e n u re a s t h e u n i ve r s i t y ’ s p rovo s t “ He r h e l p w a s i n va l u a b l e s i n c e I b e g a n m y p re s i d e nc y h e re a t t h e Un i ve r s i
By BARBARA ESUOSO Sun Staff Writer
t s a n d h i g h s o p h om o re h o u s i n g d e m a n d , a c c o rd i n g t o Ko t l i k o f f Ko t l i k o f f s a i d t h e p l a n w i l l “ i n ve s t i n f a c i l i t i e s , c u r r i c u l u m i n i t i a t i ve s a n d h o u s i n g i n i t i a t i v e s ” H e o u t l i n e d p l a n s t o a l l e v i a t e h o u s i n g d e m a n d by b u i l d i n g n
Over 15 Cornell departm e n t s , p ro g r a m s a n d
a s s e m b l i e s h a ve re l e a s e d
s t a t e m e n t s s u p p o r t i n g undocumented students in response to concerns that C o r n e l l i a n s m a y f a c e deportation after Donald Trump alters immigration policies
T h e s e s t a t e m e n t s follow a petition publ i s h e d Nov 1 8 a n d signed by over 2,000 Cornellians, requesting that the University to c o n t i n u e i t s f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t o f u n d o c um e n t e d s t u d e n t s a n d b e c o m e a “ s a n c t u a r y campus ” protecting students from deportation
In a statement released ye s t e rd a y, ove r 5 0 l a w s c h o o l p ro f e s s o r s c a l l e d upon the University to supp o r t u n d o c u m e n t e d s t u -
dents, as requested by the sanctuar y petition, citing their “obligation” to protect civil rights “in a time when i t a p p e a r s t h e y m a y b e under attack ”
At its Nov 21 meeting, the Graduate and Profess i o n a l St u d e n t A s s e m b l y also passed a resolution in s u p p o r t o f t h e p e t i t i o n The resolution’s main goal was to create a “ more offi-
“We hope that other assemblies will do the same to express ... support of this petition
cial channel” for the petition to receive a response from the administration, as the president must respond to GPSA resolutions within 30 days of their submis-
sion, according to Ekarina Winarto grad “ Mov i n g f o r w a rd , we hope that other assemblies will do the same to express a strong and united front in support of this petition,” Winarto said The Student Assembly, University Assembly and Faculty Senate will consider similar resolutions at their u p c o m i n g m e e t i n g s , a ccording to Prof Edward Baptist, a media representative for the Cornell Coalition for Collaborative Democracy In s t a t e m e n t s p u blished online, many of the University’s academi c
o affirmed solidarity with C o r n e l l i a n s “ w h o a re grappling with the sense that their lives have just b e c o m
Daybook
Plant Genetic Resources and Plant Biotechnology
Under Biodiplomacy
12:20 - 1:10 p m , 135 Emerson Hall
Order and Chaos: Collective Behavior of Crowded Drops In Microfluidic Systems
4 p m , 205 Thurston Hall
Renewable Energy Sources in Greece: A Die Hard Case 4:30 p m , Auditorium, Milstein Hall
The Human Edge: Skin, Cloth, and Stone in Aeschylus And Euripides
4:30 p m , Auditorium, Milstein Hall
Family as Machine: Film, Infrastructure, and Cybernetic Kinship in Suburban America
6 p m , 258 Goldwin Smith Hall
C U Music: Fortepianist Shin Hwang and Guests 8 - 9:45 p m , Auditorium, Barnes Hall
Drifting Bandits and Information Markets 11 a m , 261 Rhodes Hall
Phytophthora Infestans: The New Desert Pathogen 12:20 p m , 404 Plant Sciences Building
C U Music: Midday Music for Organ 12:30 - 1:15 p m , Chapel, Anabel Taylor Hall
Sediment Flux and Landscape Evolution: Modern and Paleo Perspectives on the Role of Climate 3:30 - 4:30 p m , 2146 Snee Hall
Multiple Roles of Cholesterol in Cell Entry of HIV and Ebola Viruses and Exocytotic Fusion Pore Formation 4 - 5 p m , 700 Clark Hall
Innovations With Mechanized SRI in Pakistan: Converging the System of Rice Intensification With Conservation Agriculture 4 - 5 p m , 102 Mann Library
The Future of ‘Whiteness’: White Identity, Race and Progressive Politics 4:30 p m , Lewis Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall
From Quantum Puzzles To Quantum Information Technology 7:30 - 9 p m , Schwartz Auditorium, Rockefeller Hall
Remembering Academic Dissent in a Fascist Era: Kurosawa Akira’s Film No Regrets for Our Youth 7:30 - 10 p m , 374 Rockefeller Hall Tomorrow
University
Kiwanis Club Honors Nine-Year-Old Police Officer, Cancer Patient
t t e n d e d t h e c e r e m o n y, w h i c h t o o k p l a c e d u r i n g t h e f i r s t i n t e r m i s s i o n o f t h e Re d’s
m a t c h a g a i n s t Pr i n c e t o n
Un i ve r s i t y, t h e re l e a s e s a i d
To l a n d w a s i n d u c t e d i n t o I P D a s a n o f f i c e r i n Se p t e m b e r
Cornell Students Win Prizes in NYC Hackathon
Se ve r a l C o r n e l l t e a m s w o n p r i z e s i n a f i n a n c i a l h a c k a t h o n l a s t w e e k e n d ,
o r g a n i z e d b y E n t r e p r en e u r s h i p a t C o r n e l l a t t h e C o r n e l l Te c h c a m p u s T h e e v e n t f o c u s e d o n c r e a t i n g t e c h n i c a l s o l u t i o n s t o p ro bl e m s i n d e t e c t i n g m o n e y l a u n d e r i n g a n d f i n a n c i a l i n c l u s i o n , a c c o r d i n g t o a Un i ve r s i t y p re s s re l e a s e A C o r n e l l t e a m w h i c h c re a t e d a we b i n t e r f a c e f o r t h e e l d e r l y t o e a s i l y m o n i t o r t h e i r f i n a n c e s w o n t h e g r a n d p r i ze o f $ 2 , 0 0 0 , t h e re l e a s e s a i d
Compiled by Stephanie Yan
Three Cornell Profs Make Watchlist for Liberal Bias
By JOSH GIRSKY Sun News Editor
u e
f r e e m a r k e t v a l u e s ” Fo u n d e r a n d
Exe c u t i ve Di re c t o r C h a r l i e K i rk s a i d t h a t
i t w a s t i m e t o e x p o s e s o m e p ro f e s s o r s w h o a re “ t o t a l l y o u t o f l i n e ” Tw o p ro f e s s o r s we re n a m e d f o r t h e i r
c o m m e n t s i n T h e Su n l a s t ye a r i n a n a r t i c l e a b o u t h ow t h e va s t m a j o r i t y o f
f a c u l t y p o l i t i c a l d o n a t i o n s g o t o
m o c r a t s
Pro f A n d re w L i t t l e , g ove r n m e n t , w a s
m e n t i o n e d f o r s a y i n g t h a t h i r i n g m o re
R e p u b l i c a n f a c u l t y a t C o r n e l l w o u l d
Lecturer Criticizes Unsustainable Tourism
Advocates pressing need for environmental conservation in travel industry
By HANY ZERBIB Sun Staff Writer
“Unprecedented growth” in the tourism industry could become unsustainable without an equivalent focus on conservation, according to Megan Elper Wood, the director of the International Sustainable Tourism Initiative within Harvard’s School of Public Health
Elper Wood said she has worked in ecotourism for over 25 years, researching the industry’s future and global impact At a lecture Monday, she examined whether tourism has improved living conditions in the areas it affects
Many researchers in Elper Wood’s field have expressed concerns that the pressure of sustain-
ing a constant influx of visitors has forced businesses to focus on marketing, adding that 80 percent of revenue go toward promoting additional tourism
“If tourism keeps operating the way it does, there will be no tourism left in the future," she said “More money needs to be put into conserving the product that is attracting tourists
”
Locals in many tourist areas believe that while the industry produces significant revenue, it will damage the environment unless investments are also made in conservation, according to Elper Wood
tal,” she said
As an example, Elper Wood cited her research team ’ s finding that the presence of tourists leads to an overall increase in water consumption, power consumption and waste production
“The tourists are not paying for
ple have great difficulty spending money on future outcomes that are not tangible,” according to Wood
She stressed that the future of tourism must include a means to conser ve the environment and encourage countries to place greater value on their natural capital
“If tourism keeps operating the way it does, there will be no tourism left in the future ”
“In order for businesses to sustain themselves, they need to invest in natural and social capi-
these increases,” she said “Rather, the burden is put on the local community ”
Encouraging native businesses to spend in conservation efforts has been a challenge because “ peo-
“Traveler costs need to increase countries around the world cannot afford to give their resources away, ” she said “Citizens of tourist locations need to be informed of the value of the land, in order to make real profits and conserve their destinations ”
Hany Zerbib can be reached at hzerbib@cornellsun com
Last Resorts | Megan
Elper Wood presented her research on the environmental ramifications of tourism at a lecture on Monday
MICHAELA BREW / SUN SENIOR EDITOR
Initiative May Increase
Size of Freshman Class
HOUSING
Continued from page 1
T h e p ro j e c t ’ s g o a l i s t o c re a t e
m o r e h o u s i n g o p t i o n s f o r
s o p h o m o r e s a s c u r r e n t l y a b o u t 6 0 p e rc e n t o f s o p h o m o re s re s i d e i n C o r n e l l h o u s i n g a n d o p e n u p l i v i n g o p p o r t u n it i e s f o r u n d e r g r a d u a t e a n d g r a d -
u a t e s t u d e n t s T h e p l a n d o e s n o t e n d o n No r t h C a m p u s D e t a i l s o f t h e
“The faculty to student ratio is the highest it has been in 20 years.”
P r o v o s t M i c h a e l K o t l i k o f f
h o u s i n g p l a n i n c l u d e g o a l s t o r e n o v a t e B a l c h H a l l a n d t o p a r t n e r w i t h o t h e r f a c i l i t i e s t o i m p r o v e a n d e x p a n d o p p o r t un i t i e s f o r C o l l e g e t o w n h o u si n g T h e h o u s i n g p l a n i n i t i a t i ve i s a l s o p ro j e c t e d t o i n c re a s e t h e f re s h m a n c l a s s by 2 5 0 t o 2 7 5 s t u d e n t s Pl a n s t o a d d re s s t h e re p e rc u s s i o n s o f h i g h e r s t u d e n t a d m i s s i o n s a re a l s o u n d e r w a y, i n c l u d i n g w a y s t o f i x t h e “ g a t ew a y c o u r s e i s s u e , ” a p ro b l e m w h e n s t u d e n t s c a n n o t g e t i n t o i n t r o d u c t o r y l e v e l c l a s s e s b e c a u s e t h e y f i l l t o c a p a c i t y In t h e p a s t , C o r n e l l h a s t r i e d
Y o u j u s t m a y
f i n d w h a t
y o u ’ r e l o o k i n g
f o r i n T h e S u n
c l a s s i f i e d s .
Barbara Esuoso can be reached at besuoso@cornellsun com
Michigan President Calls Pollack ‘Outstanding Choice’
POLLACK
Continued from page 1
‘ W h a t i s t h e r i g h t t h i n g t o d o ? ’ ” h e s a i d He a l s o e m p h a s i ze d Po l l a c k’s o r g a n i z a t i o n a l t a l e n t a n d a b i l i t y a s a l e a d e r “ Provo s t Po l l a c k i s o n a f i r s t - n a m e b a s i s w i t h a s i g n i fi c a n t p o r t i o n o f o u r f a c u l t y a n d s t a f f a n d s h e k n ow s a n d a p p re c i a t e s t h e i
t a l e n t s , ”
a i d “ Sh e h
y s p e c i a l a b i l i t y t o u n d e r s t a n d b o t h t h e i n s t i t u t i o n a l d a t a a n d t h e m o re h u m a n i s t i c a s p e c t s o f t h e a c a d e m i c p ro -
g r a m s s h e l e a d s ”
S c h l i s s e l a d d e d t h a t Po l l a c k h a s re m a i n e d h u m b l e , d e s p i t e h e r a b i l i t i e s , w h i c h h e s a i d h e l p s h e r w o rk we l
w i t h c o l l e a g u e s “ Sh e i s c o l l a b o r a t i ve a n d i n s p i r i n g a n d i s a d e p t a t c re a t i n g g re a t t e a m s a ro u n d h e r, ” h e s a i d “At t h e s a m
w i t h f a c u l t y f ro m a l l d i s c i p l i n e s ” Po l l
“[Pollack]
is collaborative and inspiring and is adept at creating great teams around her.”
Departments Stand With Undocumented Cornellians
Warn against ignoring local intolerance
UNDOCUMENTED
Continued from page 1
“ Te a c h i n g a n d r e s e a r c h i n g [these] issues means recognizing, and never forgetting, the difficult and often precarious situations of people whose daily lives are the concrete expression of these issues,” the Asian American studies program wrote in a statement
The Latin American studies
fort,” the Latina/o studies program said “ We are not alone ” O t h e r d e p a r t m e n t s including histor y of art and visu-
American studies expressed broader concerns about “escalations in xenophobic, racist and
occurred after Trump’s election
fueled by fake news, and a lack of
“We write about xenophobia and bigotry, but will not pretend they only exist elsewhere.”
program echoed this sentiment, adding that community support is especially vital for defending Cornellians threatened by a president who has repeatedly shown “ contempt for a broad swath of the population in this countr y ”
The Africana studies and histor y departments, as well as the Latina/o studies programs, also stressed the importance of supporting marginalized students
“ Sp e a k y o u r t r u t h a n d r e m e m b e r t h a t m a n y p e o p l e across this nation, and around the world, share our discom-
nation’s historical and contemporar y realities,” the American studies program said The government department pledged to teach “about intolerance, but not practice it ” “ We write about xenophobia and bigotr y, but will not pretend they only exist elsewhere,” the department wrote “ We research racism, homophobia and misogyny, but will not permit them to pass unchallenged ”
Stephanie Yan can be reached at syan@cornellsun com
Benjamin Finnegan can be reached at bpf45@cornell edu
Over the past few weeks, several of our fellow Ivy League athletics teams made headlines for engaging in some appalling actions The Harvard Men’s Soccer and Men’s Cross Country teams both created spreadsheets to assess the physical attractiveness and sexual appeal of their female student-athlete counterparts and freshmen recruits These “ scouting reports ” contained degrading, sexually explicit language about these women, many of whom were their friends At Columbia, the Men’s Wrestling team is currently under investigation for racially and sexually explicit group messages
As captains and leaders of varsity athletics teams at Cornell, we are deeply disappointed by these acts At the same time, we recognize that more likely than not, similar language has been used within the Cornell Athletics community We are not naive enough to believe that no Cornell student-athletes have ever used inappropriate language to marginalize and demean others or even acted on such language That kind of rhetoric is completely unacceptable Simply excusing such statements as “locker room talk” or ignoring them only makes the problem worse
Being a student-athlete at Cornell is an incredible privilege that we do not take lightly Along with our teammates, we are proud to serve as prominent representatives and ambassadors of this great university However, with this privilege comes tremendous responsibility In addition to working to bring home Ivy League championships, we must also strive to always be a positive influence and representative of Cornell This goal extends far beyond the field, court or rink to the classroom, dining halls, dormitories, Collegetown and the broader Ithaca community
We are a diverse family with a wide variety of life experiences, beliefs and worldviews
Although it can be challenging to navigate that diversity, it is ultimately a significant part of what makes Cornell, and the student-athlete experience, so special Through our exposure to people different than ourselves, we become better individuals and prepare ourselves for a future beyond Cornell
While the topics of sexism, racism, homophobia and misogyny can lend themselves to difficult and uncomfortable conversations, we must have these discussions in order to make our communities and our world more respectful, dignified and just These conversations become easier by fostering open communication within our close-knit communities From personal experiences as captains and leaders, we have found ways to be proactive and intervene to dissuade this type of language and inappropriate behavior on our own teams We are able to hold each other accountable, whether in one-on-one conversations or general discussions with our coaches and teammates Intervening in this way allows us to learn and grow from one another so we can prevent the inappropriate language and behavior that let our teams, family and university down We perform best when we support each other and deconstruct stereotypes through a culture of inclusion and affirmation
We are proud to stand with the members of the Harvard Women’s Soccer team who wrote their own response to the scouting reports We agree that the kind of sexist, culturally insensitive and derogatory language used to describe them must be de-normalized, not only within our teams and communities but also within “the locker room that is our world ” We cannot be silent bystanders we must instead address these issues, which have historically been ingrained and tolerated in our culture and society, head-on Ultimately, we recognize that this problem is not perpetuated by just one person, team, or university, but we do know that our individual actions can lead to greater change when we work together to make Cornell a safe and caring community
We call on all varsity captains and student-athletes to directly confront and combat these issues, first within our individual teams, and then the Cornell community and college campuses nationwide We encourage the discussion of what happened at Harvard and Columbia, as well as continuous dialogues regarding sexism, racism, homophobia and misogyny more generally We urge every individual, regardless of their affiliation on campus, to speak up if or when they hear this kind of language being used As Cornellians, we understand the need to make Cornell Athletics an inclusive environment for all as we strive to be a positive influence in all that we do Moving forward, we will work to facilitate conversations about these issues amongst our teams and more broadly within the athletics community
We are incredibly honored to be able to represent Cornell in our respective sports and we will continue to strive for academic, athletic, and personal excellence to the best of our abilities
Go Big Red
Jacob
Rubashkin | The Jacobin
Moving the Left Forward
The Democrats lost this election But despite what you may have heard from the countless talking heads on TV, they have not lost the people By the time all votes have been counted, Hillar y Clinton will have won the popular vote by a larger margin than many previous victors, and Democratic senatorial candidates will have garnered millions more votes than their Republican counterparts That isn’t just some factoid destined for the footnotes of histor y it needs to be a guiding factor in the actions of the p
Democrats must govern like they represent the majority, because they do
For instance, they must work hard to reject President-elect Tr ump ’ s proposed infrastructure bill On its surface, the bill seems particularly palatable to Democrats, and all but anathema to the (supposedly) budget-conscious Republicans who once shut down the government over $4 billion in disputed spending But dig not too much deeper, and you discover that the touted “$1 trillion investment in infrastructure ” is not really an investment but rather a series of tax breaks for private industr y, meant to incentivize corporations to repair our nation’s crumbling roads, bridges, tunnels and so on Ideally, because corporations would be on the hook for the costs of production themselves, they would insure the projects come in on time and on budget
But if there’s one thing that ever yone should know about corporate America, it’s that private industr y doesn’t lift a finger unless it’s under injunction or getting paid to do it, and no amount of tax breaks can change that So the only projects private industr y would even be interested in are high-margin, long term profitable projects such as toll roads in densely populated areas and highly trafficked areas or highcapacity electrical power grids And herein lies the problem Attractive projects like these are only a small slice of what is necessar y to rebuild America and they generally ser ve more affluent areas of the countr y
And herein lies the problem: what selfrespecting capitalist would ever take on the project of replacing the countless miles of leaded water pipes in low-income areas? Or repairing a toll-free interstate that cuts t h r o u g h r u r a l We s t Vi r g i n i a a n d Kentucky? There’s no money in those ventures, not before or after any potential tax breaks If I were a shareholder of a company that elected to complete one of those projects, I would be positively befuddled Public infrastructure is government-funded and maintained because it is a public good Private industr y is not structured to help the public it is structured to make money That isn’t a bad thing, by the way, but it means that we need a government to fund public works
So even if this infrastructure “plan” were being proposed by the run-of-them i l l Re p u b l i c a n p o l i t i c i a n , i t w o u l d deser ve incredible scrutiny and skepticism, as it seems to be yet another way to enrich the wealthiest at the expense of the most disadvantaged But it’s not being proposed by the average Republican It is being proposed by a politically neophytic potential kleptocrat who legitimized and empowered a particularly vicious brand of ignorance, racism, sexism and xenophobia with his campaign and victor y
That matters, for a number of reasons First of all, Trump’s past business dealings leave him with deep ties to the construction industr y, and he has, in a stunning rebuke of precedent, refused to divest himself of his business holdings This creates an incredible conflict of interest, especially when it comes to government contracting Even though the Office of the President cannot not award contracts outright, it is entirely plausible that Trump will pressure the various executive departments, as well as state governments, to award the tax breaks to his friends and favored partners the possibility for graft and cronyism is
Trump The President-elect has already shown a tendency to use his office as a tool for advancing his business interests, having
approvals for his projects overseas and admittedly attempted to influence British energy policy for the benefit for his golfing properties in Scotland Can we expect him to act any differently when it comes to American infrastructure?
There is another reason to reject this proposal from Tr ump: it comes from Trump And acquiescing to the objectives of a man like Trump, even if he happens to be President of the United States irreversibly legitimizes him I do not mean legitimize in the legal sense Donald Trump is the legitimately elected president of the United States, and no recount attempt by Jill Stein to remain relevant will change that I mean legitimize in the broader sense
Rep Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz ) said it best when he took the House floor two weeks ago: “ We cannot treat [Trump] like any other politician, or even like any other Republican, because he is not He represents something much more dangerous we have a duty to treat him like the threat he is a threat to our values, a threat to our people, and a threat to our national identity ” Representative Gallego recognizes the danger that blindly following Trump represents In doing so, he runs contrar y to the position of the Democratic leadership, including but not limited to New York’s own Senate Minority Leader Sen Chuck Schumer (D-N Y ), House Minority Leader Rep Nancy Pelosi (DCalif ) and Senators Bernie Sanders (DVt ) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass ), all of whom have reiterated their willingness to work with President Trump
In short, just because Trump won the election, Democrats and Americans in general do not have to give up on our principles, principles that position us against racism, sexual assault, corruption, greed and hate We cannot let it become normal for a man like Trump to be able to take power Democrats in Congress, with the knowledge that they have real popular support, should not trip over themselves tr ying to cooperate with the incoming Re
College, but in order to have the cooperation of the Democrats and the American people, he must win our respect and trust as well
Rubashkin is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences He may be reached at jrubashkin@cornell-
Hebani Duggal |
Teach Me How to Duggal
T h e S t r u g g l e o f
G i v i n g T h a n k s
Thisyear was the first year I headed home for Thanksgiving Most of campus tends to clear out the week of Thanksgiving Break, and usually, I am just another immigrant millennial headed to one of their American friends’ homes to gobble down some turkey and stuffing (and chocolate covered strawberries if I get lucky) This year, however, the United States Immigration and Citizenship Services decided to come in clutch and schedule my citizenship test the week after Thanksgiving I was headed home to the aggressively Southern state of Texas to take my citizenship test, and spend some quality time giving thanks with my parents in the process
The idea of family bonding is not lost on my family My parents, like most other parents, enjoy pretending we all like each other enough to (semi-)voluntarily spend time with each other in a way that constitutes “quality family time ” There are several activities, of course, that fit this description I like to think of these activities as if they correspond to a spectrum If you ’ re on the “loving family” end of the spectrum, you guys can do a game night or a trip to the mini golf course Your family gets along with each other to handle a little healthy competition so why not capitalize on the decent guarantee that no one will die during a game of Trivial Pursuit while you can? If you ’ re on the other end of the spectrum, however, that guarantee does not exist, and you tend to wisely choose heading out to dinner or heading to the movies
My family headed to the movies this Thanksgiving weekend The movies are my personal favorite form of “quality family time” because they require no direct interaction and can be mildly fun if you pay close enough attention to the movie and/or fall asleep The movie my family watched this past weekend was a Hindi movie (Dear Zindagi, for reference), and it got awkward real fast
Watching movies with your parents can get awkward if you ’ re on the end of the spectrum that can ’ t handle a little healthy competition Sometimes there’s a sex scene, and since sex is not a thing that exists in the bubble that is your household, everyone has to shift uncomfortably until it's over and then you can move on with pretending you have no idea what sex is as a 20 year college student This time, however, it wasn ’ t a sex scene that did me in for shifting uncomfortably in my seat In fact, it was just the premise of the movie itself It struck home (pun definitely intended) in a way no one saw coming
The movie’s premise brought up some great points Without dissecting the entire movie itself (tune in next week when Hebani turns into a self-proclaimed movie critic and bores everyone to death with her unsubstantiated opinions more so than she usually does), the movie’s basic premise does a lot to address the very real hypocrisy that exists within Indian society when it comes to women in general and young women in particular Dating more than one person, choosing an unconventional career path, making mistakes these are a handful of practices upon which Indian society places a complex and unfair judgement
My favorite point, however and the one that stuck with me most was the one about viewing the mistakes your parents make outside of the vacuum of your household There’s a quote in the movie that translates roughly to “Think about your parents as people rather than the ideal that is a parent ” I’m not entirely sure how much more accurately I can convey the way in which those words were said, but the idea is simply that your parents are people In viewing them as just that people that can make mistakes, people that have to make tough decisions, people that can make the wrong decisions you distance yourself from the pressure of comparing them to an unrealistic ideal and allow yourself to understand them as people that have faced the same realities you might face as well one day You don’t have to agree with their decisions, you don’t have to justify them, and frankly, you don’t have to respect them but you do have to try and understand them if you ’ re going to move towards a more mature relationship with them
This was not something I wanted to be hit in the face with in the theater, on Thanksgiving, next to my mom For a family that hides the fact that we cry at the movies from each other, sobbing hysterically during what was labeled as a Bollywood comedy was not the best way to go about tackling being home for Thanksgiving for the first time in a couple years
It was, however, one of the better ways to tackle being a part of my family No one ’ s family is ever perfect There’s a reason there’s as many movies about family drama as there are about literally anything else Families are made up of people that are meant to be yours from the minute you were born, and judging them at a higher standard than you would ever judge yourself or any of your closest friends makes for a tough way to be happy
Comm en t of the day
“This is not a discussion about how just U S immigration law is, or about whether academia thinks it’s so just and ethical and revolutionary that it gets to stand above that law It’s a discussion about what compliance with current law looks like. That’s all. And in those terms, Rawlings’ answer is spot on Cornell follows the laws currently in place ”
DeShawn Brown
Re: “Rawlings Promises Cornell Will ‘Support and Defend’ Undocumented Students” News November 27, 2016
Alex Davies | Have I Got News for You?
We Need to Talk About Donald
(As if We Haven’t Already)
Dn g h i s “ b l i n d t r u s t ”
Iva n k a Tr u m p s a t i n o n h e r f a t h e r ’ s m e e t i n g w i t h Pr i m e M i n i s t e r
S h i n z o A b e o f Ja p a n Tr u m p , * a h e m * , r e p o r t e d l y c l o s e d t h e i r m e e t i n g by a s k i n g h i s g u e s t i f h e c o u l d h e l p h i m u n d e r s t a n d j u s t q u i t e w h y “ t h e n u c l e a r ” i s s o b a d
J a r e d Ku s h n e r, a
n e w s p a p e r p r op r i e t o r, c o u l d b r i n g p e a c e t o t h e Mi d d l e E a s t , a c c o r d i n g t o Tr u m p T h a t i s d e s p i t e m e mb e r s o f h i s f a m il y c o m i n g c l o s e t o d i s o w n i n g , f o r w h a t a p p e a r s t o h a ve b e e n a t l e a s t t h e s e c o n d t i m e , h i m f o r b a c k i n g Tr u m p ’ s a n t i - S e m i t i c t we e t s St i l l , h i s Wi k i p e d i a p a g
e r, w o u l d s l i d e r i g h t i n t o t h e g ove rn o r ’ s m a n s i o n It s e e m s o d d t h a t Tr u m p w o u l d n o m i n a t e Ha l e y t o s u c h a n i m p o r t a n t p o s t c o n s i d e r i n g h e r p a u c i t y o f e x p e r i e n c e Ma y b e n o t s o o d d w h e n p u t i n t h e c o n t e x t o f Tr u m p t r y i n g t o r e w a rd h i s f a i t h f u l Mc M a s t e r ’ s a s c e n s i o n w o u l d g i ve Tr u m p a ze a l o u s a l l y i n s t a t e g ove r n m e n t T h i s , i n c o nj u n c t i o n w i t h h i s s e l e c t i o n o f Re i n c e Pr i e b u s f o r W h i t e Ho u s e c h i e f, s e e m s t o b e a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f
Tr u m p ’ s a t t e m p t t o s m o t h e r t h e
Re p u b l i c a n Pa r t y Tr u m p ’ s n e p o t i s m w i l l b e g re a tl y i n t e n s i f i e d by h i s l a c k o f p re p a -
Trump’s nepotism will be greatly intensified by of preparation and the disgust he inspires amon of the conservative foreign policy elite One is a required to staff vital agency chairs with one’s o progeny when one has repulsed most of the Republican Washington swamp-dwellers
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l o p e r a t i ve ” Dow n t o n o m i n a t i o n s f o r p o s it i o n s t h a t m a n y b e l i e ve w i l l h o l d l i t t l e p owe r i n a Tr u m p a d m i n i s t r at i o n , l i k e A m b a s s a d o r t o t h e U N , we s e e g l i m p s e s o f t h e m e g a l o m an i a c a l m a c h i n a t i o n s o f t h i s m a n Tr u m p h a s n o m i n a t e d S o u t h C a r o l i n a G ov e r n o r Ni k k i H a l e y ( R - S C ) t o t h a t p o s t , i n a s e e m i n g p l oy t o b i n d t h e w o u n d s o f d i v is i o n w i t h i n t h e Re p u b l i c a n Pa r t y Ha l e y h a s n o f o re i g n p o l i c y q u a l i f ic a t i o n s o r e x p e r i e n c e If Ha l e y we re c o n f i r m e d t o t h a t p o s i t i o n , So u t h C a ro l i n a ’ s c u r re n t l i e u t e n a n t g o v e r n o r, H e n r y Mc Ma s t e r, a n e a r l y Tr u m p e n d o r s -
Donald Tr ump is clearly a man fr ustrated with the details of means Don’t talk to a woman, just grab what you want, you ’ re a star Don’t c o n s t r u c t
your name out like
washed up countr y singer bringing out a ne w line of Walmar t clothing America must not let its president’s immaturity steer us away from questioning his actions If “millions” of votes can be arbitrarily declared “illegal” by a soon-to-be-sitting president, and the American people not t h
r a t i o n a n d t h e d i s g u s t h e i n s p i re s a m o n g m u c h o f t h e c o n s e r va t i ve f o re i g n p o l i c y e l i t e On e i s a l m o s t re q u i re d t o s t a f f v i t a l a g e n c y c h a i r s w i t h o n e ’ s ow n p ro g e n y w h e n o n e h a s r e p u l s e d m o s t o f t h e R e p u b l i c a n Wa s h i n g t o n s w a m pd we l l e r s Eq u a l l y w o r r y i n g l y, Tr u m p c o nt i n u e s t o s i d e l i n e t h e p re s s , b re a ki n g l o n g o b s e r ve d p re c e d e n t s f o r t h a t o h - s o - i m p o r t a n t s t e a k d i n n e r W i t h B r e i t b a r t l o o k i n g s e t t o m o r p h i n t o a Tr u m p i a n Pr a vd a , Tr u m p ’ s m e d i a s t r a t e g y w i l l o n l y m a k e i t m o r e d i f f i c u l t f o r A m e r i c a n s t o h o l d h i s a d m i n i s t r at i o n a c c o u n t a b l e T h e D o n a l d d o e s n ’ t e v e n t r y t o j u s t i f y h i s i n f r i n g e m e n t s t h ro u g h , s a y, a r g um e n t s a b o u t h i s f a m i l y ’ s p r i va c y No , a m o n g Tr u m p ’ s m o s t s u b s t a nt i ve c r i t i q u e s o f t h e m e d i a h a s b e e n t h a t “ t h e y d o n ’ t k n ow h ow t o w r i t e g o o d , ” a s t a t e m e n t a f t e r w h i c h a n a i d e i n t e r j e c t e d , “ a t l e a s t h e s p e a k s g o o d ” I ’ m n o t j o k i n g T h e l a t e s t p i e c e o f Tr u m p a n t i c s t h a t s e e m s m o s t c o n c e r n i n g i s h i s p e r s i s t e n t q u e s t i o n i n g o f t h e e l e ct i o n re s u l t s Pre v i o u s l y h e s t a t e d t h a t h e w o u l d h a ve w o n t h e p o p ul a r vo t e i f t h a t h a d b e e n w h a t m a tt e re d Now h e i s s t a t i n g t h a t h e d i d w i n t h e p o p u l a r vo t e o n c e o n e s u bt r a c t s t h e m i l l i o n s o f i l l e g a l vo t e s T h i s i s u n s u b s t a n t i a
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
h e S u n ’sTo p 10 M ov i e s o f 2016
Based on the play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue, Moonlight is a three-part meditation on race, class, queerness and growing up Set in Miami in the 1980s, the movie follows Chiron from childhood through adolescence throughout adulthood (played by Alex R Hibbert, Ashton Sanders and Trevante Rhodes respectively) as he attempts to grapple with his mother’s drug addiction and incessant desecration of his black, queer body The film’s focus is not simply on marginalized identities and the tortured psyches that accompany them, however, but on probing intimacy It propels viewers to be there during Chiron’s gravest difficulties an easy task given his lived experiences while simultaneously eschewing stereotypes, culminating in a depiction, rather than exploitation, of pain Moonlight is expected to be a 2017 Academy Award contender G we n Av i l e s
Inspired by Ted Chiang’s short stor y “ The Stor y of Your Life,” Arrival’ s beginning scene breaks from formulaic plot of its better budgeted sci-fi predecessors Twelve unidentified alien spacecrafts land at various parts across the globe, and humanity has no way to contact them As a linguist and theoretical physicists attempt to crack the aliens’ code, the governments of the world prepare for all-out war Yet despite familiar elements, Denis Villeneuve’s latest cinematic offering takes this archetypal alien invasion/first contact trope and imbues it with a surprising amount of heart, realism and relevance The end product is a masterpiece that dialectically celebrates the beauty of diversity and laments the world’s polarization across ethnic, cultural and political lines Indeed, while Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker all give stellar performances, Arrival’ s strength lies in its own self-cognizance and versatility
Zachar y Lee
Hell or High Water is a crime movie so assured in the skill of its actors, its pacing and its realistic characters that it creates tension is many ways other than a bank robbery shootout The relationships between characters are so well portrayed and multidimensional that simple conversations between them are as effective at drawing in the audience as the action scenes Chris Pine gives the most emotionally rich performance of his career, Jeff Bridges steals every scene he’s in with impeccable comedic timing and Ben Foster’s acting is so natural, you don’t even realize how good he is The screenplay is nuanced and thoughtful in such a way that even when minor characters such as a waitress get a few lines, we care about what they have to say While this movie is not the most epic in terms of story, action or budget, it’s nearly perfect, down to the most minor details
Lev Akabas
Part-world building, part-crime thriller, part-cute animal flick: Zootopia is one of those rare movies that takes a huge bite and is still able to chew it all An all-star vocal cast featuring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba and Jenny Slate helped to propel this lush, full-speed romp through the imaginary land that gives the movie its name Were there plot holes galore (how did Flash the sloth have fast enough reflexes to cut tight turns?!)? Yes, but in the end Zootopia was just, plain fun
Shay Collins
7
What are the kids up to now-a-days?
With print in peril, no one would expect them to be selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door, and yet that’s exactly what the gang of traveling teenagers led by Shia LeBeouf in American Honey does (among other illicit activities) The film stars Sasha Lane as Star, a directionless and destitute teenager who’s recruited for a national magazine scam after she’s seen rummaging through a garbage can for food Lane’s lack of professional acting experience (American Honey is her first credit) is juxtaposed with LeBeouf ’ s established range, rooting the film in authenticity, while the hazy Midwestern shots are an unrefined reminder that those in pursuit of the American Dream have many faces Gwen Aviles
The Nice Guys is a throwback to the buddy cop movies of the ’80s and ’90s, with classic shootouts and chases to go along with laugh-out-loud dialogue Whether or not you go into this movie having a crush on Ryan Gosling, you will leave this movie having a crush on Ryan Gosling His chemistry with Russell Crowe is as good as you’ll see between two actors in a comedy, as they feed off each other with one deadpan joke and spot-on facial expression after another Thanks to them, every scene of this movie just oozes with fun Lev Akabas
8
The Handmaiden is a film about fetish, but it is also a film about stor ytelling A delightful gothic tale of revenge and entrapment, what starts as a stor y of forged identities and tragic seduction stops and shifts perspective Rashomon-style to reveal greater depths of deception Ever yone in the film is pretending to be something they are not Women are dominated by patriarchs not through real sexuality but through the bombardment of erotic art and bawdy tales, gentlemanly amusement with real consequences Although entrapped by these narratives, it is through them that our heroines are liberated some will likely criticize the film for its overtly eroticized, fantastical lesbian relationship, but unlike other films the male gaze at play here is central to the themes explored Nathan Chazan
Laika Animation has done it again with Kubo and the Two Strings They’ve blended together classical stopmotion animation, computer-generated imagery, and robotic puppetry into an enrapturing journey across Eastern mythology The characters are heartfelt with some great performances from Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey
Huge action set-pieces include batting giant monsters, besting sea creatures, and dueling with masked figures Creature designs are intricate and detailed Music is integral to the film Kubo’s three-stringed Shamisen gives him his powers, allowing origami to come to life in beautiful choreography This informs the film’s score which is exciting and upbeat with heavy influences in Japanese style Brendan Coyle
Deadpool is like high-budget, extended YouTube parody of the superhero genre, full of crude humor and lacking any actual heroics Deadpool will walk to the end of the world for a cheap joke, constantly bombarding you with quips that you’ll laugh at just long enough to hold you over for another one Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson was quick and witty throughout the whole movie, unrelenting in his profanity and snark The wrecking ball they kept on set to constantly break the fourth wall made Deadpool’s criticism of superheroics more clear and personal, adding to the irony of an anti-hero participating in all of the practices he criticizes It becomes a parody of itself very fast, and puts humor into every second of it It s funny and fun, and while it doesn t do much more than crack jokes, that’s all it really needs
Katie Sims
Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg easily could have made a documentar y that simply condemned former Representative Anthony Weiner Yet, Weiner begins on a high note: the Anthony Weiner who appears at the beginning of the documentar y is rejuvenated, remorseful about his sexting scandals and ready to fight in New York City’s mayoral race Weiner, once again, descends into lying and defensiveness as more sexting allegations surface
Kriegman and Steinberg expertly elevate Weiner from an entertaining to a thoroughly thought-provoking movie by catching the moments when Weiner and the people around him reflect on his self-destruction Shay Collins
SCIENCE
Three million years ago, there were no humans, global temperatures were possibly four degrees celsius warmer and sea levels were high enough to cover most of modern-day Manhattan This was also the last time in geologic histor y that global atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2 ) levels exceeded 400 parts per million
(ppm), a benchmark that was permanently and ominously passed once again in 2016
Carbon emissions, largely as a result of burning fossil fuels, are not likely to halt anytime soon Some scientists have started organizing backup plans; most notably, finding a way to grab some of this atmospheric carbon and store it in the Earth
“ The critical thing at this point in time is to reduce emissions as rapidly as we are able to do so However, in the event that we cannot, as a global community, manage to reduce emissions fast enough, we will still end up with a surplus of CO2 in the atmosphere that we need to deal with,” said Dominic Woolf, soil and crop sciences, and lead author of a recent study that focussed on a new way to sequester more CO2 into the Earth and out of the atmosphere
“ We need a plan B, because it looks like we may not get there fast enough or quick enough Plan B is how we get that carbon back down out of the atmosphere,” Woolf said
Plan B, in Woolf ’ s case, is to use a “BiocharBioenergy System ” BCBES involves using a technique called pyrolysis, the burning of plant material in the absence of oxygen By doing so, half of the original carbon in the plant remains in the leftover biomass, now called biochar
BCBES has been proposed by Woolf and other researchers as a substitute for “Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, ” a similar method of carbon sequestration that captures CO2 from plants through combustion
Although BECCS may be a more effective way to remove and store CO2 , there are several advantages to using BCBES instead A bioenergy capture system requires a large carbon transportation network and therefore a lot of capital for infrastructure, while a biochar system could be implemented in more remote areas
Biochar can also be added to infertile soils in order to increase agricultural productivity, which could be used to offset some of the costs associated with BCBES “Plants already draw down 10 times as much carbon as we ’ re emitting at the moment globally,” Woolf said Under normal conditions, approximately 90 percent of that carbon would be returned to the Earth or atmosphere through burning or plant decay over a three year period Pyrolysis, on the other hand, releases 50 percent of plant carbon instantly, but stores the rest
in biochar for a significantly longer duration
Woolf suggests using BCBES and BECCS in tandem for now, transitioning to using BECCS once it becomes more economically viable Other carbon sequestration techniques, such as reforestation or direct carbon capture, either require too much land and money to implement or are too under-developed to be used immediately
However, Woolf stresses that the main goal right now must be to reduce CO2 emissions and said that these proposed techniques are not a panacea for the warming climate Keeping CO2 levels under 450 ppm is critical, as scientists have warned that crossing that threshold will likely have irreversible effects on the environment In order to do so, Woolf urges that “ we ’ ve got to move rapidly and drastically as a global effort ”
“By 2100, our key driving motivation must be to keep any change that does happen within manageable levels and the more we can mitigate, the better it is And it’s clear that bioenergy-biochar systems will have a role to play in that,” he said “ The less we manage to reduce emissions, the larger the role these other technologies will have to have But we shouldn’t see them as a get-out or a substitute for reducing emissions ”
For centuries, rivers have sustained human civilization From the Nile to the Indus, these blue-green and brown waters have been invaluable sources of irrigation Unfortunately, they are equally convenient for waste disposal Over time, cocktails of industrial effluents have caused these rivers to acquire much darker hues Fortunately, Prof Juan Hinestroza, fiber science, has created a pollutant-absorbing fiber that could help restore rivers to their former glory
“I often know what color is in fashion in the U S by looking at a river because some of the chemicals used in m a n u f a c t u r i n g a re t h row n i n t o l a k e s a n d r i ve r s , ” Hinestroza said It’s so sad because people have to drink this water As a result, what we wanted to do is create a material that could capture pollutants from air and water ”
Hinestroza developed the polymer using a process known as cyclodextrin polymerization to coat the surface of a cotton fabric Polymerization is the process of reacting molecules together in a chemical reaction to form polymers, large molecules of repeated subunits The resultant material is capable of filtering a variety of contaminants, including Styrene and Bisphenol A BPA is known to cause a variety of negative health effects, including breast cancer, early puberty, heart disease and infertility
“Cyclodextrin is a very beautiful molecule On the o u t s i d e i t s h yd ro p h o b i c a n d o n t h e i n s i d e i t s
hydrophilic,” Hinestroza explained “It works because of the chemical affinity of the molecule - it is able to capture the pollutants inside and reuse them ”
He uses the analogy of a cup to explain how the polymer captures these pollutants
“The polymer is like a little cup When we put the cups together the contaminant gets captured We can
“I think the main advantage of our polymer is that we can capture the pollutants extremely fast.”
release the pollutants by changing the pressure or heating it up slowly,” Hinestroza said That’s an advantage because we can reuse the polymer ”
Hinestroza’s polymer has numerous other advantages over those that already exist For example, companies can easily incorporate it into their manufacturing processes without needing to procure new machines or make special changes to manufacturing conditions
“I think the main advantage of our polymer is that we can capture the pollutants extremely fast,” Hinestroza
said “We decided to benchmark our polymer with commercial solvents and we ended up being several orders of magnitude faster in capturing large amounts of pollutants without saturation ”
The process is not exclusive to cotton Cotton was only chosen as the testing material due to its common use and low level of testing difficulty
“We can coat polyester, we can coat nylon, we can coat any other textile fiber,” Hinestroza said “Once you have it as a fiber, you can produce a t-shirt, a filter, a carpet, a curtain, anything All these different objects can clean the air ”
Hinestroza said he hopes that such polymers will eventually be used in other industries as well
“We want to see it become much bigger than the textile industry It will be nice to have clothing that can clean water and air, but we also see these filtering juices, packaging food and as architectural textiles,” Hinestroza said
In fact, one of Hinestroza’s main goals is to develop a ‘super-suit’ capable of repelling stains, changing colors and healing minor wounds
“ We work on interactive textiles, so cleaning the air and water is only one aspect We are also working on clothing that changes colors without pigments For example, when there is an allergen closeby, the clothing will change colors to alert you If someone spills wine on the clothing, it should be able repel the stain and scent ”
Sam Nadell can be reached at san55@cornell edu
Darren Chow can be reached at
By SAM NADELL Sun Contributor
By DARREN CHOW Sun Contributor
PHOTO COURTESY OF DOMINIC WOOLF
PHOTO
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O’Byrne ’07 Returns for His Degree
MEN’S HOCKEY
Continued from page 12
workload definitely focusing a lot on studies,” said O’Byrne, who is currently has a “kind of consulting role,” on the team
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Like any freshman adjusting to Cornell, it took O’Byrne time to get fully reaccustomed to the pressures of college life
“Let’s not kid yourself, the first week is tough,” O’Byrne said “I called my family after the first week and was like, ‘ Whoa, that was nuts ’ Ever y week got easier and easier ”
C o m p a re d t o m o s t Cornellians, O’Byrne has been privy to an opportunity most others never experience: he took a leave of absence for several years, developed as an adult and then returned to finish his degree with a new outlook on life
In
By r n e
n g h i s time as a professional athlete has allowed him adjust his world view and take full advantage of what Cornell has to offer now that he has a second chance
“I think as you come back as a mature student you really appreciate Cornell for what it is,” he s a i d “ Ma y b e w h e n I w a s younger I didn't appreciate it enough Not only the schooling but the people, institution, all the ser vices that are offered, not j u s t a c t u a l t e a c h i n g b u t , f o r example, career ser vices or different groups that people can be a part of to help them prepare for their careers You really realize what a great institution this is ”
A t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y, O’Byrne has chosen the path less travelled in receiving his degree
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27 H OUSE FOR R ENT
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Hi s d e c i s i o n t o l e a v e t h e University in the first place was one that kept him up for weeks, but in hindsight, he said, “I don't have a lot of regrets to tell you the truth ”
Now that he has a firmer grasp on his future, O’Byrne is doing his part to help Cornell hockey’s present make the most of their few years on the hill and prepare themselves for life after hockey
“I tell the [guys on the team] this but work hard, be a great teammate, do ever ything asked of you, stay out of trouble and listen to your coaches and you'll be successful,” he said “ Those staples that got me to where I was I want to kind of pass on to the guys ”
O’Byrne has just weeks before he graduates in the winter and begins his next venture in an already eventful life As he prepares to leave Cornell for the second time, he will look back on his two stints as a student fondly, knowing some of his most memorable moments were made in Ithaca
“It’s kind of funny because I was here from 2003-06 and I have some great memories here,” O’Byrne said “I’m building new memories here, but all the memories that I have are with people that aren ' t here any more, so it’s been kind of fun on that end ”
Zach Silver can be reached at zsilver@cornellsun com
Spor ts
After 10 Years in the NHL, O’Byrne ’07 Returns to Cornell
By ZACH SILVER Sun Assistant Sports Editor
It is just another school day in Ithaca and Ryan O’Byrne
’07 is sitting in class listening to a lecture on strategic management Like many Cornell students, O’Byrne is unsure of what lies in store for him after he graduates But, unlike many Cornell students, O’Byrne already has a career behind him: 10 years of playing professional hockey
Flashback to six years earlier and O’Byrne is sitting in a room similar to a classroom, but which serves a different purpose On Nov 11, 2010, while playing for the Montreal Canadiens’ and preparing for a highly anticipated rivalr y game against the Boston Br uins, O’Byrne went through his typical pregame ritual, reading the newspaper at his locker room stall to loosen up before the game
What Once Was
O’Byrne’s path to the NHL
started 13 years ago when he was drafted in the third round of the 2003 NHL entry-level draft by the Canadiens For the next three years, O’Byrne played hockey for Cornell a common move for young drafted players hoping to someday make it to the NHL
As a player for Cornell, O’Byrne quickly rose to become a dominant force on the blueline
because I think with all those attributes he had, he was ready for the next level and that game, ” Schafer said, “I think a lot of guys aren ' t ready, but I think he's the only guy that I've had that left early and made the nhl within a year ”
O’Byrne spent six seasons playing in the NHL for three teams before taking his talents to international leagues and eventually retiring due to injuries, combined with general wear and tear
that led Conell to two ECAC championship appearances winning one and two showing in the NCAA tournament
Only appearing in three of 15 possible games that season, O’Byrne was not expecting to see the ice in Boston, but what happened next completely changed his way of life
As the team prepared for one of its biggest games of the season, O’Byrne received a phone call from Pierre Gauthier, then the general manager of the Canadiens Gauthier told O’Byrne that he had been traded to the Colorado Avalanche, a move that he had been anticipating
“I was a healthy scratch for about a month [before being traded] and it was really tough,” he said “I walked into coach’s office one day and we had a good talk and I kind of insinuated that maybe it would be a good time for me to move on ”
Although it was not the only time O’Byrne was traded, his departure to the Avalanche has become emblematic of his hectic life as a whole Ever since he first picked up a pair of skates at the age of four, his goal was to make it to the NHL But even O’Byrne knew that a backup plan would be necessary with such an ambitious dream
And upon returning to Cornell, he’s certainly found a much more predictable lifestyle than the uncertainty of professional sports
“[At Cornell I am] not always on the go [and do] not have that thought in the back of my head that maybe I’ll get traded today, or I had a bad game last night maybe I’ll get sent down Here they can ’ t send me down,” he joked “So it’s been really rewarding being back here ”
Although O’Byrne was not gifted with the silky hands or deadly accurate shot of some of his teammates and opponents, head coach Mike Schafer ’86 lauded his former player for other aspects of his play
“He really grew as a player, but he came in with all the necessary attributes the size and the skating for his size,” Schafer reminisced “As he was here he had some inconsistencies like everybody else does, but he started getting through those We had a real good lineup, but as I said he was a big part of that With his skating ability, he could play all night long ”
O’Byrne decided to forgo his senior year at Cornell when he was offered a contract to play for the Canadiens’ minor league farm team He spent one year playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs winning the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup championship that year before getting the nod to play in the big leagues in 2007
When O’Byrne decided to sign his contract, Schafer knew he was losing one of his biggest leaders both on and off the ice Apart from his playing ability, O’Byrne was named an alternate captain as a junior, meaning a captaincy was very plausible the next year; his lost senior year
Losing an emerging college athlete, Schafer said O’Byrne was one of the most “NHL-ready” players he has seen to come through the program in his 22-year tenure at the helm of Cornell men ’ s hockey
“I think that for him personally it was a good decision [to go pro]
O’Byrne made the choice at age 31 to leave professional hockey with his future in mind
“I [was] at a point now where it's like I can still enjoy activities I can go hiking or play hockey on Sundays,” he said, “but maybe if I played for another four years I would have been in a position where I have to have another two or three surgeries So if I step away now then can still enjoy being active and healthy ”
An Outspoken Advocate
After making the the choice to leave a sport he had always loved, O’Byrne had to find something to fill the void practices, games and constant flights to different cities used to fill
While O’Byrne has been lucky enough to locate his path so quickly choosing to finish his degree to pursue a second career other retired athletes have not been quite so fortunate
In 2011, then-Nashville Predator Wade Belak retired from professional hockey after 14 years in the game when he was demoted to the AHL and sustained a pelvis injury Just five months later, after a battle with depression, he committed suicide in a Toronto apartment
Following Belak’s death,
Top of his game | O’Byrne was a dominant force with the Red, winning two
and
O’Byrne was one of the players at the forefront of the mental health discussion within the league
“I think this will be a big eyeopener for everybody that mental illness isn’t something to be ashamed about,” he told CTV News in 2011 “If you ’ re feeling down for whatever reason, just talk about it with somebody ”
According to HELIX magazine
a science publication from Northwestern University athletes who step away from their game have a clear tendency to fall into this pattern of depression
O’Byrne said this was a problem he tackled from the very beginning
“The best advice I've heard is that once you start in the NHL you start thinking about what you ' re going to do afterwards right away so you get prepared for that transition,” he continued to tell CTV News
And that’s exactly what he did
Familiar
Face In a Familiar Place
O’Byrne’s days of dealing out bruising hits and trading punches is now in the past Over the summer, the British Columbia native announced he would return to Ithaca to finish what he started in the fall
COURTESY OF CORNELL ATHLETICS
Back to where it began | After 10 years of playing hockey professionally, O’Byrne retrurned to Cornell The former Red icer is currently completing his Cornell degree
of 2003: earning a Cornell degree
“The first couple of weeks were definitely a transition period,” he said “Leading up to the coming back there were a lot of thoughts and how it was going to work, so not being in a school setting for 10 years it is definitely interesting After a couple of weeks, I finally started to get into my groove ”
Despite the drastic change of pace, O’Byrne said he welcomes the opportunity to take a step back and resettle his life back down
“Playing professional hockey every weekend you ' re on the road and that definitely wore on me, ” he said “I definitely enjoy being back at Cornell, being situated and waking up and working towards something ”
Many people were intrigued by the news that a former NHL player was returning to Cornell to finish his degree, and while he is excited to be back on his old stomping grounds, O’Byrne knows that his remaining time here is work-oriented As much as he would love to help out with the current team, school work is his number one priority
“I’m involved a little bit [with the team], but I am taking 19 credits this semester, so I have a heavy
ECAC championships
appearing in the NCAA tournement twice
COURTESY OF RYAN O’BYRNE
Move on up | O’Byrne opted out of his final year at Cornell to play in the minors, eventually making it to the big league in 2007
