J.A. under re for lack of published misconduct statistics, increased use of temporary suspensions
By REBECCA BLAIR Sun Assistant News Editor
re a s e d by 3 5 0 p e rc e n t ,
h e n u m b e r o f s u s p e n s i o n s o n t h e m e r i t s o f a c a s e h a s i n c re a s e d by 3 3 3 p e rc e n t a n d t h e n u m b e r o f e x p u ls i o n s h a s i n c re a s e d s e ve nf o l d Howe ve r, t h e n u m b e r o f re f e r r a l s s e n t t o t h e Of f i c e o f t h e J A i n t h e a c a d em i c ye a r 2 0 1 3 - 1 4 w a s ve r y s i m i l a r t o t h e n u m b e r s e n t 1 0 ye a r s p r i o r, s e e i n g o n l y a s l i g h t r i s e f ro m 8 1 2 i n
2 0 0 4 t o 8 6 2 i n 2 0 1 4
How Did We Get Here?
At the conclusion of the 2014-2015 academic year, Amanda Minikus J D ’15, who was then ending her one-year term as JCC, released the first ever JCC Annual
“Some information in the report is misleading and lacking appropriate context, giving community members a false impression ... ”
rights
office, understaffed and overloaded with cases, was mismanaging inves-
W h i l e t h e J A a t t r i b u t e s t h e s e t re n d s t o a n i n c
i n s e r i o u s c a s e s , t h e l a w s t u d e n t s t a s k e d w i t h re p re s e n ti n g s t u d e n t s i n J A p ro c e e d i n g s , k n ow n a s Ju d i c i a l
C o d e s C o u n s e l o r s , c o n t e n d t h a t re c e n t d
I.C. Students Vote
By GABRIELLA LEE Sun News Editor
It h a c a C o l l e g e s t u d e n t s h a ve vo t e d “ n o c o n f i d e n c e ” i n Pre s i d e n t To m Ro c h o n , w i t h
7 1 7 5 p e rc e n t o f t h e ove r 3 , 7 0 0 s t u d e n t s w h o v o t e d , e x p r e s s i n g n o c o n f i d e n c e , a c c o rd i n g t o T h e It h a c a n T h e vo t e o f n o c o n f i d e n c e c o m e s a f t e r I C w a s ro c k e d t h i s s e m e s t e r by s t u d e n t a n d f a c u l t y p ro t e s t s t h a t d e m a n d e d Ro c h o n s t e p d ow n d u e t o h i s a l l e g e d m i s h a n d l i n g o f s e ve r a l r a c e re l a t e d i n c i d e n t s o n c a m p u s Fo l l ow i n g e ve n t s t h a t i n c l u d e d a Oc t 8 c o l l e g e p a n e l , w h e n t w o I C a l u m n i re f e r re d t o a b l a c k a l u m n a a s a “ s a va g e , ” a n d a “ Pre p s & C o o k s ” t h e m e d p a r t y h o s t e d by t h e A l p h a Ep s i l o n Pi f r a t e r n i t y, s t u d e n t s a c c u s e d Ro c h o n o f a d e l a ye d re s p o n s e t o t h e e ve n t s St u d e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n P O C @ I C p l a n n e d n u m e ro u s r a l l i e s a n d p ro t e s t s i n re s p o n s e t o t h e e ve n t s , e ve n s t o r m i n g t h e s t a
The repor t focused extensively on University Policy 6 4, a modification to the Code of Conduct governing prohibited discrimination, protected-status harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault and violence In her repor t, Minikus said lengthy investigations and haphaz-
Upward and onward | A graph shows the number of temporary suspensions, suspension based on merit and expulsions imposed on Cornell students over the past decade
U.A. Votes to Create Gender Inclusive Restrooms
By ZACHARY KAPLAN Sun Staff Writer
The University Assembly voted 9-0 to expand restroom accommodations for members of Cornell’s transgender community and discussed increasing student and faculty representation in administrative discussions on Cornell’s s
n g
Tuesday
The resolution, which was presented by U A executive committee member Ulysses Smith ’14, calls for the
conversion of single person bathrooms to be “gender inclusive” and urges Cornell to pursue a formal policy or issue a statement that says “all people can use the restroom that coincides with the gender to which they identify ” If the resolution is approved by President Elizabeth Garrett, all single person bathrooms at the University would be conver ted to be “all gender inclusive” by the beginning of the fall 2016 semester, given that it is permitted by law, according to Smith
The U A then voted to take action in Januar y to create a mechanism to appoint individuals to represent the interests of students and faculty members in senior-level University discussions on sustainability policies and climate change
Faculty representative Prof Mar tin Ha
c
p
m p
e d t h i s vo
e , arguing that the University has been active enough in shaping Cornell’s climate change policy Hatch cited the weakness of the U A ’ s sustainability c o m m i t t e e , w h
2007, and the exclusivity of today’s Senior Leaders Climate Action group in his complaint that the Cornell community has not taken meaning ful steps toward addressing sustainability issues Hatch suggested that the U A seek to include more diverse vie wpoints in
Action Group which is currently
and other campus leaders according the Cornell Climate Change website In response to Hatch’s proposals, U A chair Matthe w Battaglia ’16 said
including more members of the
community in their policy
Today Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Daybook
Today
Targeting Existing Power Plants: EPA Emission Reduction With Wind and Demand Response 4:30 p m , 115 Sibley Hall
Engineering Advising for First-Years
4:30 - 6:30 p m , 3335 Carol Tatkon Center
Mid-Week Meditation
5 - 6 p m , Garden Room, Willard Straight Hall
Stress-Busting Events With Cornell Minds Matter 5 - 8 p m , 106G Olin Librar y
Our New View of Pluto
weather FORECAST
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Weird News of the Week
Woman Fined For Glitter Vandalism
AKRON, Ohio (AP)
A former clerk at an Ohio county ’ s fiscal office has been fined $1,000 for trashing a co-worker’s office with glitter and purple Silly String
A judge in Akron also ordered 25-year-old Samantha Lockhart on Tuesday to complete 50 hours of community service and to write an apology
Tomorrow
Achieving Food Security for All in the Foreseeable Future
10:30 - 11:30 a m , Auditorium, Boyce Thompson Institute
CALS Study Abroad 101 1:30 - 2 p m , 170 Roberts Hall
CUDAP Sign Choir Workshop 4:30 - 5:30 p m , 144 Goldwin Smith Hall
2015 K-Pop Noraebang Contest 7:30 - 8:45 p m , 132 Goldwin Smith Hall
Mini Locally Grown Dance Festival
7:30 p m , Schwartz Center for Performing Arts
She had been working for Summit County when police say in January she smashed photos, threw glitter and sprayed Silly String in the office after sending a resignation notice
Prosecutors say Lockhart also destroyed a computer, scanner, printer and keyboard
Lockhart told the Akron Beacon Journal after sentencing that she didn’t do everything she was accused of doing
She said everyone makes mistakes, but a prosecutor told the judge Lockhart didn’t show any remorse
Man Accidentally Runs Marathon
PHILADELPHIA (AP) A Pennsylvania teenager ’ s family says he accidentally ran all 26 2 miles of the Philadelphia Marathon because he missed a turn on his half-marathon course
WPVI-TV reports Evan Megoulas runs on his high school’s cross country team in Palmyra, 80 miles west of
Philadelphia He set out Sunday to run the 13 1-mile halfmarathon His family was waiting for him at the finish line but became concerned when he didn’t show up
They say they gave police a photo of Evan, and officers tracked him down in the Manayunk section of the city He felt good despite missing his turn and wanted to keep running
Evan’s brother says after he completed the marathon, officers wanted a picture with him
PARAMUS, N J (AP) Rapper Fetty Wap gave fans a run for his money this weekend, tossing wads of cash over a balcony at a New Jersey mall to the delight of screaming onlookers
Videos posted to social media show the Paterson native throwing money Saturday as he walked through the Garden State Plaza mall in Paramus
The rapper posted on Twitter that he was so happy to be shopping with his daughter that he threw $2,000 to fans He tweeted: “ never no who needed it ”
Wap’s real name is Willie Maxwell He’s had a breakthrough year with multiple hits, including the pop smash “ Trap Queen ”
His self-titled debut came in at No 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart this month, and his other Top 10 pop hits include “679” and “My Way ”
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Fo l l o w i n g t h e C h i c a g o c i t y g ove r n m e n t ’ s re l e a s e o f a v i d e o d e p i c t i n g a w h i t e p o l i c e o f f i c e r s h o o t i n g a b l a c k t e e n a g e r 1 6 t i m e s a n d t h e n u m e r o u s d e m o n s t r at i o n s i n p ro t e s t o f t h e a c t i o n s o f t h e o f f i c e r, C h i c a g o
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Proponents of Anabel’s Grocery Hold Panel
By JACK WENDLER Sun Staff Writer
by d e f i n i n g f o o d i n s e c u r i t y a s “ n o t h a v i n g f i n a n c i a l a n d p h y s i c a l m e a n s t o re a c h yo u r n u t r i t i o n a l n e e d s a t a n y g i ve n t i m e ”
Go r m a n s a i d A n a b e l’s Gro c e r y i s s t r i vi n g t o m a k e f o o d i n s e c u r i t y, a p o t e n t i a l l y s t i g m a t i z i n g t o p i c a m o n g s t u d e n t s f ro m
d i f f e re n t s o c i o e c o n o m i c b a c k g ro u n d s , a n o p e n d i s c u s s i o n Ac c o rd i n g t o t h e 2 0 1 5 Pe r c e p t i o n o f Un d e r g r a d u a t e L i f e a n d St u d e n t Ex p e r i e n c
, 4 1 9 s t
t s s u r v e y e d h a v e s k i p p e d m e a l s d u e t o f i n a n c i a l c o n s t r a i n t e i t h e r “ o f t e n ” o r “ ve r y o f t e n ” i n t h e p a s t ye a r “ St u d e n t s h a r b o r a l o t o f s h a m e a b o u t
b e i n g f o o d i n s e c u re a n d w i t h o u t a s t r u ct u re d c o n ve r s a t i o n we c a n ’ t t a l k a b o u t i t , ” s a i d Ni c h o l a s K a r a vo l i a s ’ 1 8 , a m e m b e r o f
A n a b e l’s Gro c e r y ’ s e xe c u t i ve b o a rd K a r a vo l i a s s a i d h e h o p e s t h e o p e n i n g o f
A n a b e l’s Gro c e r y i n Fe b r u a r y w i l l f a c i l i t a t e c o n s t r u c t i v e c o n v e r s a t i o n b y m a k i n g t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f c o n v e n i e n t a n d a f f o r d a b l e f o o d f o r a l l s t u d e n t s a re c o g n i ze d p r i o ri t y
“There’s a misconception that lowincome students are getting free rides and have no worries.”
Gove r n m e n t f o o d s t a m p s h e l p c ove r t h e n u t r i t i o n a l n e e d s o f 4 6 5 m i l l i o n
A m e r i c a n s , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e U S De p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u re Howe ve r, t h e re i s l i t t l e f o c u s o n l ow - i n c o m e c o l l e g e s t u -
d e n t s w h o o f t e n s t r u g g l e t o a f f o rd m e a l s , a c c o rd i n g t o Re n e e A l e x a n d e r ’ 7 4 , a s s o c i -
a t e d e a n a n d d i re c t o r o f i n t e rc u l t u r a l p ro -
g r a m s “ T h e r e ’ s a m i s c o n c e p t i o n t h a t l o wi n c o m e s t u d e n t s a re g e t t i n g f re e r i d e s a n d h a ve n o w o r r i e s , ” A l e x a n d e r s a i d W h i l e s o m e s t u d e n t s h a v e u n l i m i t e d a c c e s s t o c a m p u s d i n i n g h a l l s , m a n y c a nn o t a f f o rd m o re t h a n s e ve n s w i p e s p e r w e e k , A l e x a n d e r s a i d
Sh e a d d e d t h a t l o c a l s t o re s s u c h a s Ja n s e n ’ s Ma rk e t a n d Be a r Ne c e s s i t i e s a re p ro f i t - m a x i m i z i n g b u s i n e s s e s t h a t m a rk - u p
p r i c e s a n d m a k e s h o p p i n g u n s u s t a i n a b l e
f o r l owe r - i n c o m e s t u d e n t s “ W h e n I w a l k i n t o Be a r Ne c e s s i t i e s I g e t
s t i c k e r s h o c k w h e n I s e e t h e s e p r i c e s , ”
A l e x a n d e r s a i d
Pr i c e s a re s u b s t a n t i a l l y c h e a p e r a t l o c a l s u p e r m a rk e t s l i k e We g m a n s a n d Wa l m a r t , b u t s t u d e n t s w h o l i ve o n a n d a ro u n d c a mp u s h a ve l i m i t e d o p t i o n s w h e n i t c o m e s t o b u y i n g a f f o rd a b l e f o o d w i t h i n w a l k i n g d i st a n c e , a c c o rd i n g t o A l e x a n d e r “ C o l l e g e t o w n i s a f o o d d e s e r t , ” A l e x a n d e r s a i d “ T h e re a re n o g r o c e r y s t o re s t h e re o t h e r t h a n 7 / 1 1 , a n d t h a t ’ s a c o n ve n i e n c e s t o re So yo u p a y e xo r b i t a n t p r i c e s a n d yo u ’ re n o t g e t t i n g f re s h p ro d u c e w h i l e yo u f a c e l i m i t e d o p t i o n s ” A n a b e l’s Gro c e r y, a s t u d e n t - r u n g ro c e r y s t o re a i m e d t o s e r ve t h e n e e d s o f f o o d i n s ec u re i n d i v i d u a l s o n c a m p u s , re c e i ve d f i n a l a p p rova l f ro m Pre s i d e n t El i z a b e t h Ga r re t t l a s t we e k a f t e r b e i n g d e ve l o p e d ove r t h e p a s t ye a r
Cornell Receives ‘StormReady’ Award
Staff Writer
The National Weather Service officially recognized Cornell as a “StormReady” university Tuesday for its commitment to hazardous weather preparedness
StormReady is a program by the National Weather Service that helps better prepare community members and leaders for weatherrelated emergencies To be recognized as StormReady, a university must maintain a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center, be able to monitor local weather and flood conditions and conduct preparedness programs, among several other requirements During the recognition cere-
mony, Katherine Hawley, a meteorologist for the National Weather Ser vice forecast office in Binghamton, New York, presented Cornell with its StormReady certificate
“ This is a ver y impor tant accomplishment for Cornell University,” Hawley said in a National Weather Service press release “The Ithaca area has a long history of severe weather, snowstorms, floods and even a few tornadoes Cornell has taken all the necessary steps to be better prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in store These efforts will no doubt make the University safer and even save lives in the future ” Cornell’s partnership with the National Weather Ser vice will
supplement the emergency measures already in put in place by the Cornell Depar tment of Environmental Health and Safety
“A lot of things that go into being StormReady are part of our comprehensive emergency management program, ” said Dan Maas, emergency manager of EHS in an interview with The Sun
“It is a collaborative group effort across many campus departments, ” Maas said “Ever yone plays an active role in preparing Cornell for weather related hazards and help monitor, evaluate, and respond to serious weather events ”
The Cornell Police said it is responsible for monitoring the impact the weather is having on campus and the emergency notification process
“Part of our process is consulting with the office of emergency management, ” said CUPD Deputy Chief David M Honan “Our officers are out there 24/7 and our communications center is always staffed on campus to give reports on inclement weather We forward that information to the larger group to make decisions about needed actions and how the University will respond ” Infrastructure Properties and Planning evaluates the weather events and makes decisions about changes to the campus operations
depending on the potential impacts Facilities Management and the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences provide some of the weather monitoring tools, according to Maas
Students have been actively involved in this process through the Cornell chapter of the American Meteorological Society Carolina Bieri ’16, co-president of the chapter, said the club has been mostly involved with community outreach
“We help out with some of the outreach to the local community and to the student body,” Bieri said “We’ve done tabling at grocer y stores to teach the locals about flood safety We also post reminders about staying safe during the winter season for students on Facebook ” Representatives from the Depar tment of Environmental Health and Safety, Infrastructure Properties and Planning, Facilities Management, Depar tment of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell Police, University Communications and the Cornell chapter of the American Meteorological Society were also present at the ceremony The StormReady certificate is valid for three years and can be renewed at the end of the term
Food is good | Nicholas Karavolias ’18, Prof Thomas Hirschl, developmental sociology and Renee Alexander ’74 discuss food insecurity and how it affects students at Cornell at a panel yesterday
DARIEN K M / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
By SO HYUNG KIM Sun
Republicans in Congress Block Environmental Policy
WASHINGTON (AP) As President Barack Obama worked to hammer out a global climate agreement in Paris, Republicans in Congress moved to block his plan to force steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from U S power plants
The House passed two resolu-
t i o n s Tu e s d a y d i s a p p rov i n g Obama’s power-plant rules and rendering them inoperative A
Pro
Agency rule for existing power plants was approved 242-180, while a measure blocking a rule
approved 235-188
motions last month under a little-used law that allows Congress to block executive actions it con-
now go to the White House, where they face almost-certain vetoes Just four Democrats sided with Republicans to support the measures, which fell far short of the numbers needed to override a veto in both the House and Senate Rep Ed Whitfield (R-Ky ) said GOP lawmakers were forcing a vote on the climate rule to “send a message to the climate c
America, there’s serious disagreement with the policies of this president ”
House Majority Leader Kevin Mc C a r t h y, ( R - C a l i f ) s a i d Obama wants to reduce carbon emissions, but his policies will kill jobs, increase electricity costs and decrease the reliability of the U S energy supply
And Rep Jeff Duncan (RS C ) said he wished Obama took the threat posed by “radical jihadists” such as the Islamic State as seriously as he takes what Duncan called a “pseudoscientifi c t h re a t ” p o s e d by c l i m a t e change
Democrats countered that the
power-plant rules were important steps to slow global climate change that is already causing re a l h a r m t h ro u g h i n c re a s e d droughts, wildfires, floods and more severe storms
Rep Frank Pallone ( D - N J ) s a i d i t w a s regrettable that Republ i c a n s we re t r y i n g t o block the power-plant r ules even as officials f ro m m o re t h a n 1 9 0 nearly countries and many of the world’s largest private companies gathered in Paris to work out details of a global agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
coal company also are suing the EPA GOP lawmakers challenged the administration’s action under
“We know that [climate change] will endanger our children’s future if we don’t act now ”
The global agreement “will prevent us from further overheating the earth and causing major disruptions to people’s lives, their property and to the global economy, ” Pallone said “ We know that [climate change] will endanger our children’s future if we don’t act now ”
The Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan requires states to cut carbon emissions by 32 percent by 2030, based on emissions in 2005 Each state has a customized target and is responsible for drawing up an effective plan to meet its goal
The EPA says it has authority to enact the plan under the Clean Air Act
Twenty-five mostly Republican states, led by Texas and West Virginia, are contesting the plan in court, calling it an unlawful power grab that will kill jobs and drive up electricity costs
Se ve r a l u t i l i t i e s , t h e Na t i o n a l
nation’s largest privately owned
votes The maneuver is subject to a presidential veto and has rarely been successful
The White House issued a veto threat last month, saying the
protections of the Clean Air Act and “ stop critical U
efforts to reduce dangerous car-
plants
Speaking in Paris Tuesday, Obama said parts of a global climate agreement should be legally binding
His declaration was both
seeking
tough accord and
Congress, many of whom reject the idea of global warming House Speaker Paul Ryan (RWis ) said Republicans were in step with the American people, who want jobs and economic growth
“I think when you weigh the costs and the benefits against these so-called legally binding obligations they don’t add up, ” Ryan told reporters “I think it’s ver y clear people want jobs ”
Faculty Participating in Similar Vote
voting in total and 2,695 voting “ no confidence ” Do m i n i c k Re c c k i o , I C St u d e n t Gove r n m e n t Association president, said the vote laid out campus opinions plainly and clearly
“If 70 percent of the people that you are supposed to lead don’t believe in you, it’s time to go, and it’s time to go fast,” Recckio said, accord to The Ithacan
With the results of the student vote released, the I C SGA executive board will be meeting with the chair and the vice chair of the I C Board of Trustees on Tuesday College faculty will also be p
n g i n a “ n o confidence” vote, which began Monday and will close Dec 11, with release of results scheduled for Dec 14
Gabriella Lee can be reached at
Report Criticizes Campus Disciplinary System
ard investigative procedures were creating outcomes at odds with both University codes and federal guidelines
Last spring, The Sun reported that the J A was taking longer to investigate sexual assault cases than allowed by University codes or recommended by the federal Office of Civil Rights This past May, the Department of Education launched a Title IX investigation into Cornell’s handling of sexual assault cases In September, the University announced that it would relieve the J A of the responsibility of investigating student referrals under Policy 6 4, instead transferring those cases to the Office of Workforce Policy and Labor Relations
In the midst of these policy shifts, former J A Mary Beth Grant J D ’88 left the Office of the J A to assume the position of senior dean of students for inclusion, engagement and community support Jody KunkCzaplicki, who had formerly been an associate judicial administrator, has served as interim J A since the beginning of this school year A committee is currently beginning a nationwide search for candidates to permanently fill the position
After a period of many changes, and with many more pending, the new campus disciplinary system is just starting to take shape
‘A Duty to Release the Numbers’
Every year, the Office of the J A releases an annual report informing the community on the state of the campus disciplinary system However, the JCC says the numbers contained in the report are general and cursory, contending that the office has not fulfilled its obligation to educate the campus community
“Numbers in the Annual Report do not communicate meaningful trends or provide the Cornell community with a clear picture of the University’s response to instances of substantiated misconduct,” the JCC report reads “Further, some information in the report is misleading and lacking appropriate context, giving community members a false impression of the nature and incidence of misconduct on campus ”
Kunk-Czaplicki defended the reporting done during Grant’s tenure, telling The Sun that the J A ’ s Annual Reports have been thorough in disseminating data and information While Minikus agreed that the reporting was once fairly comprehensive, she argued the J A reports became “shorter, more general and less detailed on the numbers” over the course of Grant’s tenure
The J A ’ s most recent annual report does contain statistics on the number of referrals the office received, the percentage of referrals that involved alcohol or other drugs and the number of investigations that resulted in sus-
pension or expulsion It offers its most comprehensive reporting on sexual assault investigations: It relays the number of sexual assault referrals received each academic year and details how many of those referrals progressed to each point in the investigative and appeals processes
However, the J A ’ s report offers no information on the use of any sanctions other than suspension and expulsion It does not report what type of offenses lead to those extreme sanctions, and it often refers to offenses by categories like “serious, physical complaints,” without breaking the numbers down to speak to the level of danger imposed on the community The JCC also believes that some of the reporting is misleading, citing instances in which case descriptions leave out important details
The J A also does not disclose how many referrals have resulted in findings of code violations The report says that the Office of the J A received 862 referrals last year, with 20 resulting in punitive suspension or expulsions However, it does not detail how many referrals resulted in the imposition of any lesser sanction, which could range from a verbal warning to community service, leaving the remaining 842 referrals left unaddressed
In the JCC report, Minikus called for the release of more detailed numbers, emphasizing that this information is imperative for the community to form realistic conclusions on the nature of disciplinar y processes at Cornell
“We cannot have administrators shirking their duty in informing the community on how many cases are reported, etcetera, ” she said “The J A has a duty to release the numbers, and they’re just not doing it ”
When Suspensions Aren’t Punishments
Under the Code of Conduct, the J A is delegated the authority to decide when a student should be temporarily suspended during the course of an investigation The J A can choose to temporarily suspend under two circumstances: when an investigation is pending (for example, if the J A thinks a student presents a danger to the community but has not yet been found in violation) or if it a student violates a No-Contact Directement, which is an order for the student not go within a certain distance of or to refrain from contact with another party
While suspended, the student cannot be physically on campus or take part in any Cornell-related activities Both the JCC and the J A agree that temporary suspension can be a necessary tool to keep the campus safe
In an interview with The Sun, KunkCzaplicki said temporary suspensions are used only in extraordinary circumstances While she said she was not sure exactly how often the option is invoked, she estimated that there are, “ on average, two a year ” This
estimation was mostly accurate between 2004 and 2007; however, the last J A Annual Report shows that the number of temporary suspensions spiked suddenly in 2008, and has averaged 5 6 a year since then, peaking at nine in the 2013-14 academic year
The JCC’s office has expressed discomfort with this trend because, Minikus explained, temporary suspensions have the power to do immediate harm to a student, even with minimal evidence of wrongdoing She said she has seen students temporarily suspended based on the testimony of a single witness or based on the accidental violation of a NoContact Directement
“The trouble I have with the J A ’ s procedure is that this is in the hands of a single administrator, and there is no official check in place with which to [immediately] review that initial decision,” she said
Minkus told a story of one client who was denied a review of his temporary suspension until his entire case was resolved, and another of a student who was suspended during finals week These situations can result in permanent academic or emotional damage to a student, she said And while she acknowledged that temporarily suspended students are always allowed to appeal their suspensions, she believes this option is not speedy enough to “meaningfully mitigate the effects of a decision to temporarily suspend ” When students are suspended, they first have to draft an appeal arguing that the action was unjust Minikus estimated that this usually takes at least 24 hours to do well The Code of Conduct requires that a review authority then consider the appeal within five days However, the review panels are not standing; there are pools of community members designated to serve on the panels, but a panel to review a specific case is not assembled until the appeal is submitted
While Minikus said she found participants to be timely in their reviews of suspensions once the panels were formed, she said that it often took over a week to find people available to review the case During this period, the codes give the suspended student no recourse
Kunk-Czaplicki emphasized that temporary suspensions are reserved for extraordinary cases, and said she could not think of a time when a student was temporarily suspended and later found not to be in violation of University codes However, Minikus reported that she had seen “several” clients temporarily suspended and then later exonerated Since this information is not con-
tained in the J A ’ s report, there is no way to verify how many temporarily suspended students are later found to be in violation
Both Kunk-Czaplicki and Minikus said that if a student is suspended and later found not in violation, the J A ’ s office will work hard to get that student academic accommodations in order to mitigate the harm of the suspension However, Minikus maintains that no accommodations can fully erase the effects of a prolonged absence during the semester
Kunk-Czaplicki stressed that decisions to suspend students are made carefully and painstakingly, adding that she looks “forward to a robust community discussion on how our community defines” the extraordinary circumstances required for a temporary suspensions
Because Kunk-Czaplicki took office at the beginning of this academic year, there is not yet data available on her use of temporary suspensions, and JCC Emily Sanchirico law says not enough time has passed to gauge Kunk-Czaplicki’s willingness to use the measure However, over the years Grant served the J A ’ s office, suspensions were invoked more and more frequently
“The trouble is that we saw, in our opinion, temporary suspensions being used more and more liberally, in cases where it’s not really clear what happened,” Minikus said
To prevent undue punishment in cases where facts are uncertain, Minikus advocates that a standing panel be created to review all temporary suspension requests, and that the panel have to vote that a particular investigation requires suspension before the accused can be separated from campus This would essentially take the appeals procedure and move it in the process, making the same kind of vote necessary before the suspension is initiated, rather than being available as a recourse after the fact
“There are tough decisions, and I just feel like temporary suspension is not one that should be left to any one individual,” Minikus said
T h e S u n ’ s To p 1 0 S o n g s o f 2 0 15
I R e a l l y
L i k e Y o u Carly Rae Jepsen
Rihanna, Kanye West & Paul McCartney 2 3
Ju s t w h e n we we re t h i n k i n g we h a d e n o u g h a n d m i g h t g e t a l i t t l e d r u n k i f R i h a n n a re l e a s e d a n o t h e r a u t o - t u n e d t r a c k , s h e p ro d u c e d a re f re s h i n g a c o u s t i c g u i t a r - d r i v e n t u n e w i t h K a n y e We s t a n d Pa u l Mc C a r t n e y Un f o r t u n a t e l y, t h e s t r i p p e d d ow n t r a c k
n l y s e r ve s t o h i g h l i g h t h e r s c r a t c h y vo i c e , b u t t h e s o n g i t s e l f i s m e l l ow a n d re l a x i n g a n d p e r f e c t l y e n c a p s u l a t e s t h e f e e l i n g o f c o m p l e t e re s i g n a t i o n ( o n e t h a t i s n o t u n f am i l i a r t o u s a s t h e s e m e s t e r e n d s ) Pl u s , w h o d o e s n ’ t l a u g h e ve r y t i m e K a n ye s i n g s , “ T h e n I h e a rd yo u w a s t a l k i n ’ t
a u t h e n t i c i t y
Gwen Aviles F o u r F i v e S e c o
After “Call Me Maybe,” each subsequent track in Carly’s catalogue was expected to be “that song she made after ‘Call Me Maybe ’” After “I Really Like You,” any song she released had ever y right to be “that song she made after ‘Call Me Maybe’ and ‘I Really Like You ’” After “Run Away With Me,” all bets were off: This is the song that told the world that Carly Rae Jepsen was an undeniable force in pop music Whether or not you like it, you have to admit that its sax intro unpacks all the best memories of the ’80s in a few sultr y notes Whether or not you like it, you ll concede that it reaches a level of sheer smoothness uncommon to lesser pop cuts Whether or not you like it, you’ll say that, as far as pop goes, it’s the real deal But you do like it, that is How on earth couldn’t you?
Troy Sherman
Say what you want about pop music being soulless and stupid You might find Katy Perry saccharine or Pitbull idiotic, but there’s no lack of passion in “Hello ” Its universal appeal, best captured by the SNL sketch in which the song saves Thanksgiving dinner from prying aunts and racist grandparents, is the single’s greatest strength even more so than Adele’s stellar vocal performance Every piece of “Hello” is profoundly moving, from the soaring chorus to the twinkling piano At once a technical showcase for Adele’s stunning range and a guaranteed heartstring-tugger, “Hello is the non-danceable mainstream pop song of the year, hands down Many maintain that “Someone Like You” remains Adele’s strongest track, but the singer isn’t dwelling in the past “Hello” proves that she’s as relevant at 25 as she was at 21
Mike Sosnick
Stevens
Drake's “Hotline Bling” was the subject of endless social media memes, some of which were compellingly witty and original But as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump danced in a spoof of the track on Saturday Night Live, it became apparent that the song had made its impact on 2015 pop culture Perhaps one of the ultimate breakup anthems for the millennial generation, so much of “Hotline Bling,” from Drake's heartbroken lyrics to his melancholy tone, is completely relatable Every young romantic has experienced that devastating breakup and the hopeless agony of waiting for a call or text message from the beloved ex-lover Additionally, the world can enjoy a shared sense of admiration in watching Drake, clad in a gray turtleneck sweater, make even the nerdiest of dance moves seem attractive In that moment, we all wish we were Drake or at least the turtleneck on his sweater
Nick Swan 9 8 I W a n n a B o i PWR BTTM
S o r r y Justin Bieber
Jack Jones
n g t r a c k s o n Pu r p o s e , “ S o r r y ” i s d a n c e a b l e
e n o u g h t o b o o g i e , r e p l a y a b l e e n o u g h f o r d r i v et i m e r a d i o a n d i n t e l l i g e n t e n o u g h t o l e n d s o m e t h o u g h t
“I Wanna Boi” is the rare kind of song that absolutely floors you on first listen It’s the rarer kind of song that continues to floor you on twentieth listen, as well as on fiftieth listen, and hundredth, and on and on and on Why exactly it cuts so deep into my brain every time I hear it, I couldn’t say Maybe it’s the brash conspicuousness of the guitar and drums being battered in sloppy harmony; maybe it’s the polished middle finger against “normalcy” (whatever the fuck that means) that the lyrics unabashedly thrust into the noisy air; hell, maybe it’s just that there’s something enticing in hearing a dude shout, “I wanna boy who thinks it’s sexy when my lipstick bleeds ” Whatever it is, all I know is that, for me, “I Wanna Boi” has been playing on repeat since September, as it will be for God knows how many months longer and as it damn well should be for everyone reading this right now
Troy Sherman
n
You don’t have to listen to the lyrics of “La Loose” to enjoy its audacity The airy “whoo whoo whoo” chorus, and light, crisp drum machine beat undergirding the whole dreamy affair evoke the cheek and character that define the track, and much of Katie Crutchfield’s Ivy Tripp But it’s her sticky and bold self-scrutinous words that recall this particular track for listeners (“I know that I feel more than you do / I selfishly want you here to stick to ”) Her unapologetic wishes, (non)regrets and tiny confessions make us all wish we could speak of ourselves as she does
1 0
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d r u n k e n b a n g e r w i t h o u t s o u n d i n g o u t o f p l a c e a t a n y t i m e Ro c k y i s n ’ t i n l ove w i t h r a p p i n g t h e w a y, s a y, Lu p e Fi a s c o i s ; i n s t e a d , h e ’ s a p e r s o n w h o w a s d e s t i n e d f o r s u c c e s s f ro m b i r t h a n d h a p p e n e d t o c h o o s e t h e r a p g a m e If h e ’ s d o u b t e d h i m s e l f f o r a m o m e n t i n h i s l i f e I ’d b e s u r p r i s e d , a n d w h y s h o u l d h e ? Max Van Zile
Gwen Aviles
Jael Goldfine
SCIENCE
By REEM KHONDAKAR
It was 1995, and a young William Dichtel had finished taking all the science classes available in his small high school in Roanoke, Virginia His chemistr y teacher, who happened to have a Ph D , tutored the budding scientist in organic chemistry
“I went to college, took more classes in chemistry, and the rest is history,” Dichtel says Today, Prof William Dichtel, chemistry, studies how to build new organic materials that may have promising use in our daily lives, from more efficient batteries to highly sensitive explosive detectors Apar t from research, he also teaches organic chemistr y and is involved in efforts to improve undergraduate science e d u c a t i o n In Se p t e m b e r, Di c h t e l received a MacArthur Genius Award for his research a fellowship that comes with an annual $625,000 stipend for five years
Dichtel’s research focuses on organic structures called covalent organic frameworks Whereas most polymers are chains of organic molecules, much like beads on a string, COFs are more complex, being two- or three-dimensional
“Covalent organic frameworks represent a new way of organizing matter, ” Dichtel said “Because they are so different from more typical polymers, they have a lot of promising applications that haven’t been tapped yet ”
would allow the COF to spontaneously grow, “right on the surface where we wanted it to, ” Dichtel said “That was the first time anyone had done that before,” Dichtel said O ve rc o m i n g t h i s h u rd l e a l l owe d research to progress to the point where,
charged in seconds
c h t e l’s research has been in the area of sensing hard-to-detect explosives, such as RDX “ I h a d a s t u d e n t , De e p t i Gopalakrishnan Ph D ’14, working on a material for a different application who got to talking with another s t u d
“We are constantly trying to push the limits of what has been done by humankind, and while it’s hard, every now and then we disover things that are really mind-blowing.”
Research on using COFs to make devices has traditionally been limited because they are naturally found as powders that do not dissolve in solution, making them difficult to use in creating devices such as batteries One of Dichtel’s students, John Colson Ph D ’13, proposed using graphene, a two-dimensional sheet made of only carbon atoms, that
today, the Dichtel research group is creating test-batteries that contain the surface area of an ice hockey rink in the interior of a material that weighs as much as a dollar bill The amount of charge these materials store is, in part, proportional to their surface areas This makes Dichtel’s batteries extremely efficient at storing charge, especially as they can be charged and dis-
n t , Je n n y Novo t n e y Ph D ’14, who was working on explosive detection, and it turned out that a material originally intended for something else was the best explosives detector we had ever seen, ” Dichtel said Dichtel credits much of his research success to the accomplishments of his students
“I work with an incredibly talented team of students w h o a re ve r y p a s s i o n a t e about what they do,” Dichtel said, “We are constantly trying to push the limits of what has been done by humankind, and while it’s hard, every now and then we discover things that are really mind-blowing ”
Reem Khondakar can be reached at rkhondakar@cornellsun com
Sun Staff Wr ter
COURTESY OF W LL AM DICHTEL
R e s e a r c h e r s F i n d H o w ‘ O o b l e c k ’ W o r k s
By MARY NATTAKOM Sun Staff Wr ter
T h e s e c re t t o u n d e r s t a n d i n g h ow
o o b l e c k a Dr Se u s s - d e r i ve d n i c k -
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s q u e e ze d o r p u n c h e d , i t s u d d e n l y s o l i di f i e s T h i s p h e n o m e n o n o f i n c re a s e d f l u i d re s i s t a n c e , o r v i s c o s i t y, a s m o re p re s s u re i s a p p l i e d i s c a l l e d s h e a r t h i c ke n i n g a n d i t o c c u r s
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t h i c k e n i n g Ac c o rd i n g t o f i r s t a u t h o r Ne i l L i n g r a d , t h e re a re t w o l i k e l y e x p l a n a t i o n s f o r s h e a r t h i c k e n i n g T h e f i r s t a n d m o s t p o p u l a r o n e p ro p o s e s t h a t w h e n s t re s s i s a p p l i e d , p a r t i c l e s a re p u s h e d c l o s e r t o g e t h e r a n d t h e f l u i d b e t we e n t h e m d r a i n s o u t c a u s i n g re s i s t a n c e “ W h e n t h e s h e a r c re a t e d by p re s s u re i s s e ve re , t h i s re s i s t a n c e c a n b e s o l a r g e t h a t i t l o c k s t h e p a r t i c l e s i n t o c l u s t e r s , ” L i n s a i d “A n d t h e s e l a r g e c l u s t e r s o f p a r t i c l e s , d u e t o t h e h y d r o d y n a m i c i n t e r a c t i o n s , c a n i n h i b i t t h e g l o b a l f l ow, w h i c h g i ve s yo u t h e s h e a r t h i c k e n i n g
b e h a v i o r ” T h e s e c o n d h y p o t h e s
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Making contact | An artistic representation of
s u re d t h e r e s i s t a n c e i n t h e f l u i d i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f s t i r r i n g w a s re v e r s e d T h e y f o u n d t h a t t h e f o r c e
s u d d e n l y d r o p s , w h i c h m a t c h e s t h e c o n t a c t f o r c e h y p o t h e s i s S i n c e t h e i n t e r a c t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e s e m i c r o - p a r t ic l e s a re s i m p l e r t h a n t h o s e b e t w e e n
c o r n s t a r c h m o l e c u l e s , u s i n g t h i s s i mp l i f i e d s u s p e n s i o n a l l o w e d t h e r e s e a r c h e r s t o u n a m b i g u o u s l y n a i l d ow n t h e o r i g i n o f t h i c k e n i n g a s f i t t i n g t h e c o n t a c t h y p o t h e s i s B y b e g i n n i n g t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e m e c h a n i s m o f t h i c k e n i n g , re s e a rc h e r s c a n s t a r t t o i m p rove i t s c u r re n t a p p l i c at i o n s Fo r e x a m p l e , o n e o f t h e m o s t p o p u l a r e x a m p l e s o f n o n - Ne w t o n i a n f l u i d s i n u s e i s b o d y a r m o r It e x p l o i t s i t s s t r a n g e p r o p e r t i e s b y s o l i d i f y i n g u n d e r t h e i m p a c t o f t h e b u l l e t , p rov i di n g p ro t e c t i o n t o t h e we a re r K n o w l e d g e a b o u t t h i c k e n i n g c a n
Mary Nattakom can be reached at mtn36@cornell edu
EMMA LICHTENSTEIN 16
SLOANE GRINSPOON 17 Associate
AMBER CHEN ’16
NATALIE TSAY ’18
Editor
JAYNE ZUREK ’16 Design Editor
MICHAELA BREW 18 Sports Photography Editor
GABRIELLA LEE 16
MIKE SOSNICK 16
& Entertainment Editor
EMILY JONES 18
Editor
MADELINE COHEN 18 Assistant News Editor
PHOEBE KELLER ’18
Assistant News Editor
ADAM BRONFIN ’18
Assistant Sports Editor
SHANE LEWIS ’18
Assistant Sports Editor
ADDY PAI 16
Marketing Manager
DARA LEVY 16 Senior Editor
ANUSHKA MEHROTRA 16
Senior Editor
Letter to the Editor
A change for the worse
It is more than distressing to see Cornell students and the new administration caving in to mob demands for “safe spaces ” and against “microaggressions,” for “trigger warnings,” labeling of others as haters, bigots and racists for daring to have opposite view opinions, shutting down discussions of ideas, amorphous demands to enhance cultural sensitivity training in the name of promoting identity politics all at the expense of the true mission of the university: to reaffirm the Liberal ideals of academic freedom and individual liberty that are the hallmarks of a true education The chickens have clearly come home to roost in this stew of left-liberal academia We are now raising a generation of coddled, narcissistic, self-absorbed, thin-skinned young people, permanent “victims,” who will be ill-equipped to function effectively in the real world outside the shelter of the academy Cornell’s reputation as a lodestar of diversity is in danger of becoming a joke Is Cornell now to become a daycare center? These students have no real idea what their predecessors 40 years ago endured, real life oppression and racism which tore at the fabric of this country, which they successfully fought Are things here now perfect? No, vast improvements have been made to enable today’s students to thrive, and we are far better than we ever were Get over it, get back to your books and study and become the respectable leaders of this greatest nation that we expect you to be
Le e Be n de r ’ 8 4
The assembly line was one of the biggest industrial innovations of the first half of the twentieth century It brought what were once luxury items within the reach of middle class Americans and spawned industries that fueled the country ’ s economy for decades Motorized vehicles became democratized, prompting a nationwide craving for the freedom of the road Easy credit and low prices brought an explosion in the automobile industry, and by the end of the 1920s, nearly one in five Americans had access to a car
The brainchild behind the new industrial method was Henry Ford, Sr , the owner of the eponymous car company and visionar y businessman
Today, his name and legacy are maintained as a result of certain large contributions he made over the years
In 1915, he helped establish the Henr y Ford Health System, which currently employs over 23,000 people in Detroit the fifth largest employer in the area
If any worker wanted to learn more about the histor y of their employer’s namesake they would read of Ford’s role as an “ auto pioneer,” a common thread in the Ford narrative Although not from Detroit, I’m sure the Ford name resonates for locals as strongly as Adele’s “Hello” resonates among everyone Despite the eventual collapse of the Detroit automobile industry, the Ford family’s contributions to the local economy were and are not insignificant
Leaders Of the Past And Future
Today, when we venerate figures such as Donald Trump in the name of financial success, I can’t help but think of the influential nature of Ford. Is it that easy to conflate riches with the ability to lead in a moral and ethical manner?
What much of the Ford name fails to adequately conjure, though, are his substantive contributions to anti-semitic sentiment Praises of his business acumen and novelty trump any mention of questionable ties to his dissemination of extreme propaganda
If you were to purchase a Model-T car during the 1920s a car that was as central to Ford’s rise as failing casino’s were to Trump’s a copy of the Dearborn Independent may very well have complemented your purchase Just as a weathered bible often rests on the night table of a shoddy motel room, Ford’s personal newspaper was often distributed to his dealerships; new car owners brought the gospel of Henry Ford into their powerful new vehicles While driving away from the dealership, just a quick glance at the paper and one would read the headline “The International Jew: The World’s Problem ” Imagine reading that after purchasing an iPhone Ford, a staunch “pacifist,” vehemently opposed international conflict such as World War I and felt it necessary to blame the conflict upon the deceit and corruption of certain financiers who supposedly profited from war (aka the “International Jew”) What followed in his periodicals was a four volume series that would influence Nazi leaders including Adolph Hitler and contribute to the outbreak of the Second World War So much for pacifism Nearly as scary as the scores of future Nazi’s that adulated the extremist views of Ford were the millions of Americans who viewed him as an emblem of success
Today, when we venerate figures such as Donald Trump in the name of financial success, I can ’ t help but think of the influential nature of Ford Is it that easy to conflate riches with the ability to lead in a moral and ethical manner? Trump has time and time again shown racial insensitivity and immaturity on the campaign trail Even if there is an entertainment value to his presence, this is no stage for such a man Ford ironically had close ties with President Woodrow Wilson, who implored him to run for the Senate seat of Michigan Wilson, whose policy vision clouded his segregationist tendencies, has a similar controversial story like Ford’s Despite establishing the Federal Reser ve System and effective anti-trust regulation, he held a public screening of Birth of A Nation the foremost propaganda piece of the Klu Klux Klan and discouraged African Americans from applying to Princeton during his tenure as president of the university, segregated federal buildings and expressed morally immature objections to the institution of slavery (economic reasons) Today, Princeton students are calling for the removal of his name from their school of public policy and international affairs I understand and echo their request, as I certainly would not feel comfortable attending a school whose namesake was Henry Ford, Sr History often gets lost in the urgency of the present We forget about the traumas of the past, wounds heal and new devastating events suppress prior travesties Although Ford would later attempt a mea culpa by removing any sort of affiliation with The International Jew, the damage had already been done His newspaper gave fodder to an unspeakable plague that, similar to the expeditious assembly line, would be known for the efficient elimination of millions of innocent men, women and children
So what should Henry Ford, Sr be remembered for? What should Woodrow Wilson be remembered for? Many argue that these controversial figures should be looked at with historical context Wilson was raised in the Confederate South, where such racist views were the norm, not the exception Nobody is perfect, but imperfection must, at the very least, be known It is often difficult to expose wrongdoing amongst powerful figures just watch an episode of House of Cards But, we must come to terms with the moral flaws of past icons and adapt in certain situations While it often may be difficult to face such change I think of the abrupt conclusion to Joe Paterno’s career and life we must be flexible in our perceptions of notable individuals Given a history of institutionalized discrimination of African Americans within our country ’ s borders following Wilson’s presidency, academic institutions must be wary in their recognition of this man As for Ford, let’s just say I’m going to stick with Japanese cars
TheKaty Habr | On the Margin
On White Feminism
phrase “77 cents for a dollar” is one that is familiar to most The cr y for equal pay has become an integral part of the modern American feminist movement, yet it leaves more out than it tells The true statistic is that white women make 77 cents to a dollar Black women and Latina women make significantly less This amount decreases when sexual orientation, gender identity and ability are factored in Around Cornell, I have heard a lot of inspiring feminist rhetoric, but unfortunately, it has been ver y limited in its scope Various signs and initiatives, positive in their intent, encourage women to rise to the top of corporate institutions and prove they can perform as well as men can On the surface, these initiatives are a good idea; however, in reality, they overshadow the fact that only a few select women benefit, and the institutions being promoted cause more harm than good The erasure of intersectionality in the mainstream feminist movement and the focus on white feminism have overshadowed the efforts of many diverse individuals to further the feminist movement and only further a system that continues to oppress men and women around the world
Let me first clarify what I mean by white feminism I don’t mean white women who identify as feminists, for any woman (or man) regardless of race can support white feminism I am also by no means saying that white Western women and men should not be feminists In fact, the opposite is true Problems facing women and men in the global North and South have the same roots: patriarchy and misogyny these issues just manifest themselves in different ways For example, the same misogyny that enforces discriminator y dress codes in America blames female victims of violence for their dress in many parts of the world Feminism is needed to tackle the large gender inequalities that exist both in the developing and the developed world such as oppressive gender roles, wage gaps, employment discrimination, maternity leave, reproductive rights, sexual assault and many other issues that affect white women, women of color, LGBTQ women, disabled women and even men
What I do mean by white feminism is a type of “feminism” that is led by and helps specifically upper-class white women The type of feminism where being the CEO of big businesses that exploit thousands of women across the world is seen as empowerment and where female politicians who advocate for Western imperialism are held up as feminist icons simply because they are women in power
My issue with white feminism is that it ser ves to further and justify h a r m f u l s y s t e m s o f o p p re s s i o n t h a t e x
Additionally, the exclusive focus of media and academic curriculums on white feminism erases the struggles of women who cannot be represented under a homogenous identity and the feminist movements led by and fighting for them
The types of feminists that this movement supports are not fighting against Western patriarchal notions of masculinity and dominance they are embodying them and aiding a system that exploits women Last year, I joined a Facebook group of one of the women ’ s groups on campus, but was aghast when I saw Condoleezza Rice listed as a feminist icon, being praised for a quote about women being leaders
The problem with women like Hillar y Clinton and Condoleezza Rice (just to name a few) is that their “feminism” is extremely limited
Both of these women are held up as feminist icons but both supported the war in Iraq and an increase in drone strikes, both of which killed a large amount of civilian populations Clinton has passionately defended Israel’s war crimes that have come under fire from the U N , knowing full well that situations of war and brutality disproportionately affect women At home, they have opposed LGBT rights and have offered only silence in response to the systematic inequality and brutality facing people of color in America, reversing these views only when it was politically advantageous
In focusing on feminism, the media as well as school curriculums should include other feminist movements from around the world alongside white, American, upper-middle-class ones A broader focus would help to show that feminists should be fighting against the repressive system and institutional barriers that hinder women across the world, not using the existing system to climb up a ladder to success that is built on the backs of other women A feminist icon should be one that furthers the feminist cause not just a woman in power Feminism should not aim to make women equal to men but to end sexism, because making women equal to men doesn’t make sense in a world where race, class, sexuality, gender and ability have so much weight
These categories complicate individual identities beyond gender, and it is important to acknowledge the intersectionality of various identities that nuance the experiences of each individual Feminism should not be focused on band-aid solutions, but should attempt to critically engage with the roots and complexities of the problems facing men and women in society and work to remedy them Being a woman in power does not mean anything if that power is not used to dismantle oppressive systems that hinder women around the world Intersectionality is critical if the feminist movement is to reach its true goal Feminism does not mean anything if it is for the benefit of an individual person or group In the words of Fannie Lou Hamer: “Nobody’s free until ever ybody’s free ”
Katy Habr is a sophomore in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell Comments may be sent to kh547@cornell
r o n t o f St i m s o n H a l l ? Is i t l e f t o v e r f r o m H a l l o w e e n ? Is t h e r e a b o d y b u r i e d j u s t o u t s i d e o f o u r a d m i n i s t r a t i v e h e a d q u a r t e r s ? A : T h e s t o n e m a r k e r i n f r o n t o f St i m s o n Ha l l i s a c t u a l l y p a r t o f a p a i r, w i t h t h e o t h e r o n t h e w e s t s i d e o f D u f f i e l d Ha l l In s t e a d o f m a r k i n g b u r i a l l o c a t i o n s o f b o d i e s , t h e y a c t u a l l y m e m o r i a l i z e a r o w o f e l m t re e s p l a n t e d s h o r t l y a f t e r C o r n e l l ' s f o u n d i n g L o c a l f a r m e r Jo h n O s t ra n d e r w i s h e d t o g i v e s o m e t h i n g t o t h i s f l e d g l i n g u n i v e r s
Here It Is
To say that these past few weeks have been tiring would be an understatement So much has been happening all over the world, and none are incidents that I can ignore This is true whether they happened on a campus I was visiting, my hometown of Chicago, in Beirut or elsewhere I know that I have no control over what happens in the world, but it doesn’t exempt me from feeling like I have to do something in response For me, that “ something” is typically writing, pers o n a l l y o r f o r p u b l i c a t i o n
Despite this, I’ve been finding it difficult to pick just one topic to write about, indicative of the intersectionality of ever ything that has been occurring around the world, but also indicative of the way all these issues have been r u n n i n g a ro u n d in my head without stop
As a woman of color, every time I s e e s o m e n e w incident of racism or some comment d e n o u n c i n g t h e actions of my fell ow p e o p l e o f color, it’s another blow to my already weak body
amount of privilege and elitism
The hope is that whatever act of defiance we perform aids in the overall effort to create change I’m sure that is the hope of people fighting for change in every capacity That’s why Black stud e n t s a t Br a n d e i s Un i ve r s i t y occupied Ford Hall for twelve days in order for the administration to meet their demands and take action towards inclusivity in a predominantly white institution, why detained immigrant women at T Don Hutto are on hunger strike after continuously being mistreated, why people are p ro t e s t i n g i n t h e s t re e t s o f Chicago after it took a year for the video of Laquan McDonald being shot sixteen times by a white police officer to be released a n d f o r t h e s t a t e ’ s a t t o r n e y ’ s office to file charges
ations, but that was their career choice; whereas the color of a person ’ s skin, how they look and the area they live is not a choice I can say that this institution and this nation have progressed, but that it isn’t enough and there’s no n e e d t o a p o l o g i ze w h e n I d e m a n d f o r m o re Ma y b e I sound redundant, but I keep having to say the same things because we still haven’t reached the point where I can stop I’m writing with my heart and with my emotions because that’s the message I need to get through I need to prove that I’m a human because there are factors and people working against me to make me think that I’m lesser I’m not trying to fit into the frame of the white gaze That being said, this level of consciousness isn’t where I’ve
As a woman of color, every time I see s new incident of racism or some comme denouncing the actions of my fellow people of color, it’s another blow to my already weak body.
The past few weeks have seen many incidents where people with marginalized identities have faced multiple forms of discrimination and harm to their wellbeing It’s no wonder why I’m exhausted, like many others in the fight Every incident, every l a c k o f re s p o n s e o r i n a c t i o n serves as another reminder that I’m not really meant to thrive or even be in this institution It was never for me, as difficult as that is to cope with Systematically, based upon my ethnicity and gender, I’m extremely lucky to be where I am today As it’s the end of the semester, and given everything that has been happening, it’s important for me to truly think about my place in this institution and the way I go about using the platforms I’ve been given I am aware that b e i n g a t a n Iv y L e a g u e University comes with a certain
This column itself is a space where I can ensure my words are voiced freely, which is something not a right that’s guaranteed everywhere in the world When people tell me my words don’t m a t t e r, t h a t t h e y d o n ’ t h o l d weight, it hurts But I’m reminded of why I write I’m one of millions of shouting voices, but it doesn’t mean that what I say isn’t impactful Again, not everyone has the opportunity to speak their minds freely without any d r a s t i c re p e rc u s s i o n s s u c h a s physical harm or even death All words are valuable, which is why I think I love them so much There are so many factors trying to break me and I refuse to allow it
Some people may see “rioters” as rebels destroying their own cities, but I see people taking back their communities They can point out that, yes, police officers face life threatening situ-
always been It has been developing for years as I maneuvered through the world in my own marginalized skin and absorbed information that I found or was presented to me It is still continuing to develop This is something to consider as a person subjected to oppression or even as an ally; the learning never stops To every person in the United States and the rest of the w o r l d w h o a re c o n t i n u o u s l y fighting for that “something bett e r : ” I ’ m w i t h yo u a n d I ’ m incredibly grateful for everything that you ’ re doing We may not know each other, and maybe I haven’t heard your stor y But know that whatever you ’ re doing is valuable and I care nonetheless
Sarah Zumba is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences She can be reached at sez29@cornell edu Zumba Works it Out appears alternate Wednesdays this semester
Sarah Zumba | Zumba Works It Out
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Fatigue, Poor Shooting At the Root of Problems
David Onuorah encountered early foul trouble and was forced to take a seat on the bench He only played 15 minutes all game, the fewest among the starters Courtney said the 6’9” big man h a s b e e n w o r k i n g p l a y i n g smarter to limit the fouls he’s called for Twice against the River Hawks, Onuorah was whistled for fouls going for offensive rebounds when the opponent already had the ball
Ju n i o r g u a rd R o b e r t
Hatter had 14 points and five assists against UMass Lowell Freshman guard Troy Whiteside was also in double figures with 10 points He had a team-high six rebounds Overall the team shot 40 percent and was outrebounded, 46-27
Despite that, Courtney said the freshmen have gained invaluable game experience so far The f r e s h m e
bought into the quick pace system, which bodes well for the rest of the season, according to Courtney “ What we saw was if we can
“If we play the way we want to play, which is uptempo, we can be successful ”
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Courtney said fatigue from playing four games in a span eight days, including two long road trips, hurt the Red’s perf o r m a n c e a l l g a m e T h e c o n d e n s e d game schedule has also limited the practices f o r t h e t e a m W h i l e t h e f r e s h m e n o n the team have improved since t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e s e a s o n , Courtney points to the shortened practice schedule as a major reason why their defense is quite up to the level that it could be
defense, racing the ball up the floor, then we can be successful The more minutes we can play that style, the better off for us, ” Courtney said “If we are not able to get the game going that way, which we were not in the
just want to learn from that some of the things that we do not want to do moving forward ”
teams can take
one, our lack
cour t offense
Once we can take people out of that, that’s when we ’ re most successful ”
Adam Bronfin can be reached at abronfin@cornellsun com
killed Shaq- forcing the loveable later to leave Los Angeles Shaq is a fallen angel What if Kobe had swallowed his pride and made nice with Shaq? We would have seen an age of Lakers dominance matched only by the Bill Russell 1960’s Boston Celtics
Although I firmly disagree with the public’s newly positive perception of Kobe after these two championships, it seems like society accepted Kobe’s relentless determination as an apology of sorts Does w i n n i n g t w
c h a m p i o n s h i p s change the fact that Kobe admitted fault to sexual assault? It does not The “Black Mamba’s” pride came to a peak in 2003 when he allegedly sexually assaulted a 19year old hotel maid And when it seemed like he would never come b a c k
d a rk e s t accusation, he defied all Sending mixed messages to all the worlds’ yo u t h , i t s e e m s l i k e we h a ve praised Kobe for his narcissism Arrogance disguised as determina-
tion should never be praised
Pride goes before the fall Again, (and as per usual) as I write this column I’m confused I want to use Kobe as a cautionary tale, but I also want to internalize forgiveness and understanding If anyone can show us how unbearably difficult it is to control emotions, its Kobe And if anyone has shown us how arrogant narcissism is the downfall of mankind, its Kobe Maybe I should learn a lesson or two?
Like it or not, we admire athletes for their pride and confidence Kobe nicknamed himself
“Coach Vino” when his injuries caught up with his body a few seasons ago, because like wine he (thinks) he gets better with age
Pushing the limit between our admiration and denunciation, he c a n n e ve r b e f o r g i ve n f o r h i s hubris, and can never be forgotten for his dominance
“How many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? asked the wise man I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times Guess who said that
Spor ts
Cornell Drops Two More Games Over Break
The Red suffers rough Thanksgiving, with losses to both Pittsburgh and UMass Lowell
By ADAM BRONFIN Sun Assistant Sports Editor
For the second time this season, the Red was outmuscled in the paint by an ACC opponent on the road But unlike its game against Georgia Tech in the team ’ s opener, there was no sharpshooting from Cornell’s shooters to keep the game close
The Red fell behind early to Pittsburg and ended up losing, 93-49 As was the case in Atlanta against a bigger team, Cornell was outscored in the paint, 30-12 The Panthers also held the advantage in rebounds, 47-31
The Red shot below 30 percent from the floor, compared to 47 percent against Georgia Tech
“Going into the game, you knew it was going to be a challenge,” said head coach Bill Courtney “We’re not having great success on the backboards right now They’re a team that prides themselves on getting on the backboards, so it was kind of a mismatch in that area ”
Courtney’s defensive schemes call for the disruption of opponents ’ offensive rhythm Against Pitt, despite the disadvantage in size, Cornell tried to do just that Unfortunately,
Pitt’s offense was too much to handle
On offense, Cornell’s starters struggled to make shots, shooting 6 for 35 All together the team shot 29 5 percent No player for Cornell scored in double figures
“We just want to learn from that some of the things that we do not want to do moving forward,” Courtney said “That was the main thing we took out of that game, because there really weren ’ t a lot of positives ”
Against UMass Lowell, the Red’s shooters did a better job of hitting their shots, but the team still lost, this time by a score of 8077 After being held scoreless the night before, freshman guard Matt Morgan scored 23 points and dished out four assists
Courtney said the freshman came out a bit hesitant to start the game, but after a quick talk from a couple of the coaches, Morgan was back to attacking and being agressive He was instrumental in the second half, scoring 17 points including a couple of baskets toward the end of the game that kept Cornell close to UMass Lowell
Morgan’s three-pointer with six minutes left put Cornell up by one, but the Red couldn’t hold on A couple of missed shots
Out
and turnovers from the Red allowed the River Hawks to get up by six with about a minute to go, putting the game out of reach for Cornell
Women Start Three Game Home Stand
By OLIVIA MATTYASOVSZKY Sun Staff Writer
On Wednesday, the women ’ s basketball team looks to improve on their 500 record by hosting Towson University at home After traveling to Buffalo and Marshall, Cornell has the opportunity to host three games in a row at home and avenge their two losses
Towson will come to Newman Arena at 7 p m on Wednesday night, playing the Red for the first time Their current record is 2-4, but they have some momentum after beating their last two opponents
Players to watch are Towson senior guard Dominique Johnson, who has netted over 1,000 points in her career as a Tiger Other big players are junior guard Raven Bankston and her twin Raine Bankston That brings a lot of height to the backcourt for the Tigers, with each twin standing at 5’10”
Freshmen guard Sianni Martin is also bringing some height, standing at 5’8” and averaging 14 8 points per game, the third most on the team Cornell, despite last week’s losses, have some stars of their own to watch
Starting guards, both juniors, Kerri Moran and Megan LeDuc have been quarterbacking the offense and leading the team defense, something Cornell has been focusing on this season “So far we have a few weaknesses on defense that we need to work on, ” Moran said “We are playing some fast, high-paced teams coming up that will help us strengthen our weakness Our team dynamic is really strong right now Because most of the starters have played together in the past, we know how each other play and how to work off one another ”
After three full days of practice following their loss last week, the Red is ready to go
“We aren ' t thinking about the past, but instead focusing on what we can learn from those games and how we can get better,” Moran said Defensively the challenge for the Big Red will be stopping Towson’s height from penetrating from the perimeter In the paint, junior forward Nia Marshall, as well as fellow forwards Nicholle Aston and Caroline Shelquist, will have to body up the bigs from Towson, none of whom stand below 6’0” Both centers for the Tigers are 6’4”, and Marshall, Aston, and Shelquist will have to work overtime to send help to each other down low in the post Marshall, who is less than 100 points away from matching Towson senior Dominque Johnson in the 1,000 point club, will have to ask for the ball down low, and take it to the hoop hard to get past Tiger centers Maia Lee and Daijha Thomas Defensively, Marshall just needs to keep leading the team in steals; she ranks first in the Ivy League with 2 67 steals per game
The lone senior on the team, Maddie Campbell is the only Big Red besides Astona and Marshall to notch a double double this season Despite leading the team as a senior, this is only Campbell’s second season with the Big Red, after transferring as a sophomore and spending a season ineligible to play due to NCAA regulations for transfers
The win against Towson will put the Big Red above 500 to improve their out-of conference record to 4-3 It will also give them momentum to continue with their streak of home games
In what is beginning to be a recurring theme for this Cornell team, junior forward
We Can’t Forgive Kobe’s Hubris
Pride goes before the fall, and the fool’s pride will forever be in a free-fall Like the fool I am and always will be, I try to balance arrogance
lash out at teammates, and win championships Feuds with former teammates Shaq, Dwight Howard and coach Mike D’Antoni helped tarnish
with humbleness, but lately I’ve felt shrouded in a blanket of pride and arrogance Every day I feel myself drawing closer and closer to the aura of Kobe Bryant I’m breathing his hubris, and like it had been for the player, it will be my downfall Un-fortunately, I’m not the greatest Lakers shooting guard of all time I don’t have amazing talent to depend on Kobe’s planned retirement at the end of this season represents the end of an NBA era a negative era similar to that of a whiny child Stuck inbetween the team-oriented styles of Michael Jordan and LeBron, I grew up watching Kobe play selfish basketball,
his image All the while Kobe set scoring records, clinched All-Star spots, and alienated NBA fans His endorsement deals were virtually all droppedonly to be signed again by most of the same companies two years later With some humility Kobe has acknowledged his fiery past “I was an idiot when I was a kid,” Bryant told USA Today this past summer Referring to the public feud between himself and former teammate Shaquille O’Neal, this quote really encapsulates Kobe’s entire career He made mistakes He touched greatness Like Cain and Abel, Kobe Ben
of range | The typically sharp-shooting basketball squad lost its touch over Thanksgving Break, shooting 35 percent over both contests
