INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 141, No. 18
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2025 n ITHACA, NEW YORK
News
Arts
Prevention Initiative
Conflicting Identities
University launches initiative to examine prevention strategies surrounding sexual assault on campus.. | Page 5
Aima Raza ’27 explores Edward Said’s discussions of disconnection and diasporic experience in Out of Place. | Page 15
16 Pages – Free
Science
Weather
Cupid’s Therapy
Cloudy
Cornell professors discuss the chemistry and psychology behind falling in love. | Page 8
HIGH: 33º LOW: 13º
Fourth Student Arrested From Student in the Career Fair Disruption College of Arts By BENJAMIN LEYNSE and ISABELLA HANSON Sun Senior Writers
Feb. 8 — The Cornell University Police Department has arrested a fourth student in connection to the Statler Hotel career fair disruption on Sept. 18. Sumitra Pandit ’26, a member of Cornell Students for Justice in Palestine, was arrested and charged with unlawful assembly and obstruction of government administration on Jan. 28. In October, CUPD arrested Atakan Deviren ’27, Yihun Stith ’26 and graduate student Sriram Parasurama on the same charges. Since their initial appearance in Ithaca City Court on Nov. 6, Deviren’s case has been dropped due to a lack of specific references to him in filed court documents. Stith and Parasurama have both been issued an Adjournment Contemplating Dismissal — meaning they will receive a full dismissal of their charges after a period of time without further charges and with the completion of community service hours. Now, according to a Friday CUPD information release, “Pandit was identified as one of several people refusing to comply with lawful orders of the police to remain outside of the Statler Hotel and physically forcing their way past officers.” CUPD added that “all defendants charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.” According to a press release issued by the Coalition for Mutual Liberation on Friday, Pandit was in her dorm room wearing a sleep shirt and shorts at 9 a.m. on Jan. 28 when a male CUPD officer knocked on her door to question her. In the press release, Pandit shared her discomfort, explaining how she was not given the opportunity to change in private before meeting with the officer. Pandit also stated, “As a woman on this campus, I
think the fact that students protesting against weapons manufacturers get the same punishment as rapists is disturbing and unacceptable.” In November, several students from Chi Phi were temporarily suspended following an individual’s report of being sexually assaulted by multiple men and coerced to partake in ketamine and other drugs. On Thursday, Interim President Michael Kotlikoff and Provost Kavita Bala announced a new task force dedicated to addressing and preventing sexual assault on campus. To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.
Benjamin Leynse can be reached at bleynse@cornellsun. com.
CAMERON POLLACK / SUN FILE PHOTO
Arrested activist | A junior was arrested in connection with the career disruption at Statler Hall.
and Sciences Dies
By DOROTHY FRANCE-MILLER Sun News Editor
community support meetings at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11 and 6 p.m. in 406 Malott Hall and 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12 in 310 Gates Hall. Individuals can have a diverse range of feelings, needs and reactions when facing loss. This information about Grief and Loss may be helpful to you or a friend. The Ithaca-based crisisline can be reached at 607-272-1616, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available throughout the U.S. Additional supportive resources are listed at mentalhealth.cornell.edu. Students in need of professional support can email Student Support and Advocacy Services at studentsupport@cornell.edu or call Counseling and Psychological Services at 607-255-5155. Employees can call the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program at 607-255-2673.
Feb. 10 — Jack Mallek ’25 was found dead in his off-campus apartment on Feb. 8, according to a Monday afternoon email from Peter Loewen, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Mallek was a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences studying math and computer science. He was a resident of McLean, Virginia. On campus, Mallek was active in the bowling club, Cornell Brazilian jiu jitsu, Historical European Martial Arts Club at Cornell and the Chinese Drama Society. He spoke Mandarin and participated in the Translator Interpreter Program. Mallek also was an analyst for the Undergraduate Labor Institute and served as an officer at the Prospect of Whitby cooperative house in 2023. He is survived by his parents Dorothy France-Miller can be and brother. reached at dfrancemiller@corThe University will hold nellsun.com.
University to Cut Off Over $100K in Annual Funding for CTA The center for transformative action is home of Anabel’s Grocery, a subsidized grocery store on campus.
By BENJAMIN LEYNSE Sun Senior Writer
Feb. 9 — The Division of Student & Campus Life has decided to end the University’s affiliation with the Center For Transformative Action — the parent organization of many on-campus initiatives including Anabel’s Grocery, Durland Alternatives Library and Prisoner Express — starting June 2025. Over $100,000 in annual funding for CTA will be cut off two years later. According to a statement emailed to The Sun from Dean of Students Marla Love, the affiliation between the CTA and Cornell United Religious Work — a multifaith community of more than 40 affiliated religious and spiritual leaders — will expire in June 2025. University funding for CTA will continue for two more years to give the organization time to find alternative funding sources. The CTA website states that the center was “born from the turmoil of the late 1960’s at Cornell” at a time when many chaplains within CURW took part in antiwar and civil rights protests. In 1971, the Cornell Board of Trustees moved “to house these activities within a newly incorporated, education-based center, one that was affiliated with, but legally separate from, Cornell,” the CTA website states. According to Love, “The agencies now supported by
CTA, including Anabel’s Grocery, have outgrown the intent of that 1971 agreement and their affiliation with CURW.” “We have been connecting across the institution to find CTA a supportive home and look forward to continuing those efforts,” Love wrote. CTA is the fiscal sponsor to 35 non-profit organizations that focus on a range of social causes, many of which exist outside of Cornell in the Ithaca area and beyond. Anabel’s Grocery, which is housed under CTA, has helped provide subsidized produce to students since 2017. The store was created by two students in response to a 2015 survey that found that 22 percent of Cornell students responded that they “skipped meals or [did not have] enough to eat because of financial constraints.” Anabel’s launched a petition on Friday asking for signatures and testimonials “requesting the university continue its longstanding financial support of CTA, and share testimonials on how Anabel’s and other CTA programs have impacted your time at Cornell.” The petition’s webpage further stated that the decision to end CTA’s affiliation agreement will take “away over 100k in annual endowment income after June 2027,” adding that “while Cornell is working towards finding another affiliation for the CTA, it will very likely not include any funding.” Love wrote in her statement that “the university has been working diligently to
find ways to sustain Anabel’s Grocery,” noting that “the course associated with Anabel’s Grocery is an important community-engaged course that reaches around 115 students each year.” According to CTA’s most recently published financial statements, in 2023, Cornell contributed a total of $138,726 to CTA, including donor-restricted assets, which carry restrictions as to how they can be used. At time of publication, 624 people have signed the petition and 185 testimonials have been written. The testimonials from students, staff and alumni highlight the affordable food and strong community Anabel’s provides. Harry Samuels ’24 wrote in a testimony: “Anabel’s is a shining example of what makes Cornell so special.” For Uyen Hoang ’25, “Anabel’s is more than just a grocery store—it’s a qualified resource and a bridge to the local food system.” Hoang wrote in a testimony, “Cutting its funding now, at the height of its impact, would be more than just frustrating—it would be a failure to recognize its essential role…it would sever an invaluable connection to our community.” Executive Director of CTA Prof. Anke Wessels, applied economics and management, and Trisha Bhujle ’26, a former Anabel’s Grocery coordinator, declined to comment. Benjamin Leynse can be reached at bleynse@cornellsun.com.