8-27-25 entire issue hi res

The Corne¬ Daily Sun

At eCornell, Allegations of Bias, Toxic Leadership

“Te minute I left there, I enrolled in therapy,” one former administrator told Te Sun.

By GABRIEL LEVIN Sun Senior Editor

Aug. 25 — eCornell, the University’s online learning division, markets itself as an inclusive place to learn. Every year, it serves more than 100,000 students across the globe — over six times the undergraduate student body in Ithaca.

But inside the organization, which has a wider reach than any other University program, a Sun investigation uncovered allegations of discrimination and serious mismanagement. It is part of a larger pattern of similar claims about eCornell that the University has been aware of for at least two years, yet has not taken decisive action on.

“There are some huge, systemic issues at this point [at eCornell],” said Cooper Sirwatka, the University administrator in charge of civil rights compliance, in a secretly recorded conversation with an eCornell employee from 2023 that The Sun obtained. At the time, Sirwatka said his three-person team — which was responsible for investigating cases of discrimination, harassment and retaliation across the University — had been devoting the equivalent of nearly 75 percent of a full-time staffer’s hours solely to complaints about eCornell.

eCornell, a multimillion-dollar for-profit business owned by the University, makes its money primarily from a wide array of virtual non-credit certificate programs it sells to individual professionals and large organizations looking to upskill their employees. The programs, which are authored by Cornell

faculty in subjects ranging from business to beekeeping, generally cost around $3,600 apiece.

But while eCornell has proven itself central to the University’s digital ambitions, it has earned a less flattering reputation among many of the workers who keep it running.

“No one from central Cornell wants to be at eCornell,” Sirwatka said in the audio. “No one does.” In interviews, 15 former employees, most of whom worked remotely, said little has changed since. Bias and toxic leadership at the organization, they said, go unchecked.

A former associate director, Jackie Schwabe, told The Sun that a senior eCornell leader rationalized firing an employee — whose first language is not English but is fluent — by saying “nobody understood” him. Schwabe had earlier filed a report with the University against that same senior leader after he directed her to fire ten employees of color unfairly, she said.

Another former administrator said that in departmental meetings led by an eCornell vice president, he was mocked for his stutter and was later laid off. A different former administrator said another eCornell vice president inappropriately altered a now-laidoff employee’s performance review, marking her unsuccessful when she had, in fact, been successful.

Through a University spokesperson, Vice Provost for External Education and Executive Director of eCornell Paul Krause ’91 declined an interview request. Krause did not respond to a list of detailed questions. In

ICE Recruiting Trough Cornell Career Services

By EVERETT CHAMBALA Sun Contributor

Aug. 25 — Cornell Career Services is promoting multiple positions at the Department of Homeland Security, including the role of Deportation Officer at Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Deportation Officer position appeared on the Career Services website on August 1, linking to job postings on platforms USA Jobs and Handshake.

ICE is a government agency responsible for the deportation, arrests and detainment of individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants. It is projected to potentially be the highest-funded federal law enforcement agency under the Trump Administration in 2026, with a budget set to surpass the FBI.

Prior to the Deportation Officer listing, Career Services began promoting recruitment webinars and Zoom sessions for jobs at the United States Customs and Border Patrol Agency, appearing on the Cornell Career Services’ “Experiences” page as of July 8. These webinars have been similarly promoted at other universities, including Columbia University and Yale University. Webinars for Border Patrol applications

were held on several dates in July and were open to 1,295 schools and colleges across the country, according to a Cornell spokesperson.

Following the passage of the Trump Administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” — an 887-page spending bill outlining tax cuts and budget increases for Trump-era programs — there has been an increased push to recruit new members to the Border Patrol and ICE.

ICE is planning to add 10,000 new agents and will receive $76 billion from the “One Big Beautiful Bill” over the next four years. The bill allocates $8 billion for Border Patrol recruitment, and Immigration enforcement received a $170 billion total funding increase.

ICE recently changed the minimum age for an officer from 21 to 18, and they are now offering a sign-on bonus of $50,000 alongside promises of $60,000 towards student loan forgiveness.

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

Everett Chambala can be reached at ewc49@cornell.edu.

a statement to The Sun, University spokesperson Rebecca Valli wrote, “Staff consistently rate working at eCornell positively on employee surveys.” She added that Cornell does not comment on individual personnel matters but that eCornell’s “HR decisions are made after careful consideration, following University policy and applicable law.”

Former employees, however, said the most vulnerable workers, including older adults, people of color and those with disabilities or mental health issues, were often the first to be targeted for layoffs and firings. Schwabe, 48, said she watched that dynamic play out — from the vantage point of a middle-level manager who was direct-

ed to carry it out herself. She said she was ordered to fire well-performing employees, often people of color, under flimsy and pretextual justifications, and faced open hostility from her boss when she resisted.

[If you have a tip on this or another story, submit it using The Sun’s confidential tip line or reach out to Gabriel Levin at 949584-5968 on cell or Signal.]

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com

University to Revise Code of Conduct, Procedures

By ZEINAB FARAJ Sun Features Editor

Aug. 26 — Ryan Lombardi, the vice president for student and campus life announced to the Cornell community a “formal review process” of the Student Code of Conduct and Procedures citing changes across higher education and Cornell in a Tuesday morning statement.

The Student Code of Conduct outlines behavioral expectations and regulations for Cornell students across all campuses. The Student Code of Conduct Procedures describes the formal investigation and resolution processes that the University uses when a student is alleged to have broken the Student Code of Conduct. Both of the codes were last approved for revisions by the Board of Trustees in December 2020 and went into effect in August 2021.

According to the statement signed by Lombardi, reviewing each of the Codes is important in “ensuring that these documents remain relevant and effective.”

The announcement of an updated Code of Conduct and Code of Conduct Procedures comes amid numerous changes to the University’s operations — including the launch of the Cornell Office of Civil Rights in June and changes to the University’s Expressive Activity

Policy.

During the 2024-2025 academic year, pro-Palestine student protesters voiced concerns over the Code of Conduct and its suspension procedures following the Statler Hall protest that shut down a career fair featuring defense contractors Boeing and L3Harris.

“Since the current Code went into effect in 2021, much has changed across higher education and within our own Cornell campus community,” Lombardi wrote. “As student life and academic expectations have evolved, our approach to student learning and accountability must also evolve.”

Lombardi also explained that the new Codes will involve “feedback from students, faculty, and staff.” He will also oversee changes to the Code along with the University’s “shared student governance bodies” and Dean of Students Marla Love, who will lead the Codes and Procedures Revision Committee. This committee is expected to include members of the Student Assembly, the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, faculty members and staff.

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

Zeinab Faraj can be reached at zfaraj@ cornell.edu.

Today

Threads of Progress: 100 Years of Fashion & Innovation

8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Human Ecology Building Sapsucker Sits

9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m., Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Tomorrow

International Fair

11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Uris Hall Terrace

Olin Library Reopening Celebration

12 p.m. - 2 p.m., Olin Library

Guided Sound Bath with the Let’s Meditate Initiative

12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m., East Hill Office Building

Welcome Carnival

6:45 p.m. - 8:15 p.m., Carl Becker House Lawn

Projects & Participation Kick-off Fall 2025

7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., Schwarz Center for Performing Arts Kiplinger Theatre

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

A LISTING OF FREE CAMPUS EVENTS

SUNBURSTS: Sunny Summer Journalism

Sun stafers and editors have had an eventful summer, completing journalism internships all over the world

By KARLIE MCGANN & VARSHA BHARGAVA

To see more photos, visit cornellsun.com.

Cornell Renames Ofce of Academic Diversity Initiatives, Keeps Acronym

By ZEINAB FARAJ Sun Features Editor

Aug. 2 — Cornell has officially renamed its Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives to the Office of Academic Discovery and Impact as of Friday, according to an email sent to Pre Professional Programs scholars by Kristin Dade, director of OADI.

The Friday email, which was signed off by OADI Director William “Woodg” Horning, Dade and the entire OADI team, describes that the “very exciting” name change followed “think[ing] strategically about who we are and how all students see us across campus.”

The new name “aligns with the OADI mission and vision and the key goals of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education — curiosity and connection,” according to the email obtained by The Sun.

The office wanted to maintain the “signature moniker of ‘OADI’” due to its Arabic and Swahili meaning, according to the email. OADI’s website states that the word “refers to a cool protected passage route/ valley through a desert, often formed by a seasonal river.”

The new name highlights

OADI’s centering of “‘discovery’ for scholars as they approach and proceed through their academic journey” and the “‘impact’” each scholar brings to campus, according to the email.

According to its website, OADI works to ensure all students have equal access to educational and pre-professional programs and resources by offering academic support, scholarships, mentorship and community events. OADI’s origin spans back to 1963, through the historic Committee on Special Education Projects, which has been renamed and reorganized several times since.

“The new OADI emerged as a way for students to see themselves in our space be they first generation, low income, foster youth, Veterans, non-traditional, transfer, students from diverse backgrounds and/or any other student that finds space in our community,” the email reads.

In March, the University temporarily removed its diversity, equity and inclusion references and discrimination resources from its Equal Education and Employment Opportunity Statement. However, the University quickly adjusted the statement back to its near-original

condition and explained the original revision as a “clerical error.”

“Our commitment to equal opportunity remains steadfast,” a University spokesperson wrote in an email to The Sun.

The OADI name change comes amid reported settlement talks between the Trump administration and the University to resume frozen federal funds.

The New York Times reported in April that the Trump administration had frozen over $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell, based on accounts from two unnamed U.S. officials. Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff told The Sun in early May that the University had seen approximately 120 stop-work orders until that point, along with the termination of grants over political concerns.

The University did not respond to a request for comment on why the name was changed or if it was linked to the ongoing agreements with the Trump administration by the time of publication.

To continue reading this article,

Zeinab Faraj can be reached at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.

Kyle Kimball Appointed as Vice President of University Relations

By VARSHA BHARGAVA Sun News Editor

Aug. 5 — Kyle Kimball will take the reins as Cornell’s vice president for university relations beginning Sept. 15, according to the Cornell Chronicle.

In this role, Kimball will oversee the University’s internal and external communications, brand image and media statements. He will also coordinate Cornell’s relations with local, state and federal governments.

Kimball succeeds Joel Malina, who served in the position for 11 years, and Monica Yant Kinney, who took the helm interimly after Malina’s January 2025 departure amid criticism from students and faculty over his comments about accepted guests at the University while speaking in a Zoom call with Hillel parents.

With a history in overseeing education, Kimball is making a jump from the Big Apple to Upstate New York. For the past two years, he has served as New York University’s vice president of government relations and community engagement. He co-led NYU’s university relations and public affairs division at the same time, according to the Chronicle.

Before taking on NYU, Kimball was appointed to the New York City Panel for Educational Policy by NYC Mayor Eric Adams in 2022 and managed objectives for the city’s public schools.

In 2015, Kimball was appointed vice president for government relations, regional and community affairs at Con Edison, where he focused on clean energy and climate change initiatives, according to an NYU press release. Before his stint at Con Edison, Kimball headed the New York City Economic Development Corporation as president from 2013-2015, and oversaw the development of large city endeavors like Brooklyn Bridge Park and Governor’s Island.

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

Varsha Bhargava can be reached at vbhargava@cornellsun.com.

Cornell Alumnus Purchases Historic ‘Robin Hill’ President’s Property for $2.8 Million

By ZEINAB FARAJ

Sun Features Editor

Aug. 5 A Cornell alumnus has purchased the University’s historic “Robin Hill” property for $2.785 million according to Bloomberg.

The property was originally listed on Zillow in May amid what top University administrators are calling “profound financial challenges” following the Trump administration’s move to freeze $1 billion in federal funds for Cornell.

“We have been using institutional resources to try to plug these funding holes in the short term, but these interim measures are not sustainable,” University administrators wrote in a June statement.

According to the Zillow listing, the house was purchased on July 23. In a statement to Bloomberg, a University spokesperson said that a “devoted Cornell alumnus” purchased the home and wishes to remain anonymous.

“The buyer … intends to preserve this historically significant Ithaca property, honor its rich legacy, and maintain the residence with care and respect,” the University statement to Bloomberg read. “The home was purchased through a limited-liability company that was registered in New York in early July, according to local property records.”

Robin Hill was built in 1923 and purchased by the University in 1963 by former Cornell President James Perkins. Since then, six Cornell presidents have lived at Robin Hill. Former Cornell President Martha Pollack was the

last to reside in the house prior to her retirement and the end of the 2023-2024 academic year.

According to a University spokesperson, the residence was posted for sale to maintain “Cornell’s commitment to responsible stewardship of university assets.” The spokesperson also stated that since the home has been unoccupied for several years, the University hopes to “save on the costs associated with regular maintenance and upkeep” of the home.

“We have been using institutional resources to try and plug these funding holes in the short term, but these interim measures are not sustainable”

University Statement

The house contains seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a fully equipped gym, a gardener’s cottage and several fireplaces with 8,730 square feet and three acres of lot area.

The University did not previously pay taxes on the house. Now that it’s been sold, it will generate nearly $70,000 in annual property taxes, to be shared by Tompkins County, the Town of Ithaca, the Village of Cayuga Heights and the Ithaca City School District.

University Reveals Financial ‘Next Steps’ Amid Reported $100 Million Settlement

By ZEINAB FARAJ Sun Features Editor

Aug. 24 — Top University administrators shared an update to Cornell’s financial plans for the 2025-26 academic year on Friday, announcing in a statement steps to continue the current hiring freeze, reduce spending and the workforce, and institute a series of weekly town halls. Administrators stressed the need for “urgent action” to maintain the University’s financial wellbeing and “institutional strength.”

The announcement comes as Cornell faces several “fiscal pressures” including more than $1 billion in frozen federal grants, numerous pending lawsuits against the University and its reported settlement talks with the Trump administration that are currently nearing $100 million.

“Urgent action is necessary, both to reduce costs immediately and to correct our course over time — achieving an institutional structure that enables us to balance our budgets over the long term,” the administrators wrote.

The statement also follows the University’s June message about “financial austerity” which first announced the plans to consolidate programs and the workforce.

The statement goes on to explain that the plan will be implemented in “several phases” starting with “immediate budget reductions” that are currently underway across four of Cornell’s campuses. The University’s hiring freeze, instituted in February, is expected to continue indefinitely, according to the administrators.

The next step of the University’s plan “requires that we reimagine our university-wide operations” by reducing expenses for all of the University’s colleges and campuses, according to the statement.

“Currently, we are engaged in an institutional analysis of our entire budgetary

structure, seeking ways to control expenses by finding new efficiencies and reducing duplication of work,” the statement reads.

The statement describes “centralizing” tasks that are duplicated across different departments while still maintaining necessary components and that “Cornell’s decentralized structure” is “a source of significant administrative inefficiencies” while emphasizing the need to cut down on the University’s workforce.

“Currently, we are engaged in an institutional analysis of our entire budgetary structure, seeking ways to control expenses by finding new efficiencies and reducing duplication of work.”

University Statement

The University’s “planning and analysis” is expected to be completed this fall with “phased implementation” expected to start towards the end of this calendar year and continuing into 2026.

Administrators also wrote that they will continue to update the Cornell community about progress on the plan “through a series of in-person town hall meetings” that are expected to start this week in the University’s Ithaca and other New York State campuses.

“These changes will be difficult for our community but are vital for our future,” the administrators wrote. “We are grateful for the work of every member of our faculty and staff and committed to taking the steps necessary to ensure that Cornell pursues its academic mission sustainably for generations to come.”

Cornell’s Federal Lobbying Surges Amid Trump Administration Pressure

Following Cornell’s $1 billion funding freeze, the University has spent 69 percent more on federal lobbying than previous years

By ANANT SRINIVASAN Sun Contributor

Aug. 6 — Cornell spent $444,000 on federal lobbying in the second quarter of 2025, which is the University’s highest-recorded investment in one single quarter, according to data from the U.S. Senate. The University has already spent nearly $700,000 this year, which is a 69 percent increase from the same period in 2024.

This surge comes amid a clash between higher education and the Trump administration, as universities around the United States face funding cuts and political attacks on academic freedom; diversity, equity and inclusion programs and international students.

Cornell’s “doubling down on lobbying” is part of a broader “shift [that] can be seen throughout the university community,” wrote Craig Holman, a government affairs lobbyist with Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., in a statement sent to The Sun.

“Northwestern University has increased its lobbying expenditures more than fivefold. Columbia has more than tripled its lobbying expenditures over the same period in 2024, while Pennsylvania,

Harvard and Yale have roughly doubled their expenditures,” Holman wrote.

Holman wrote that the Association of American Universities, a consortium of leading research institutions that includes Cornell, “has spent a record $9 million on direct and grassroots lobbying so far this year.”

“Universities have [also] sought to hire Trump-related lobbying and PR firms to gain an inside track,” Holman added.

Notably, the University paid client Miller Strategies, founded by Trump’s 2025 inauguration finance chair Jeffrey Miller, $140,000 last quarter. The firm works to influence executive and legislative policy on behalf of its clients.

“University leadership knows how proposed regulations or policies might affect them and their institutions, and they want their perspectives to be heard and understood,” wrote Prof. David Bateman, government, who taught a class about the legislative branch in the spring.

The recent federal endowment tax hikes, part of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” serve as an example of the effects of university lobbying. Many colleges, including Cornell, successfully lobbied to reduce the maximum proposed rate from 21 percent to eight percent and to change eligibility formulas, according to Bateman.

Bateman wrote that Cornell “should not expect to be hit by the endowment tax” as a result.

Bateman worries that under the current administration, university lobbying has become “at the very least an implicit, and perhaps explicit, negotiation, in which universities are told what they need to do to avoid further or new attacks.”

“Every institution knows that it can be made the target of an extortion campaign, and so lobbying becomes negotiating over terms in the vain hope of avoiding extortions now or in the future,” Bateman wrote.

While lobbying can influence policy details, it is unlikely to substantially change political priorities, according to Bateman. He wrote that recent actions against higher education are driven primarily by ideological motives of the Trump administration.

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

The Corne¬ Daily Sun

Independent Since 1880

143rd Editorial Board

JULIA SENZON ’26

Editor in Chief

ERIC HAN ’26

Associate Editor

SOPHIA DASSER ’28

Opinion Editor

ILANA LIVSHITS ’27

Assistant Opinion Editor

AUDREY IM ’26

Business Manager

SOPHIA TORRES ’26

Marketing Manager

SYDNEY LEVINTON ’27

Arts & Culture Editor

JAMES PALM ’27

Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

JENNA LEDLEY ’27

Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

MELISSA MOON ’28

Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

SOPHIA ROMANOV IMBER ’28

Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

KAITLYN BELL ’28

Lifestyle Editor

MAIA MEHRING ’27

Lifestyle Editor

ZEINAB FARAJ ’28

Features Editor

KARLIE MCGANN ’27

Photography Editor

MATTHEW KORNICZKY ’28

Assistant Photography Editor

STEPHAN MENASCHE ’28

Assistant Photography Editor

MIRELLA BERKOWITZ ’27

Multimedia Editor

HANNIA AREVALO ’27

Graphics Editor

JADE DUBUCHE ’27

Social Media Editor

HUNTER PETMECKY ’28

Layout Editor

Anurag Agrawal

DOROTHY FRANCE-MILLER ’27

Managing Editor

MATTHEW KIVIAT ’27

Assistant Managing Editor

VERA SUN ’27

Advertising Manager

ALEX LIEW ’27

Human Resources Manager

BENJAMIN LEYNSE ’27 News Editor

VARSHA BHARGAVA ’27 News Editor

ISABELLA HANSON ’27 News Editor

CEREESE QUSBA ’27

News Editor

REEM NASRALLAH ’28

Assistant News Editor

ANGELINA TANG ’28

Assistant News Editor

KATE TURK ’27

Assistant News Editor

GABRIEL MUÑOZ ’26 City Editor

JANE HAVILAND ’28

Features Editor

JEREMIAH JUNG ’28

Assistant News Editor

KAITLIN CHUNG ’26

Science Editor

MARISSA GAUT ’27

Science Editor

ALEXIS ROGERS ’28

Sports Editor

ALLISON HECHT ’26

Newsletter Editor

SIMRAN LABORE ’27

Weather Editor

RENA GEULA ’28

Layout Editor

Anurag Agrawal is the James A. Perkins Professor of Environmental Studies in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He is a field biologist and studies the Ecology and Evolution of Botany and Entomology. His column Candor and Chlorophyll runs periodically this semester, and was introduced in 2024. He can be reached at profaagrawal@cornellsun.

Embrace Your Inner Fool?

I’m a professional fool. A research project that was definitely going to work. A paper that would, for sure, be published in that prestigious journal. A promise to my kids that we wouldn’t get lost again on a hiking trip. Looking back, my life is a graveyard of these magnificent, and sometimes necessary, delusions. And honestly, I’m not sure I would be here today without them. Deception, and self deception in particular, is a common feature of life. In nature, deception is abundant and evolutionarily important. It is common in species relationships with competitors, predators and pollinators. One third of all orchid species, the most diverse family of flowering plants, deceive bees into pollination while providing no reward. I don’t have the space here to give this topic its much deserved attention, but the details of sexual deception in orchids is mind-blowing. Animals do it too, playing possum, curling up and pretending to be dead — one of the oldest tricks in an animal’s anti-predator playbook. And what about us? After all, we are animals just like the rest of them.

Of course humans are excellent deceivers, but what about self-deception? Yes, indeed, it is a prominent feature of human life. How many of us would be where we are today without fooling ourselves? On that note, a hearty welcome to the Class of 2029! And a surprising piece of advice: embrace your inner fool. We all fool ourselves. We do it when we look at democracy as rock solid. We do it when we look in the mirror and think, “Tese bags under my eyes are just from too much sun this summer.” And we definitely do it when we reach for that third scoop of ice cream and tell ourselves, “I really need this.”

But how does deceiving others lead to self-deception? Some evolutionary psychologists argue that our ability to fool ourselves is a byproduct of the benefits of fooling others. By creating a compelling story about ourselves — one where we are smarter, faster or more capable than we really are — we’re not just preparing to deceive the world, we are deceiving them more effectively because we believe it ourselves. And sometimes, we are giving ourselves the fortitude to face challenges. Fooling myself that I can do it — teach a class, raise children, spend years studying an unsolved problem, get on a bike without crashing — has been a critical secret to my success. But where to draw the line? And how much uncertainty and delusion are we comfortable with? Self-deception allowed me to underprepare for the most important toast at my brother’s wedding. It led to over-confidence, which although sometimes beneficial, in this case led to embarrassment. I would prefer that my surgeon, were I to be in that bike crash, not indulge in self-deceiving their readiness for the operation. Te fine line sits between a productive delusion and a dangerous one. Believing you can swim across Lake Cayuga might push you to train harder and achieve something. It’s a calculated risk, grounded in the possibility of success. A dangerous delusion is believing you can fly just by flapping your arms. Tat’s not self-deception; it’s a denial of reality and yet another way to embarrass yourself at a family wedding. To continue reading, visit cornellsun.com.

Yihun Stith

Yihun Stith is a senior studying Computer Science and Government. His biweekly column, Stand Up, Fight Back, explores the political structures and power dynamics that shape life at Cornell. Trough analysis, critique, and calls to action, the column challenges Cornellians to engage with the world beyond the campus bubble and to fight for a more just and accountable university. He can be reached at ycs6@cornell.edu.

Cornell’s Secret Summer Love Afair

This summer, while college students binged on Love Island, our universities had their own blossoming love affairs. In the last month, many of our fellow Ivy League schools hard launched their contractual relationship with the Trump administration. Columbia, out of desperation, hastily handed over 200 million to the Trump administration. Brown University agreed to 50 million and Harvard, tempted by billions at stake, is reportedly negotiating a 500 million dollar settlement. However, Cornell has yet to tie the knot with Trump. Some may optimistically believe this a clear rebuff of the Trump administration’s advances, but the words and actions of Cornell’s administration paint a darker picture. Instead of even attempting to ostensibly reject our new authoritarian reality, Cornell has consistently complied in advance. From blatant acts of virtue signaling to material donations to the Trump administration, Cornell has successfully knifed its students in the back while committing fealty to their secret love affair.

Mimicry is the highest form of flattery. This past summer, Kotlikoff took this tactic into overdrive. In June, Kotlikoff, at his State of the University Address, lamented that Cornell has been misunderstood by the media and politicians. Kotlikoff commented that many wrongly believe, “[Ivy League Universities are a place] where the thinking is liberal and woke, but where antisemitism gets a pass… [a] place where protests and pronouns are the priorities, where a flood of DEI and identity politics have washed away any commitment to education, knowledge, or truth.” He’s right! None of this is true about Cornell. The proper response would have been to deconstruct where these wrong conclusions derive from and to present a united front as the under-threat Ivy League. Instead, Kotlikoff, inspired by his orange lover’s playbook, undermined other “woke” Ivy League schools and boasted about how Cornell is not “woke.”

In the eyes of Cornell, one of the reasons they are not “woke” is because of Cornell Tech, which in Kotlikoff’s words is the “most intensive and mewaningful collaboration with an Israeli university of any institution in this country.” Cornell Tech is a collaborative school with Technion, Israel Institute of

David N. DeVries

Technology. In 2014, The Nation revealed Technion has performed research for the Israeli government. More specifically, Technion developed unmanned boulders for the Israeli Military. The Israeli government later deployed them in Operation Cast Lead, also known as the Gaza Massacre, killing around 1,400 Palestinians, including 300 children.

The criticisms only grow sharper given our current context. Since Kotlikoff’s address, the Israeli government has been found guilty of genocide by Israeli-based human rights groups, openly expressed a desire to ethnically cleanse Gaza of Palestinians, starved to death at least 122 children, assassinated aid workers, and murdered the most journalists of any conflict ever. In the mind of Kotlikoff, our undying loyalty to Israeli blood money separates us from our Ivy League peers. Kotlikoff believes we’re Trump’s best partner in crime.

This summer saw the passing of Trump’s so-called Big Beautiful Bill (BBB). One of the pressing focuses for students should be the increased budget of Immigration and Customs enforcement. ICE’s annual budget has now ballooned to nearly $30 billion, up from just $7 billion. To put that in perspective, if ICE were a sovereign nation’s military, it would rank among the world’s top 20 countries in military spending. Cornell knows exactly what this means. ICE agents have already appeared on our campus when attempting to deport former Cornell Graduate Student Momodou Taal amid his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. Last spring, I co-authored Resolution 37: Protect Immigrant Students, which called for commonsense measures: faculty training, legal resources and stronger protections for immigrant and international students. The Student Assembly passed it, the Graduate Assembly passed it, and students made clear what was at stake. But when the chance came to act, President Kotlikoff flatly rejected every recommendation. Instead of building a shield for vulnerable students, Cornell shrugged and quietly updated an FAQ page online, as if a hyperlink could defend against raids and deportations.

To continue reading, visit cornellsun.com.

David N. DeVries is the retired Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education in the College of Arts and Sciences. He continues to teach with the Cornell Prison Education Program. He can be reached at dd75@cornell.edu.

Cornell Reckoning

On June 18, the University released a statement “to update staff and faculty about the profound financial challenges facing the university.” Though much of the faculty had already left campus by that time to pursue their summer research and scholarship, the message to the ‘community’ is worth lingering over. I use single quotation marks because the message that followed belied any real sense of community:

“We will begin a comprehensive review of programs and headcount across the university.”

Headcount. How coldly corporate can a message be? What happens to excess heads? They roll.

In case the euphemism wasn’t brutal enough the first time comes this sentence: “While we will make every effort to downsize by attrition, we anticipate involuntary reductions in headcount across the university.” Involuntary reductions in headcount. Can you say decapitation? How much more inhumane and vicious can language be? Whose heads do Kotlikoff et al. mean?

Then comes the coup de grâce: “It is important that every member of this community understands…”

So to those of you who will be decapitated, we expect you to recognize the great-

er good you will serve by having your heads severed. Be grateful, they say. Even as your future is reduced to a cost-saving measure. Yes, Cornell is responding to an unprecedented attack on education. Yes, Trump means to destroy higher education, weaponizing federal funding and launching a coordinated assault on our universities. But why won’t the University name that plainly? Why suggest, as if it happened with no oversight, “[s]ince June 2021, Cornell’s workforce has grown by more than 15% — greatly outpacing our revenue” as if expansion happened by accident? Who approved the hires? Who grew the programs? Who greenlit the spending? Who was minding the coffers while the hiring happened? If they made mistakes in overestimating their decisions to create new programs, own up to it. But do not pretend the consequences now are natural, neutral or inevitable. The Trump administration wants to destroy institutions like Cornell. And Cornell has enabled its own weakening. It has prioritized donor satisfaction and endowment growth over transparency, labor equity and academic mission.

To continue reading, visit cornellsun.com.

Jan Burzlaff

Jan Burzlaff is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Program for Jewish Studies. Office Hours (Open Door Edition) is his weekly dispatch to the Cornell community — a professor’s reflections on teaching, learning, and the small moments that make a campus feel human. He can be reached at profburzlaff@cornellsun.com.

On Beginning Again

Here we are: The new academic year is starting again, almost too quickly. This past week, the quiet of summer evaporated into the clatter of suitcases on pavement and the shuffle of new keys in old doors. Walking over campus, I could almost hear the hum of anticipation in the hallways. For many of you, it feels like a reunion. But for those of you just arriving here, it must feel like stepping into a room where everyone already seems to know the rules. We have different names for these first weeks: move-in, orientation, the start of classes. But really, it is the beginning of another story, fully to be written — how to make this place feel like home again, for all of us. What rarely gets said, especially in these first weeks, is that starting over — or starting altogether — isn’t easy at all. What rarely gets said, especially in these first weeks, is that starting over — or starting altogether — isn’t easy. There is pressure to look excited after being one of the lucky ones admitted here, to slide back into friendships from previous years, to know where you belong and what to do. These expectations weigh heavily, especially on those — many of us — who feel in-between: in-between Ithaca and home; in-between classes and obligations; in-between the version of ourselves we left behind in May and the one we’re still trying to grow into this fall. Last year, I saw seniors who returned from abroad and suddenly felt like strangers; transfers who wondered if they arrived too late or not at all; and freshmen trying to learn not just where the dining halls are, but how to act as though they already belong. To be in-between is not failure — it is simply what transition feels like. And for most of us, that state lasts longer than the orientation schedule admits. If there is one piece of advice I want to share about new or renewed college life, it is this: You don’t have to carry it alone. Community doesn’t emerge or return all at once; it is rebuilt each semester in the smallest exchanges — someone holding open a door, asking if you’re lost, remembering your name when you didn’t expect it. Those gestures might seem too small to matter in the grand scheme, but they are how belonging begins and how an unfamiliar cam-

pus becomes a place that remembers you back. For me, the sense of beginning arrived in a small moment this week: carrying my coffee across Ho Plaza and suddenly spotting faces of students I hadn’t seen since May. Their smiles carried the ease of old routines, but others looked just as tentative as I once did when I first arrived last August. I distinctly remember the mix of excitement and humility in that first fall semester: eager to teach, but also learning the rhythms of this wonderful, at times intimidating place. Even now, a year later, I carry those impressions with me. They remind me that what feels overwhelming at first is softened, slowly, by routines and, above all, the kindness of strangers who become students, colleagues and friends.

One of my favorite philosophers of education, Paulo Freire, once wrote that hope is an ontological need. This is a statement that can carry us into this first week of orientation and disorientation. Each late August, that possibility takes the form of a fresh start. Each new semester insists that we can begin again, even if last year felt like a stumble. Even if — or precisely because — the world outside feels uncertain. Even if we ourselves are uncertain.

If the first week feels overwhelming, know that you are not alone. Starting again is always both exhilarating and disorienting. And so, as you head back into classrooms, join clubs, pass through the Temple of Zeus or find your spot in the library, try to notice the small ways you are beginning again — not just with syllabi and assignments, but with each other. To say hello to someone new, to invite a classmate to lunch, to thank the staff member keeping your building running — these are not distractions from academic life, but the very threads that hold it together. The things that make this year meaningful rarely happen all at once. They arrive quietly and slowly, in gestures, in conversations and in the courage to say, “I don’t know where I’m going — yet.”

So: Welcome back, welcome in. May this semester bring not only the knowledge, deadlines and grades we all expect, but also the small, steady signs that you are not navigating it alone.

Daniel R. Schwarz

Daniel R. Schwarz is Frederic J. Whiton Professor of English and Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow at Cornell University where he has been a faculty member for 58 years.

On My Mind: Refections as Fall 2025 Term Begins

Itis a disgrace that universities are paying ransom to the Trump administration, even though I understand the rationale in terms of saving both jobs and long-running research programs that have important health implications for a great many families. It seems Harvard University, President Trump’s number one target for humiliation, will be next.

Once universities capitulate, is there any assurance that the Trump administration won’t be back with further demands, including more ransom money and more stipulations about the way universities admit students and govern themselves? How can universities rely on an agreement with an administration that invents its own facts and rules? Simply put, can any university professor or administrator be happy when worldclass universities surrender their independence to an authoritarian regime?

Using Antisemitism as a Cudgel

As a Jew born in 1941, I know what antisemitism looks and feels like, and I know that it has not been absent at Cornell. Te same kind of unspoken quotas that Asian students recently faced were very much part of the admission policies of all the Ivy League schools. But the Trump administration’s claim of rampant antisemitism is being used as an excuse for harassing elite universities such as Cornell and trying to bring them to their knees by withdrawing funding and threatening taxation of their endowments.

As long as policy and issue disagreements don’t involve suppressing the views of others or disrupting access to classes, activities or career fairs, universities must be sites where ideas are debated and various points of view can be expressed. Tis kind of dialogue not only falls under the umbrella of academic freedom but also is the lynchpin of democracy.

Authoritarian Presidency

President Trump has grabbed power in virtually every aspect of American life, ignoring or pushing to the margins both Congress and state legislatures, as well as the federal and state courts. Using the National Guard to replace police in Los Angeles, California and Washington, D.C. and threatening to do so in other cities where democratic mayors have been elected are examples of the imperial presidency which should frighten us all.

One goal of authoritarian governments is to control what happens in the universities, including who is admitted and what ideas are circulating, especially ideas about politics, history and culture. And make no mistake, this is an authoritarian government that rules by decree, often ignoring Congress and judges.

In 1962, while studying in Edinburgh during my junior year, I visited the Soviet Union with a group of British students and saw how students were monitored there. Te students in Moscow dorms were convinced that the public address box on the wall, which was supposedly used for announcements, was in fact a listening device, and the students unscrewed it before talking politics with us visitors. In spring 1992, on the third anniversary of the Tiananmen Square uprising, I was a shorttime visitor at Peking University to give a lecture on literary theory and saw how the faculty was humiliated daily by being frivolously asked to show their credentials. From my time there, I know what a university looks like when it is ruled by government employees who go to lectures to report on “incorrect” thinking.

Te explicit and implicit reason for the Trump administration’s monitoring of admissions is its claim that racial bias in favor of Black and Hispanic students is deleterious to the interests of white and Asian students.

I have argued before that after admitting the truly exceptional applicants and rejecting those who cannot do the work in the field in which they wish to study, elite colleges should use a lottery.

Tis would address my sense from sitting in on admission selection meetings that many of the applicants are about the same in terms of grades, test scores, essay quality and recommendations. I felt that many admissions people convinced themselves of distinctions when there was little or no difference between students.

With affirmative action now declared illegal by the Supreme Court, the administration wants to monitor college admissions based on statistical data. Of course, in the past, before affirmative action was used to give more minorities a chance and to create a diverse class, affirmative action had been used to admit athletes, faculty and staff children, relatives of major donors and legacies, but it was not called that. I doubt that such admission priority will disappear either for athletes as long as we wish to be competitive in athletics or for major donors as long as we rely on them for funding costly projects.

Using only grades and test score data will benefit those — mostly white and well-off — who get help from private schools, elite public schools and professionals who are hired to take high school students through the admission process.

Israel: Right or Wrong?

Let us turn to the current inflammatory example of the need for academic freedom. President Trump’s deportation of foreign students who have expressed support for those living in Gaza or participated in peaceful protests is a violation of how free speech operates in a democracy.

I am a supporter of Israel and, as a Holocaust scholar, know about Israel’s brave history. I share Israel’s outrage at Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack. I grieve for the lives of those lost in the Hamas attack and the suffering hostages who are still alive, but I also grieve for the death of innocent children in Gaza. Tinking of attacks in Boulder, Colorado and Washington, D.C., I worry about the safety of Jews everywhere.

On Israel, as on all contentious issues, there must be room for dialogue. For my part, I reject Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s current military policies in Gaza. It would be best for Israel if Netanyahu lost the support of the right-wing extremists in his cabinet, whom he desperately tries to please to keep his position as Prime Minister. Perhaps he might be succeeded by a new, more moderate government which would explore the possibility of a two-state solution.

Conclusion

We are living in fraught times. Te nation in which I lived my life and taught has fundamentally changed. As President Trump continues to establish an autocracy, much of the media and legal establishment, as well as formerly respectable GOP members of Congress, have buckled under his intimidation. Te latter are fearful of not only abusive verbal behavior on the part of President Trump and his MAGA supporters but also of physical attacks on themselves and family members.

Day after day, we read of new executive orders and the use of the National Guard to control domestic policy, as well as investigations into the work of Trump’s perceived enemies and pardons for the criminality of his supporters. What will stop him from sending the military to campuses if large-scale protests against his policies break out? We know from the May 4, 1970, Kent State shootings that catastrophe awaits if he sends troops to campus.

SC I ENCE & TECH

The Science of Feeling Happy Under the Sun

By ZEINAB FARAJ Assistant Sports Editor

Cornellians have become experts on taking on sunny days in Ithaca — especially after a frigid and long winter. From sitting out on Libe Slope soaking up the sun, throwing frisbees on the Arts Quad or just working and chatting outside — Cornell loves the sun.

Ithaca gets about 155 days of sunlight in 365 days, a 42.5 yearly percentage. Compare that to the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida, which got 224 sunny days in 2024.

But why do humans enjoy the sunshine so much? For starters, the sun provides us with Vitamin D, which promotes calcium absorption to strengthen our bones, reduces inflammation and assists in the regulation of processes like cell growth and immune response. This occurs because the sun’s ultraviolet B rays interact with a protein called 7-DHC in your skin which is converted to the active form of vitamin D — vitamin D3.

Vitamin D is also only present in low amounts in our foods naturally, which makes exposure to sunlight or daily supplementary vitamins crucial.

Sunlight is an electromagnetic type of energy and falls in the visible spectrum, 380 to 700 nanometer wavelengths, of what humans are able to see. According to Prof. Adam Anderson, psychology, the “rainbow of light” we are able to see gives us an idea of why humans enjoy seeing the sun so much!

“[Sunlight] ranges from the short wavelength and high energy violet to longer wavelength lower energy red — imagine a rainbow, which is [an] expression of how our brains interpret light as color,” Anderson

said. “Beyond being a source of visual experience, colors also activate reward circuits in our brains to differing degrees and this influences our motivations and emotions.”

Notably, there is a link between sunlight and serotonin as a decrease in the exposure to sunlight is associated with lower serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and hormone that boosts mood and makes you feel calm, happy and content. And when you are in the sun, serotonin levels increase and cause you to feel happier.

“More daylight is associated with a more positive mood and less depression,” Anderson said.

However, sunlight isn’t the only factor to happiness. Anderson added that, while sunlight’s positive impact should be noted, “It is just one of many factors that can regulate our mood, like spending time with people we care about and having gratitude for all

that we have.”

Another reason you may feel happier in the sunshine is because your body may feel less pressure and stress. Studies have shown that sunlight can increase the levels of nitric oxide in your body which works to dilate your blood vessels, making the blood flow easier in your body. This causes increased cardiovascular health.

Sunshine is even linked to your circadian rhythm — which is your body’s 24-hour internal clock that regulates your sleep and awake time. It does this by responding to changes in light during the day.

Light is considered a zeitgeber — which in German means “time-giver” — since it is a stimulus for the body to set its biological clock.

So, bright and early in the morning when you are outside getting sunlight your circadian rhythm becomes aware of what time it

is. In the afternoon when there is more sunlight, your circadian rhythm becomes stronger and even more aware of what time it is.

When exposed to the sun, your body blocks melatonin production which can explain why you feel more energetic in the sunshine. As the sun sets, your body becomes aware that it is time to sleep. Therefore, in the darkness you will produce more melatonin — which is connected to greater longer, more quality sleep at night.

While sun exposure is important, overexposure to the sun can lead to many serious health issues including skin cancer, sunburn, premature aging and damage to the eyes. Wearing sunscreen is the best way to avoid running into these issues as you soak up the sun.

“Don’t forget that light also has effects on us beyond what we can see, like heat on our skin and the ultraviolet exposure that gives us vitamin D and sunburns,” Anderson added. “You will still need sunscreen on the slope even if the skies are grey — your future self will thank you for wearing some.”

So, as the summer comes to an end, be sure to soak up the sunshine while it lasts! (And be sure to remember that sunscreen.) Your skin, body and brain will thank you.

“The effect of light on brain-body interactions influences many aspects of our physiology like blood pressure and metabolism, and our higher selves like our cognition, motivation and mood,” Anderson said. “Research shows the power of light to regulate these invisible internal forces is much more real than a rainbow.”

Zeinab Faraj can be reached at zfaraj@cornell. sun.com

Private Herds on Public Lands: The Hector Cooperative Grazing Assocation

By GRACE FEISTHAMEL Sun Staff Writer

If you’ve ever come across a cow or two during a hike in the Finger Lakes National Forest, you may have asked yourself “Is this real life?” And though the blending of cows and outdoor recreation may seem mutually exclusive, they are anything but.

A Forest in Common(s)

Nestled between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, the Finger Lakes National Forest is the only national forest in New York State and the second smallest in the country, covering about 16,200 acres. According to Jim Fravil, an Ovid beef farmer who has been grazing his cows in the Forest since 1980, through a 10-year allotment management partnership with the Hector Cooperative Grazing Association, farmers pay just over $100 per cow to let their herd roam in designated areas of the forest — totalling 4,800 acres — from May 15 through October 15.

In essence, the Finger Lakes National Forest is a commons held in public trust by the U.S. Forest Service. The HGA formed unofficially in 1943 but wasn’t incorporated as a cooperative until 1946. Now, 80 years later, we can look back, as a retrospective of sorts, to see how this experiment has worked as a tenure model adapted to promote both ecological and social wellbeing.

State trust land forms a significant portion of the landscape in the United States, especially in the West. In Nevada, Alaska, California and other states, this model of utilizing public lands for grazing is a popular method of increasing access to farmland for farmers and for providing conservation management through cows doing what they do best — munch away on flora.

Grazing as Stewardship

Sound land stewardship practices have many ecosystem services and can prevent erosion, restore the soil and sequester carbon, encourage the growth of native plant varieties and support widespread diversified land use. As secure access to farmland becomes an increasing concern for farmers nationwide, a cooperative approach to securing grazing land can be a remedy. All-in-all, this multifaceted low-hanging fruit approach has worked for all involved.

Fravil relishes the opportunity to feed and house his cattle on public lands and recalls its myriad benefits, many of them economic.

“Where else can you feed an adult cow for that price for five months? We couldn’t own enough land to raise the cattle herd as big as we were. We just couldn’t make it work,” Fravil said.

Farmers must meet a bottom line in order to continue farming and, according to Fravil, that hasn’t changed and it doesn’t look like it ever will.

“[The program] works for the Forest Service, for the HGA, and for the farmers. We get a cow fed, HGA takes care of a lot of the mowing and maintenance, and the USFR gets their land managed and native species, like the White-crowned Sparrow, remain protected,” Fravil said. Changing Landscapes, Changing Herds Participation in the program has dropped in recent years, as herd sizes and dairy businesses across New York have grown and been consolidated. Fravil attributes this to the “get big or get out” mindset that became prominent following major agricultural policy shifts in the mid-1970s, which encouraged farmers to expand operations to remain competitive. Today, with limited resources available and a continued reliance on generational wealth, supplemental income from a

spouse or another job to shape access to land and other assets needed, it’s hard to be a farmer in New York. Fravil knows this well. With the rise of cattle prices, farmers feel increased pressure to take specialized care of their herds, which now means that many prefer to house them on their own land.

According to Fravil, the HGA doesn’t run a perfect program, but it works. There are limitations to employing good agricultural practices, like rotational grazing and more intentional water management, but for Fravil, the HGA program meets his needs. This sentiment is echoed by Brett Chedzoy, senior resource educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension, which, located in every county of New York, works to connect research and resources at the University with those in the farming community and to other small businesses.

For Chedzoy, supporting statewide forestry, agroforestry and grazing efforts means sharing practices he’s passionate about and uses on his own farm. Chedzoy

has been supporting the work of the HGA as well as a larger push for agroforestry practices for over 30 years.

“As an extension forester, I’ve been studying the ways we can grow a quality future forest and the method used with the Finger Lakes National Forest not only functions as a way to browse off invasive woody shrubs but can also support good deer management,” Chedzoy said. The habitat we’re maintaining in our grasslands through grazing supports wildlife species that are of significant interest to us.”

Overall, the legacy of this experiment shows the multifaceted benefits of alternative farmland access, and mirrors today’s calls for land reform.

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Behind the Wheel: Meet the TCAT Drivers Who Keep Ithaca Moving

By VARSHA BHARGAVA Sun News Editor

Aug. 25 — In 12-hour workdays, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit bus drivers transport essential workers, relieve students from treks across campus and save the community from long walks in the sun and snow.

As cornerstones of the community, these drivers interact with riders from across the county all day long from the driver’s seat.

The Sun spoke with some TCAT bus drivers to learn more about their lives on and off the road.

Jesse Pompilio

Sporting mismatched wacky socks and a wide smile, Jesse Pompilio drives around Ithaca in style. The Ithaca-native began driving for TCAT two years ago and he said he has felt fulfilled by the driving job ever since.

“Driving is like breathing. I like moving people around.”

Jesse Pompilio

Life on wheels is natural for Pompilio, who holds a decades-long passion for skateboarding and has worked in the driving industry for years.

Behind the wheel, Pompilio has driven across the country multiple times, worked for over-the-road companies doing cell tower work, delivered food and drove taxis before working for TCAT.

All the while, Pomilio wears one thing that makes him stick out from the other drivers — his knee-high patterned socks. Every day, he steps into the driver’s seat flaunting two differently colored socks ranging in patterns from Rick and Morty characters, to bacon and eggs, to skulls and crossbones and more.

“I figure if I’m going to

wear shorts, I might as well subject people to fun colored socks,” Pompilio said with a smile. “I wear them mismatched just because why not?”

As a bus driver, sometimes passengers regard him as part of the bus, Pompilio said. The best parts of his day — aside from moments of agreeable traffic — are the moments where he can connect with the people who climb on.

“It’s nice to be noticed,” Pompilio said.

An English bulldog and a Cane Corso puppy loudly greet Jesa Scott when she returns home to craft and watch K-dramas after long days of driving.

Like her puppies at home, Scott loves to talk. Her smile widens and her voice brightens when passengers greet her, and she said that talking to passengers is her favorite thing.

“I love the passengers. I like meeting new people. I like to talk to people, so I’m just silly all the time.”

Jesa Scott

Scott found her “birthday twin” — a passenger on her bus with the same birthday as her — just by being silly, she said. She shares similar moments with her other usuals, or people who frequent her buses, that make her drives special.

Earlier this year, Scott served on the bargaining team as TCAT workers, represented by UAW Local 2300, negotiated for a fair contract. Drivers and other workers represented by the bargaining team called for increased wages and other measures that would ensure adequate staffing and reduce turnover.

As a part of the bargaining team, Scott took notes and relayed information back to

Big Red Bark Chat Uses AI to Answer Dog Owners’ Questions

By ZEINAB FARAJ Sun Features Editor

Aug. 21 — When a dog owner has a question or concern about their pet, they usually choose to consult with a veterinarian — a process that is reliable but can typically take days or even weeks. Now, pet owners can utilize a new and trusted resource that can be used any time and anywhere.

The Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center launched Big Red Bark Chat, an artificial intelligence chatbot designed to answer questions about canine health and safety. Users simply input a question and Big Red Bark Chat provides an answer backed by resources trusted by veterinary professionals.

the drivers. Scott said the decision to ratify their contract in April was a start to things getting better. Even when the union is not actively negotiating a new contract, she said she still tells her associates, “I’m here for you. You can talk to me.”

“I feel like people are a lot more vocal,” Scott said. “They feel more seen and they feel like they’ve been heard a little bit more.”

Compassion steers Scott’s personal philosophy as a bus driver. She said she will always help out a passenger who needs it, even if they don’t have their fare.

“It makes life a lot easier when you’re able to communicate with people, even when things aren’t going so great,” Scott said.

Sometimes, she said she jokes with passengers who have misplaced their cards by dramatically saying “Oh my god, what are you going to do?” and then she laughs, reminds them to bring their card next time and lets them get on anyway.

“I’m not going to make you late to work, I don’t want to make you late to class or wherever it is you’re going.”

Jesa Scott

“My job is to get you from point A to point B safely, and that’s what I’m going to do,” Scott said.

Former truck driver Jacob Martin made the jump to buses just over a year ago. He has ties in Ithaca as a former student of the New Roots Charter School downtown, but he recently moved back to town from Georgia.

To continue reading, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

Prof. Rory Todhunter Ph.D. ’92, clinical sciences, who is the director of RCHC, explained that his team has been working for years to “fill a gap” in the articles and information online about canine health and wellbeing.

“The Big Red Bark Chat is a great use of new kinds of technology to fill that gap and do good for the dog lovers around the country,” said Scott Ross MILR ’13, the assistant director of application development and integration at the College of Veterinary Medicine and a software engineer.

Todhunter and Ross explained that the current shortage in veterinarians also inspired them to create the Big Red Bark Chat. The demand for veterinarians is only expected to increase as a report by MARS Veterinary Health anticipates that “55,000 additional veterinarians will be needed to meet the needs of companion animal healthcare in the U.S. by 2030.”

“We hoped that people could use Big Red Bark Chat as a way of getting quick access to reliable health information,” Todhunter explained.

Big Red Bark Chat was also developed with the help of Amazon and uses a retrieval-augmented generation, known as RAG, which is a type of generative AI model that uses both an “authoritative knowledge base” and “its training data sources” before responding to a question according to Ross.

Ross and Todhunter explained that they began working with Amazon in August 2024 and launched the site in May. The Chat became live to students and faculty who helped “test run” the website according to Todhunter.

According to Ross, the Chat was trained on “various Cornell specific sources” including Consultant, a system that veterinarians across the country use to diagnosis disease and source scholarly articles, Health Topics, a public website that provides information to both veterinarians and pet caretakers, eClinPath,

a database of symptoms and pathologies of diseases and “over ten gigabytes of faculty generated PowerPoints, notes and information.”

“We wanted the Chatbot to have a large pool of information to reference,” Ross said. “So we compiled a large database of information for it to cross reference in order to increase accuracy and still get the feel of going to the vet because of that expertise.”

Big Red Bark Chat is now available to the general public at no cost. Ross and Todhunter say that it has been trained to answer a wide variety of questions which include but are not limited to nutrition, disease and overall wellbeing.

Ross also explained that while the Chatbot does not provide diagnosis, it does help provide information to the general public while emphasizing the “need to visit the veterinarian.” He explained that Big Red Bark Chat serves as an informational source rather than a diagnostic one.

“Not everyone is able to access their veterinarian 24/7 and not everyone has one nearby so the hope of the Big Red Bark Chat is to make it to where parts of your query can be answered appropriately and then what it can’t answer it will redirect you to a veterinarian that can,” Todhunter said.

The two also explained that the Chat can be utilized in numerous languages — Todhunter pointed out that he saw the Chat receive a question in Mandarin Chinese. In addition, some veterinarians have used the tool to help improve the safety protocol of their practices.

“We’ve seen questions in all sorts of languages,” Todhunter said. “Some of the questions are also about hospital protocols, for example, I saw one that asked ‘How can I reduce cross contamination in my practice.’”

Ross explained that Big Red Bark also has “certain guardrails” on it to help preserve the accuracy of the information while still being understandable to the general public.

“Big Red Bark [Chat] is set to give responses back at a tenth grade reading level,” Ross said. “We chose this level because we did not want people to be overwhelmed by science jargon and we also list some of the sources that the responses were generated from.”

In the future, Todhunter and Ross hope to create an app for the website for their veterinary partners. They also plan on adapting an Agentic AI model.

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Zeinab Faraj can be reached at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.

The Corne¬ Daily Sun

Te Truth About the “Freshman 15”

By Melanie Delfosse

Melanie Delfosse is a sophomore in the College of Human Ecology. She can be reached at md2262@cornell.edu.

Coming into college, many worries may be swirling through your mind. You’re missing your family, your friends, even just the usual routine of your hometown. You’re preparing for new classes, maybe worrying about those “weed out” courses that everyone seems to be warning you about. But on top of all that, there’s another concern looming: the “freshman 15.” If you’re unfamiliar, this refers to the weight gain some students experience during their first year of college. The term isn’t new — it was popularized in the 1980s, accompanying changing dietary habits in the U.S.

This weight gain can be explained by a myriad of factors, most notably fewer restrictions on food choices and easier access to alcohol. In addition, college often introduces students to a more sedentary lifestyle and higher stress. With the (gorges) natural environment of Ithaca, this could seem counterintuitive — the walks to class on the hilly campus are known to cause “Cornell calves” and may be more exercise than you’re used to if you previously drove or took a bus to school.

Personally, while the hilly walks to class were certainly a shock, my lack of intramural sports has made me less active overall. While there are plenty of opportunities to become involved with a sport here, from varsity athletics to casual clubs, I personally have found myself prioritizing studying over physical activity.

On the other hand, my nutrition has improved in some ways — the easy access to fruits and vegetables is hard to beat, from the surplus of apples and bananas in every dining hall to the premade salads at Morrison. Of course, this has also come with easier access to less nutritious foods like cookies, ice cream and vending-machine snacks, but I’ve still found myself including more produce into my diet.

So what does the research say? Generally, while first-years do tend to gain weight, it usually isn’t anywhere close to 15 pounds. One Cornell study published in 2004 found that freshmen gained an average of 1.9 kg (~4.2 lb) within

their first 12 weeks on campus. Other studies demonstrate a similar phenomenon, linking lifestyle changes in college with modest weight gain — although not necessarily to the extent suggested by the phrase “freshman 15.”

On social media, student creators share similar experiences with the “freshman 15.”

Many noticed changes to their body after a few months of college, largely due to new eating habits and easier access to food. Some have responded by learning more about nutrition or becoming more active — hitting the gym, walking more or joining fitness classes and sports teams.

Others on social media focus on the adverse mental health effects of the “freshman 15,” especially the pressure to avoid it. Some mention cycles of dieting and regaining weight, or regret how much energy they spent obsessing over their weight during their limited time at college. Others criticize the stigma around weight gain in college, discussing how it can have negative effects on one’s mental health, especially if the fear of changes to one’s body becomes overwhelming. It’s important to keep in mind that not everyone finishes growing by 18 — physical changes into adulthood are normal and likely even inevitable.

Balancing these two realities — that weight shouldn’t be your sole focus, but that healthy eating and meaningful movement matter — can be challenging. While each person’s needs may differ based on their background, routines and overall lifestyle, making intentional choices about food and exercise is possible and important for the body and mind.

Cornell Health recommends eating three balanced meals a day. This means including protein or dairy for maintenance, grains for energy and fruits and vegetables for micronutrients and fiber. At most dining halls, this combination is doable, and it may just mean grabbing a piece of fruit on the side or adding some grains to your plate. They also note that sweet foods can be incorporated into a healthy diet, stating that they are “a fun part of life.”

The focus of this advice is on adding nutritious foods to your plate as opposed to cutting out others entirely. Eating more balanced, nourishing meals often naturally reduces cravings for lower-nutrient snacks, establishing them as occasional treats instead of excessively eating them out of hunger.

Concerning exercise, the CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity (like brisk walking) per week, along with two days of muscle-strengthening. Health benefits can be seen in excess beyond this amount, but the benefits are present no matter the amount — even just walking for a few minutes each day is better than remaining sedentary.

Beyond these basic recommendations, your eating and exercise habits will likely be influenced by your lifestyle. Are your classes far away, so you’re walking more? What foods in the dining hall are actually appealing to you — and which ones don’t have a long line?

Ultimately, college brings with it a whole host of new challenges: homesickness, difficult classes, new friendships and new responsibilities; almost everything may feel new and difficult. Worrying about weight gain is just one more stressor. While it can be hard to suppress the thoughts and feelings everyone experiences around body image and eating, it is essential to prevent a number on a scale from taking over your life. If you do find yourself gaining weight, know that it’s not unusual and remember that it’s not the end of the world — studies and students alike confirm it is a common part of adjusting to a drastic change in environment. If you want to focus on eating healthier and getting more movement in, do so without taking it to the extreme. And don’t forget to enjoy the wonderful and diverse food experiences that Cornell and the greater Ithaca area have to offer! As opposed to seeing food as the enemy, use it as a way to connect with people — meet over meals, try new foods in the dining hall together, even visit new restaurants with friends. Discovering my favorite food spots in Ithaca was such a highlight of my freshman year, and it can be for you too. Eat food that energizes and sustains you, but also allow yourself to try the occasional sweet (or savory) treat. In the end, college is a truly unique, short time of your life — let enrich that experience, not overshadow it.

From Both Sides of the Hill: An IC Transfer’s Perspective

By Richard Ballard

Richard Ballard is a junior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He can be reached at rpb233@cornell.edu.

From the communal balcony of my Terrace dorm, I would sit and stare at the city skyline of Ithaca: the view of Cayuga Lake, Cornell’s campus, luxury high-rise buildings and everything else that felt so distant from my life at Ithaca College. As an admitted Transfer Option student, I entered my collegiate career with more questions than answers — where to go, what to do and how to best prepare to apply to one of my dream schools. IC felt like a good choice, since I lived relatively close by and could partake in a more semi-conjoined four-year experience.

In the back of my mind, though, the possibility that I wouldn’t be accepted loomed large. The Transfer Option process was confusing from the start: first described as guaranteed upon fulfilling all of the requirements, later clarified as not. There were other speculations, such as the chances of receiving a Transfer Option decision being slimmer than receiving an acceptance decision, as well as that because Cornell’s contract colleges receive state funding, a certain number of New York State students must be accepted — who make up the bulk of Transfer Option awardees.

Taking a step back, Cornell’s acceptance rate for all transfers matriculating in the Fall of 2024 was just a little over 9%. Comparatively, this is higher than Cornell’s standard acceptance rate, but I had the fear that if I couldn’t get accepted the first time, the second attempt would be challenging too. It didn’t matter if I already knew Ithaca, had rode on the TCAT or had gotten a headstart on my Ithacalves: a statistic is a statistic, and for transfers, there’s a need to prove oneself twice. Cornell was so close yet so far away.

As a Junior in my Collegetown apartment, I now have the obverse view. I see Ithaca College’s “Towers,” athletic center and dorm that I spent my freshman year of college wondering if I’d ever make it to East Hill. After the fact, I had realized that there isn’t much connection between the two schools aside from being in the same town, having shared cooperative offices such as ROTC and an exchange program where IC students can take up to one Cornell course a semester. And I’ve always been surprised as to how little my Cornell friends knew about an institution so close to where they live.

IC’s community leans heavily toward the arts, anchored by the Roy H. Park School of Communications and a strong music program. They have some notable alumni in media such

as Bob Iger, a previous chief executive officer for the Walt Disney Company, and David Muir, an ABC News anchor you may have seen facilitate the 2024 Presidential Debate. A contrast between the two schools is that within Cornell, virtually every major is strong. As a Biology major at Ithaca College fulfilling CALS prerequisites, I certainly noticed a deficiency compared to the departments that were given more attention. Of course, there’s a very big difference here, with Cornell’s endowment approaching $11 billion.

And, if you’re curious, I certainly noticed a perception gap from my time at both schools. At IC, I would overhear a lot of people speculating about Cornell, especially during orientation week. There was a noticeable level of cognizance surrounding CU. One friend’s communications professor had compared his own department to Cornell’s in a lecture. Oftentimes, the redirection of attention was unavoidable — most TCAT routes going to Lansing (Target and Ithaca Mall area) go right through the middle of Cornell’s campus, such as Route 30. But how often does the average Cornellian take a visit to South Hill?

On the contrary, Ithaca College barely registers for Cornell students, at least from my experience. Cornell’s global reputation can make students inward-focused. Although there is mutual awareness, it isn’t equal. There is insularity within the university — with requirements such as an unlimited meal plan and a two-year on-campus residential requirement, as well as the luxury of a plentifully stocked bookstore, there isn’t much need (or reason) to willingly explore the city of Ithaca beyond Cornell’s campus and Collegetown derivative. Perhaps this is why I and so many other people only saw a vignette of CU.

“Although there is mutual awareness, it isn’t equal.” Ballard ’27

The same thought of localism could be painted for Ithaca College, as it has a three-year on-campus living expectation. But Cornell’s prestige is impossible to ignore and it shapes how IC students see themselves in Ithaca. Cornell has a reputation for being competitive in nature; IC can feel overshadowed at times. The question arises of how this disconnect could be resolved, or, to take it one step further, if people from either school even want this. Or will the only associations be limited to shared location, dating apps, farmer’s markets and Trader Joe’s?

ARTS & CULTURE

Dominique Torne ’19 in: ‘Ironheart’

By SOPHIA ROMANOV IMBER Arts & Culture Assistant Editor

Dominique Thorne ’19 plays Riri Williams, the main character in Ironheart , well. Still, the series falls short. While her character was first introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ironheart was a chance to give the character a spotlight. Warning: This article includes spoilers for Ironheart.

The series starts strong: Riri is at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she designs her first suit and, along the way, sells other creations to students for more money to fund her suit’s design. But then Riri is expelled. While there are plot holes in stories that don’t make sense, this felt like a character plot hole. Riri was working well at MIT, but her plagiaristic side gig of selling her projects and homework left her stranded; the school rescinded her grant and expelled her. This opening fallout that leaves Riri in search of funding is illogical and contributes to the mixed reactions Ironheart is receiving.

In the first episode of Ironheart, Riri asks, “Do you think Tony Stark would be Tony Stark if he wasn’t a billionaire?” Fans have reacted negatively to this rhetorical question. It’s intended to provide social commentary on the wealth disparity in the United States and the gap in opportunities from funding and resources. However, this is not accomplished by jabbing at Tony Stark and especially from Riri’s position at MIT with a grant that allows her to build her first suit. The series Ironheart aims to discuss the importance of having resources and being financially supported. Yet, the audience is aware that Tony Stark built his

first suit in a cave while captive. Tony Stark is not Iron Man because he was a billionaire, but because he was Tony Stark. The story of the superhero is built around the idea of a man making the suit, not the suit making the man. It’s about character, motivations and integrity. We even see this when Captain America is able to lift Thor’s hammer when other Avengers cannot. It is not because he is Captain America that he can lift it; it is because he is Steve Rogers. A person’s character is integral to the superhero story. This is one of my qualms with Ironheart . The show’s social commentary — important in its own right by recognizing the necessity of support and resources not just opportunities — overlooks and disregards the aspect of superhero films that is the character making the hero, not their funding.

For being an action, adventure and drama series, there wasn’t much to show for any genre, but the parts that were present were entertaining. After being expelled from MIT, Riri joins a group that performs heists to make some money. The heists were interesting, and the action scenes were fun to watch, yet this was another part of the character plot hole that is Riri Williams. There are many “whats” and “hows” in the show, but not many “whys.” Every member of the group had a motivation to make money, but money is transactional and used for the sake of something else. No character’s motivation was strong, so it made other parts of the show nonsensical.

Aside from this, the show had some fun aspects. In Riri’s second suit, her late best friend, Natalie Washington (Lyric Ross), is brought back to life in the form of the suit’s AI assistant. Their relation-

ship is lively and a pleasant part of the show. In the later episodes, Zelma Stanton (Regan Aliyah) is introduced and brings an element of magic from her mom’s studies at the Kamar-Taj.

The light at the end of the tunnel was the introduction of Mephisto. Mephisto is a powerful demon from the Marvel comics who is also a supervillain who makes deals with mortals. From his presence in Ironheart , he’ll play a significant role in Riri Williams’ story and any upcoming Marvel movies.

There wasn’t much change in Riri Williams’ character from the first episode to the last. It was a pretty static character arc. However, if the show is renewed for a second season, I hope her character is explored beyond action and adventure, and more toward what she wants from life and how she’ll get there. Dominique Thorne ’19 did an excellent job with the character, and she’ll continue to do so in the upcoming show Marvel Zombies, and the two upcoming movies Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).

It’s inspiring to see a Cornell alum succeed on screen. Even better, Ironheart featured the amazing work of two other Cornell alums: Dara Taylor ’09 composed the music for Ironheart, and Mae Jemison MD ’81 was name-dropped as Riri Williams’ inspiration. I look forward to future shows and movies with Thorne as Riri Williams, as she’ll surely become an important part of the MCU.

Sophia Romanov Imber is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at sromanovimber@cornellsun.com.

Boston Calling 2025: Down Memory Lane

its clear skies and crown-jewel headliners — Dave Matthews Band and Vampire Weekend — drew in a similarly energetic, age-balanced crowd.

ence, especially if the lineups continue to diverge — a seemingly likely issue given the booking challenges the overlap is sure to bring about.

What remains of a festival ground when all the glitter is washed away?

At this year’s Boston Calling, that question became less of a metaphor and more of a logistical reality. The city’s largest music festival opened with a day and a half of near-steady downpour, and the turf of Harvard Athletic Complex slowly vanished beneath a rainbow of single-use ponchos. Forget fit checks — this season’s headliner was practicality. Rain boots were the hottest accessory on site.

Yet the weather did little to deter the Memorial Day Weekend crowd. Friday’s lineup, with its country-heavy billing, left plenty of breathing room at the main stage. But by Saturday, that space was gone. The first day of the weekend, headlined by Fall Out Boy and Avril Lavigne and backed by Cage the Elephant and All Time Low, drew in a storm of its own. By midday, the Harvard grounds were flooded with more than just rain; Boston’s alternative faithful had arrived, spanning younger fans in band tees and older scene veterans reliving their heyday, unfazed by the elements. Even amid the weather, the mainstays of teenage emo playlists detonated like time bombs in the middle of Allston. “Dear Maria” and “Sk8er Boi” hit like they always do, rain or shine, and “Sugar, We’re Going Down,” tirelessly played by every other band hitting the stage of Midway Cafe, sent the crowd into a nostalgic emo-frenzy. Sunday, with

Still, Boston Calling’s foundation proved less than waterproof. After last year’s overcrowding concerns, the new grounds’ layout created more breathing room between stages, though it remains unclear whether the improved flow was a product of better planning, or a less universally thrilling range of offerings. Reddit, never short on opinions, caught the tone early: “The last festival I went to was 25 years ago, but I’m pretty sure this was the same lineup I saw,” one user commented, echoing the opinions of dozens of disappointed music fans.

Perhaps it is this very frustration, paired with last year’s public outrage about poor logistical decisions leading to overcrowding and medical issues, that resulted in a decision to cancel the 2026 edition of the festival altogether. Just a couple of days ago, the organizers announced that the festival will return in 2027 on the first weekend of June. Whether the cancellation was driven by underwhelming turnout or preemptive planning remains unclear, but it marks a significant pause in what had become a Boston tradition. For some, the cancellation disrupted a beloved Memorial Day outing; for others, it created a future scheduling dilemma: Boston now sets its sights on the first weekend of June — the same turf Gov Ball has long claimed. It remains to be seen whether Boston fans would stay local or head south for the Gov Ball experi-

There is, however, hope for Boston. Smaller stages offered space for rising and local talent. A few acts familiar to regulars of Somerville’s friendly neighborhood NICE, a Fest! or small-venue circuits, like Megan From Work, Sidebody, or Vivid Bloom, finally found themselves amplified on a festival scale. Boston’s local scene is remarkably multifaceted, yet rarely spotlighted. This year proved that Boston Calling could be that spotlight, if it chose to intentionally tap into the city’s sonic reserves and encouraged exploration beyond the main stage’s gravitational pull.

Another meaningful direction for the festival lies in deeper engagement with local charities and community organizations — and, fortunately, Boston has those in abundance. This year’s festival presented a variety of vendors and advocacy groups, including a This Must Be The Place tent distributing free naloxone and informational pamphlets. While music is, predictably, the centerpiece of a festival, the touring acts alone don’t define a city. It is in the smaller things, like local bands and quiet booths, that a festival’s true pulse begins to emerge. And Boston’s heart, for what it’s worth, beats loud and clear. All it needs is someone to listen.

Meet Ryan Downes ’29, Cornell’s Newest QB

Football’s latest recruit went from battling injury to high school glory

By ZEINAB FARAJ

Before the accolades, before the 3,000-yard senior season and before he was the only quarterback in Cornell’s Class of 2029, Ryan Downes had to learn how to walk again.

Hailing from Sarasota, Florida, meet Ryan Downes ‘29, one of five quarterbacks on the Red’s roster. His story features a season-ending injury, a strong comeback season and a love of all sports.

Developing the Love of the Game

Downes was born on Long Island and lived there until he was about 12 years old. Downes said his start with football originated in New York so attending Cornell is a “full circle” moment for him. He grew up a New York Jets fan and enjoyed watching college football on Saturdays with his family and catching professional NFL games on Sundays — where he enjoyed watching quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Harvard graduate Ryan Fitzpatrick.

“I grew up with sports,” Downes said. “I had a football in my hand all the time and I loved watching and looking up to the pros.”

He started playing flag football as soon as he was old enough to join a team according to Downes. Then, in the fourth grade, he started playing tackle football. By the time he started middle school, Downes joined International Management Group Academy where he played quarterback through the end of his sophomore year of high school.

Downes played his junior year at Venice High School where he faced the biggest challenge of his football career. On a two point conversion play against IMG Academy, he was hit hard and faced a “combined tib[ia]-fib[ula] open compound fracture” which left him in the hospital for roughly three months.

According to Downes, he underwent seven different surgeries includ-

ing a double leg fasciotomy which “saved” his legs. Through it all, Downes said he knew he still wanted to play football at the collegiate level.

“I still knew from the second that it happened that I wanted to come back and play,” Downes said.

Downes fulfilled the promise he made for himself and transferred to Booker High School to wrap up his final year of high school. In his comeback season, Downes recorded a stellar 3,082 yards and 35 touchdowns in 13 games. He had a .701 completion percentage and just three interceptions. Downes explained that following the injury, he “rebranded the way” he played football.

“Before the injury I liked to be a mobile quarterback and running the ball to pick up a gritty first down but now I have to think a little more about protecting myself and being smart to not take those extra hits,” Downes said.

Downes credits the success of the season to the rest of the team and said that as the season continued he “healed” and got back to his rhythm.

“I was surrounded by an incredible support cast that helped me get those stats,” Downes said. “I can attest the stats to the incredible offensive line play, my receivers and running backs and the incredible offensive attack we had that year.”

Downes’ performance earned him the 2024 Sports Illustrated Comeback Player of the Year and the Herald Tribune Courage Award which Downes said he was “honored” to have received.

“Through a lot of doubt, pain and hours of recovery I still managed to come back and prove to people that I could play,” Downes said. “I still have a lot to prove and the story definitely is not over.”

Committing to Cornell

During his high school football career, Downes caught the attention of many college scouts including Indiana University and the University of Kansas. Despite his various offers,

Downes said he most relished the opportunity to play football at Cornell. According to Downes, the Ivy League and Cornell in particular was “the best mix of academics and sports in the whole country” which always appealed to him “as someone who always sought out the highest of both academics and athletics.”

But the biggest differentiator between Cornell and the other Ivy schools he had offers from was head coach Dan Swanstrom. Downes said he felt that he and Swanstrom “saw eye-to-eye.”

“From the first day that I had met him I knew he was someone who I really wanted to play for,” Downes said. “I was impressed by his knowledge of the game and the way he galvanizes the people that play for him.”

Now, the 6’4” quarterback Downes joins the Reds’ squad, expressing his enthusiasm about the opportunity and to contribute to the team.

“I’d like to come in there with my whole freshman class and make our mark on the team,” Downes said. “We all share the common goal of wanting to win games and climb up the Ivy League standings so whatever my role is I am super excited to play it to compete.”

Downes also had a connection to the Red’s former quarterback Jameson Wang ’25 and said the two shared the same quarterback coach in California. Downes said he is “inspired” by Wang and other Ivy League football players’ abilities to continue their professional careers.

“It was fun to watch someone like Jameson and his leadership and style of play is definitely something I want to emulate and be like,” Downes said. “The Ivy League is a place of competitive football for example Blake Stenstrom was a Princeton a few years ago and he’s one that is also bouncing around the league.”

Wang ’25 told The Sun that he was impressed with Downes abilities and is excited for him to make “a big jump” from the high school to

collegiate level.

“I met Ryan when I was training with our quarterback coach last summer [and he] definitely passes the eye test as he has a striking appearance,” Wang said. “I think Ryan is going to learn the game of football from a different perspective working with Coach Swan[strom] … and it’s up to Ryan to study and prepare like a college quarterback.”

Downes said his short term goal is to earn an Ivy League Championship title and qualify for the NCAA’s Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. He hopes in the long run to be involved in sports for as long as possible.

“Football and sports in general are such amazing gifts to play while you have the chance to,” Downes said. “Once that’s gone and especially for me once I almost had that taken away from me I realized how important football was to me so I want to be a part of that for as long as possible whether that is coaching, a [general manager] job or being a sports agent.

Downes also expressed his interest in all Cornell sports — specifically lacrosse — which he played until his sophomore year of high school. He is excited to root for the Red’s lacrosse team which just came off its historic NCAA season.

“I had a football in my hand first but I loved playing lacrosse and the northeast has the best lacrosse by far,” Downes said.

Beyond lacrosse, Downes said being involved in Cornell’s athletic program is a dream for him and he is excited to both be a member of the team and support other sports.

“I am excited to support all the different amazing sports Cornell has to offer from men’s ice hockey to lacrosse and everything in between,” Downes said. “I can’t wait to be involved in Cornell sports too.”