Cornell Review XXIX #6 by The Cornell Review

The Cornell Review

An independent Publication

The Conservative Voice on Campus

Vol. XXIX, No. VI

cornellreviewonline.com / cornellinsider.com

“We

Do Not Apologize.” December 8th, 2010

Africana Supporters Accuse Administration of Racism, White Superiority Africana Supporters Criticize ‘Lack of Dialogue’; Student Assembly Agrees Alfonse Muglia Staff Writer

dvocates of the Africana Center’s autonomy are making their message clear and public: “we’re not going anywhere.” Faculty and students lashed out against the University on Friday, hurling accusations of racism and carelessness. Roughly fifty students and faculty were on hand in front of Day Hall Friday afternoon, protesting the recent announcement that Africana Studies would be merged with the College of Arts and Sciences. Energetic speakers took turns on the megaphone, calling for students

Interview

to take action. These speakers included both students and professors in the Africana Center. While the speakers’ anger was directed at the alleged rashness and lack of communication associated with the move rather than the move itself, the protest signs indicated a staunch opposition to the move. A petition went around, calling upon President Skorton to hear the voices of the protestors. One speaker claimed that the petition would be “national” and already had “thousands of signatures.” While the speakers were generally outraged with the sudden nature of

Editorial A call to our colleagues: find the courage to decry racism at Cornell.

Lynah Legend 'Zamboni Dave' is a conservative

the University’s actions, their rhetoric seemed to point to deeper fears. “This is about control, money, power, and domination,” shouted Kenneth Glover, former RHD of Ujamaa, claiming that Provost Fuchs’

would still have their land.” An upset Susan Murphy, VP of Student and Academic Services, then left the protest and returned into Day Hall. A second speaker echoed these sentiments, saying, “This is about get-

“I am not going to be forced to go into buildings with pictures of people who do not look like me.” decision was the first strike in an attempt to take over the Africana Studies department. He later went on to question the University’s motives, stating his belief that, “this is about white supremacy…If they had our best interests in mind the Indians

ting rid of black people from this campus.” The graduate student expressed her feelings that she did not think highly of Cornell, and has tried to dissuade others from coming to study at the school. She claimed this Please turn to page 2

Students at War

The Cold War heats up in ‘Suicide Fences’ Architecture Korea; students anxious Firm in Disarray over Ownership Battle Oliver Renick Executive Editor

he co-owners of the architecture firm hired by Cornell to design bridges are burning their own. Nader Tehrani, the architect contracted by the University to design suicide barriers on the school’s bridges, is in a ruthless dispute with business partner Monica Ponce de Leon over ownership of architecture firm Office dA, the Boston Globe reported Wednesday. Cornell University hired Tehrani in late August in a $600,000 contract with Office dA to design bridge barriers as a measure to prevent student

Noah Kantro Staff Writer

suicide on campus. Now the company Tehrani founded in 1986 is suffering from chaotic inner turmoil that may lead to the dissolution of the firm. Only three days after Tehrani submitted the project’s pre-design proposal to the University, Ponce de Leon, the company’s majority shareholder, fired Tehrani in a move to establish herself as the firm’s owner. Ponce de Leon claims the day before she fired Tehrani, he withdrew $240,000 from the company account. “We need to regroup and figure out what our next move is,” Cornell’s University Architect Gilbert Delgado told the Cornell Review this Please turn to page 8

Page 2

Page 4

Defenseless

A Freshman Retrospective

Power Shift

Skorton refuses to allow pepper spray on campus

Page 11

Conservativism: a Cornell tradition. Well, for some of us, at least.

Economic influence is the new H-bomb

he state of Korea is at war, and it has been for more than sixty years. While this war has not known full-scale armed conflict since 1953, each passing day increases the likelihood of renewed violence between the communist North and democratic South. The hornet’s nest that is the Korean peninsula has once again been shaken by the actions of the secretive nuclear-armed Chinese-funded gulag-state that is the Northern regime. Two weeks ago, the North commenced an artillery strike on the Southern island of Yeonpyeong in response to artillery testing in Northern territorial waters. The attack killed four people and prompted international outrage. It also Page 10

The Common Condom

The Pope's overblown condom comment, and what we should discuss instead

Book review Master scrivener Brendan Devine gives the final word on Bush's memoir.

heightened tensions between the two nations, which had already been strained by the North’s sinking of the South Korean warship the Cheonan in March. The situation in the Koreas is of the utmost importance not only on a global political scale, but also to the lives of many Cornell students. The recent skirmish is perhaps bringing the grim realities of war to the forefronts of the minds of Cornell’s Korean population – over a thousand students to whom the Korean conflict is not a mere faraway and long-forgotten battle, but an intimate and personal struggle for the security of their nation. For Justin Min ’11, President of Cornell’s Korean Students Association, the most immediate response to the attacks was concern for friends and family back home. He said, “I have many family members in Korea as well as a number of Cornell peers who are currently serving in the Korean military… many of [whom] were in a state of fear and confusion [after the attack]. I am, of course, tremendously concerned about the welfare of my family and friends currently in South Please turn to page 9

December 8, 2010

Campus

Crime Alert - Forcible Touching Incident Reported on Mon. Nov

-----------------------------------------

Skorton Maces Mace Bill Despite Student Assembly Go-Ahead I

n the wake of Cornell’s recent wave of forcible touching incidents, it appeared at first that there was a dearth of good ideas of how to stop the problem on our campus. The community forum last month, though clearly well-intentioned, gave ideas that were at best impractical and at worst ridiculous and borderline Marxist. But one can take comfort in the fact that not all common sense is dead, and that of all places, the Student Assembly is where it was found. In September, Ray Mensah ’11, former chairman of the Cornell College Republicans and Vice President of the Student Assembly, wisely proposed a bill that would make it legal for students to carry pepper spray on campus. Although it is perfectly legal to carry pepper spray for defense purposes in the State of New York without any issue, it is currently illegal on Cornell’s campus. In the wake of four forcible touching incidents that occurred in 2009, Mensah felt that it was time for a change. With co-sponsor Konstantin Drabkin, also a former chair of the Cornell College Republicans, the bill was introduced to the Assembly. The bill was simple enough; it basically Continued from the front page new failure to communicate by the administration as another justification for her opinion. Despite her dissatisfaction with the management’s decision, both she and other students took the action personally, implying that the school looks down on the program and is trying to oppress Africana students. “I know they don’t think we read

up in Africana,” she said. “[I am] not going to be forced to go into buildings with pictures of people who do not look like me.” The speakers and protesters vowed to continue fighting the university’s encroachment until they

stated that the New York state law involving pepper spray would be the new rule on Cornell’s campus. This bill did attract some concern, most notably from Cornell police chief Kathy Zoner, who’s main concern was that carrying pepper spray would provide a false sense of security and lead carriers to be less careful. Despite these issues, the Assembly surprisingly voted unanimously in favor of Mensah’s bill, perhaps influenced by the crime spike that was beginning right around this time. Unfortunately, according to transfer representative Alex Pruce ’13, Skorton has refused to sign the bill. Firstly, I applaud the Student Assembly for wisely approving this bill, and Ray and Konstantin especially for having the will and sense to bring this somewhat toxic issue to light. The spike in crime around our campus, especially those affecting young women, is a major problem and must be dealt with in the most effective way possible. Volumes of statistics show that when people have a means to defend themselves, be it a gun, knife, or pepper spray, crime tends to plunge. There should be no reason to expect different results on our campus. Also, the new rule would be a simple enough transition. It’s not like the campus would be acting differently from New

York State law; in fact, it would simply allow the state’s pepper spray law to take hold on campus. There would be little to no additional red tape to fill with the state as a result of the Resolution. As for Chief Zoner’s concern about offsetting behavior, I will agree that her concerns are well thought out and legitimate. Having pepper spray and altering your behavior to put yourself in more dangerous situations does indeed leave you much less safe than before. However, The most a woman can do to defend herself at Cornell. with the recent uptick in crime, I see no reason why, for spray on their person would outweigh the time being at least, young women the enormous benefits of added safewould be any less careful with pepper ty and the external drop in crime rate spray than without it. Indeed, for the on campus. This debate is surely not most part it would at least give com- over, and I would encourage all sides fort that they have an alternate means to take a look at their ideas and, hopeout of a potentially explosive situa- fully, come to the right mutual decition, but would still be careful just in sion for the campus. Joseph Bonica is a junior in the Colcase that time comes. Of course, you can only goad people into behaving lege of Agriculture & Life Sciences and a certain way so much; at a certain can be reached at jmb582@cornell.edu.

are met as equals in debating changes to the Africana Studies department. One African-American student attending the rally was shocked by some of the speakers’ comments. “I was in a state of disbelief when a lot of that stuff was said,” he told The Review after the rally. The night before the rally, the Student Assembly’s final meeting of the semester was buzzing with outrage over the administration’s the decision. Representatives from the program brought their complaints before the assembly, who sided with their arguments. “Why was the discussion of this [move] not had?” asked Zachary Xavier Murray, co-chair of Black Students United. “The Administration has a trend of saying ‘we’ll open up discussion, but the decision has been made.’” Members of the Student Assembly voiced their likewise disappointment regarding the lack of communication between the administration and the students. “This lack of dialogue is something that resonates with this assembly,” remarked president Vincent Andrews. President David Skorton, making a scheduled appearance at the

meeting for the second time this semester, was greeted by the outrage of Murray and the nearly two dozen other advocates from the Africana Center in attendance. Skorton expressed his approval for the decision, frequently reiterating that the move will do nothing but improve the program. Students enrolled in the Africana Studies program are currently admitted through the College of Arts and Sciences, and their degrees are issued through this school. Africana Studies is also the only unit of study on campus that hires faculty, without reporting to a dean. The move will correct this, while allowing for further development, like establishing a Ph.D. program and making the program’s practices consistent with every other academic program. At Harvard and Yale, Africana studies are currently part of the liberal arts colleges. The Student Assembly, the Africana Studies and Research Center, and those in the audience directed their anger toward the lack of communication and timing, rather than the move itself. “Decisions regarding black institutions are autocratic,” Murray said during an open-mic conversation with Skorton. He then referenced the removal of Ken Glover as Ujamaa’s RHD last year. After a few minutes of rehashing the subject, SA leader Andrews stepped in to move the conversation back to the Africana center.

MIRIELLA / FLICKR

Joseph Bonica News Editor

point, personal responsibility kicks in, and a person who refuses to be careful due to pepper spray is a whole other issue on them alone. Finally, I must express some disappointment with President Skorton for refusing to sign the bill. Now, in my years here President Skorton has proven himself to be a fair and reasonable man, and I am certain that he put much thought into his decision and made it because he had legitimate concerns about the bill. Despite that, however, I am unsure how the costs of allowing students to have pepper

“This is not just a minority issue – it’s a student-wide issue,” echoed representative Ulysses Smith, before President Skorton expressed that some decisions can’t be made by popular vote. The argument between Murray

“This is about control, money, power, and domination…this is about white supremacy.” Ken Glover and Skorton drowned out the other top item on the meeting’s agenda – University Architect Gilbert Delgado’s report on behalf of the Means Restriction Committee regarding the University’s most recent steps in preventing suicides.

Alfonse is a freshman in the Industrial Labor and Relations School. He can be reached at arm267@cornell.edu. Additional reporting by Noah Kantro.

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meh26@cornell.edu The Cornell Review is an independent biweekly journal published by students of Cornell University for the benefit of students, faculty, administrators, and alumni of the Cornell community. The Cornell Review is a thoughtful review of campus and national politics from a broad conservative perspective. The Cornell Review, an independent student organization located at Cornell University, produced and is responsible for the content of this publication. This publication was not reviewed or approved by, nor does it necessarily express or reflect the policies or opinions of, Cornell University or its designated representatives. The Cornell Review is published by The Ithaca Review, Inc., a non-profit corporation. The opinions stated in The Cornell Review are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or the staff of The Cornell Review. Editorial opinions are those of the responsible editor. The opinions herein are not necessarily those of the board of directors, officers, or staff of The Ithaca Review, Inc. The Cornell Review is distributed free, limited to one issue per person, on campus as well as to local businesses in Ithaca. Additional copies beyond the first free issue are available for $1.00 each. The Cornell Review is a member of the Collegiate Network.

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Editorial

December 8, 2010

Racism 101: How to Instill Anger D

uring a protest by Africana Cen- University and Africana, students getting rid of the Russian major...” ter supporters on Friday, one and faculty members fired one Professor Tara Holm, Math, voiced African-American graduate student epithet after another. Ken Glover her concerns in an email to the adtook the microphone and told the claimed the move was based on ministration in which she emphacrowd bluntly: “[I am] not going to “white supremacy.” Prof. N’Dri T. sized that the cuts would severely be forced to go into buildings with Assié-Lumumba, advisor to Black impact the level of instruction that pictures of people who do not look Students United, called the move students received as well as the over“institutional racism. ” Robert Harris like me.” all competitiveness of the department. After the administration anIn an attempt to express her anger Jr., Director of the Africana Center, further isolated the Black communinounced cuts to the Theatre, Film, about the Africana program being ty from the greater student body by and Dance department, one student merged into the College of Arts & saying, “We don’t need [the adminis- was quoted in the Daily Sun as Sciences, she exemplified the same tration’s] help.” being “shocked at the news” of the intolerant philosophy that caused If this is their idea of dialogue, proposed cuts. restaurant and store owners in the silence is 1960s to hang ‘no The speakers at Friday’s Day Hall golden. But blacks’ signs on rally were right about one thing: the could they be Africana decision has indeed proved their front doors. right? to be distinct from the other restrucRacism is Provost turings. Unlike the representatives alive and well at Fuchs noted from any of the other departments, Cornell University. that the those from the Africana Center inIn the spring of move would stead decided to take an unmistak2009 the Program Dennis Shiraev not diminish ably racial tone. House community Editor-in-Chief the Center’s Glover characterized the decierupted over the autonomy sion as being about “control, money, administration’s – since it is already operated under power, and domination.” The same routine fiscal review of the prothe supervision of the Provost’s office grad student who conjured memogram. This marked the first step in – and would actually increase the ries of pre-Civil rights segregation an ongoing series of events created resources available for students and added that the move was “about getby Cornell’s most vocal minority faculty. ting rid of black people from this representatives that has created feelBut this reorganization is by no campus.” She aptly noted that she ings of anger, betrayal, and prejudice means unique. Many departments discouraged her friends from applyon campus. After administrators have been faced with restructuring ing to Cornell. repeatedly assured that the Program or budget cuts since the university’s Houses were not at any kind of risk, Vitriolic and hateful speech that members of Ujamaa, Black Students endowment took a massive hit in so frequently emanates from the 2008. In early 2009 the University United, Latino Living Center, and teachers and leaders of our students announced its plans to discontinue the LGBT community continued to is an embarrassment to Cornell. falsely claim that the University was The continuous efforts to mislead trying to get rid of ‘safe spaces’ at the public are a stain on an instiCornell. tution that goes to great lengths to accommodate the needs of stuAgain, in the fall of 2009, the dents from every background. Program House leaders injected racial tension into the community Ken Glover’s racist comments when American Indian students and and Robert Harris’s declarations faculty at Akwe:kon circulated an of “systemic racism” are shameemail with hurtful statements about Oliver Renick ful remarks and a disgrace to miEuropeans and linked to a website norities at Cornell who choose Executive Editor supporting the release of convicted not to marginalize themselves by murderers and terrorists. the color of their skin. As student representatives of the Program The trend was continued last the entire Swedish and Dutch lanHouses continually echo the cowmonth when Ujamaa and Black guage programs. Then in February ardly sentiments of leaders like Students United hosted a Unity 2010 the administration announced Harris and Glover, a much more Hour where students and professignificant cuts to the Theatre, Film, significant and time-sensitive issue is sors held a conference call with and Dance department—cuts that illuminated. convicted cop-killer Eddie Conway. lead to the elimination of multiple Those leading the event introduced As long as the University allows faculty positions. Later that spring Conway as a political prisoner who the Russian Department came under ideologically dangerous people such had the misfortune of being a black as Glover to lead our students in scrutiny when the administration man targeted by a justice system both academic and personal settings, announced plans to eliminate the – run by whites – that targets the Russian major and merge the depart- animosity between different cultures African-American community. The and racial tension will continue to ment with Comparative Literature. event contributed nothing positive build on campus. It has been this But the budget cuts were not conto race relations on campus. editorial board’s stance that the most fined to small departments. Earlier rampant form of racism today is the The Program House commuthis year the administration ancreation of fear and accusations of nity’s efforts to paint itself as the nounced plans to cut four of seven racism where it does not exist. We victim culminated this week after assistant professors’ positions in the call upon our readers, our colleagues the University announced that Math department. at the Daily Sun and the Cornell the Africana Research and Studies In every instance, vocal students Center would come under the wing and faculty members raised concerns Progressive, and Cornell’s administrators to take a stand against the of Arts & Sciences. The Africana about both the lack of dialogue that discriminatory behavior exhibited Center is currently operated under went into the university’s decisions at Friday’s Day Hall Protest. Until the supervision of the Provost’s ofand the crippling effects the cut students and administrators have fice. Like a moth to the light, ex-Uja- would have on their departments. the courage to stand up to bigotry maa RHD Ken Glover lead his team Nancy Pollak, chair of the Russian of radical activists from the Program department, was quoted in the Daily in public forums, the integrity of Cornell’s student body is at stake. Houses to shout cries of racism and Sun as saying, “We [the Russian facbigotry on the steps of Day Hall. Contact Oliver at ojr5@ ulty] were not presented with the cornell.edu. Contact Dennis at While claiming to protest against idea — as far as I know — of suspending the Russian department or the ‘lack of dialogue’ between the des255@cornell.edu.

December 8, 2010

Mushroom Cloud Madness

Campus

Christopher Slijk Staff Writer

he Cold War is over, but its legacy of nuclear proliferation and massive stockpiles of warheads will forever loom large in the world… or will it? In a lecture entitled “The New Geopolitics and Why Nuclear Weapons No Longer Serve U.S. Interests”, Former Ambassador Richard

world intertwined by globalization and trade, military conflict among major world powers, and by extension the use of nuclear weapons, would simply be seen as impractical. Mr. Burt further suggested that political and cultural changes would see the “de-legitimizing of nuclear weapons” as a means of resolving conflict, just as the deployment of chemical and biological weapons is no longer

COLLEGE OF HUMAN ECOLOGY

Why nuclear deterrence may be a thing of the past

Professor Richard Burkhauser, economics, shown here leading an economics lecture, isn’t afraid to tell it like it is.

Freshman Retrospective

“Keep It To Yourself” Cornell's not-so-silent conservative minority Michael Alan Staff Writer

Mr. Burt indicating the potential mushroom cloud that could result from continued nuclear proliferation.

Burt ’69 discussed the changing geopolitical landscape of the near future. The rising political importance of newly industrialized countries such as China and India brings with it a multi-polar world that bears more of a resemblance to the late 19th century than the Cold War-era bipolarity of the United States and the Soviet Union. Unlike the past, however, Ambassador Burt believes that the use of military force has been eclipsed by economic force, and that the utility of nations having massive nuclear arsenals has already begun to diminish. Ambassador Burt described nuclear arms as “weapons of the 20th century.” Since the end of World War II, nuclear arms have been paradoxically perceived as the best peacekeepers, with the threat of total destruction serving as a good restraint against escalation of minor conflicts into allout war. Yet, Mr. Burt believes that the major global powers will no longer rely on military power to project their influence; rather, the new “currency of power” will be economic and technological development, and that the power of a nation will be measured by its innovations and investments. In such a

seriously considered in warfare today. Nevertheless, Mr. Burt recognizes that nukes still carry immense danger and that we should be active in our efforts to reduce, and eventually eliminate, nuclear arms worldwide. In these efforts, Mr. Burt empha-

The major global powers will no longer rely on military power to project their influence; rather, the new “currency of power” will be economic and technological development. sized the importance of establishing and maintaining US credibility in nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, particularly in negotiations with states such as Iran and North Korea. Without unified global Please turn to page 9

n the final lecture of his introductory microeconomics class, Professor Richard Burkhauser offered some sage advice to his students, many of whom are first-years, about expressing conservative viewpoints here on the hill. After going through a series of concepts considered “controversial” in the world of partisan politics, which despite their controversiality are widely accepted truths by economists (such as the fact that raising the minimum wage increases unemployment amongst unskilled or young workers), Burkhauser remarked that, “If you believe all of this and you don’t want to cause social unrest, keep it to yourself.” This remark, while made in jest, provides a very telling look, from a distinguished member of the faculty no less, at the reality conservative Cornellians face. Despite the professor’s admonition, there’s no question that conservatives do exist at Cornell. All around campus, you’re bound to see at least a few students headed to a Monday night meeting of the Cornell Republicans, a staff member flipping through a copy of the Review, or a law professor opining on President Obama’s latest transgression. In fact, if you’re interested in the latter, you can read Professor William Jacobson’s blog, Legal Insurrection. This isn’t to say, however, that there is an abundance of challenging viewpoints at Cornell. Events from the loss of Professor Jeremy Rabkin, famous on campus for being the lone conservative voice in the Government department, to George Mason in 2007, to more recent occurrences, like the recent decision by the Student Assembly to “take back the tap” by banning the sale of bottled water on campus, illustrate the stranglehold that extreme and out-of-touch liberal viewpoints have on campus discourse. It only takes a look at the rating Cornell receives from the Foundation of Individual Rights in Education,

which “defends individual rights, including freedom of speech, at America’s colleges and universities,” to realize the true extent to which differing viewpoints are stifled in our little corner of upstate New York. The Foundation gives Cornell a “red light,” the lowest rating given to an institution of higher learning. To put this in perspective, Penn and Dartmouth both earn the highest rating, a “green light,” and Yale sports a “yellow light.” As justification for their rating, the Foundation cites the passage of Resolution 44 by the Student Assembly earlier this year and the censorship of pro-life signs on the Engineering Quad in 2008. The story changes, however, when the discussion turns to conservative Cornell alumni. Ann Coulter ’84, a founder of the Review, is one of the most prominent commentators on the right and, save for a few choice questionable statements including a snide remark about the contract colleges and her famous use of a homosexual slur when describing Senator John Edwards, is an impressive representative of the conservative movement and our university. Meanwhile, Senator-elect Mark Kirk ’81 has made waves by winning the seat previously held by the Blagojevich-appointed Roland Burris and President Obama. Other famous conservative Cornellians include Paul Wolfowitz ’65, the Deputy Secretary of Defense during the invasions of both Iraq and Afghanistan, and Václav Klaus ’69, the former Czech president and outspoken espouser of the conservative ideals of free markets and euroscepticism. While it may be frustrating to deal with now, perhaps the stories of these alumni illustrate the advantage being forced to speak out and challenge widespread opposing viewpoints gives to budding young conservatives. Michael Alan is a freshman in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He can be reached at mja93@cornell.edu.

Campus

Students and Workers for International Free Trade New campus organization will provide balance in a ‘fair trade’ culture Kathleen McCaffrey Staff Writer

ANTONY ROBINS/OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

very day, I stumble upon products like coffees, bags, groceries and jewelry that have a special label on their package. “Fair Trade” stickers and signs are ubiquitous in metropolitan cities and campuses ripe with socially conscious students. Starbucks is perhaps the largest purveyor of this “feel good” brand that looks to rectify the ills of icky ol' capitalism. Many of my friends see the word “Fair Trade” slapped on their coffee, shrug, and cough up $2.00 for what they believe to be a somehow ethically-advanced form of grind. I rarely hear it asked, though, what is so unfair about trade in the first place? What was it before it was fair? Is free trade, a form of voluntary association, somehow insufficient for other parties? Judah Bellin wants to help clarify some of these questions about trade that have risen in recent years in response to the anti-sweatshop, pro“fair trade” movement. A junior government major in the College Scholar

helps those in developing countries. In organizing counter-protests and increasing economic knowledge, SWIFT will look to lobby at adminisprogram, I would venture a guess that tration and student government levhe is precisely the type of fellow who els to make free trade a part of a concould do it. He, along with Review Ed- versation that is now predominated itor-in-Chief Dennis Shiraev, will be by anti-free trade groups. As Bellin explained, in some senses organizing a group called “SWIFT”, or Students and Workers for Inter- economics is a sort of common sense national Free Trade, to help promote set in mathematical principles. Historical evidence shows that free trade free trade on campus this spring. I sat down with Judah to discuss leads to greater benefits, as does any his objectives for a free trade group on application of common sense. Hiscampus. He, in conjunction with Wil- torically, as countries have allowed liam Herlands and Benjamin Cogan free trade reform, they've risen out of of Princeton University, has estab- poverty. Singapore and Hong Kong lished three points upon which they are probably the greatest successes of would like to build their platform: free trade policies, but one can also cite parts of China and India as haveducation, advocacy, and lobbying. First and foremost, the group will ing benefitted from an increase in serve to teach about the benefits of economic activity with other nations. free trade, long extolled by econo- Conversely, there are net losses for mists. In promoting discussion on people if protectionist, anti-free trade campus, their goal is to provide speak- policies are implemented. The bad efers from both Cornell and outside fects can be seen on a local level, with organizations, as well as to sponsor people taking menial labor jobs as an debates on the merits of free trade. alternative. As economist Benjamin Powell Ultimately, they would like to represent a side that is missing in our cam- noted, “Sweatshops have deplorable pus dialogue—one that advocates conditions and extremely low pay— free trade because it understands that compared to the alternative employany form of economic investment ment available to me and probably

A coffee farmer with his crop in Oromia, Ethiopia.

December 8, 2010

you. That is why we choose not to work in sweatshops. All too often the fact that we have better alternatives leads first-world activists to conclude that there must be better alternatives for third-world workers too.” Bellin notes that it is hard for us to consider anything worse than working in a

Everything consumed is ‘ethical’ because all free, voluntary forms of trade are good trade. sweatshop. Yet the developing world has a much different standard. There, sweatshop jobs are a desirable alternative to something even more demeaning, like prostitution. Despite the anti-free trade sentiment from campus “fair trade” and anti-sweatshop groups, there have been reams of paper devoted to advocating free trade. In fact, it's one of the few things economists don't bother to bicker over. Even Paul Krugman, a notoriously liberal economist, has defended free trade; in 1997 he noted that, “The lofty moral tone of the opponents of globalization is possible only because they have chosen not to think their position through. While fat-cat capitalists might benefit from globalization, the biggest beneficiaries are, yes, third-world workers.” Jeffrey Sachs, another famous liberal economist, noted that “[his] concern is not that there are too many sweatshops but that there are too few.” Yet somehow this has shifted to trade being characterized as implicitly unfair or in need of a campaign that somehow rectifies the ills of the thirdworld through a slightly higher price in certain “ethical goods.” Everything consumed is “ethical” because all free, voluntary forms of trade are good trade. Hopefully SWIFT will prompt people to question the basis of these kitschy “Fair Trade” marketing campaigns. Bellin certainly hopes to elucidate the empirically-proven side of the argument. Kathleen McCaffrey is a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences. She can be reached at kam424@cornell.edu.

The Review welcomes and encourages letters to the editor. Long, gaseous letters that seem to go on forever are best suited for publication in the Cornell Daily Sun. The Review requests that all letters to the editor be limited to 350 words. Please send all questions, comments, and concerns to thecornell.review@gmail.com.

Campus

December 8, 2010

BEYOND THE ZAMBONI Cornell legend David Nulle sits down with the Cornell Review to talk ice hockey, wacky costumes, and being a conservative in Ithaca.

CR: Thanks for the interview, Dave. DN: My pleasure. CR: So tell us a little bit about yourself. DN: We’ll I’m a local kid in the sense that while I was born in New York, my mother was a local Ithacan. She met my father at Willard Straight Hall—both my parents went here and my father actually played hockey for Cornell. The last season he played, in ’33, they actually had to cancel because of the lack of ice on Beebe Lake. CR: Beebe Lake? DN: Yes, that was a good twenty five years before Lynah was constructed. CR: So your parents stayed in Ithaca after they graduated? DN: No, after my parents graduated they moved to New York City, where I was born, before returning to Ithaca. My mom and I actually lived in the house now inhabited by Ezra Cornell—the third or the fourth—over in Cayuga Heights. So I do sort of think of myself as a native of Ithaca. CR: So how did you get into doing the Zamboni at Lynah Rink? DN: I just lucked into it, just happened to be applying for a job at the same time that they were looking for Zamboni drivers. I’ve said before if they were hiring chicken farmers at that time, my life would have been totally different!

CR: So you’ve been around the rink for a while now. How would you say that the rink has changed since you started?

DN: Well there have certainly been a number of improvements. For one thing the women’s team used to have to move in and out, they didn’t really have their own lockers. Now it’s a lot different. More recently there have obviously been improvements in the glass, the locker rooms, you know just a lot of things like that. CR: How about the fans? Are they rowdier now than they were before? DN: Well they’re a little more civilized, that’s for sure. Mike Schafer has tried to do something about that and to a certain extent he has succeeded. It’s pretty interesting to see how the cheers have evolved. Like that whole penalty thing—it used to have a lot more expletives. (laughter) CR: You’ve also been around Ithaca and Cornell for awhile, how have they changed over the years? DN: Well of course Cornell has been built up tremendously. You know we used to be the only building around there with the exception of Teagle and Schoellkopf. I mean a lot has changed, I can remember when they used to lock the girls up at night and you could have a beer at Willard Straight Hall during the day. (laughter) CR: So tell us about your most interesting or memorable experience at Lynah Rink? DN: Well there was this one time that I hit the bear while doing the Zamboni. CR: The mascot? DN: (Laughter). Yeah, he couldn’t have timed it better. He was right by the center door, and people tried to stop him but next thing I knew,

boom! It sounded like a hell of a hit, but he was alright. Nowadays the bear has been more or less relegated to the sidelines until I get done. CR: Any other memorable experiences? DN: Well we used to have a lot more fun in some ways. When we were painting the lines—and were pretty much alone at the rink—we’d do things like surfing with the Zamboni and a chair (laughter). We’d also do things like hit golfballs in there and do BB gun fights. CR: So how did you originally come up with the idea for your costumes? DN: Well one time I was wearing a hat while doing the Zamboni and somebody reached over the glass and pulled it off my head. So the whole rink began to chant “Give it back! Give it back!”—I did get it back, and I guess that sort of inspired somebody from Student Agencies who came down and asked if I would wear a costume for the Harvard game. So I wore that, and people seemed to like it, so yeah it kind of started from there. CR: How many costumes do you have? DN: Well I know I have about more than two hundred and fifty hats, but costumes I don’t know. I mix and match a lot, and some people have told me they’ve never seen me in the same costume. CR: So let’s shift gears a bit here. How about politics, are you politically active? DN: Well not extremely active. But during the 2000 election I had some suggestions and phoned them in. The guys who answered the phones seemed to listen, and said that my suggestions

December 8, 2010

Campus

CR: So what’s it like being a more conservativelyleaning person in the otherwise liberal Ithaca community? DN: Well in some ways it would be much easier being a Democrat. You know, you’re treated better, you’re kind of able to talk more. I heard that when the Tea Party was contacting people around the election time, a lot of people would say they would vote. But when asked to put a sign up, they wouldn’t, they said they just couldn’t do that. So I think there was a real sense of fear there, fear that they might even be affecting their kids if they put those signs up. It’s certainly sad, you know, here we’re supposed to be the land of the free and the home of the brave. I love Ithaca, it’s a great community in

many ways, but in some ways it’s really not a very tolerant place. It tolerates the people and the causes that it wants to, but then it’s kind of intolerant of other causes. You hear professors quote Voltaire, saying I disagree with you but I’ll defend your ability to speak your opinion with my life, and sometimes I wonder where those guys are when you see these acts of intolerance. CR: Have you always been of this political persuasion? DN: Not exactly. At times I sort of thought of myself as a Democrat. But when you get down to it, I always ask myself who’s going to defend this country, who’s going to defend its borders, who’s going to ensure that we have some chance to preserve our Constitution? It’s not always the case, obviously, but who’s going to have a better chance of balancing the budget by restraining spending? And to me that answer is obvious. You know one time I remember a student—he

had a prominent position at Cornell—one time he told me that he hated his country. And that’s not a natural thing to think, you have to be sort of conditioned to think that way. It was really rather disturbing to hear that. One of the reason’s I’m doing this interview is because I think conservatives should come out and speak out about what they believe in. So I’m doing it myself! (laughter). But it really does aggravate me when people slander you, when they try to intimidate you and marginalize you. And then after they’ve done that, you can see them almost congratulating each other, like they’ve done a good thing by smearing and slandering another human being. So I think a lot of progress can be made in the way of tolerance. CR: Mr. Nulle, thank you for the interview!

Dennis Shiraev is a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences. He may be reached at des255@cornell.edu.

would get up to the big guys on the top floor. So I guess they got up there because I eventually got these numerous Christmas cards from George W. Bush.

Campus

December 8, 2010

Fence Contract in Jeopardy Continued from the front page afternoon. Delgado has been one of the main overseers of the highly publicized fence project. “We’re trying to work through this and we’re consid-

“We’re trying to work through this and we’re considering our options. This is not good news for us, but we are at a pivotal point.” ering our options. This is not good news for us, but we are at a pivotal point. We don’t have all the facts yet, we’re trying to work through them right now.” The conflict stems from Tehrani’s agreement in 2003 to make Ponce de Leon Office dA’s majority shareholder. As an effort to attract projects seeking female-owned firms, Tehrani handed over 51% of the company’s ownership share to his colleague of almost 20 years. As majority shareholder, Ponce de Leon has allegedly claimed the rights to appoint new partners, make deductions from the company’s bank account, and most recently, change the building locks to prevent Tehrani from entering. Hostility between the once romantically-involved coworkers began brewing in Dec. 2009 after Tehrani discovered Ponce de Leon had withdrawn $43,000 from the company’s account, according to The

What we have from Office dA

Stone Arch Bridge at Cascadilla Creek Gorge

Globe. Around the same time Tehrani was beginning design work on Cornell’s ‘means restrictive’ bridge barriers in Sept. 2010, he filed a lawsuit seeking to dissolve the firm. Ponce de Leon has simultaneously filed suit, desiring the court to recognize her as the sole owner of Office dA. A Suffolk County Superior Court judge will begin arbitration of the lawsuits this week. “Tehrani had informed us behind the scenes that there were some problems but he wasn’t real specific,” said Delgado. “We didn’t think it would affect us that much, but it came to a very dramatic point to us this week.” University administrators told The Review on Wednesday that those who are responsible for overseeing the school’s contract with Tehrani will be evaluating whether or not Office dA is still the firm most capable of leading Cornell’s similarly controversial construction of permanent bridge barriers. “We will be following this closely in the days ahead,” said Tommy Bruce, Vice President of University Communications, in an email to The Review. “It is always unfortunate to see a successful partnership come

Freshman Retrospective

Schools of Thought Karim Lakhani Staff Writer

efore coming to Cornell, I grew up in Skokie, a suburb right outside Chicago. Skokie is represented by one of the most liberal politicians in congress (Jan Schakowsky), and the liberal representation was equally prominent in my high school. Throughout my four years at Niles West, I faced a constant struggle defending my beliefs against teachers who had control over my grades (and thereby over my future). During my senior year, my friend and I built up enough courage to start the school’s first Republican Club with the hope of providing a comfortable atmosphere for conservative students to speak freely. The hardest part in forming the club, it seemed,

was finding a teacher to sponsor it. After searching for many days, I eventually turned to my AP English teacher, who I knew to be a liberal but who also had an open mind. She agreed to sponsor us, only to be scolded by other teachers in the building for doing so. Coming to Cornell, I expected much worse than what I experienced in high school. I predicted constant ideological battles with professors and other students that were too passionate to be open-minded. I thought I’d receive lowers grades from closeminded teachers and dirty looks from liberal students. I told myself that regardless of the consequences, I would stay true to my beliefs, as I have all my life.

under such strains. I hope that the firm will be able to sustain the professionalism for which they are renowned.” The bridge barrier designs have a long way to go. Development of the pre-schematics, the different designs of the different versions and the design of the actual final bridge barriers still remains to be completed. The majority of design work lies ahead, according to Delgado. The Uni- Nader Tehrani, architect and MIT professor, is fighting for control of the company he started. versity and the city of Ithaca are scheduled to review the designs and make final Oliver Renick is a junior in the Coldecisions by a deadline of May 20, lege of Engineering. He can be reached 2011. at ojr5@cornell.edu.

SSAHN.com

However, despite my predictions, I experienced something very different. I immediately noticed that many of the people I met, though they did not share my beliefs, were willing to listen and debate and intellectually appreciated our ideological differences. Though we often did not agree, we respected one another and looked for new opportunities to continue our discussions and begin new ones. This open-mindedness allowed me to befriend students of different political beliefs who all share a similar passion for politics as I do. I was even surprised with my professors, who I expected to be more liberal and judging than those in my high school. Instead, they turned out to be intellectually curious and appreciative of different forms of thought. I even found, dare I say, conservative teachers. I will not use their names because for some reason, they fear to “come out” publically with their views. I also found this fear in many other conservative students I

met around campus. Why? What do they fear will happen if they came out publically as conservatives? Now, I've got the Cornell College Republicans. Much larger and much more organized than my high school’s club, this organization offered me exactly what I tried to create back at home. I was able to meet conservative students, discuss current events, and enjoy an atmosphere in which I could refine my ideas with assuredness. Overall, the conservative atmosphere on campus is much better than I ever expected. I didn’t end up having to hide my political posters in my closet or read from my conservative news sources under the blanket after my roommates fell asleep. I’ve been able to express my views with what seems to be, at least up to today, only respectful criticisms. Karim is a freshman in the School of Hotel Administration. He can be reached at kml248@cornell.edu.

Campus Continued from page 4 support in condemning those states that develop and proliferate nuclear weapons, there is little hope that they will stop. The continued spread of nukes will almost certainly lead to what Mr. Burt called the “cascade effect”, where fearful neighboring states will

showing such indecisiveness, he says, we are inviting further nuclear production amongst our foes. As the chair of Global Zero, an international organization that works to reduce and

seek to acquire their own nukes as protection. As a world leader, the US must set the example of willingness to reduce arms if others do the same, and our hesitancy to come to a consensus with other nations and reduce our collective stockpiles does not reflect well in the rest of the world. On this, Mr. Burt points to the New Start Treaty, signed earlier this year by Presidents Obama and Medvedev but still facing opposition in Congress. By Continued from the front page Korea. With the nature of the attacks being unprompted, I can only hope and pray that my family and friends are and will continue to be safe.” Senior Eui Hyun Baek, who lives in Korea, elaborated, noting, “At first, I, of course, thought of my family's well-being. I was somewhat worried because…this was the first artillery attack on the actual South Korean soil (unlike previous warship clashes or shooting exchanges along the truce line). I was furious at first about how malicious the North Korean attack was since it targeted civilians.”

nuclear powers via unilateral disarmament, Mr. Burt recognizes the stabilizing role that nuclear arms still play in the geopolitical world. Small steps, such as the New Start Treaty and its possible future extensions, could bring US and Russian stockpiles down to 1000 warheads. This would help to ease the unrest of other nuclear powers such as China and India who, seeing just go to war with North Korea for the issue to finally be over and done with. For many of them, war seems to be the only feasible option for any sort of future unification of the two Korea's.” Hyun Baek ‘11 thought differently, stating, “I believe that the proper response is to take police actions (a euphemism for a military action undertaken without a formal declaration of war) on certain North Korean military facilities… Also, this incident must be brought as an issue to the UN Security Council. Even though China will [be] strongly opposed to this suggestion, the interna-

Some of his family and friends “would rather just go to war with North Korea for the issue to finally be over and done with.” This anger over the North’s actions was near universal amongst Koreans, but there is much difference in opinion as to what the proper South Korean response to the provocation should be. For some, conflict seems inevitable. Min ‘11 noted that some of his family and friends “would rather

eventually eliminate nuclear stockpiles, Mr. Burt laid out a very ambitious yet seemingly feasible plan to reduce nuclear arms amongst all the current nuclear powers. Unlike many in the anti-war crowd who would be content leaving the US at the mercy of other

tional community must take a stance on condemning North Korea for its violence, and further economic sanctions must be in effect accordingly.” International powers play a huge role in deciding the fate of North Korea, which relies heavily on foreign aid to survive. According to

Min ’11, maintaining this international assistance may be one of the prime motivations behind the attack. He observed that, “When looking at historical precedent, it seems as though many of North Korea's military actions are more publicity stunts than anything else. In doing so, they're often hoping to gain financial or political advantages from the international community in return for their ‘cooperation.’" Hyun Baek ’11 agreed, saying, “North Korea needed to show itself to the outside (especially to South Korea and the United States) that it remains alive.” He added that he feels that the bombardment was also motivated by North Korea’s desire to solidify the power and military status of its new crown prince Kim Jong-un, who has been selected to take over control of the country from his father Kim Jong-il. He noted that the North has a history of using military force against the South as a means to legitimize succession. However, Hyun Baek does not place all the blame for the recent strain between the countries on the North. “I believe,” he said, “[that the escalating tension] is a product catalyzed by both Kim Jong-un's recent succession and the hard-line policy of [South Korean President]

December 8, 2010

the reduction of warheads in their neighbors’ arsenals, would be more willing to negotiate. One student asked a sensible question: what is to keep any nation from building a new nuclear stockpile once all warheads around the world have been disarmed and their deterrent effect is gone? Mr. Burt believes, perhaps somewhat naïvely, that global pressure could be put upon the offending nation either in the form of economic sanctions or, failing that, conventional military action. While this seems unthinkable in the current geopolitical climate, a future where the fear of immediate destruction is no longer looming large, combined with a fear of its return, could result in very different attitudes among world powers that are inconceivable now. Nuclear weapons were once thought to be a permanent fixture in geopolitics, and indeed they still carry a great deal of influence today. Ambassador Burt hoes to change this in the coming century by promoting a mutual reduction of arms amongst all nuclear states while exerting additional pressure on those who would try to obtain them. While this future is still quite far off and nukes still hold a great deal of sway, the changing nature of international influence, combined with the gradual reduction of current nuclear stockpiles, may be a good place to start. Christopher Slijk is a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences. He can be reached at cps95@cornell.edu. Lee Myung-bak’s administration.” Hyun Baek claims that decisions by the ruling Grand National Party to cease participation in talks with North Korea unless the North ends its nuclear weapons tests, and the recent and sudden dissolution of diplomatic and trade relations between the two nations, have provoked the North to violence. He observes that there is an intense divide growing within South Korean politics over how to deal with the North. No matter who is to blame for the attack, the fact remains that the state of affairs on the Korean peninsula is more heated than at almost any time in the last half-century. The conflict has the potential to either come to a head or return to a state of cold war standoff. According to freshman Stella Min Park, if South Korea does decide to strike back, it will “not necessarily be out of retaliation,” but out of a need to, “Send a global message.” Whether this message will be sent or not remains to be seen, but the hopes and fears of many Cornell students – and indeed those of the world itself – rest firmly on the South’s next move. Noah Kantro is a freshman in the College of Engineering. He can be reached at nk366@cornell.edu.

National

December 8, 2010

The Pope on Condoms: Continuing the Discussion Sam Pell Staff Writer

comment Pope Benedict XVI made in a book-length interview has set off a firestorm of media criticism, praise, and misinterpretation. The Pope’s interviewer, Peter Seewald, asked him a variety of questions about various issues, ranging from global warming to the role of the Church in the world. The title of the book is Light of the World: The Pope, the Church, and the Sign of the Times, and the subject of the contentious comment was use of contraceptives. The Pope emphasized upon the book’s publication that he was merely offering his own personal opinions. He was not claiming ex cathedra infallibility, nor was he reaffirming any of the infallible teachings of earlier Popes or church councils. “All are free to contradict me,” he said. He wanted to foster discussions on issues that were important to the Church. Seewald asked him to clarify his position on the use of condoms in preventing HIV. Several years ago, on a visit to Africa, he criticized many health organizations for relying on contraceptives to prevent the spread of HIV. Citing a Harvard study, he had said that a “contraceptive culture,” which treats sex as

Didn’t the Vatican know they were feeding the monster of misinterpretation with the worst sound bites imaginable? a casual commodity, would only increase the number of HIV infections. The only way to prevent the spread of HIV, he said, was to foster a greater respect for human sexuality by emphasizing monogamy, marriage, and family.

the realities of promiscuity, AIDS, and a contraceptive culture. Many of these clergymen saw the Pope’s earlier remarks on contraception as unreasonable and out of touch with reality. The Pope, then, was right to seek an opportunity to clarify them. Since The Pope gave the following reply academic with sophisticated and nu- this new comments were published, to Seewald’s question: anced opinions, and his views deserve bishops and priests have had many “In certain cases, where the inten- to be read as an integrated whole intra-ecclesiastical discussions about tion is to reduce the risk of infection, But in many ways the Vatican is to how to apply the church’s teachings [condom use] can . . . be first step on blame for this catastrophe. L’Osservato to their pastoral ministry. the way to another, more humane Romano, the Vatican newspaper, The problem is that American sexuality. [But] becoming simply fix- leaked the controversial sections of bishops and priests do not address ated on the issue of condoms makes the book the night before it was pub- these issues from the pulpit. We all sexuality more banal and exactly this lished. The media did not even have hear distorted headlines in the news, is the reason why so many people no to read the book to get sound bites; but most Catholics do not hear anylonger find sexuality to be an expres- they just had to read a short newspa- thing about these issues on during sion of their love, but a type Holy Mass on Sunday. of self-administered drug.” In Catholics then get a misother words, the Pope stood by represented view of the his earlier comments that conPope’s opinions, and doms will not solve the probthus are not equipped to lem of HIV. However, he recogdiscuss them with nonnized that, among people who Catholics. Discussion live promiscuous lifestyles, is limited to bishops, using condoms can be a “first priests, and amateur Vatstep” towards a more responicanologists. Once again, sible sexuality. A fully human the church’s magistesexuality, however, can only be rium appears arbitrary fully realized by understandand incomprehensible. ing sex as a procreative gift and Lest this article benot as a casual act of pleasure. come a rant against The secular media seized on churchmen, I would like the story immediately. The difto propose that we start ferent news agencies vied with discussing the Pope’s each other to see who could opinions on campus. We produce the most outrageous, out-of-context headline. “VatUNDERSOLO.BLOGSPOT.COM should consider the role ican: Everyone can use Conthat condoms play in per. Did the Vatican not know they doms to Prevent HIV,” said Fox News. our Cornell culture. They are often CBC called the Pope’s comments were feeding the monster of misin- given out for free as a way to proa “seismic shift in papal teaching.” terpretation with the worst sound mote student health. Do these free Catholics at odds with the Church’s bites imaginable? Did they not fore- condoms really work for the good of moral teachings seized on the head- see this? the student body, or do they create For that matter, why did the Pope lines to justify their point of view. the impression that sex is ubiquitous For the next week, the Vatican had not see this coming? If you split pro- and ought to be free? Many students to offer clarifications and correctives verbial hairs, someone is sure to mis- feel that they have a right to free conon the Pope’s comments. (The media understand you. Should he have doms; does that also cause males to rarely reported on these clarifications, not left the magisterial hairs intact? feel that they have a right to free sex? (“Condoms are bad. End of story. No, and so the confusion persisted.) Are condoms promoting women’s This is not the first time this has I’m not answering your question, Mr. health, or do they train men to see happened. Secular journalists, those Seewald.”) Why did he need to com- women as objects of pleasure? verbal grave-robbers who scour the plicate the matter? Let us all discuss these issues, no The Pope believed that he was adspeeches of celebrities to gather their matter how we feel about the Pope, pernicious sound-bites, often butch- vancing the discussion on contracepand challenge our commonly held er the Holy Father’s remarks. A while tives. It is the Church’s job to apply assumptions as we are exposed to ago, he wrote a book in which ex- its magisterium to new situations, new ideas. Is this not the purpose of pressed the opinion that Gregorian and to interpret it in a way that makes chant was more conducive to wor- sense. If the Pope refuses to discuss college? ship than rock and roll music. The the question, the magisterium beSam Pell is a sophomore in the media reported that he said listen- comes a rigid set of precepts that have ing to rock music was a form of devil no meaning to anyone. Bishops and College of Arts &Sciences. He can be worship. Benedict XVI is a brilliant priests must deal on a daily basis with reached at sep87@cornell.edu.

CORNELLINSIDER.com DREAM Act Fight Last Friday, there was a group a of students who held a demonstration on Ho Plaza to show support for the currently pending DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act, which is essentially a bill that would provide financial aid to the children of illegal immigrants. Jeff Sessions, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee has issued a document titled “Ten Things You Need to Know About the DREAM Act,” which

Posted by automatically allow them to spon- perspective, providing opportunity PETER BOURIS sor family members in the immigra- to the children of illegals will help

shows why conservatives in the Senate are ready to oppose the bill’s passage. Among the concerns are the use of public dollars for non-citizens, the potential for criminals to be eligible for the program, and the ability of eligible individuals to sponsor their parents and relatives for immigration to the United States. The last point stems from the fact that the legislation would allegedly give those eligible the same rights as American citizens. This would

tion process. I expressed opposition to this bill last spring on the Insider when President Skorton endorsed it. At this point, however, I am unsure that outright opposition is wise stance for a myriad of reasons. Having such a program could provide an effective means of assimilation. The program already has a provision that will help those eligible learn English. It also provides for a rigorous pathway to citizenship that is much more involved than what would be considered pure amnesty. From a general

them integrate into the mainstream of American society economically. This is an important point as ethnic groups do not gain access to the cultural mainstream of America until they attain middle class economic status on aggregate. Since the nature of this program will cause it to mostly target Hispanics, the DREAM Act may go a long way in helping that demographic fully integrate into American society. Overall, the DREAM Act has a lot of potential to Continued on the right

National

President Bush's Decision Points Brendan Patrick Devine Campus News Editor

illiam F. Buckley once wrote of President George W. Bush: “He governs conservatively, but he himself is not a conservative.” A reading of the President’s recent memoir Decision Points reveals the antipode to be true. The values that most American conservatives tend to hold, estimation of hard work, a love of God, deep reverence for the country, and a strong sense of paternity, are the common themes of this work. Anyone expecting an intrusively personal confession or a tell-all gossip will be disappointed with this autobiography. Although this book’s diction will not rival Gibbon’s prose, the words display the President’s mirth, irrever-

William F. Buckley once wrote of President George W. Bush: “He governs conservatively, but he himself is not a conservative.” A reading of the President’s recent memoir Decision Points reveals the antipode to be true. ence, and courage: the reader meets Bush; not the President, but the man. The earliest passages in the book are an amalgamation of drinking stories in which Mr. Bush tells the reader about his first mistress: the bottle. His college frat-life was inspired by “more than a little booze,” Bush writes. But the passive ease which the Devil’s little helper induces was carried over into his post-collegiate life. After a few drunken escapades at

family functions and a DUI that Al Gore so condescendingly employed years later, the young derelict began to wonder if he controlled the alcohol or the alcohol controlled him? After a long walk on the beach in 1985 with preacher Billy Graham, Bush was “born again” and made his new religion a foundational part of his daily life. Aside from his religious beliefs, two traits about the man pour from the earliest pages: his fierce loyalty and his love for his father. Bush recounts his father’s war service as though he were speaking not of an ordinary pilot, but of Baron von Richthofen. He recalls his father’s return from the War to marry the woman of his dreams with a classical fondness befitting of 1950s soap drama. Though his father’s administration of the country was not particularly interesting or consequential, Bush sizes up his father’s invasion of Iraq to the point one would believe that the 41st President had just led his people through a forty-year desert trek. Secondly, Bush’s loyalty redounds in the pages. Bush devotes an entire chapter of this memoir to investigating the personnel he selected for his cabinet. Among those covered are Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney, both holdovers from previous Republican administrations, Karl Rove (the “political mad scientist,” as Mr. Bush calls him), and Colin Powell (a man whose combination of pretentious vanity and poverty of talent rivaled General Montgomery). Cheney was placed in charge of Bush’s VicePresidential vetting committee in 2000. Cheney selected numerous candidates for Bush to select, including dynamic options like Kay Bailey Hutchinson. But Bush demanded someone he could trust, someone who knew how to work effectively in Washington. Cheney, the uncharismatic “Darth Vader” of the administration often offered to step aside, as did Donald Rumsfeld, but out of

deep personal attachment to these men, the President adamantly declined their letters. If any one feature of Decision Points makes it worth $40 at the Cornell Store (or $17 for you cheapos who shop online), it is the chapter “Day of Fire.” Bush slowly traces his steps through September 11, 2001 and justifies every decision he made along the way, particularly his insistence in continuing to read to school children in order to avoid panic. The Day of Fire

leader who simply did what was necessary. It is in moments such as these where one sees how Bush’s presidency falls short. Although the man was conservative by nature he did not always govern conservatively. Early in his administration he sought a solution to the question of embryonic stem-cell research. Bush claims two major influences in his decision to conditionally oppose his perverse corner of science: the Pope and a science

shook Bush to his very foundations, changing the focus of his presidency entirely. All the time the President insisted on maintaining a balanced mind. Many at Ground Zero in the days following the attack demanded that the president exact revenge, but the President, delivering his memorable “I hear you” oration, iterated that justice and security would be the new American prerogative. One sees from the book that President Bush never actually recovered from September 11th. That Day of Fire changed him as much as taking up the mitre changed St. Thomas Becket. Bush tacitly acknowledges that his cabinet did not quite know when to stop worrying after the attacks, but insists that his decisions were not made in fear. To the contrary, the President presents himself as a principled

journal. The Holy Father influenced Bush because he stood before the President, suffering from Parkinson’s disease, upholding the sanctity of life. A scientific journal on the other hand told Bush he could fund already terminated embryos because he had no hand in ending their potential to become life. In the end, President Bush funded research on embryos that had not been terminated with government funds but refused to fund any research that would result in the destruction of a human embryo. In short, he was unable to crystallize his own conservative values into policy, instead caving to petty nuances that relieved him of moral pressure. Decision Points does not contain beatific prose that one encounters reading Burke, Eliot, or Kirk. Then again, no one will buy this book for the prose but for the content, as they should. This book offers insight not only into the workings of the Bush White House, but into heart of the man as he made meaningful decisions at essential points in our lives. Brendan Patrick Devine is a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences. He can be contacted at bpd8@cornell.edu.

Continued from the left serve as a first step toward a comprehensive immigration solution and stem the cultural Balkanization of American society. The Republicans desire to block the bill is not a good idea for reasons just described. There are times when pure opposition is a good thing, but this is not one of them. The Republicans ought to consider working so that there are ironclad provisions that will ensure those who participate in the program learn English, and have a pathway to citizenship that involves lessons regarding American history, the Founding Fathers, the Constitution, etc. If they can guarantee these, they should vote for the bill. My apologies to the proponents of deportation. I am not a fan of the idea.

CROWN

Mirth of the Man

December 8, 2010

26 years young and better than ever.

Send us an email at des255@cornell.edu or come to GS 160, Mondays at 5:00 pm.

Join the Review.

December 8, 2010

Wisemen & Fools This is why the American people have thrown you out of power. Was treating another member with dignity so hard, Madam Speaker? I object to it all. It is the right thing to do by the American people to stop these tactics. Rep. Steve Buyer on the House floor after being denied one minute to speak against the Democrats' "abuse of the process" I'm trying to catch my breath so I don't refer to this maneuver going on today as chicken crap, alright? John Boehner We have a Republic, if we choose to keep it. Benjamin Franklin

I haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law. David Dinkins Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country. Marion Barry They've compared me to Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte and all those great leaders of the past that I love. Chris Christie In politics, an absurdity is not an impediment. Napoleon

To my mind, the single essential element on which all discoveries will be made is human freedom. Barry Goldwater You have to start with the truth. The truth is the only way that we can get anywhere. Because any decision-making that is based upon lies or ignorance can't lead to a good conclusion. Julian Assange I'm an old fat guy now, but I'll kick his ass. Charles Barkley on Obama All Senator Frank Lautenberg knows how to do is blow hot air. Chris Christie

Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation. It is better to be alone than in bad company. George Washington You're likable enough, Hillary. Barack Obama I did not have sexual relations with that woman. Bill Clinton Get the hell out. Yawn Outside! Mark Talbert Change change change change change change change change change change change change change change change Barack Obama

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Now, please take off ALL your clothes...

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Psst...dear, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that man look just like Roman Polanski?