INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 129, No. 83
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
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ITHACA, NEW YORK
16 Pages – Free
City Considers Repeal of Min. Parking Rules By TYLER ALICEA Sun Staff Writer
After much debate, the Board of Public Works, the government body responsible for the City of Ithaca’s streets and sidewalks, unanimously approved a resolution Monday recommending the elimination of minimum parking requirements throughout all city zoning districts. Currently, city parking laws require developers to include one parking space for every two housing units created if they wish to construct buildings in Collegetown. Mayor Svante Myrick ’09, a strong supporter of overhauling the city’s parking laws, has previously said that the current laws increase the costs of housing in Ithaca. “We know that mandating parking has helped make this city too expensive for working families by subsidizing the cost of vehicular ownership and increasing the cost of housing,” he said in an email to the members of the Planning and Development Board in May. According to the Board of Public Works’ resolution, the city loses approximately $1 million every year from
FIONA MODRAK / SUN SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Park it right there | The Board of Public Works recommended the repeal of minimum parking requirements citywide Monday evening. inefficient parking operations. Additionally, excess parking created through the minimum parking requirements competes with public parking, the resolution said. The Board’s recommendation is intended to “maximize potential revenue from the city’s parking resources,” the resolution added. Residents of Ithaca provided their input on the minimum parking requirement at the meeting Monday. Resident Tom Hanna lauded the resolution to repeal
the minimum parking requirement, saying that the current parking laws are an “obstacle”to development. “Future planning in Collegetown requires that we eliminate this requirement,” he said. Opponents to the repeal have said that without a minimum parking requirement, excess cars will spillover into other neighborhoods rather than into the parking spaces creatSee PARKING page 4
Comedian W.Kamau Bell to Perform at C.U. Anonymous Donor
By ERICA AUGENSTEIN Sun Staff Writer
Walter Kamau Bell, a San Francisco-based comedian and community activist, will be performing at the Statler Auditorium on March 6, according to Cornell University Programming Board. Bell has established himself as a comedian who
centers his acts on social and political commentary. He is a founding member of the comedy collective “Laughter Against the Machine” and perhaps is best known for his weekly stand up comedy series, Totally Biased With W. Kamau Bell. Student response to CUPB’s announcement of Bell ranged from excitement to curiosity. See BELL page 5
To Give Up to $25K to Senior Class Campaign By LAUREN AVERY
Sun Staff Writer
News From Rwanda With Love
David Karambizi ’14 tells of his inspirational journey from Rwanda to the United States and of his dreams for the future. | Page 3
Opinion Good Divestments
Kirat Singh ’14 discusses the fate of divestments at Cornell and beyond. | Page 7
After Appeal, Univ. Reduces Phi Sigma Kappa’s Punishment By RUDY YODER Sun Staff Writer
After appealing to the University’s Fraternity and Sorority Review Board, the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity’s yearlong punishment has been reduced to one semester, a
University official confirmed in a statement Monday. Susan Murphy ’73 Ph.D. ’94, vice president for student and academic services, made the decision to reduce Phi Sigma Kappa’s punishment — as long See APPEAL page 4
Arts The Moody Blues
Henry Staley ’16 reviews Taj Mahal’s performance at the State Theatre Saturday night. | Page 9
Sports Superbowl Sunday
The Ravens beat the 49ers in a nailbiting game Sunday. | Page 16
Weather Cloudy HIGH: 27 LOW: 19
FIONA MODRAK / SUN SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Welcome back | The University announced Monday that it approved the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity’s appeal to reduce its punishment.
The 2013 Senior Class Campaign announced Monday that an unnamed donor will donate up to $25,000 to a scholarship fund on behalf of the senior class. “Starting today, for every senior that gives to the campaign, the anonymous donor will give $25 toward a scholarship fund, up to $25,000. So if we get 1,000 seniors to give to our campaign, then this anonymous donor will provide a $25,000 scholarship in the name of the Class of 2013,” said Jonathan Weinberg ’13, co-president of the 2013 Senior Class Campaign. As the donor has chosen to remain anonymous, Susan Murphy ’73 Ph.D. ’94, vice president for student and academic services, will represent the donor during the campaign, according to copresident Fiona Ismail ’13. “[Murphy] is going to be serving as the voice and the face of him or her,” Ismail
said. Weinberg, who is also a columnist for The Sun, said he hopes the donation will motivate more seniors to donate to and participate in the Senior Class Campaign. “This challenge encourages a number of seniors to give,” he said. “We want as many seniors as possible to give, no matter how much they can afford to give personally, and this donor made sure that those numbers will
“The donation will contribute to the senior class’ legacy.” Fiona Ismail ’13 really count.” According to Ismail, the donation will contribute to the senior class’ legacy at Cornell by enabling new students to attend the University. “The gift has been really important for us because now that we’re leaving, we want to leave a mark on campus,” Ismail said. “This gift See DONATION page 4