INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 130, No. 100
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
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ITHACA, NEW YORK
16 Pages – Free
News
Arts
Sports
Weather
Music to My Ears
Film Forum
Home Run
Cloudy HIGH: 25° LOW: 2º
Cornellians developed thinkplay, an online tool which hopes to revolutionize music. | Page 3
Zach Zahos ’15 talks to filmmaker Chuck Workman about his film “What Is Cinema?” | Page 10
The men’s baseball team defeated Navy 4-2 in extra innings over the weekend. | Page 16
Study: Maintaining Drinking Age At 21 Saves Hundreds of Lives By ERIC OBERMAN Sun Staff Writer
In response to a study published last week by the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, some Cornellians have conflicting opinions over whether or not the legal drinking age should remain 21 or should be changed to 18. According to the study, by keeping the country’s minimum drinking age at 21, up to 900 lives are saved yearly, due to a decreased number of inexperienced and intoxicated drivers. According to Deborah Lewis, alcohol projects coordinator at Gannett, minimum drinking ages do not solve all problems related to alcohol, but can be helpful. “While minimum age drinking laws are no ‘silver bullet,’ they are an important component of a comprehensive approach to reducing dangerous alcohol consumption,” she said.
ANTHONY CHEN / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
See DRINKING page 4
An aged issue | Deborah Lewis, alcohol projects coordinator at Gannett, said minimum age drinking laws are important to reducing dangerous levels of consumption.
Third Annual Red S.A.Candidates Talk Inclusion Ideas Festival Hopes Assembly holds forum to discuss diversity at Cornell To Encourage Service By NABIHA KESHWANI
Sun Staff Writer
By SARAH CUTLER Sun Senior Writer
Ideas across campus will receive a boost of support during the third annual Red Ideas festival in May, according to Isabella Greenberg ’16, president of the organization. This year’s festival will be held May 3 in the Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room and will feature Pamela Barnes, president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit EngenderHealth, as a keynote speaker. Simon Boehme ’14, who created Red Ideas in 2011, said Red Ideas was created to continue the “strong culture of public service on campus.” “I see the organization as a catalyst to encourage more students to be involved in public service,” Boehme said. “When there is a need — on campus, in the state or nationally — Red Ideas can bring people together to talk about the idea and take action.” “ResCUer,” a smartphone application that promotes safety on Cornell’s campus, and “MillionDollar$cholar,” a social business that helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds access a college education, are both examples of student ideas to come out of the festival. The organization’s mem“When there is a need — on campus, in bers the state or nationally — Red Ideas can each yearspend votbring people together ... to take action.” ing on ideas they believe are Simon Boehme ’14 promising from a pool of student applicants, according to Greenberg. Members then work with finalists to prepare them to present their ideas at the 2014 Red Ideas Festival, where an audience votes for three ideas they believe will be the most effective in creating change. Winners receive a monetary award to put toward their idea, along with marketing, branding and outreach support from the organization, See IDEAS page 4
The Student Assembly held a debate-style forum for candidates running in next week’s election to discuss issues regarding diversity on Cornell’s campus Tuesday. Candidates for S.A. president, executive vice president, international liaison at-large, minority liaison at-large, LGBTQ liaison at-large and women’s liaison at large participated in the debate discussed a variety of issues, including resources for international and minority students. Syed Ali Khan ’15, who is running unopposed for one of the minority liaison at-large seats, said the University should offer additional resources to minority students. “Cornell can do a much better job supporting minorities on campus,” Khan said. “We need to be [better] funded.” Aditi Bhowmick ’16, a candidate for the international liaison position stressed the importance of strengthening the framework that already exists at Cornell. “We need
to bring the International students closer to these resources [at Cornell]. Diversity is a twoway process,” said Bhowmick, who is also a columnist and production assistant for The Sun. Yamini Bhandari ’17, a candidate for the women’s liaison position, said women from segmented communities should be brought together in a town-hall style forum to discuss pertinent issues. “Sometimes as a woman I don’t feel safe on this campus,” she said. “ I want, as a woman, to feel on parity with men on campus.” The discussion between candidates for LGBTQ liaison at-large brought up ideas such as gender-neutral housing and expanding current communication programs. Zak Palomino ’16 said he would recognizing asexual students as part of the LGBTQ community, while Mark Marrotto ’16 said he thinks recognizing how words have certain stigmas that can be hurtful to students is important. The candidates for president, Sarah Balik ’15, and See FORUM page 5
Grab the mic | Student Assembly candidates spoke on issues concerning minority students in Uris Hall Tuesday.