INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 128, No. 107
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2012
!
ITHACA, NEW YORK
20 Pages – Free
C.U. Cites Outreach As Cause of Surge in Sexual Assault Cases
Keep it going louder
By DANIELLE SOCHACZEVSKI Sun Staff Writer
Wright’s lawsuit comes in the midst of an investigation into allegations — which stem from Miller’s discrimination claims — that Lt. Marlon Byrd, a black officer, aided drug dealers. Amid the lawsuits and the drug investigation, the police officers’ union, the Police Benevolent Association, will hold a vote of no confidence in IPD’s leadership on Tuesday, according to The Ithaca Journal. Wright, the officer who filed last month’s lawsuit,
On Friday, the Office of the Judicial Administrator heard its 11th case of sexual assault this year — setting the record for the most cases of sexual assault ever referred to the J.A. in one year. Still, University officials said they believe improvements in education on assaults, rather than an increase in crime, is responsible for the uptick in referrals. But despite the significant increase in the number of reported sexual assaults, Judicial Administrator Mary Beth Grant J.D. ’88 said that this does not necessarily equate to a rise in violent crime on campus. “I don’t think that there are necessarily more sexual assaults, but victims are reporting them more often,” said Grant. “Education leads to more referrals.” Several administrators, faculty members, police and students involved with responding to cases of sexual assault at Cornell echoed Grant’s response. “Statistically speaking, it is more likely that we as a team have created an environment that supports victims of sexual assault enough that more people feel comfortable coming forward and reporting,” said Kathy Zoner, chief of the Cornell University Police Department. According to Grant, Gannett Health Services, the Women’s Resource Center and various student groups have led educational initiatives that she said has encouraged survivors to reach out to resources about their options and rights following an assault. Vera Kutsenko ’13, president of Students Against Violence and Abuse — a student organization that aims to
See IPD page 4
See ASSAULT page 6
RYAN LANDVATER / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
D.J. duo Major Lazer performs at Cornell Concert Commission’s first show of the semester in Barton Hall on Sunday.
IPD Sued for Racial Discrimination White officer alleges he was unfairly passed over for promotion By LIZ CAMUTI Sun News Editor
and MICHAEL LINHORST
Sun Senior Writer
A second white officer filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit last month alleging that the Ithaca Police Department committed racial discrimination. Sgt. Douglas Wright’s suit follows a separate lawsuit by Chris Miller, a white officer who also said he was the victim of discrimination by the IPD.
Prog.Counsels Employees in Need
News Mr. Raveret Goes to D.C.
Cornellians traveled to D.C. last week to lobby members of Congress for increased financial aid for college students. | Page 3
By MANU RATHORE
are trained to provide help to Sun Staff Writer those struggling with emotional health, suicide or an accidental After President David death that staff have had to hanSkorton, responding to a string of dle or witness, he said. student suicides in 2010, pro“The faculty and staff are claimed, “If you learn anything at beginning to know more about it. Cornell, please learn to ask for It was always well respected, but help,” the University has expand- sort of a well-kept secret,” said ed its mental health outreach for Gregory Eells, director of FSAP employees and staff. and associate director of Gannett “There has been increasing Health Services. “We just develrecognition oped the webthat faculty “There has been increasing site, we have and staff need recognition that faculty and advertisestrong supments on port, and it staff need strong support.” buses and we seemed logical have done a to have staff at Kent Hubbell ’67 lot of push in University terms of comhealth services and [in the] Dean munication.” of Student’s office to extend the In July, FSAP partnered with nature of their services to faculty Gannett Health Services to and staff,” said Dean of Students expand its services, according to Kent Hubbell ’67. Eells. The University’s Faculty and “The change in reporting Staff Assistance Program is a ser- structure was to take a communivice in which the University ty-wide approach to the health hires trained mental health pro- issues,” Eells said. “If there is a fessionals to provide grief coun- student death, it impacts faculty seling, consultation and crisis and staff that worked with the support to faculty and staff, student … So [Cornell has] comaccording to Gabriel munity support meetings around Tornusciolo, assistant director of the program. FSAP counselors See FSAP page 5
Opinion A Call for Safety LEVI SCHOENFIELD / SUN CONTRIBUTOR
Our house | Amy Nichols grad enforces house policies and gives sisterly advice as Kappa Delta’s house director.
Sorority’s ‘House Mom’ Finds Greek Life Defies Stereotypes By NIKKI LEE Sun Contributor
This is the fourth article in a series profiling the often-unrecognized personalities of Cornell and Ithaca. Amy Nichols grad never got a taste of Greek life in college. At Brigham Young UniversityHawaii, there are palm trees and sandy beaches, but not sororities. When Nichols became
house director of Cornell’s Kappa Delta chapter in October, she expected what she said any non-sorority girl might expect: snooty cliques and hierarchies. “There’s this paradigm that sororities are drinking clubs and everyone goes out all the time. Not at all,” Nichols said. “I want my future daughters to be in Kappa Delta.” See SORORITY page 5
The family of Nathaniel Rand ’12 question the efficacy of the University’s efforts to tackle gorge safety. | Page 9
Arts Pulp Music
The Sun reviews some of the soundtracks of iconic films directed by Quentin Tarantino. | Page 11
Sports Triple Threat
Women’s hockey beat Boston University in triple overtime this weekend to advance to the Frozen Four. | Page 20
Weather Cloudy HIGH: 61 LOW: 50