03-29-12

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INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880

The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 128, No. 114

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012

News Big Brother

New York State was ordered to adopt a redistricting plan after months of debate. | Page 3

Opinion Fill in the (Noun)

Sam Dean ’12 helps readers recover from Spring Break with a column full of MadLibs. | Page 10

Dining Better Than Fine

The Sun reviews The Fine Line Bistro, a restaurant on West State Street, close to the Commons. | Page 12

Arts Hope for the Slope

Sun columnist James Rainis ’14 discusses this year’s Slope Day. | Page 13

Sports Step Onto the Court

Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams will begin their Ivy League seasons this weekend. | Page 24

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ITHACA, NEW YORK

24 Pages – Free

SAE Denies Fault in Brother’s 2011Death

Desdunes’13 consented to hazing, frat says By HARRISON OKIN Sun Staff Writer

Sigma Alpha Epsilon argues that the death of George Desdunes ’13 was the result of his own “culpable conduct,” according to a defense brief filed by the national fraternity earlier this month. Denying all charges in the $25 million wrongful death lawsuit brought by the mother of Desdunes, the SAE brother who died after a pledging event last February, the fraternity claims that it does not have a pledge process and that it does not require anything of pledges. SAE also demands that any damages awarded to SAE did not exhibit “negligence, the plaintiff — Desdunes’ carelessness, and/or culpable mother, Marie Lourdes conduct” in Desdunes’ death. Andres — should be paid by the 20 former SAE Defense brief filed by SAE fraternity brothers and pledges also named as defendants in the complaint. In a separate, criminal lawsuit, three SAE pledges were indicted on charges of first-degree hazing and first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child. The fraternity denies liability for actions taken by individual brothers or pledges at specific chapters. It argues in response to the suit that SAE did not directly exhibit “negligence, carelessness, and/or culpable conduct” and that Desdunes’ death was not the result of any direct action or negligence by the organization. In its response to the suit, SAE also argues that Desdunes was partly or wholly responsible for his own death.

SUN FILE PHOTO

Caution | After the deaths of several students, the University announced Wednesday that it has committed more than $1.5 million to gorge safety.

C.U. Allocates $1.56M To Gorge Safety Efforts Assoc.Dean to Leave C.U.for Tufts

Weather

Chance of Showers HIGH: 48 LOW: 27

See DESDUNES page 4

By JOSEPH NICZKY

By AKANE OTANI Sun News Editor

Prof. David Harris, sociology, and senior associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, has been appointed Tuft University’s next provost and senior vice president. Harris — who has served in several administrative positions since he first came to Cornell in 2003 — will join Tufts’ leadership July 1. “It’s a very exciting opportunity,” Harris said. “I will be able to take lots of what I learned here at Cornell — doing everything from being a faculty member, being a provost and being an asso-

ciate dean — to help lead Tufts to achieve its goal.” Harris said he was contacted about the Tufts position in November. At Cornell, Harris is currently completing his term as interim co-director of the Africana Studies and Research Center, an appointment that ignited backlash among students amid the transfer of Africana into the arts college. Harris and Prof. Elizabeth Adkins Regan, psychology and biology, were appointed to lead Africana in August after the arts college failed to find some-

Sun Senior Writer

Responding to three accidental drownings in Ithaca’s iconic gorges last summer, the University announced Wednesday that it has committed $1.56 million to gorge safety efforts and, pending the approval of several projects, is considering devoting an additional $800,000 to these efforts. The $1.56 million is partially designated to fund efforts recommended in December by the Gorge Safety Steering Committee, an advisory committee that was formed in the fall, according to Vice President for Student and Academic Services Susan Murphy ’73. In accordance with the recommendations of the committee, the

See HARRIS page 4

See GORGES page 5

Yogurt Crazy Opening Draws Fro-yo Fanatics By TAJWAR MAZHAR Sun Staff Writer

ANDY JOHNSON / SUN CONTRIBUTOR

Yo’ crazy | Sarah O’Neil ’13 attends Yogurt Crazy’s opening in Collegetown Wednesday.

many people stopped by to ask if we were open even before we were ready.” Despite the high volume of customers on Wednesday afternoon, Yogurt Crazy

Students and community members with empty bellies and creamy cravings flocked to 40 College Ave. “I can’t even tell you how many people on Wednesday afternoon for the opening of Yogurt Crazy, a Long- stopped by to ask if we were open even Island based, self-serve frozen before we were ready.” yogurt store that has set up shop in Jim Brown the former home of Johnny O’s. Similar in style to national chains Pinkberry and Red Mango, Yogurt employees said they faced setbacks that Crazy sports a bright pastel interior and a delayed the opening of the shop until later wall lined with self-serve machines. in the day. When the shop opened at Jim Brown, the manager of Yogurt noon, cashiers were unable to accept credCrazy, said that he was pleased by the level it cards due to technical issues. of business throughout the day. “It’s been crazy… I was here past 12 “So far, with all the customers we’ve last night and came back at eight getting had, we’ve been perceived really well,” things ready,” Brown said. Brown said. “I can’t even tell you how Brown said that the Yogurt Crazy

employees were still working out how best to arrange the new location to expedite the process of getting yogurt and checking out at the registers. “The flow seems to be okay for now, but we’ll just have to wait and see after we get our big rush,” Brown said. In addition to frozen yogurt, Yogurt Crazy is selling cookies, smoothies and bulk candy to give customers a wider variety of ways to satisfy their sweet tooth. “It’s nice to see a new business in Collegetown, especially something that could be popular with students as well as faculty and locals,” said Katie White ’14, who added that she planned to visit the store soon. While Jason’s Conveience Store, locatSee YOGURT page 5


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