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The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 128, No. 118 News Glad to Be a Grad
Cornell’s Graduate School launches the “Graduates Mentoring Undergraduates” program to teach students about life after senior year. | Page 3
Opinion Fond Memories
Keith Olbermann ’79 remembers Dale Corson, Cornell’s eighth president, after Corson’s death on Saturday. | Page 6
Arts Fond Farewell
Peter Jacobs ’13 reflects on his years attending shows at Castaways, which will close in May. | Page 9
Sports No Hits for You
Sophomore Connor Kaufmann pitched a no-hitter in the baseball game against Dartmouth Sunday. | Page 16
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Skorton Seeks Surge in No.of Students Abroad By DAN TEMEL Sun Staff Writer
In a recently released white paper, President David Skorton announced his goal to ensure that no fewer than 50 percent of undergraduates have an “international experience” –– defined as studying, holding an internship or going on a service trip in a foreign country –– by the time they graduate. Skorton said he plans to achieve this goal by increasing the number of short-term study abroad programs, such as those that take place during winter break, while also increasing the number of students who study abroad for credit during the fall and spring semesters. Twenty-seven percent of undergraduates have studied abroad for academic credit at some point in their Cornell careers, according to Skorton’s paper, “Bringing the World to Cornell and Cornell to the World,” released March 2. This goal is part of a larger plan to increase Cornell’s stature in international areas and make changes to University study abroad policy, according to Director of Cornell Abroad Richard Gaulton ’67, Ph.D. ’81. In the white paper, Skorton outlines a series of goals, including hiring more professors in international studies, to increase the University’s global presence. “We all live in a very global world, and whether you grew up in upstate New York or
outside of the United States, we are all going to be interacting with each other ... It is very important for the University to provide the skills for students to thrive in this interconnected world,” Alice Pell, vice provost for international relations, said. Pell said Skorton’s plans allow for the development of the University’s partnerships with foreign institutions, as well as the development
of its existing programs abroad. “This initiative fits in with the tech campus and campus in Qatar. The scope of Cornell’s international activities is huge,” she said. Gaulton said Skorton’s goals can be achieved by “increasing the capacity” of Cornell managed programs –– which, though
SUN FILE PHOTO
I’m on a world tour | In a recent white paper, President Skorton said he wants 50 percent of undergraduates to have an “international experience” by their graduation.
Lights on for a cause
Moody’s Boosts Univ.’s Fiscal Outlook to ‘Stable’ By ANDREW HU Sun Senior Writer
NATHAN SCHWARTZBERG / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Milstein Hall displays blue lights Monday to increase awareness for the Autism Speaks movement.
Prof. Burns Elected New Dean of Faculty of goals during his tenure. “We must compete effectively with our peers to recruit and retain the very best faculty, provide financial aid to academically talented Prof. Joseph Burns Ph.D ’66, astronomy, undergraduate and graduate students, and was elected the new dean of faculty Friday. to strengthen our research infrastructure and Burns will officially take over the role from information technology,” he said. current Dean of Faculty Prof. William Fry Burns, who said he has “experienced Ph.D ’70 on July 1. Cornell through the eyes of four immediate Burns said he was “humbled to have family members who have degrees from five been elected by a large group of my coldifferent colleges,” added that he would leagues to represent their views and to speak strive to forge partnerships between faculty, for them to the administration and to the PROF. BURNS administration, trustees, staff and students. Board of Trustees.” “Having been a student, a faculty member, a parent In a statement distributed to the faculty prior to the election and at the Faculty Senate meeting on March See BURNS page 5 14, Burns said that he hopes to accomplish a number By MANU RATHORE
Sun Staff Writer
See SKORTON page 4
A major credit rating agency improved its fiscal outlook for the University from “negative” to “stable” on Sunday, but also highlighted the financial risks associated with unforeseen costs of the New York City tech campus. This revision “reflects a rebound in philanthropy, ongoing focus on expense containment and improved operating performance … and no additional direct debt anticipated in the next two years,” according to a press release from Moody’s Investors Service, the rating agency. Cornell has a “very strong market position as an Ivy League [university] … with robust student demand, research activity and fundraising,” Moody’s wrote. “[But] these credit strengths are counterbalanced by the university’s high amount of debt and thinner operating cash flow than similarly rated peers.” The rating agency also expressed concerns about the University’s increasing amount of debt, which rose 200 percent from Fiscal Year
2005 to Fiscal Year 2011, with the addition of $1.9 billion of direct debt. According to Prof. Ronald Ehrenberg, industrial and labor relations, Cornell was able to improve its credit outlook because it “reduced administrative costs …
Cornell has a “very strong market position as an Ivy League [university] with robust student demand.” Moody’s Investors Service [made] sure less of the endowment is invested in illiquid assets … [and was helped by the] recovery after the recession,” Ehrenberg wrote in an email. However, Ehrenberg, who is also an economics department faculty member and teaches a microeconomics course about the University’s internal finances, echoed concerns about the potential impact of constructing the NYC tech campus, as well as net tuition revenue growth, which has been slowed by See MOODY’S page 5