INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 128, No. 137
MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2012
n
ITHACA, NEW YORK
16 Pages – Free
As Deficit Shrinks, Univ.to Negotiate Contract With Staff
Festival of colors
By MANU RATHORE Sun Staff Writer
held this year in the Bear’s Den, located in the Ivy Room of Willard Straight Hall. While the pub was originally slated to open in spring 2012, because of delays in obtaining a permanent liquor license it will now officially open in fall 2012, The Sun reported in January. Lars Mudrak, head brewer at Bandwagon Brewpub — a local microbrewery based in the Ithaca Commons — worked with Ryan and Nelson Crosby ’12 to make Ezra Red. He described the beer as “drinkable ... without being overbearing.”
As Cornell employees’ three-year contract approaches its expiration date of June 30, the University will begin negotiations with the United Auto Workers Local 2300, the union that represents a majority of Cornell’s staff. Jack Kaminsky, president of the UAW Local 2300, said that negotiators will discuss wage rates during contract negotiations with University administrators, especially given the University’s financial rebound since the 2008 recession. “In every survey ... Cornell’s fiscal outlook was recently revised by Moody’s you will find that Investors Service — a major credit workload was one of rating agency — from “negative” the major concerns.” to “stable,” The Sun reported in April. Additionally, the University Jack Kaminsky reduced its deficit from $148 million in 2009 to $40 million in 2011. But in 2008, Kaminsky said, “the market crashed and Cornell suffered financial loss.” “Since then, they have rebounded, and we feel that we helped them through that period of time to the best of our abilities,” he said. “We were asked to do more with less and we did that. We feel the need to be compensated for it.” According to Mary Opperman, vice president for human resources, the University is restricted by funding limitations, which she attributed to student opposition to raising tuition; reduced or stagnant state funding; the slow growth of research funding; and
See EZRA RED page 4
See CONTRACTS page 4
LISA GIBSON / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Students are splattered with paint on the Arts Quad Saturday at Cornell’s 28th annual celebration of Holi, a Hindu festival celebrating the beginning of spring.
C.U.Brew,‘Ezra Red,’ Makes Debut By EMMA COURT Sun Senior Writer
At a school where a Big Red Marching Band cheers on Big Red sports teams, it was only a matter of time before someone decided to make a Big Red beer. Ezra Red, a red ale developed by two Cornell students, made its on-campus debut at The Bear’s Den on Saturday night. According to Chris Ryan ’12, one of the new brew’s creators, the beer will be regularly sold at the pub once the Bear’s Den acquires a liquor license. Saturday’s event was the last of three “soft” events
Relevance of Takeover Revisited at Anniversary
News Running for Rand ’12
Students ran in Nate’s Run for Smiles, a charity race held Sunday, to commemorate Nate Rand ’12 and raise money for a hospital. | Page 3
Students share thoughts on Takeover, diversity By JINJOO LEE Sun Senior Writer
Amid a year of activism on campus for both racial minorities and undocumented students, more than 200 students gathered Friday to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of the Willard Straight Hall Takeover. In April 1969, students members of the Afro-American Society took over Willard Straight Hall for two days to demand that the University to improve its treatment of black students. Protesters called for the University to investigate the cross-burning that happened in front of Wari House, then a black women’s co-operative house, and asked for black students to be treated equally under the University’s judicial codes. As people settled into their seats Friday, some of the group’s
organizers stood up from different parts of the room to share what the Takeover meant to them. “It means taking a stand when our voices seem displaced or ignored on Cornell University’s campus. Having the multicultural community being as strong and unified as possible is what the Willard Straight Hall Takeover means to me,” said Raquel Smith ’13, president of ALANA. At the commemoration ceremony, students also shared photos promoting diversity that they had displayed on campus. The Cornell DREAM Team — an organization of proponents of the DREAM Act — displayed a photo with students of all races holding up a sign that read, “Do I look undocumented?” Shuva Islam ’13 said that he found listening to students’ perspectives both informative and
Opinion The Bell’s Last Toll
Judah Bellin ’12 bids farewell to Cornell in his last column, reflecting on his experiences as a conservative on campus. | Page 7
Arts Soprano
The Australian Chamber Orchestra, featuring soprano Dawn Upshaw, performed a heartrending collection of songs at Bailey Hall on Friday. | Page 9
Sports Taste of Defeat
BRIAN W. GRAY / SUN FILE PHOTO
In a heartbreaking loss, the men’s lacrosse team finished 9-14 to Princeton on Saturday, losing the chance to host the Ivy League tournament.
Making voices heard | Students end the Straight Takeover in 1969. enjoyable. “I learned a lot about the history regarding [the Takeover],” he said. “I found a lot about
things I didn’t know about before, like about [the difficulSee TAKEOVER page 5
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