INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 130, No. 42
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013
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ITHACA, NEW YORK
16 Pages – Free
News
Arts
Sports
Weather
It’s a Libe Life
A Book a Day
Battle of the Bears
Rain HIGH: 46 LOW: 43
Slope Day will be held the day after classes end, the Slope Day Programming Board announced. | Page 3
Lucy Goss ’14 says if you have time to read, you should pick up The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. | Page 8
Cornell football will face Brown this weekend as it looks for its first Ivy win. | Page 16
Cornell Pushes Early Admissions Deadline By CAROLINE FLAX Sun News Editor
After students and admissions officers alike struggled to access the Common Application’s website earlier this month, Cornell announced Thursday that it pushed its early decision admissions and financial aid deadline from Nov. 1 to Nov. 8. Since Common Application launched a new version of its website Aug. 1, students and high school guidance counselors have had trouble accessing its online application fee payment system and filling out recommendations. Vice Provost Barbara Knuth said the University extended its early decision deadline to accommodate students who have had technical problems using Common Application. “We are aware of the anxiety prospective students may be feeling at a time when they should be filled with excitement at the future possibilities before them,” Knuth said in a University press release. See ADMISSIONS page 4
C.U. Spurs N.Y. Startups By AKANE OTANI Sun Managing Editor
As a hotbed of entrepreneurship, Cornell is leading Governor Andrew Cuomo’s (DN.Y.) effort to revitalize upstate New York’s economy, University
“I think Cornell has been leading the effort for a long time.” Mary Opperman administrators said at a public meeting Thursday. “We haven’t necessarily been boasting about this as much as we need to, but we’re amazing at this,” said Mary Opperman, vice president for human
resources. “I think Cornell has been leading the effort for a long time.” At the helm of the University’s push to drive economic development in the state is Start-Up N.Y., a state-run program that aims to attract businesses, accelerate entrepreneurship and create jobs through partnerships with universities. As one of the institutions partnering with the state in the program, Cornell will offer businesses that move to the area University-owned space from which they can work starting from Spring 2014, Opperman said. To sweeten the deal, Start-Up N.Y. is giving participating companies various financial incentives: it will allow participating See ECONOMY page 4
NIKITA DUBNOV / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Let’s talk solutions | Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) and SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher discussed the future of American education at a panel moderated by President David Skorton in Bailey Hall Thursday.
Panel Reflects on Future of Education Former Gov. Bush, SUNY’s Zimpher talk at Cornell
By ANUSHKA MEHROTRA Sun Staff Writer
In light of rising tuition costs, a digitized economy and low standardized test scores, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) and SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher discussed the future American education system at a panel Thursday. The discussion, which was moderated by President David Skorton, featured a keynote speech by Bush and was sponsored by the Cornell Republicans. In his speech, Bush advocated for bipartisan support in reforming the American education system.
Start it up | The Committee on Government Relations convened Thursday in Statler Amphitheatre to discuss Start-Up N.Y. and Cornell.
for the American K-12 education system, including promoting early literacy, increasing academic choices and emphasizing digital learning. “We need to make education relevant for 21st-century kids, and that means communicating with them on their terms as digital natives,” he said. He also proposed reforms such as requiring higher standards and more robust accountability for schools. To do this, he suggested eliminating ineffective teachers who are often tenured and rewarding successful ones. “[Teachers] at the bottom See EDUCATION page 5
S.A.: ‘Student Court’ to Be Created at Cornell By TYLER ALICEA Sun Senior Writer
RULA SAEED / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
“Reform is maturing into a broad-based bipartisan movement,” he said. “Now joining conservatives … are a group of courageous, center-left Democrats, particularly in big, urban areas of our country.” Bush said the “mediocracy” of the American primary education system is unacceptable. “Our student's performance on international assessments … can best be summed up as mediocre. We worry a lot about our children’s self-esteem. In Asia, they worry about whether their kids have a deep understanding of algebra and science,” he said. Bush suggested six reforms
After much deliberation, the Student Assembly voted Thursday to establish a University Student Court that will be responsible for overseeing disputes brought up by student organizations against the S.A. The court will act as a mediator and will allow students, student organizations and student governing bodies to voice their concerns against the S.A., The
Sun previously reported. The S.A. passed three resolutions — which were proposed by S.A. President Ulys-
bylaws, respectively, while Resolution 12 — passed by a vote of 165-1 — allowed the S.A. to adopt the student court.
“I think this was an important step.” Ulysses Smith ’14 ses Smith ’14 and Scott Seidenberg ’16 — in order to create the court. Resolution 10 and 11 were required in order to change to the S.A’s charter and
In addition, the S.A. voted to pass an amendment that will require the S.A. to formally review operations and bylaws of the court in Fall 2014.
Smith said he was excited the resolutions were passed, adding that the court will help to advance Cornell’s shared governance system. “I think this was an important step in not only providing a venue for alternative dispute resolution for disputes not covered by our current judicial system, but also for further refining the Assembly’s own processes,” Smith See COURT page 5