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By MAX TROIANO and GABRIEL LEVIN
Sun Staff Writer and Editor-in-Chief
Feb. 18 — From storming out of two Ithaca Common Council meetings to the mayor warning he could be “severely sanctioned,” Alderperson David Shapiro’s tense encounters with his colleagues in City Hall have spilled into public view several times in the past year.
But even before his election to Ithaca’s Common Council in November 2023, he was accused of workplace bullying and verbally abusive leadership at two nonprofits he led, The Sun has learned after interviewing former employees and obtaining internal documents,
including a 2022 whistleblower report.
After employees raised concerns about his conduct, the board of directors of one of the nonprofits that Shapiro led, Family Services of Chemung County, voted unanimously in 2022 to not renew his contract, citing low morale and high employee turnover in a memo to staff that The Sun obtained.
Shapiro denied many of his former employees’ accusations in an interview with The Sun. He often declined to discuss specific allegations.
“I’m not going to re-litigate my entire career,” he said. But he did acknowledge that as a nonprofit leader, he had felt it was necessary to make “very urgent” and “assertive decisions”
in which he did not “always have the right amount of time to include everybody in the decision-making and in the thought process.”
“I’ve done a lot of really good work in my career,” Shapiro said, “including helping organizations that were failing miserably turn themselves around so that they could become high-functioning organizations.”
Family Services of Chemung County’s decision to move on from Shapiro came after a former employee submitted the 72-page confidential whistleblower report to the board of directors in March 2022, accusing Shapiro of creating a “culture of fear, distrust, and burnout.” The Elmira-based nonprofit provides mental health services and support for families and youth.
Shapiro had taken over as CEO of the nonprofit in 2019.
Shapiro displayed “a troubling pattern” of “creating dismissive and difficult working conditions — serious threats to the organization’s viability and success,” the former employee’s report warned, describing staff members in “professional crisis” and an atmosphere of low morale.
When asked about the internal tensions that led to his exit from Family Services of Chemung County, Shapiro said, “That’s none of your business why I’ve left jobs. But I’ve left jobs for very personal reasons, and all of those personal reasons were very much my own choices.”
Working under Shapiro “was really a traumatic time for a lot of us,” said Corinne Shanahan, who served as director of operations
and quality management at the organization. She said Shapiro was often “verbally abusive” and suppressed dissent in his role.
Shanahan said Shapiro had retaliated against her by removing her position from the budget in December 2021 and offering her the choice to leave or be demoted after she raised concerns about him to her co-workers. She said she chose to leave.
Asked about Shanahan’s claims, Shapiro wrote in an email statement that he could not freely discuss human resources issues, but that decisions to fire people were made by a team and included consultations with human resources staff and the board.
Shapiro added that most former employees who lost jobs were unhappy about it, and many “looked for someone to blame, and that was usually me.”
Shanahan said that she met with Family Services of Chemung County’s board twice after she left the group and that about two dozen other employees had also shared their experiences with the board.
“After intense deliberations, we have voted not to renew David Shapiro’s contract as CEO of Family Services,” the nonprofit’s board wrote in the June 1, 2022, memo to staff. “The vote was unanimous with one abstention.”
To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.
Led by Sen. Ted Cruz, the search identifed grants advancing ‘neo-Marxist class warfare propaganda’
By JULIA SENZON Sun Managing Editor
Feb. 18 — U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-T.X.) released a database of over 3,400 grants awarded by the National Science Foundation that he is requesting the agency conduct “significant scrutiny” of for “promot[ing] Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) or advanc[ing] neo-Marxist class warfare propaganda,” detailed a Feb. 11 press release. Of the listed projects, 22 were from Cornell, accumulating $18.7 million in NSF funding. This database was the “backbone” of Cruz’s October investigation into “how the Biden administration politicized scientific research,” according to the press release. The committee analysis named “Division. Extremism. Ideology.” found that more than 10 percent of NSF grants, or over $2.05 billion in federal dollars, funded projects advancing DEI tenets or “pushed onto science neo-Marxist perspectives about enduring class struggle.”
According to the press release, the investigation relates to Trump’s executive orders issued on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21 urging the elimination of DEI programs, offices and positions. In response to Trump’s executive order, The NSF paused grant review to reassess the process’s compliance with new policies. However, it has since resumed proposal processing and review activities and worked to reschedule canceled panels.
The database classified awards under five categories — status, social justice, race gender and environmental justice. Of the Cornell projects listed, 18 were labeled under the status category, meaning they “described persons based on their membership in a population deemed underrepresented, underserved, socioeconomically disadvantaged, or excluded” and “described communities as oppressed and science as a tool for continued oppression, rather than advancing science,” the investigation states.
CRUZ page 10 Max Troiano and Gabriel Levin can be reached at mtroiano@cornellsun.com and glevin@cornellsun.com.
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4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., 148 Stocking Hall
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4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., 124 Lincoln Hall
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Cornell Film Club Screening: Wild at Heart (1990)
7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., Schwartz Film Forum, B21
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Over the break, Sunnies took time of from hard-hitting journalism to travel all over the country (or Ithaca)
By SUN PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
letter sent to Cornell calls for
By BENJAMIN LEYNSE Sun Senior Writer
Feb. 18 The U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to federally funded educational institutions, including Cornell, ordering the widespread elimination of “racial preferences” and otherwise race-conscious decisions in areas including admissions, hiring and institutional programming. If schools fail to comply with the Friday, Feb. 14 letter within two weeks, they may be subject to investigation and the loss of federal funding, according to an ED press release.
The letter sent by Craig Trainor, the ED’s acting assistant secretary for civil rights, cites the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (2023), which determined that race-conscious admissions decisions were unlawful, ruling affirmative action admissions programs unconstitutional. However, according to Trainor, the Supreme Court’s holding “applies more broadly.”
In his letter to federally funded institutions, Trainor wrote that federal law prohibits the use of race in decisions of “admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life.”
This development has potential implications for academics, student organizations and administrative actions at Cornell.
“Although some programs may appear neutral on their face, a closer look reveals that they are, in fact, motivated by racial considerations,” Trainor wrote in the letter.
At Cornell, there are numerous courses focused on studying race including in the history, art and government departments. Additionally, many race and ethnicity-based affinity groups also receive funding from Cornell through the Student Activities Funding Commission.
“Educational institutions have toxically indoctrinated students with the false premise that the United States is built upon ‘systemic and structural racism’ and advanced discriminatory policies and practices.”
Craig Trainor
This announcement comes after some other educational institutions have made changes to various race-based programs. The United States Military Academy at West Point disbanded 12 student affinity groups, while North Carolina’s public universities no longer require students to take classes related to diversity, equity and inclusion and the University of Akron stopped an annual forum on race. These changes follow a Trump Administration executive order which called for
investigations into the DEI programs of universities with endowments exceeding $1 billion — which includes Cornell.
A University spokesperson wrote that “University leadership is reviewing the letter and evaluating its potential impact.” The University ultimately declined to share more after requesting an extended deadline to add to its response.
Trainor’s letter also mentioned DEI policies, noting them among programs that “discriminate in less direct, but equally insidious, ways.” Trainor wrote that DEI programs make specific racial groups “bear unique moral burdens” and stated that they are part of the “overt and covert racial discrimination” the ED hopes to root out. At time
of publication, Cornell continues to maintain a Diversity and Inclusion webpage.
Trainor criticized the higher-education system as a whole.
“Educational institutions have toxically indoctrinated students with the false premise that the United States is built upon ‘systemic and structural racism’ and advanced discriminatory policies and practices,” Trainor wrote.
The letter states that the ED plans to “take appropriate measures to assess compliance with the applicable statutes and regulations” beginning Feb. 28.
Benjamin Leynse can be reached at bleynse@ cornellsun.com.
Te new restaurant features food that is inspired from delis and food courts in New York City
By JONATHAN BRAND Sun Senior Writer
Big Red Food Court will open its doors on Feb. 20, bringing a taste of New York City to Ithaca.
Following the unexpected closure of Ithaca Beer Co. in March 2024, College Avenue had a 4,000-square-foot vacancy, sparking curiosity among students about what new establishment will fill the space. The space was bought by Manager Amir Ali in January, and now will be filled by the Big Red Food Court — a New York-style deli.
“It’s a good spot. It’s the first resturant [when coming down the street] so it’s a very, very good location.”
Sadek Muhsen
Bustling delis and New York City food courts inspired Ali’s design of the new restaurant. According to Ali and Chef Sadek Muhsen, the food court’s location in the heart of Collegetown is “ideal for attracting students and locals alike.”
“We saw there are a lot of young people around here,” Ali said. “It’s a good spot.” Muhsen added, “It’s the first restaurant [when coming down the street], so it’s a very, very
good location.”
The menu will feature a variety of options, including pasta, salad bowls, shish kebabs and Middle Eastern-inspired dishes such as kofta kebabs. The food court will introduce Yemeni coffee — a unique addition to the area’s coffee scene. For those with a sweet tooth, the restaurant will also serve pastries, including baklava.
“What we’re offering is a New York City Style. I don’t think anybody has that here.”
Amir Ali
Ali said Big Red Food Court is designed to be more than just a place to grab a quick bite. The owners aim to make the restaurant a hub for the community and plan to install a big-screen television outside for summer events.
“We have a lot of seating, so people can sit down, have coffee and relax,” Muhsen said.
While not explicitly affiliated with Cornell Dining, Ali and Muhsen said they are “communicating with Cornell Dining” and are committed to making Big Red Food Court accessible to students. They said they plan to accept both Big Red Bucks and City Bucks, and will offer a 10 percent discount to
any student with a valid school ID — including students from outside of Cornell.
However, a University spokesperson clarified that the off-campus restaurant will not be eligible to accept Big Red Bucks and that a City Bucks application has not yet been received from the establishment as of a Feb. 13 email statement to The Sun.
Big Red Food Court is planning a soft opening during February break, with the grand opening set for Feb. 20 — just in time for students to return to campus.
The owners feel that their New York City-inspired concept will resonate with the Ithaca community. With its diverse menu, vibrant atmosphere and student-friendly policies, Big Red Food Court aims to fill a unique niche in the local dining scene.
“What we’re offering is a New York City style,” Ali said. I don’t think anybody has that here.”
Jonathan Brand can be reached at jbrand@cor-
By GABRIEL MUÑOZ Sun City Editor
Over 30 people gathered at Redbud Cooperative in Von Cramm Hall on Friday for the launch of Hannah Shvets’ ’27 campaign for a Fifth Ward Common Council seat. At the event, Shvets discussed a platform focused on housing and labor reform.
Shvets hopes to fill Alderperson Clyde Lederman’s ’26 seat. Lederman announced he will not seek re-election in November to pursue a second term, with the seat up for the Nov. 4, 2025, Tompkins County general election.
A sophomore in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Shvets moved to Ithaca with her family from Texas in 2016. She attended Ithaca High School where she wrote for student-run newspaper The Tattler.
At Cornell, she is the president of the Classic Literature at Cornell club and a research assistant in ILR researching the gig economy. She is also involved in local political groups including the Cornell Chapter of Young Democratic Socialists of America, the Ithaca Chapter of the Communist Party USA and Cornell University Progressives.
“I’ve lived here for close to a decade, and the last two years, as I’ve gotten more involved in Ithaca politics, I’ve realized just how much I love this city and how much I want to be a part of the future of this city,” Shvets said.
Shvets is a student fellow at the Tompkins County Workers’ Center — an organization behind the push to adopt Just Cause employment protections in Ithaca. She has previously advocated in a guest piece for The Sun for the city to adopt the measure.
Just Cause legislation introduced to the Common Council last year stipulates that employers cannot terminate employees without at least a 30-day notice outlining the performance issue and specific steps they can take to address concerns.
Jorge DeFendini ’22, who was elected in 2021 to represent Fourth Ward but lost re-election to write-in candidate Patrick Kuehl ’24 (D-Fourth Ward) also attended the launch. DeFendini, who is running to represent First Ward in November, said most students who run for office in Ithaca do it to “pad their resumes” but said Shvets’ campaign was about putting the community first.
“That’s not what she is about. From the first moment I saw Hannah and the work that she’s been doing, it’s clear to me that selflessness is what’s guiding
her, and that’s why she’s running — not to pad her resume, but to put her community first.” Defendini said.
Shvets vowed to make it a priority to pass Just Cause legislation if she were to be elected citing concerns over the fragility of federal protections from the National Labor Relations Board since President Donald Trump fired one of its members — rendering the board unable to work, according to CBS.
“If the federal government cannot provide for us, which they have shown us they cannot, we need to have a local NLRB, which would be the worker rights commission created by Jorge’s Just Cause [legislation].” Shvets said Shvets campaign is endorsed by a couple of Ithacabased organizations, including Cornell YDSA, Ithaca Democratic Socialists of America, the Ithaca Tenants Union and Sunrise Ithaca.
ITU member Sarah Curless spoke at the launch event, praising Shvets’ positions on housing and her support for increasing rent stabilization efforts and eliminating single-family zoning.
“Hannah’s role as a tenant, as a young person and as an organizer, is who we want to see representing us on Common Council,” Curless said. “This is a progressive tenant-majority city, and as ITU, we want to continue to have a tenant majority represent us on [the] council, something we have fought hard to achieve.”
To continue reading this article, please visit www. cornellsun.com.
By JULIA
Feb. 17— Editor’s note the content in this article mentions sexual assualt and drugging
The Cornell University Police Department responded to a reported burglary at the Chi Phi fraternity house, according to a Friday crime alert.
In November, an individual reported being sexually assaulted and drugged by multiple men at the Chi Phi house, leading to a temporary suspension of the chapter. Cornell Media Relations declined to provide additional information about the University’s current or future uses of the house.
Activists subsequently vandalized the house, writing that they were “declaring a campaign against fraternities as mass perpetrators of sexual violence on campus.” CUPD also responded to an incident of “Criminal Tampering” against the house on Jan. 27 after a staff member reported that the front doors had been “egged” by an unknown individual, according to the department’s crime log. CUPD lists the incident as closed.
The alert sent Friday detailed that CUPD responded at 1:55 p.m. on Friday to a reported burglary at 107 Edgemoor Ln. — Chi Phi’s address — with the complainant reporting that the burglary took place between 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday and 1:55 p.m. on Friday.
The building was unoccupied when the reported burglary occurred, according to the alert, and “entry was determined to be made forcibly through a basement window where property was then taken from within.”
While there is no suspect description available, the alert stated that the investigation is continuing and that individuals with information should contact the Cornell University Public Safety Communications Center at (607) 255-1111.
Members of the Cornell Community may consult with the Victim Advocacy Program by calling 607-255-1212 and with Cornell Health by calling 607-255-5155. Employees may call the Faculty Staff Assistance Program at 607-255-2673. An Ithaca-based crisis line is available at 607-272-1616. The Tompkins County-based Advocacy Center is available at 607-277-5000. For additional resources, visit health.cornell.edu/services/victim-advocacy.
By YUHAN HUANG
For Sara Almosawi ’25, the Fall 2024 semester was life-changing. Almosawi was suspended by the University following her involvement in a Sept. 18 protest that shut down a career fair featuring defense contractors Boeing and L3Harris. According to her, the suspension, which was lifted on Dec. 3 before she received an alternate resolution on Feb. 3, caused stress that led her to develop a sinus infection and digestive issues so severe that she visited the emergency room for treatment.
“This process has put me through hell,” she said.
At least 15 students were suspended for participating in the career fair protest organized by the Coalition for Mutual Liberation — a pro-Palestinian umbrella group comprising over 40 campus and local organizations — during which over 100 activists banged drums and pans and confronted recruiters in the Statler Hotel. Several protesters pushed past police to enter the building.
Ph.D. student Sriram Parasurama was suspended and subsequently de-enrolled for his participation in the same Sept. 18 protest. Parasurama also pled not guilty on Nov. 6 to the Cornell University Police Department’s accusations of him shoving and resisting officers. A Sun analysis of video footage released by the University found that he was on the front line of the crowd, making contact with and pushing past CUPD officers.
Parasurama said that the University’s suspensions “don’t follow due process,” as they were imposed before the protesters received an administrative trial or hearing.
According to the Student Code of Conduct, suspended students have the right to review the evidence against them after a draft investigative record — a compilation of the investigation’s documents and interview transcripts — has been issued. At time of publication, the University has not issued a draft investigative record for Almosawi, according to her.
After reaching out to the University to respond to the suspended students’ claims that their disciplinary action was vague and lacked due process, The Sun was referred to a Sept. 30 statement from Interim President Michael Kotlikoff stating that “[suspended students] have clear process rights per the procedures of the Code. They are provided a written outline of the charges and rationale for the imposition of the temporary suspension, and instructions for how to appeal the decision.”
According to the Student Code of Conduct, students are given the choice to resolve their formal complaint of alleged prohibited conduct through an investigation, which allows the student to be heard and tried. They can also resolve the complaint through an alternate resolution that pauses or ends the investigation.
To receive an alternate resolution, the student is required to either accept responsibility for their alleged prohibited conduct or complete an agreed remedy, such as an apology letter, directed study or another form of “Restorative/Transformative Justice,” according to the Procedure for Resolution of Reports Against Students Under Cornell University.
According to Almosawi, Liang lifted her suspension on Dec. 3, and she is currently pursuing an alternate resolution.
Almosawi wrote in a text message to the Sun that it was “no coincidence” that her suspension was lifted following a string of on-campus tragedies in November, including a report of drugging and sexual assault at the Chi Phi fraternity house, a student hiding under a female resident’s bed in William Keeton House, a student found dead in Fall Creek Gorge and the hospitalization of another student who fell in the same area.
“The limited resources of OSCCS and [Cornell University Police Department] were divert[ed] to these very public cases instead of protestor surveillance,” Almosawi wrote.
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GABRIEL LEVIN ’26
Editor in Chief
MAX FATTAL ’25
Associate Editor
HENRY SCHECHTER ’26
Opinion Editor
MARIAN CABALLO ’26
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MING DeMERS ’25
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ERIC HAN ’26
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Henry Schechter is the Opinion Editor at Te Sun. He is a third-year student in the College of Arts & Sciences. His fortnightly column Onward focuses on politics, history and how they come together in Ithaca. He can be reached
Afog of anti-academic populism has rolled over the federal government. Universities have become targets of outrage. The status of radical campus protesters and professors is under threat. And Cornell searches for its next president. This was the state of play in 1950.
Back then, the nation was gripped with pervasive anti-communist fear, which was accelerated by Senator Joseph McCarthy’s populist, nationalist, anti-Semitic purge of government employees, entertainers, academics and others. In the midst of this “red scare,” the Cornell Board of Trustees sought and found a new president — one who needed to stand against the threats of academic freedom.
Today, however, as the shadow of President Donald Trump’s quest for authoritarian power descends on our country and threatens the college campus as a bastion of free thought, the Trustees are again searching for a new president — and they must take their cue from history.
McCarthyism was a disease that infected the entire country, all of academia, and reared its ugly head at Cornell while the University was under the leadership of an interim president. McCarthyism took shape on Cornell’s campus with congressional scrutiny of faculty members like Professor Phillip Morrison. Morrison — a progressive physicist who opposed the United States monopolizing nuclear secrets and American use of the H-bomb — was heavily investigated and audited by House and Senate committees. Morrison, who had flirted with communism as an undergraduate, had become a pacifist after his work on the atomic bomb at Los Alamos. Many saw him as a gift to academia because of his defense of conscience in nuclear science; anti-communist forces saw that as treasonous.
While weathering these attacks on education, Cornell’s Board of Trustees settled on Deane Waldo Malott to serve as the University’s sixth president for his combination of academic, administrative and business expertise. Malott inherited the mess that McCarthy had dropped on Cornell and tactfully cleaned it up.
Malott, a self-proclaimed conservative, was not a fan of what he once called “leftists.” But while he may not have agreed with the campus issues of the day, Malott was committed to protecting the institution of academic freedom as a whole. He privately advised Professor Morrison to curtail attention-drawing activism while publicly reassuring the faculty and trustees that Morrison’s political beliefs never biased his classroom or laboratory work. Malott used his power to reduce the public stir around Morrison while defending the University from external attacks. In this light, he asked “thinking citizens to stand behind the principles of freedom of thought and expression.”
Today, anti-academic sentiments reminiscent of McCarthyism are no longer in the rearview mirror, and neither is Cornell’s choice in leadership. With the election of Donald Trump, academia is once again under fire from the highest levels of the federal government. In his first term, President Trump looked to deny academic research funding to universities that didn’t align with his free speech objectives. He has threatened to deport controversial campus protesters. And he’s hinted at abolishing the Department of Education.
To continue reading, visit www.cornellsun.com.
CGSU-UE is an organization of graduate workers at Cornell University fighting to improve working conditions and quality of life for graduate workers.
“To Do the Greatest Good” for Scientifc Progress
Federal courts have halted the National Institutes of Health’s catastrophic funding changes, in part thanks to a lawsuit undertaken by Cornell and other university plaintiffs. This lawsuit is a meaningful stand in defense of science and a practical step to protect the University and those who work here, but its effects are temporary. NIH leadership has stated that the Institute will “effectuate the administration’s goals over time,” making it only a matter of time before we face last week’s funding crisis again.
Beyond the NIH, United States Agency for International Development-dependent projects are in limbo, executive orders are piling up and the research infrastructure that drives scientific progress across the nation is, if not actively crumbling, at risk. During this crisis, Cornell has the opportunity to play a defining role in protecting education and science against our current administration, and we — graduate workers, participants in American society and drivers and beneficiaries of scientific advancement — need our university to rise to the occasion. As federal funding cuts proceed across agencies, we call on Cornell’s administration to draw on its considerable financial resources, including but not limited to its $10.7 billion endowment, to ensure that research and teaching continue uninterrupted across Cornell.
Cornell is a private institution with extensive financial resources. Expert financial stewardship has protected the University during troubling times, and, in recent years, ensured unprecedented investment returns. Cornell’s financial health must be maintained of course, and the value of the endowment must continue to grow — but not for the sake of growth alone, but for the sake of, in Ezra Cornell’s words, “the greatest good.” Cornell’s administration has reminded the University community of the endowment’s purpose repeatedly. It is a “perpetual and self-sustaining source of support for the University and its mission,” designed to protect and advance the University’s workings, especially during times of trouble, explained then-chief financial officer Joanne DeStefano MBA ’97 in 2020. We recognize these parameters. But, should the federal government continue wreaking havoc on the federal agencies that fund our research, the devastation to Cornell’s research community, and to the scientific progress writ large, will be enormous. To protect science against the most aggressive attack we’ve witnessed in decades, Cornell’s administration must draw on its extensive financial resources to ensure research continues uninterrupted.
During previous crises, Cornell has been quick to embrace austerity measures. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University immediately implemented freezes on University-wide hiring and salary increases for the 2021 fiscal year, anticipating a pandemic-induced recession. But Cornell emerged from the worst of the pandemic more prosperous than ever: In 2021, the Cornell endowment’s oneyear performance was the best it had been in 35 years, bringing the value of the University’s investments to an unprecedented high of $10 billion. Reports from workers on the ground suggest that the University will push similar austerity measures again — protecting its financial bottom line instead of intervening on behalf of the workers who keep it running.
Financial resources to ensure that the University’s research and teaching objectives continue uninterrupted are unequivocally available. The endowment, for example, is a complex amalgam of over 8,000 accounts, many
of which are restricted by donors, but many of which are not. What Cornell reports as its endowment is made up of two separate groups of funds — the so-called “true endowment,” comprising various funds set aside by donors for particular uses, and “funds functioning as endowments,” consisting of unrestricted operating funds totaling some $1.7 billion that can be, as the University notes, “liquidated over time … to support operations.” Over the fiscal year of 2023-2024, these funds increased by approximately $31 million — and, according to publicly-available NIH funding data for Cornell, the university relied on indirect costs to the tune of $31,372,235 in fiscal year 2024. In short, Cornell has resources readily available to compensate for lost indirect funding, should federal funding cuts succeed, now or in the future. While the University’s financial resources are not a cash reserve to deploy frivolously, their highest purpose is to help in exactly these moments of financial need that threaten the mission of the institution.
Moreover, Cornell’s financial resources extend far beyond the endowment. According to the University’s most recent audit for the fiscal year ending June 2024, Cornell had approximately $19.5 billion in assets, including nearly $1 billion in cash and cash equivalents and $11.5 billion in investments. After liabilities, the University ended the year with about $14.5 billion in net assets, out of which approximately $4 billion was without donor restrictions. Allocating a small share of Cornell’s unrestricted assets now to cover losses due to federal funding cuts would be a deployment of the University’s financial resources in service of “the greatest good” and Cornell’s guiding mission. It would not weaken the future of the University for short-sighted immediate relief, but would instead be an honorable, historic and critically necessary resolution to ensure our University survives into the future with its research infrastructure and reputation intact. The heart and soul of American academia is at stake. Committing these funds is the most responsible choice for the long-term health and integrity of the institution.
We came to Cornell for its dedication to its mission to “discover, preserve and disseminate knowledge” and arrived committed to advancing human knowledge and higher education with our work. Our University has the opportunity to play a defining role in protecting education and science against our current administration, and this is the moment to rise to that occasion. On Wednesday, Feb. 12, Cornell Graduate Student Union-United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America’s Bargaining Committee called upon the Cornell administration with this letter to draw on its considerable financial resources to ensure that all teaching and research staff, irrespective of immigration status or research discipline, remain fully employed and supported in their work. Cornell can honor the mission of this institution and the people who do this work by committing to offset any losses incurred due to federal funding cuts.
We are concerned for our funding security, our research and the future of our fields. In this uncertain moment, amidst attacks on research and education, our union is fighting for a strong contract to protect precisely these things. Essential to this fight is securing “union shop,” the gold-standard for union membership, which will ensure that CGSU-UE has the power and resources to fight for the future of science, research and higher education.
Kassandra Robeldo is senior in the College of Arts & Sciences studying government. She submitted this on behalf of the Alliance. She can be reached at ksr66@cornell.edu.
Our current reality is not new: Bigotry, hateful rhetoric and nativist anti-migrant sentiment have long been embedded in this nation’s history. Yet for the past decade, the spread of these prejudiced ideologies has only intensifed. Te Trump administration has facilitated this brazen vitriol against others who are not “us,” turning discrimination into policy and stoking divisions that endanger vulnerable communities. Once again we fnd ourselves at an ethical crossroads: Will we uphold our moral obligation to protect those most at risk, or will we stand idly by?
Tis administration poses a direct threat to democracy, and its reach has extended far beyond Washington, setting its sights on Ithaca. While Cornell’s role in this agenda remains uncertain, we cannot aford to wait. Members of the Alliance for Community Protection call upon Cornell to not remain neutral and capitulate to this fascist agenda, and to instead take action and put the safety and well-being of its students frst. Cornell claims a commitment “to do the most good,” yet its policies expose stark failures that leave students vulnerable. Te State University of New York sanctuary campus movement — signed and supported by students across campuses — calls for universities to protect immigrant and undocumented students from federal overreach. Within Cornell, the University Assembly passed Resolution 19 in March 2021, urging the university to declare itself as a sanctuary campus. Despite these eforts, Cornell has yet to take concrete steps toward ensuring safety for its community.
“Cornell’s failure to act signals that our safety is conditional, that our rights are negotiable, and that justice is secondary to institutional convenience. But we refuse to accept this. We, the Alliance for Community Protection, call upon students to reject passive acceptance and to take action”
The Alliance For Community Protection
Tis inaction is unacceptable. On Feb. 11, we, the ACP, formally presented fve demands to the administration — a call for Cornell to protect its students, faculty and staf from policies that put them at risk. Te following demands are not radical; they are fundamental protections that should’ve been in place long before the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids reached Ithaca a couple of weeks ago and students were forced to fear for their safety, unprotected from the systemic issues that plague the country. Tese demands are rooted in basic human decency. Tey align
with the values Cornell claims to uphold. Yet, rhetoric without action is meaningless. Te administration must listen; honor its commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion and act swiftly.
Our Demands*:
1. We demand that Cornell ensure the continuation, protection and adequate funding of all DEI programs and initiatives for both graduate and undergraduate students.
2. We demand that Cornell establish and maintain systems to protect the legal rights of students and staf
3. We demand that Cornell make fnancial aid accessible to all students, regardless of the documentation status of students and guardians.
4. We demand that Cornell protect faculty and staf from retaliation when advocating and demonstrating support for students.
5. We demand that Cornell immediately end partnerships with agricultural businesses and farms that engage in exploitative or abusive practices.
We, the ACP, have set a one-week deadline for the Board of Trustees to approve these demands and three weeks for the administration to release a detailed implementation plan. Te urgency of this issue calls for immediate action, and delays are dangerous ergo the necessity of our deadline. Te gaps in Cornell’s policies predate the Trump administration, and it is the University’s moral obligation to rectify them now.
To the administration, we say this: Listen to us. Protect your students. Take a stand.
To the students, faculty and Ithaca community, we urge: Stand with us. Speak out. Demand better. We are not just fghting for ourselves — we are fghting for the soul of this institution.
Tere is no such thing as neutrality in the face of injustice. Cornell’s failure to act signals that our safety is conditional, that our rights are negotiable, and that justice is secondary to institutional convenience. But we refuse to accept this. We, the Alliance for Community Protection, call upon students to reject passive acceptance and to take action — to protect themselves, their peers and their community.
Cornell now stands at a defning moment. Cornell has the opportunity to be a leader — but only if it listens to its people and meets these demands with urgency and sincerity. We are here. We are united. And we will not be silenced. So we question: Will Cornell uphold its promises, or will it betray the very principles it was founded upon?
*Te ofcial document with the demands that were handed to the administration on Tuesday, February 12th go into extensive detail for each demand, ensuring that Cornell understands exactly where policies are lacking. Tese expanded demands can be found on the Alliance for Community Protection Instagram account.
Signed,
Te Alliance for Community Protection
Liam Harney is a second-year student at Cornell Law School. He spent last summer working at the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center in New Orleans and will be spending next summer interning at the Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Appeals Division in New York City. He can be reached at ldh55@cornell.edu.
The great and worthy goal of Cornell Law School is to produce “lawyers in the best sense.” Tose of us seeking to be admitted to the New York Bar must swear an oath to support the Constitution of the United States of America. Perhaps, for some, this solemn promise is a mere formality, something they have to do so they can make a six-fgure starting salary. But when, as now, the rule of law itself is threatened, Cornell cannot aford to produce lawyers who would support, or accept, a fascist government’s lawless rule. New York does not need lawyers who would cast aside the Constitution in the name of political expediency, cynicism or cowardice. It is tempting to rationalize disputes over the current administration’s actions as routine political squabbling, to pretend that polite disagreement remains an option. Whatever value that position may have had was lost when Donald Trump, JD Vance and Elon Musk began extra-constitutionally dismantling agencies created by Congress, refusing to respect this co-equal branch’s power of the purse, fring public servants who by statute were granted for-cause protection and openly firting with ignoring the orders of our courts. It is this last afront to our democracy that eclipses all others. If you’ve been waiting for the proverbial red line, here it is. At Cornell Law School, the very frst case we are assigned to read in our frst-year course on the Constitution is Marbury v. Madison. Tis opinion, written in 1803, makes clear that “it is emphatically the duty of the Judicial Department to say what the law is.” Just as the Constitution vests in Congress the duty to create law, and in the president the duty to faithfully execute it, it leaves to the judiciary the duty to have the fnal say on the meaning of the laws they interpret. In Great Britain, Marbury explains, “the King himself… never fails to comply with the judgment of his court.” We will have fallen remarkably low if we can no longer say of our president what early Americans could say of a foreign king. One might imagine that the Cornell student chapter of the Federalist Society, or other conservative members of our community who ostensibly support history and tradition, would be sounding the walarms, zealously defending this foundational decision that has informed Constitutional practice since the start of our nation. To be clear, there are conservative attorneys who faithfully execute their Constitutional and professional obligations at great personal cost. But that just underscores how absurd it is that any of my peers can stay silent, or worse, supportive, while a Yale-educated lawyer like Vance, himself a member of FedSoc, proudly threatens that the executive branch will simply disregard adverse Supreme Court rulings. Tis understanding of separation of powers would be concerning coming from a frst-year law student who had neglected to do their readings. Coming from a sitting vice president, it constitutes treason. To quote Marbury once more, while citing cases still means something, “[t]he distinction between a government with limited and unlimited powers is abolished if those limits do not confne the person on whom they are imposed.”
Te conclusion is unavoidable: Any law student who would accept the usurpation of the Judiciary’s power to interpret the law is unft to be called “a lawyer in the best sense.” Tey are, in fact, ineligible to become a member of the New York Bar. Of course, Americans should disagree — vigorously and often — about what
is best for our country. Te Constitution itself is a fawed document, as those who study it will tell you. In many ways, its failings brought us to this terrible precipice. But as a bulwark against tyranny, it is infnitely preferable to the whims of one man. To reject that principled system in favor of the machinations of a lawless executive is to disavow America’s founding ideals altogether. It is nothing short of a declaration that revolution was necessary against the United States itself. Tose who support that radical step should have the decency to stop calling themselves patriots. Tey should be forewarned that no revolution against America will be bloodless.
Participation in this society requires an understanding that the Constitution outranks the president. No political victory or cultural disagreement can justify support for this administration’s willingness to disregard Constitutional mandates. Te American experiment cannot outlive its Constitution. I stand with those of you who are ready to fght for this precious inheritance. Presidents have ignored the courts before, straining our republic to its breaking point. In 1832, then-president Andrew Jackson — a role model for Vance — refused to respect the Supreme Court’s decision in Worcester v. Georgia declaring the Cherokee a sovereign people, enabling the Trail of Tears. At the start of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus without congressional authorization and refused to respect the Supreme Court’s order in Ex parte Merryman to produce a prisoner held by the Union army. Tese examples refect the genocidal evil and wartime chaos that attends the breakdown of our Constitutional system. Tey are specters to be avoided, not examples to be followed. As a law student, it is frustrating to read op-eds that declare ignoring the courts would ignite a “Constitutional crisis.” Tough true, this language lacks clarity. So let us be clear: the moment the executive branch begins to ignore the judiciary’s orders, we are no longer a republic, but a dictatorship. It is not just a Constitutional crisis, but the death of the Constitution itself. Tis erosion of checks and balances would open the door for a government where power is wielded with no regard for precedent or principle. Once such powers are relinquished, they are not easily reclaimed. Make no mistake, this is not a fght to preserve a political party or even a particular set of policies. Tis is a fght to preserve the very idea of America: a government of laws and not of men.
I am proud to say that many, even most, of my peers at Cornell Law School believe in American democracy. Tey believe in our Constitutional order, warts and all. Of course, our legal system is an adversarial one. We practice and train to vigorously and zealously advance our clients’ interests. Defending controversial positions cannot be taboo. But like Trump, some of my classmates, I fear, see the law as a naked game of power, where the board is tipped over when the rules say you’ve lost. Such carelessness with the fate of the country I love, and will not leave, is maddening. Te rule of law is a delicate thing. Like the value of currency, its vitality depends upon the public’s perception. As we approach what may be the most critical period in American history since the Civil War, I advise my fellow law students and my fellow citizens: Decide now what you are willing to risk for this nation. If this administration does what it says it will do, will you defend the rule of law, as set forth in the Constitution, or will you acquiesce in the dismantling of the very republic we have been entrusted to protect?
By BHAVYA ANOOP Sun Contributor
From Nigeria to England, to Germany to the U.S., Prof. Zeribe Nwosu journeyed around the globe in pursuit of academic experiences that shaped his approach to research, mentorship and outreach.
Nwosu is a professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. After completing his undergraduate studies in Nigeria, he earned a master’s degree in biomedical science in England, pursued a Ph.D. at the University of Heidelberg, moved to the University of Michigan for postdoctoral research and finally joined Cornell as a faculty member in 2023. Now, he operates a lab focusing on cancer metabolism.
The Nwosu Lab at Cornell focuses on cancer metabolism, which is how cancer cells utilize nutrients to support their survival. By understanding specific metabolic pathways, weaknesses in cancer cells can be revealed, after which treatments can be formulated. Thus, cancer metabolism is a crucial field in terms of targeted treatments and understanding the behavior of cancer cells.
“Metabolism allows us to study how cancer cells use nutrients and also to study how they will respond if we compromise their nutrient access,” Nwosu said. “For me, metabolism was a no-brainer as a subject that needs to be studied.”
His team explores numerous potential treatments, for instance, by compromising specific metabolic pathways. One promising and essential tool in Nwosu’s research is mass spectrometry, which determines molecular mass and allows for molecules in a sample to
be measured. This in turn allows for detailed examinations of metabolic changes in cancer.
“We can learn a lot about how cells make certain amino acids and how those amino acids feed into cancer metabolism. The impact of this research extends beyond cancer and can be applied to diseases like diabetes,” he said.
Looking ahead, the Nwosu Lab is exploring several key areas in cancer metabolism. To do so, they are investigating tumor growth by controlling nutrient acquisition and transport, as well as exploring epigenetic regulation of
tumor metabolism.
Epigenetic regulation involves controlling gene expression without altering DNA sequences. Additionally, the Nwosu lab group has identified specific histones — proteins that organize DNA in cells — that play a significant role in metabolism, not just in cancer cells but also in immune cells. They hope to understand the role of these histones in pancreatic cancer.
Nwosu leads a research team of around twenty members, which involves mentorship and collaboration efforts. His motivation to
conduct research, manage a large research team and mentor others comes from “the excitement of working with people.”
“The more perspectives and personalities I interact with, the more stimulating the research environment becomes,” Nwosu said. “My challenge is to keep everyone motivated.”
Beyond research, Nwosu is committed to giving back to society through the Zeribe Nwosu Foundation, an organization dedicated to expanding education and research opportunities for students in Nigeria and beyond.
He describes the foundation as having a “three-pronged approach: education, mentorship and scholarships.” This involves providing academic resources, personalized guidance in terms of students’ career paths, financial support and more.
Nwosu hopes to grow the reach of the foundation in the future. One key goal is to extend its reach in Africa while also expanding to areas such as the U.S.
“We want to increase outreach and diversify our impact,” Nwosu said. “I want to see the foundation become a lot more independent of any specific individual.”
For young scientists hoping to pursue research or other interests, Nwosu emphasizes the importance of curiosity and commitment.
“It’s very important to have a curious mind. You have to have that sort of addiction for wanting more information,” Nwosu said, “Always show motivation. Always show commitment.”
Bhavya Anoop can be reached at ba436@cornell. edu.
By DALTON MULLINS Sun Staff Writer
The Finger Lakes region is home to around 150 wineries and 11,000 acres of vines, producing around 54,600 tons of grapes each year.
Despite the prominence of the wine industry in the Finger Lakes, wine growers in the region have experienced recent difficulty growing their crops. In 2014, the region lost 67 percent of its common grapevine varieties following a late spring frost. Such variable weather patterns — which are intensified by climate change — threaten local grape growers, according to Prof. Justine Vanden Heuvel, horticulture.
“Climate change is difficult for wine growers to work with. The main problem, particularly here in the Northeast, is the climate variability.”
Prof. Justine Vanden Heuvel
“Climate change is difficult for wine growers to work with,” Vanden Heuvel said. “The main problem, particularly here in the Northeast, is the climate variability. … The last 10 years of summers — sometimes they’re hot, sometimes they’re cool [and] sometimes we get so much rain, it’s difficult to deal with. Other times it’s been a drought.”
Vanden Heuvel’s climate change-related work includes integrating grazing animals into vineyards as a natural source of fertilization. According to Vanden Heuvel, data from California suggests that sheep grazing helps the soil store more carbon.
Another area that Vanden Heuvel studies is the effects of using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a symbiotic relationship with grapevines.
She said that the fungi take carbon from the grapevines and in return, make the vine more effective at acquiring nutrients and water.
Vanden Heuvel also explained how Cornell’s status as a land-grant university gives researchers the ability to more easily share their findings with wine growers through extension programs.
“We have an extension person in every single [growing] region that is dedicated to viticulture,” Hevel said. “They write newsletters, they run meetings, they go out and they help growers. They invite us when there’s a problem that needs to be addressed.”
Ria D’Aversa and her husband Michael Penn operate a Finger Lakes vineyard named Ria’s Wines. D’Aversa said that she takes full advantage of the extension program provided by Cornell, including by participating in the University’s research efforts.
“We participate in all of the seminars that Cornell extension puts out, and we attend
their yearly conference, and we also really lean into their help,” D’Aversa said. “They’re there to help you, and so if we have an issue, we can call them and have a technician come visit.”
Before operating a vineyard in New York, D’Aversa moved her vineyard from California to escape from the heat and wildfires exacerbated by climate change.
“We moved from California because of climate change,” D’Aversa said. “We moved because we wanted to get away from the wildfires and the intense heat. I left the drought and heat for a cool climate region, which is what we were looking for.”
Frédéric Robert Bouché is a fifth-generation winemaker who currently operates a winery in Ithaca called Ports of New York. He said that the Finger Lakes region is unique because it has a microclimate that is “very favorable” for growing grapes.
Bouché also said that in some specific ways, climate change has positively impacted
the Finger Lakes wine region.
“We have more and more sugars in our grapes, so the season is longer and longer, and so there’s more sugar, more maturity, more pigmentation, more flavor,” Bouché said. “And that has been very positive for us here, [but] extremely negative in California, where there is way too much sugar, no acidity.”
Despite the positives that climate change may bring to the Finger Lakes wine region, D’Aversa said that no area is exempt from the pressures of climate change.
“When we moved to the Finger Lakes, one thing that I learned is that no place is immune to climate change. We have to be resilient as growers”
Ria D’Aversa
“When we moved to the Finger Lakes, one thing that I learned is that no place is immune to climate change,” D’Aversa said. “We have to be resilient as growers.”
As climate changes the dynamics of wine production in the region, D’Aversa said that adaptation and flexibility are key to the future success of winemaking in the Finger Lakes region.
“I think we will battle extremes, whether it’s frost and the springtime or heavy rains,” D’Aversa said. “And we just want to make sure that our vineyards are as adaptable as possible.”
By Eirian Huang
Eirian Huang is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. They can be reached at ehh56@cornell.edu.
Like clockwork, a new semester means a new business in Ithaca has opened its doors, and perhaps as predictable as a squirrel eating an acorn, that new business is a coffee shop. While there is no shortage of good coffee in downtown Ithaca, coffee shops are no longer just a place to grab your favorite overpriced drink. They symbolize the perfect ambience for studying, chatting, and relaxing in the midst of spring semester madness.
Located at 154 E State St. and open every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Bank Coffee is the latest addition to the commons. After a brief stint at a location just an hour away in Cincinnatus, Bank Coffee opened its doors in Ithaca in the beginning of January. In addition to an extensive menu, there is an impressive display of various cakes and pastries, making Bank Coffee a standout amongst its competitors in the local coffee shop scene. Alongside regular espresso drinks, Bank Coffee also offers several flavors of crepes and an extensive specialty drink menu, including options like a chocolate orange latte or a matcha mojito. The prices were on the expensive side, ranging from $5.00 for a regular latte to $7.75 for some specialty drinks, but still on par with the other coffee places in town.
“Nowadays, a café’s ambiance is almost as important as the quality and flavor of its drinks.”
Eirian Huang ’26
Upon walking into Bank Coffee, my friend and I were greeted by the smell of espresso and the sound of a café filled to the very last seat. After careful consideration of the decadent food and drink options offered by the menu, I ordered the Iced Shaken Espresso, while my friend opted for the hot Pistachio Latte. After tipping, I paid a total of $6.71 and my friend paid $7.25 – definitely on the higher end of what I usually want to pay for coffee, but not totally unreasonable. Despite it being very busy and only one person working the coffee bar, the service was quick, with us receiving our drinks within minutes.
The Pistachio Latte puts a unique and fresh twist on your average cup of coffee, with the mixture of espresso and pistachio syrup making for the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. Served with a generous mountain of whipped cream and crushed pistachio bits, the drink had a rich, nutty flavor. Despite a definite presence of pistachio, this drink still leaned on the sweeter side, creating
a well-balanced sip and multilayered drink all around. Whether you’re looking for a boost of warmth and comfort in these treacherous Ithaca conditions or wanting to simply try something new, the Pistachio Latte is definitely worth a try!
My own drink, the Iced Shaken Espresso delivered a satisfyingly foamy texture to complement its strong, smooth espresso flavor. This was my first shaken espresso I have tried outside of Starbucks, and I was pleasantly surprised by the well-rounded texture profile of the drink. However, it was also a bit too sweet for my liking. Despite this, though, I was able to enjoy and finish my drink.
Nowadays, a café’s ambiance is almost as important as the quality and flavor of its drinks. Bank Coffee’s interior is spacious and well-organized, making for an overall comfortable space for a casual conversation or much-needed study time. The shop was bright and clean, and it had a good assortment of seating options, with a mix of standard tables as well as high-chair seats filling the space. However, I found the atmosphere to be somewhat sterile, lacking some of the details needed to make a truly cozy café setting; some details shaped the environment into more of a hangout spot than a study space, with the art being colorful and modern and the music predominantly 2010s pop. For me, these factors contributed to an overall imbalanced environment.
Compared to Ithaca’s coffee mogul Gimme!, Bank Coffee’s quality is not as high, and the shop focuses more on its breadth specialty drinks rather than perfecting each cup of coffee. However, it’s still worth a visit, especially if you’re getting bored of an average coffee order and want to try something new. I look forward to returning to try another speciality drink and some of their desserts, as Bank Coffee is also currently the only location in Ithaca’s downtown with crepes on its menu. Overall, Bank Coffee’s strengths are a fun, seasonal menu with a range of options for coffee snobs and non-coffee drinkers alike. The availability of seating options also makes it a solid option for studying or catching up with a friend. Ultimately, whether this newcomer to Ithaca’s already competitive coffee scene will become a staple for the com
remains to be determined.
By Richard Ballard
Richard Ballard is a sophomore in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He can be reached at rpb233@cornell.edu.
Artificial intelligence isn’t new. The term “artificial intelligence” was first coined in 1956 during a summer research session at Dartmouth College. Since then, AI has gone through cycles of innovation and stagnation, but it wasn’t until the late 2010s that generative AI — capable of producing human-like text — gained traction. Now, tools like ChatGPT, with over 10 million paying subscribers, have turned academic integrity on its head.
At Cornell, one of the most academically rigorous universities in the world, students feel immense pressure to perform. The affordances of AI could provide relief — streamlining assignments, brainstorming ideas and refining prose — but university policy makes it clear: representing AI-generated content as one’s own work is a violation of academic integrity. The ethical implications are similarly murky. If AI helps with structure and word choice, is that cheating? Where’s the line between assistance and deception? To help navigate these questions, I spoke with Professor Claire Wardle in the Department of Communication, who has worked for organizations like the BBC and the UN before returning to academia. “I think it’s really important that students know how to use ChatGPT,” she said. “But there’s a difference between using it to double-check your writing and grammar versus submitting something entirely AI-generated.”
For professors like Wardle, the concern is less about policing AI use and more about adapting to it. “I don’t want a statement in my syllabus that says you can’t use AI,” she explained. “What I want is for students to say, ‘I’m using this AI in these ways and this is how I’m reflecting on my use.’” Anonymous student responses suggest that AI is already woven into academic life. “I use ChatGPT to generate outlines for my essays. It helps me get past writer’s block,” said Anonymous ’26. “I’ll be honest — I’ve pasted entire prompts into AI and turned in lightly edited responses,” admitted another student, from the Class of ’25. “Sometimes it just feels easier.”
Professors aren’t oblivious to this reality. According to Wardle, faculty members can often tell when a student submits AI-generated work. “There are obvious tells,” she said. “If it’s too polished, too bland, or uses phrasing that doesn’t match how students talk in class, it’s a giveaway.” Detection tools like Turnitin claim to flag AI-generated content with high accuracy, but Wardle believes the more sustainable solution lies in assignment design. “Just saying ‘Don’t use AI’ is like telling someone to eat salad when their house is full of chocolate,” she said. “You have to design assignments where AI use doesn’t make sense — like asking students
to apply course concepts to recent events or making them annotate an AI-generated first draft, explaining why it’s weak.”
The broader conversation around AI and academia extends beyond cheating. Wardle pointed out that AI has accessibility benefits, like generating transcripts for students with disabilities or simplifying complex research papers. But these benefits come with environmental and ethical costs. “Is making AI-generated memes a good use of environmental resources?” she asked. “We also have to be mindful of how much energy these systems consume.”
AI is evolving fast and universities need to keep up. “In five years, we’re going to have to rethink how we teach,” Wardle said. “Why should students read dense academic texts when AI can summarize them? Why attend lectures when AI can generate engaging, customized videos on the same topic? We have to redefine what it means to learn in this new era.”
For now, the conversation needs to shift from punishment to adaptation. “It’s not just about catching people who cheat,” Wardle emphasized. “This technology exists. How can we use it to enhance learning? How can we design assignments that make AI a tool, not a shortcut? It has to come from both sides.”
To test the ability of AI in generating work, the Lifestyle Department delivered the prompt “make a photo of a student asking ChatGPT a question, to write their paper” to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The assessment was that ChatGPT had a hard time creating specific words in the photo, making a scramble of letters appear on the students screen. The platform also added details that you would not commonly expect in a normal photo, such as a robot placed behind the students laptop. Regardless, the picture gives you a general glimpse into what a student might experience when using AI as an academic tool. The scrambled gibberish on the screen displays the imperfections of AI in students’ work. This visual experiment serves as a reminder that while technology can support students, it can’t replace the critical thinking and personal effort that define academic work as a whole. As education continues to evolve, the challenge is to strike a balance — using tools to enhance productivity without losing the human element that makes learning meaningful.
More about Cornell University’s Artificial Intelligence guidelines are available across several websites, but for each professor, these rules may vary. As students continue to integrate AI into their studies — sometimes transparently, sometimes not — professors must decide whether to fight the tide or learn to swim. One thing is certain: AI isn’t going away and education is changing whether universities are ready or not.
By JEREMIAH JUNG Sun Staff Writer
Editor’s note: This article mentions alleged rape and sexual misconduct.
Feb. 13 — After a six-year-long legal battle, Cornell University has reached a confidential settlement with Mukund Vengalattore, a former Cornell physics professor, regarding a Title IX lawsuit that has drawn significant attention within the academic community.
The dispute began in 2014 when a graduate student accused Vengalattore of rape and sexual misconduct, alleging an undisclosed two-year consensual sexual relationship and inappropriate behavior. Although Vengalattore consistently denied these allegations, his request for tenure was denied without a hearing.
The New Civil Liberties Alliance — a civil rights group that aims to “protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State” — represents Vengalattore and filed the lawsuit in 2018 against Cornell and the U.S. Department of Education. The complaint primarily contended that Cornell violated Vengalattore’s Title IX rights and constitutional right to due process, pointing to several significant procedural flaws.
For one, the lawsuit alleges that Vengalattore was not informed of the allegations against him for months after they were raised, and numerous unrecorded conversations between the accuser and the investigators were held, leaving Vengalattore with the burden of proving a sexual relationship did not occur. Even after he was finally informed of the accusations, Vengalattore was denied counsel during interviews.
The complaint also maintains that investigators for the University ignored witness testimonies, prevented cross-examination of the accuser and ultimately imposed a two-week suspension without a hearing, after which Vengalattore’s academic appointment employment at Cornell ended in June 2018. He attributed his denial of academic appointments and laboratory access at other institutions to what he described as a false narrative.
The legal complaint implicates the U.S. Department of Education as well, saying that Cornell, under pressure from the department’s Title IX and Sex Discrimination guidelines, was coerced into adopting policies that undermined due process protections for accused individuals, instead siding with the accuser.
The district court initially dismissed the case, but upon appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit partially reversed this decision in 2022, allowing the lawsuit to proceed against Cornell while excluding the U.S. Department of Education.
By ISABELLA PAZMINO-SCHELL Sun Staff Writer
Feb. 14 — Rep. Josh Riley (D-N.Y.) has introduced the Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act, a bipartisan bill that supports family farmers by mitigating the financial toll of avian flu outbreaks and stabilizing grocery prices.
The bill comes as counties across Upstate New York battle the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza — also known as bird flu — a disease that poses a serious financial risk to poultry farmers. The virus spreads rapidly among birds, requiring farmers to cull entire flocks to prevent further outbreaks, which can result in massive losses in production and supply chain disruptions. Even farms without confirmed infections face financial consequences, as those within designated control zones are placed under restrictions that can prevent them from restocking flocks or selling poultry products for months.
Under current regulations, only farms with confirmed positive cases receive compensation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, leaving neighboring farms that are affected by restrictions without aid. The proposed legislation would expand eligibility, ensuring all impacted farms receive financial relief.
“When a crisis hits, we can’t leave family farmers behind while big corporations drive up your grocery prices and their profits,” Riley wrote in a press release. “I’m proudly leading this bipartisan effort to ensure that when avian flu strikes, every
affected farmer gets the support they need to keep their businesses running and keep prices down.”
Currently, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service offers financial assistance to poultry farms with flocks that are officially designated as affected, suspected or exposed to bird flu. Under the current system, farms located in federally designated control areas often do not qualify for compensation if their flocks remain uninfected. They are, however, still required to comply with strict movement restrictions and operational limitations, which can lead to significant financial strain.
David Fisher, president of the New York Farm Bureau, underscored the importance of timely indemnity payments.
“The provision of indemnity payments to poultry growers and layers located in control areas adds a much-needed layer of protection for these farmers,” Fisher wrote in a press release. “When situations like HPAI arise, it’s critical that farmers not only get compensation pay, but that they receive it on a timely basis.”
The bill has already gained bipartisan backing in both chambers of Congress, with an identical version introduced in the Senate by Chris Coons (D-D.E.) and Roger Wicker (R-M.S.). It has also received strong endorsements from agricultural organizations, including the New York Farm Bureau Federation, The National Chicken Council and the United Egg Producers.
“We have not received any opposition from organizations or lawmakers at this time,” wrote Kevin Porter, a spokesperson for Riley’s office, in a statement to The Sun.
Riley’s bill has drawn bipartisan support from both sides of the aisle, aligning with broader efforts to protect small and mid-sized farms. The initiative follows Riley’s first sponsored bill, which focused on lowering energy costs for low-income households.
The bill is expected to be debated in committee hearings in the coming weeks. If passed, the HPAIA could provide critical relief to New York farmers struggling to recover from avian flu outbreaks while preventing further price hikes for consumers, helping to stabilize food supply chains.
Following the denial of Cornell’s motion for summary judgment, or a motion to end a case without a trial, the parties reached a “favorable settlement,” according to a Feb. 6 statement released by the NCLA.
“Because Dr. Vengalattore stood up for his rights, the Second Circuit held Title IX applies to intentional gender discrimination against faculty, too, and universities must now think twice before following future bad federal Title IX guidance,” wrote NCLA President Mark Chenoweth in the statement.
This case is not an isolated incident at Cornell. In 2018, the University withheld the Ph.D. of one of Vengalattore’s students due to an outstanding Title IX allegation against them. The complaint, which was lodged by Vengalattore’s accuser, alleged that the Ph.D. candidate retaliated against them for making the sexual misconduct report. 19 Cornell Law School professors criticized the University’s decision, urging the administration to dismiss the complaint and award the degree.
Cornell Media Relations declined to comment on the outcome of Vengalattore’s Title IX lawsuit against the University.
$18.7M
The status category was the most prominent in the database, with 3,160 grants categorized using keywords and phrases like “Underrepresented + Underrepresentation” and “Minority + Minorities.”
17 Cornell projects were labeled under the social justice category, which “funded projects aiming to force left-wing social justice perspectives into scientific disciplines,” the investigation states. Keywords and phrases for the social justice category include “Equity + Equitable” and “Inclusive + Inclusion + Inclusivity + Inclusiveness.”
Five projects were included in the gender category, flagged by keywords and phrases like “Women and Underrepresented” and “LGBTQ + LGBT.”
“These grants went beyond attempts to provide opportunities to increase female participation in science,” the investigation states, regarding grants classified under the gender category. “Many projects treated success as a zero-sum game, asserting either white men or other populations—but not both—could be successful in STEM, and presumed that white men were explicitly keeping other communities from accessing STEM learning.”
To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.
Julia Senzon can be reached at jsenzon@cornellsun.com.
By EMMA ROBINSON Arts & Culture Writer
As an avid reader, I have consumed countless books of all forms. From hardcovers to paperbacks, and Kindle to audiobooks, I have accumulated strong opinions regarding which format is the best.
Starting with tried and true physical copies of books: I love to collect the print versions of all my favorite reads but I tend to view them more as collector items than something I actually sit down and read. The only time I tend to devour the physical copy of a book is when I am on vacation.
Nothing beats sitting on the beach and reading a floppy pint-sized paperback romance or snuggling by the fire on a wintery night at a ski lodge with a nice fantasy tome.
However, day to day, I leave my physical book copies to gather dust on my shelves. As a college student, lugging around another item in my
already heavy backpack is just not happening. If I were to commit to bringing a book to read in my time between classes, I would definitely opt for a small paperback as opposed to a hardcover, just to save space and weight during those long treks to class. If I am going to sit down and read for extended periods of time, I also tend towards paperbacks as they are easier to bend and flip through. I do have to note that hardcovers are useful if I need to annotate a book, but I rarely do this.
Some monstrous books are even too long to read as paperbacks. I am specifically thinking of Sarah J Maas’s Kingdom of Ash or A Court of Silver Flames which take a great deal of effort to even hold. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I actually despise those little romance books you can find at your aunt’s house. The font size is just too small and I find myself getting a headache about fifteen minutes into the read. Any book with a difficult to read or small font is not winning for me. As far as digital copies of books, I am
a proud subscriber to Kindle Unlimited. When I was younger, I had an actual Kindle that I would use to read. However, along the same lines as carrying around physical books, I am reluctant to add another device to my daily load. The Kindle is also just another device that requires charging. With the lack of charging ports in my room, this is just not feasible. However, I am a big fan of the Kindle app on my phone. The platform has a lot of popular books for free or cheap and you are able to change the font size very easily. When comparing the Kindle app to the Apple Books app, I find the Kindle app offers a greater variety. The Apple Books app does offer audiobooks which is nice. Both apps allow for book sharing, whether that be through family Apple IDs or by sharing your Kindle login.
To continue reading, visit www.cornellsun.com.
Emma Robinson is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at erobinson@cornellsun.com.
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Feb. 18 — Three hundred burger orders in one night at the smpl Burger food truck marked a milestone for self-appointed “chief burger officers” Jean Salamoun ’25 and Ali Haroon ’27.
After sitting through lectures and submitting homework during the day as full-time students, Salamoun and Haroon shift from the classroom to the food truck twice a week, where they begin work at 6 p.m. and head home at 3:30 a.m.
At the end of the fall semester, the truck faced a rush of business after a year of burger-selling and events — selling 300 burgers in a single night, which is double or even triple the amount they sold at the start of their career, Salamoun said.
“That [night] was cool.
“There are a lot of fun things we want to do that are yet to come.”
Jean Salamoun ’25
It showed us we had the right team and what the next steps are to get that many burgers in one night [again],” Salamoun said. “It showed us the potential of reaching 500 burgers in those hours.”
The student-run business, founded in 2023 by underclassmen entrepreneurs, adds burgers to the Collegetown nightlife scene from a bright red food truck. Business students Salamoun and Haroon flip and sell burgers in the truck beside local bars Hideaway and Level B on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The mid-
week rush may catch students traveling to and from Level B for its Wednesday gallon fishbowl drink special.
The truck’s late hours serve to end their customers’ nights of partying — or studying — on a high note with good food, Salamoun said.
“[The joy of the job] is seeing people try our burgers and putting a smile on their face,” Salamoun said.
smpl Burger began from an unsatisfied burger craving. One night, co-founders Salamoun and master of engineering student Karim Pareja ’24, said they wanted a “really good burger” on campus but found themselves out of luck and out of burgers.
“‘I can make a burger,’” Salamoun recalled saying in reaction to the bind. That day, Salamoun, Pareja and their friends took matters into their own hands and flipped a batch of burgers for themselves which set smpl Burger in motion.
In November 2023, smpl Burger earned $2,000 in funding through Cornell’s Hospitality Pitch Deck Competition, where student start-ups compete for funding. They placed second out of 29 competing start-ups.
“What’s fun about [our business] is we just try things and we see whether they work or not,” Salamoun said. “It’s still pretty scrappy. It’s still a start-up. There are a lot of fun things we want to do that are yet to come.”
Haroon took a leadership role in smpl Burger after Pareja completed his undergraduate degree and stepped back from the business in Spring 2024. Pareja said he continues to love and support the “bootstrapping” business but does not participate
By LILY KANGAS Sun Contributor
Feb. 14 — Ahead of Valentine’s Day, over 5,000 Cornellians eagerly registered for Perfect Match in hopes of finding love.
Every year, the matchmaking system uses a comprehensive algorithm developed by students. Participants complete a survey listing a variety of personal preferences and character traits to find their perfect match.
The program has been matching thousands of students since 2019, when it was developed by Jamal Hashim ’22 to lift spirits and reduce isolation on campus. However, last year, the team behind Perfect Match was met with threatening messages by students outraged by a six-hour delay in matches due to the high number of survey responses.
in its everyday operations anymore.
smpl Burger’s brand and worth ethic are “spontaneous” and “ambitious,” Haroon said. In terms of the food, he said that eating the burgers may be his favorite part of the business.
“Even if we’re not [open and] selling burgers, I want a burger,”
“Even if we’re not [open and] selling burgers, I want a burger.”
Ali Haroon ’27
Haroon said with a laugh. smpl Burger’s menu is simple — so simple that the brand’s name doesn’t require vowels, Salamoun said. They offer two items: burgers and fries.
The smpl Burger crew spreads the love for the American staple food around Collegetown. Along with Salamoun and Haroon manning the truck, they said that sometimes their friends and peers — from engineering students to students on the pre-med track — hang around the truck just to try flipping a burger.
The co-founders said their “goal is [to open] 100 locations in other college towns” around the United States. However, right now, with their one location in Ithaca, Salamoun said that being a part of the Cornell community is important.
“We want to be a big part of Cornell’s culture,” Salamoun said. “It would be really sick if when people think ‘Cornell,’ they automatically think ‘smpl Burger.’”
This year, the team took many steps to improve participants’ experiences with the program, including altering their algorithm.
“The algorithm team is working very hard and refining the algorithm to produce a more efficient matching system,” said Kelly Hong ’27, Perfect Match’s business team lead, in an interview during the development process.
According to Hong, the team also took on a larger-scale rebranding, including major updates to their website and event agenda. These changes began last year, with the introduction of the new “crush” feature, which increased the likelihood of students being matched with crushes.
“You can nudge your crush through the perfect match website,” Hong explained. With this new feature, Perfect Match sends emails to students telling them they should fill out the form since they “have a secret admirer” when another user inputs their name or NetID.
If a crush also indicates you as their crush, you will automatically be on each others’ match list.
Another feature added this year is the “poke” feature. When you receive your matches, you will also receive a “match card” with information about your matches, such as their guilty pleasure or green flag. In order to unlock this information for a given match, par-
ticipants must “poke” their match back — demonstrating interest. That match then gets an email informing them that they were “poked” and by whom.
“It’s another great way for people to get in touch with their matches and facilitate the process of reaching out,” Hong said.
Students have been enjoying this year’s new perks. Santiago Alonso ’27 called the poke feature “pretty cool,” describing how he thought it would encourage connection. “The thing we didn’t really want to do last year was actually reach out to people,” Alonso said.
The Perfect Match team also incorporated engaging promotion tactics, such as their PM x Level B nights, where students wear color-coded wristbands indicating their relationship status.
“It’s another great way for people to get in touch with their matches and facilitate the process of reaching out.”
Kelly
Hong ’27
The team is also working to create a more inclusive platform, catering their matchmaking system to include LGBTQ+ students. They hosted an event at Lot 10 earlier this semester tailored to queer students.
“We hosted drag queen shows and had a really great turnout,” Hong said. “We really care about being invited to and expanding the platform among LGBTQ+ students.”
The team is excited to see what the future holds for Perfect Match. “With our completely new branding and expanded in-person events, our end goal is for the Perfect Match experience to be a really fun, unique college memory, long term and short term,” Hong said.
Lily Kangas can be reached at lak267@cornell.edu.
By ZEINAB FARAJ Sun Staff Writer
Feb. 17 — On Feb. 2, 2023, Jackson Marko woke up and got ready for a normal day as a freshman at Cornell University.
Little did he know that at around 3 p.m., he would receive an email that would lead to the opportunity of a lifetime. Baseball head coach Dan Pepicelli was offering him the chance to stand in as a catcher for the Division I baseball team in the bullpens, amid injuries on the team.
After Marko’s first practice with the team that night, Pepicelli would offer him a roster spot.
In around six hours, Marko had transitioned to being a member of the varsity baseball team, after just one crucial season on Cornell Club Baseball.
Christian Brothers Academy to Cornell Club Ball
In high school, Marko played baseball for Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse. CBA was ranked No. 1 in its section in 2022, Marko’s senior season. However, Marko was the backup to another catcher from his year, Louis Percival, who was the best hitter for their section their senior year. Percival would go on to sign and play Division I baseball for Siena College.
“My coaches used to say ‘We are going to find a way to get you in this lineup because you are a better catcher than 90 percent of the teams we play,’ but it was just so difficult to find playing time with a guy that was so talented and in my year,” Marko said.
This presented Marko with a challenge — he gained experience playing with a competitive team but was not able to truly make a name for himself. But to Marko, playing time was not his top priority.
“I don’t think I was necessarily unheralded, but I do not think any college coach in the country would have heard of me, since I did not have any crazy stats or film,” Marko said. “But in reality, I cared about establishing a winning culture for the team.”
Marko was named team captain his senior year and won the John P. Durkin Award for sportsmanship, leadership and character.
At the end of his senior year, Marko accepted his offer of admission to Cornell. Marko currently studies biology and society in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, pursuing a pre-medical track. Marko explained how he chose to attend Cornell due to its academic rigor rather than its baseball opportunities.
Still, Marko joined Cornell Club Baseball as a freshman, determined to continue playing the sport he loved. He described that he had fun playing throughout the fall 2023
season while also finding monumental success as he led the nation in batting averages across club baseball.
The Email of a Lifetime
After wrapping up the fall ball season in his freshman year, Marko returned to his hometown with his baseball gear in tow. But when he returned for the spring semester, Marko forgot to bring his gear back.
His father, Matthew Marko, planned to drive his son’s gear back to Ithaca a few days before the club spring season would begin but luckily happened to come up earlier due to a work meeting being canceled.
The very same day his father brought his gear down, Marko received the email that would shake up his entire college experience.
In the email, Pepicelli informed Marko that the Division I baseball team had “a couple injuries” and needed someone to come out and “catch some bullpens” during practice.
“Initially I was just thrilled at the opportunity to play baseball, and to do it with that group of guys was a blessing,” Marko said. “Coach [Pepicelli] said nothing about walking on or getting a roster spot but I was not even thinking about that, I just wanted to go out there and play baseball.”
The email came at around 3 p.m., according to Marko, and he was already at his first practice being introduced to the team by 5
p.m.
“We needed someone that had an eye for and knowledge of the game,” Pepicelli said. “I found Jackson’s name and I reached out to him, but you really never know how someone is going to adapt with the other guys — not just the talent gap but also the chemistry that the team already had.”
Pepicelli explained that his players were looking for two things out of Marko: whether or not he would help the team and if he was going to work hard for them. Pepicelli said that after practice, the other players, specifically the pitchers, reiterated that they thoroughly enjoyed having Marko around.
“Our pitchers really liked throwing to him, and they really appreciated him right off the bat,” Pepicelli said. “I remember them saying, ‘Coach, let’s keep this guy around he’s good.’ So that is all I needed to hear, and ever since then [Marko] has been a first-class individual for us and nothing but a blessing.”
Marko said Pepicelli told him he was impressed with what he saw during practice and offered him a roster spot on the team that night — which he happily accepted.
To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.
Zeinab Faraj can be reached at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
By KAITLYN
Feb. 13 — Soup and encouragement fill Thursday afternoons at Sage Chapel during the Soup & Hope speaker series. During the cold Ithaca winter, Janet Shortall, Soup & Hope founder and associate dean of students hoped to foster community through warm conversation over warm food.
Sponsored by Cornell’s Office of Spirituality and Meaning-Making, Human Resources, Cornell Health and Cornell Catering, the series takes place every other Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. at Sage Chapel, running from Jan. 23 to March 27. Open to the public with no registration required, attendees can enjoy a bowl of soup provided by Cornell Catering while listening to inspiring personal stories from selected speakers.
“Our goal each year is to bring people together from across our large campus — from different roles and programs, different communities and identities and different life experiences,” said Joseph Harter, chair of the Soup & Hope planning committee.
Harter highlighted the series’ tradition of amplifying diverse voices — such as Prof. Karim-Aly Kassam Ph.D. ’05, natural resources and the environment, who spoke about finding hope after his sister’s death or Joanne Wang ’24, who discussed how joining a running club impacted her mental health.
Each fall, the planning committee asks the Cornell community to nominate speakers for the series. This year, they received a record 25 nominations.
“We look for speakers who have a personal story to
tell — one that is authentic and vulnerable — a story that provides a unique perspective on the theme of hope,” Harter said, emphasizing that hope can take many forms, including complex and evolving relationships with it.
Among this year’s speakers was Conan Gillis ’21, a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in mathematics. Born with Larsen’s Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting bone and joint development, Gillis requires full-time medical care — a factor that has significantly shaped his academic journey.
“It’s really hard to find and hire nurses — there’s a worldwide nursing shortage,” Gillis said. “When I was thinking about academics, for both [undergraduate] and [graduate] school, it was about where I could go and get medical care, and I’m fortunate and privileged I could get medical care at Cornell.”
As an undergraduate, Gillis was deeply involved in Cornell’s disability community, serving as president of the Cornell Union for Disability Awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now a graduate student and assistant director of the mathematics support center, Gillis described his role as “the best job yet,” as it allows him to work with a broad cross-section of the Cornell population. When reflecting on what hope means to him, he said, “Being hopeful isn’t simply being optimistic when things aren’t going well. Sometimes it’s being stubborn — stubbornly believing that things can be better even if they seem like they can’t.”
Another featured speaker, Thomas Jones ’24 MILR, shared his journey from incarceration to personal and professional growth. Jones, now the Fair Practice Employment Specialist for Cornell’s Office of Human
Resources, recounted how his path took a pivotal turn when his son asked, “Why can’t I stay with you, Dad?” while he was incarcerated.
As he neared his release, Jones focused on education and reuniting with his son. He later attended Rutgers University and committed to setting an example for his son.
At Cornell, Jones became involved with the ILR School and the Restorative Record project, which aids justice-impacted individuals. He now uses his role in human resources to advocate for others facing similar challenges.
“It’s important for others to understand that I’m just like them and not like them at the same time,” he said. “I draw on my lived experiences — whether it be child medical complications, single fatherhood, transitional housing, food instability, emergency foster siblings, incarceration, reentry education services, youth advocacy, [Historically Black Colleges and Universities] education or social services. It’s important to list [them] because there’s a cross-dimension in all of my experiences, yet I will always be a student of life.”
Reflecting on the series as a whole, Harter described Soup & Hope as a space for warmth — both physical and emotional.
“Soup & Hope warms us up each winter in body and soul,” he said. “We hope our event will inspire people to be more present with each other, to set aside time to eat together without their phones and to listen and share each other’s stories.”
Kaitlyn Xia can be reached at kx89@cornell.edu.
The short documentary I Am Ready, Warden produced by former Sun staff writer and magazine editor Keri Blakinger ’14, has been nominated for an Oscar. The documentary follows the Texas death row prisoner John Henry Ramirez through the days leading up to his execution. The film provides the perspective of Ramirez, his son and the victim’s son as they grapple with the reality of capital punishment.
July 19th, 2004, Corpus Christi, Texas. While working the night shift, Pablo Castro was stabbed to death by John Henry Ramirez right outside the Times Market convenience store.
I Am Ready, Warden is not a story looking to prove the innocence of Ramirez. Instead, it’s about his guilt and accepting his reality. Most of all, it’s the different stories throughout the film that make it so powerful. We see the victim’s son want vengeance for his father and try to find it through the death penalty. But we also see Ramirez’s son say goodbye to his father for the last time.
Keri Blakinger ’14 has been writing for The Los Angeles Times since 2023. She covers criminal justice and the Los Angeles Police. She wrote a piece on John Henry Ramirez in 2021 and what death row prisoners can request before they die. Ramirez’s story was brought to the screen by Director Smriti Mundhra and Keri Blakinger as a producer in I Am Ready, Warden. I got the chance to speak with Keri about her involvement with the film and the story of John Henry Ramirez. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Sophia Romanov Imber: What was it like to bring this story you wrote and the interviews you had with John Ramirez, to the screen as a documentary?
Keri Blakinger: Oh man, there are so many ways to answer that. With a lot of reporting, I would go into it typically having some sense of what the story looks like. You have an outline or you have a better sense of where the reporting ends in a lot of cases, but when you’re doing the sort of reporting for a documentary, you’re
intending to watch things unfold in front of you. The story changes as you’re telling it. That means you have a different sort of thinking and structuring process.
But also there are all these things, moments, that I’m not accustomed to thinking about needing to capture. Whether it’s B-roll or even anticipating the amount of time that we need to spend with someone to get a given moment on camera. It’s just not the same with words. Like, if somebody is going to tell me something amazing and central to a story, it might be that I’ve spent three hours with them and I go home and they call me at three in the morning, and that’s when I get that moment. But you can’t do that in film, you need to just stay and be there.
The whole flow of how the reporting and filming work is very different. But it was very fulfilling to be able to report this deeply because even with a lot of longer-form written stories that I’ve done, you still don’t spend as much time with as many characters as you do on film. Despite the fact that [the documentary] is 36 minutes, we have hours and hours and hours of footage. We had multiple trips to Corpus Christi for several days. We have characters that we spent an entire two or three days with who never ended up being in the film. We spent a lot of time with people and got to be on the front lines of this whole process from all sides, which is something that I can’t do as a single reporter. It was pretty amazing to be able to dig this deeply into personal narratives and people’s stories without it being in the scope of a year-long investigative project.
Imber : And you wrote the story about the prison radio channel and the legality of John’s pastor being with him during the execution. Did you still want those parts to make it into the film or was the main focus of the documentary to spend more time with the people and their narratives?
Blakinger : I started paying attention to John because I had been interviewing another guy on death row, and the prison spokesman pulled me aside and said, “Hey, John Ramirez has asked if you can be the reporter who witnesses his execution.” That
was a very unusual request. I’d witnessed executions, but never because someone requested that I do so. And I was intrigued by that, even though I didn’t qualify under the prison rules at that time to be the person to witness that particular execution. So, I put in an immediate request to interview him. I think I interviewed him the next week, and that was the week before he had a scheduled execution date.
From that interview, I wrote a first story about what last choices death row prisoners can make, last words and last rights. And I also wrote the death row radio story. Those were based on one-hour in-person interviews with John. Then after that Smriti [Mundhra] read the death row radio story and was interested in doing something off of that, and we ended up focusing on John.
Initially, the interest had been in John as a redemption story, or as a story about our capacity for forgiveness and redemption, because unlike a lot of the stories that people tell about death row, this was not a case of innocence. This was someone who admitted that he was guilty, and when you accept that the person is guilty, that opens up the door to talk about other things like forgiveness and redemption. Given that this was someone whose faith had become such a central part of him, his story and his litigation, this seemed like a really good case to focus on and explore redemption.
And we initially were focused on him and his family, his pastor and his religious community. We’d also reached out to the victim’s family, but since they hadn’t spoken much publicly, we didn’t have any sense of what they would say or whether they would participate. Certainly, we had no inkling that [the victim’s son, Aaron] would become so central to the point of the film. He agreed to be in the film, and then that’s how we end up getting some of the amazing footage of him in the moments after the execution, sitting with his immediate reaction to it. This ended up allowing us to create a film that explored whether the death penalty actually provides closure in the way that we are often told that it does.
That’s one of the differences with film. You’re watching the events unfold and the story can change as you’re reporting it. That’s a key example of that because we had set out to tell a story that was focused on redemption and forgiveness, and that is still a key tenet of it, but it also became a film that explores whether the death penalty really fulfills its promise of closure to victims’ families.
Imber : That moment after Aaron realizes John was executed, it was a very long pause and I didn’t even know what to do with it. [Aaron’s] perspective became so prominent and it was really interesting to watch unfold.
Blakinger : Yeah, I mean that was an amazing moment that we were lucky to be able to capture.
Imber : It was very interesting to hear him say, “I’m confused right now, I’m not really sure what to do.”
Blakinger : That’s a point in the film where a lot of audiences laugh and I don’t know if it’s like nervous or relief, but it’s like one moment when there tends to be an audible reaction from audiences. I’ve screened this a number of times now and that’s the only point where people like sort of consistently audibly react.
Imber : Because you kind of share his confusion for a moment, you’re like, “Oh, I’m not really sure what I would do either.”
Blakinger : Right, I think that is why people react that way.
Imber : Do you think the film accomplished all of the perspectives, or what was your intention in the film to get people talking about it after seeing it?
Blakinger : I don’t think any film can encompass every perspective. There are family members in both families who either didn’t talk to us or didn’t talk to us on camera. But I think that what [the film] did is provide a look at a perspective that is not represented widely in the media. There’s a sort of specific narrative put forth, an assumption that the death penalty provides closure. That’s not what we set out to do, but I’m very happy that we got to raise those questions and present them to an audience.
Imber : When you talk about creating an impact and how I Am Ready, Warden was presented to an audience and you got to see all these reactions during the screenings, what to you is the most fulfilling reaction or how do you know that you made that impact?
Blakinger : I think for me it’s always hearing how the sources and subjects react. The people who have trusted you with their stories, that you’ve spent a lot of time with, I think their reactions are always the ones that are the most fulfilling or that matter the most to me.
I Am Ready, Warden is available to watch on Paramount+.
By RACHEL CANNATA Arts & Culture Writer
Love is Blind is a reality dating show in which a group of men and women date each other through a wall while sitting in separate rooms called “pods.” Eventually, pairs emerge, and contestants either get engaged or go home, never having seen what the other looks like. Once they are engaged, the couples reveal themselves, the entire group of couples jets off on vacation, and the season ends with the remaining couples’ weddings, where we find out whether they will get married or leave their partner at the altar.
I love trashy TV, and historically, I have loved Love is Blind. I love it when petty drama is blown out of proportion with dramatic music and skewed perceptions about what is normal. However, I’m finding Season 8 to be terrible. It is somehow boring, confusing, and exhausting at the same time. So far, only six episodes have been released, but every one of them takes place in the pods. Typically, the couples have made it out of the pods and to a luxurious vacation by episode four or five. Even though the conversations dragged on, each episode lasting an hour or more, the conversations lacked substance. I felt like I was watching hours of small
TBy RAFAELLA GONZALEZ Arts & Culture Writer
talk, with real discussion sprinkled in. I was counting down the minutes for each episode to be over and wondering when, if ever, the couples would emerge from the pods and reveal themselves.
Usually, there are one or two outlandish contestants — like Leo or Hannah from Season 7 — which keeps things interesting, or at least entertaining. The contestants this season, however, were generally unremarkable and mildly dislikeable. There was neither an endearing love story to root for nor a figurative car crash that I couldn’t look away from. I was just bored.
While I didn’t find any of the contestants particularly interesting, I was still frustrated that so many red flags were being overlooked. One contestant, Ben, revealed to his date that he didn’t vote in the last election and that he likes to stay out of politics, including the Black Lives Matter movement, which his partner, Sara, is particularly passionate about. Sara tells him that she “needs reassurance about the social causes.” Instead of having a real discussion about whether this will be a problem in their relationship, Ben says: “I don’t want you to have any burden … thinking that you have to teach me. Because I do have that motivation to, you know, grow into that and that internal feel-
ing that we do have the same beliefs in these things. And, yes, we will, you know, be on the same side with these things.” Personally, that wouldn’t cut it for me, but within a minute of the episode, following this conversation, the two are engaged.
Similar scenarios happened with several couples. Contestants presented their red flags plainly for all Netflix subscription holders to see; the pair has a fake conversation about it, and in the next scene, they are making a lifelong commitment to one another. Honestly this seemed mostly the result of poor editing. It felt like they wanted to trick me into finding this “drama” dramatic. The most exciting thing that happened was one man had allegedly followed his match on Instagram before going on the show, so he knew what she looked like the whole time. While that’s mildly interesting, it happened in the final minutes of what has been released so far and made out to be the climax of the whole season. Boring!
The first season of Love is Blind aired on Netflix in February 2020 and was alluring because it aimed to counteract the shallowness of other dating shows through its blind concept. The creator, Chris Coelen, noticed “how difficult it is for couples to form a real connection in modern society” and wanted to try something new.
Initially, this gimmick was enough for the show to be interesting, but as the seasons went on, the concept alone was no longer enough to make the show worth watching. Instead, as with so many reality shows, the series became reliant on drama and eccentric personalities to entertain. This is why, I believe, Season 8 is so dull. There was no gripping drama and no one eccentric enough to motivate me to keep watching.
The reason people like myself watch reality shows is to see something you wouldn’t normally see in your actual reality. I watch Love is Blind expecting to meet a bizarre character or witness an overly romanticized love story. Instead, this season gave me boring people and couples that probably shouldn’t be together, both of which I encounter often enough in real life.
I don’t think this is necessarily the end of the Love is Blind glory days. My guess is that after the poor casting choices, the editors tried to piece the footage together into something entertaining. These six episodes, though, could have been three. I sincerely hope the rest of the season is better and, if not, that Season 9 redeems this one.
Rachel Cannata is a senior in the Hotel School. She can be reached at rcannata@cornellsun.com.
From the over saturation of sports romance to formulaic book titles, recent years have led us to the homogenization of literature and it seems to be a vicious cycle. Certain conventions form the backbone of genres and characterize a form of literature for what it is, like the happily-ever-after-contract of romance — when you pick up a romance book, you’re generally expecting an optimistic ending that wraps up with a nice bow. However, it’s gotten to the point where many, if not most new releases, bleed into each other so thoroughly that it’s becoming a problem. A plague to both authors and readers alike.
When I talk about homogenization, I don’t have to look very far to explain it. Just think about the last time you walked into a bookstore: Was there a brightly colored shelf bursting with pink, lilac and yellow spines tucked by the back wall? Welcome to the romance shelf, one of the most easily-identifiable sections in most stores. Now pick out a book. Another. One from the very top, and another from the very bottom. Chances are, most of them feature a happy couple rendered in a cutesy, cartoon art-style or a title in a font that mimics handwriting. Just look at the covers of a few 2025 releases below and you’ll definitely catch a few motifs. Now, let’s turn to the “book blob,” as R.E. Hawley calls it, that the literary fiction shelf has become. Over in the fantasy section, I guarantee the cov -
ers will inevitably turn dark and gloomy. What’s more is that many of them will even have the same kind of title: A blank of blank and blank… Yes, really.
Of course, publishing trends are nothing new. I still remember the shirtless horror that was the romance section of yore, but now, trends have migrated from just covers to in between the pages, to that vital midsection of the book that is supposed to take you on ups, downs, plot twists and interesting character arcs that make the book worth reading. And yet today, even that is formulaic. Stories are losing their individuality in favor of reaching the mainstream market and selling the most copies possible.
If you look at how most books are being marketed online, it all goes back to tropes. You can think of tropes as the modern archetype, almost like stock scenes, characters and relationship dynamics that reoccur in literature: “Oh no! There’s only one bed!” (we all know where that’s going), “but she doesn’t want to lead!” (guess who’s the face of the revolution in the sequel), “Mom? Is that you?” (yeah, they’re about to die).
Tropes have always been around as general story structures, but in the era of online marketing, they’re a punchy and easy way to advertise a book that’s becoming even more common than the good old synopsis. That also means they’re becoming more specific, more recognizable and that audiences are developing preferences for particular ones. Naturally, publishers respond to the demand and release similar stories. But,
as an avid romance reader, there’s only so many variations of the cookie cutter hero who’s unreasonably tall, has dark curly hair, just the right number of tattoos and a secret heart of gold you can read about without it becoming boring. We’re living in a time where there’s a lack of original content because it’s easier to market the stories that can easily fit into the neat boxes of tropes this cycle perpetuates. Take this “trope guide” posted by Elle Kennedy, best selling author.
Publishers and authors know that readers gravitate towards what they already like, here it’s a “tattooed gamer hero” and a “grumpy/sunshine” relationship dynamic, which results in the hyperproduction of the successful recipe being the only thing marketed to readers. It’s an endless loop that discourages originality because of the perception that innovation doesn’t sell as well as tried and true models.
And this strategy has been successful. The bookstore giant Barnes and Noble, after being on a decline for years, is set to open 60 new locations this year alone, getting more books in people’s hands. Anything that gets more people reading, more books hitting the shelves and more ideas circulating can’t be anything but good, yet this system we’re stuck in is limiting the benefits of their increased distribution. I, for one, am tired of looking for new books to read and only being presented with not-so subtle imitations of stories I’ve already read. I’m never sure of the quality of literature I’ll find
within the covers of a book because in the back of my mind, there’s the nagging knowledge that it’s likely being made for massive consumption and not for the sake of art, of making something meaningful. I’m having reading fatigue, or as many readers put it: I’m in a reading slump of unprecedented magnitude.
The thing is, it’s not that there’s no original content out there, it’s just being overshadowed by the marketing giant that is the internet and social media algorithms. If you’re also in what feels like a never ending reading slump and looking to climb out of it, remember that we don’t have to reinvent the wheel of literature to solve this problem. With a little work and some digging you will always be able to find books that are worth the read, stories that you’ll hold dear to your heart for as long as it keeps beating. Bring it back to humanity, to real people with real opinions and not a fabricated one created by the internet. Books are about community, so I encourage you to find one of your own whether it be a book club or just a few friends chatting in your living room. I have friends whose recommendations I trust fiercely, and yes, there have been growing pains and it has taken trial, error and some DNFs (Did Not Finish), but valuable words are worth fighting for. And I’m sure that together, we can wade through this plague.
Rafaella Gonzalez is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at rgonzalez@ cornellsun.com.
By JANE McNALLY Sun Sports Editor MEN’S HOCKEY
NEW HAVEN, C.T. — Before men’s hockey headed east for two critical Ivy League matchups, it had scored a combined 10 goals in its last five games.
It took only two games in 24 hours for the Red to match that.
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Aided by two separate two-goal performances, Cornell cruised to a 5-3 win over Yale on Saturday, earning its first clean ECAC sweep in its third-to-last weekend of play.
“[Yale] is a tough place to win. … It’s a great few points for us,” said head coach Mike Schafer ’86.
Sophomore forward Ryan Walsh netted two goals and three points — his second consecutive three-point game — while junior forward Dalton Bancroft also posted a two-goal performance.
Yale (6-17-2, 5-11-2 ECAC) and Cornell (118-6, 8-6-4 ECAC), did not dress on Saturday, leaving the crease for Pak. Pak was pulled after allowing four goals on 15 shots, while senior goaltender Ian Shane finished the game with 23 saves on 26 shots.
Playing confidently with the lead once again, the Red drew the game’s first penalty as Yale’s Kieran O’Hearn was sent off for tripping 2:52 after Walsh’s tally.
Paired against the worst penalty kill in the NCAA, It was only a matter of time before the power play cashed in — Bancroft cleaned up a loose puck from a Walsh shot and beat Pak on the far side with his backhand. The goal ended a drought for a man-advantage unit that had been unsuccessful in its last 10 attempts.
“[We got] a dirty goal –– that’s one we haven’t gotten in awhile,” Bancroft said. “We need the power play to get going to be successful in playoffs, so hopefully that continues.”
Minutes after a strong penalty kill, Cornell’s power play got a second try late in the period, and the Red held the puck in the offensive zone for nearly the entire duration of the penalty, but the 2-0 score would ultimately hold as the team’s skated for their respective locker rooms.
What the teams did not know was the fivegoal second period that would be in store.
working so hard and we were playing physical. … We created our own luck tonight and the pucks just happened to go in.”
1:38 later, Cornell once again led by two. Pak was pulled after allowing a fourth goal, which came via a sophomore forward Jake Kraft snapshot from the right wing. The goal, marking Kraft’s seventh of the year, was thanks to a lucky bounce off the boards that found Kraft breaking towards the net all alone.
“Obviously it’s great to get a sweep. [It was] pretty convincing this weekend, and it’s great for us to build some confidence going into playoffs,” Bancroft said. “We’re kind of getting our momentum built here, and we know the special group we have.”
Though it took longer than the seven seconds it took the Red to scores against Yale on Nov. 8, Cornell got an early lead.
Fresh off his stellar performance against Brown, Walsh collected a pass from senior forward Ondrej Psenicka and ripped it past Yale’s Noah Pak 3:34 into the contest. The puck deflected off of Pak’s glove and into the net.
Yale’s sophomore goaltender Jack Stark, who had started the last two contests between
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
As quickly as Cornell amassed its lead, it lost it. 1:56 into the second period, the score was tied at 2-2. First it was David Chen, who deflected a centering pass from O’Hearn just 37 seconds after puck drop. Then Donovan Frias lit the lamp with a hard wrister that sailed past Shane, knotting the score.
Desperate to restore the lead, Cornell attacked the Yale offensive zone, putting pressure on Pak and the rest of the d-corps.
Cornell found the third goal it was looking for when Bancroft cleaned up a rebound from sophomore defenseman Hoyt Stanley’s shot, quickly burying it through the five-hole of Pak.
“We’ve kind of had some bad luck earlier in the season where some things might not have been going in,” Bancroft said. “I think we were
After four goals were scored between the two squads in a six-minute span, the Red and the Bulldogs got a brief five-minute break from scoring.
But Cornell resumed things before the halfway mark of the period. It was Walsh once again, collecting his fourth goal of the weekend by batting a puck mid-air into the net. The Walsh tally would cap off the wild middle frame, marking five goals in an 11:33 span.
“I told our guys I was really proud of the way we bounced back [through] adversity, came back and scored the three quick goals in the second period,” Schafer said.
Both team’s caught their breath in the third period, as only one team found the back of the net in the final frame. Yale ultimately crept up
on Cornell in shots, finishing the game with a 26-22 edge, and beat Shane with just three seconds left in the game to make it a 5-3 win for Cornell.
The victory secures six much-needed points for the Red as it battles through a tight race to secure a first-round bye for the ECAC playoffs. Out of town, two opponents ahead of Cornell in the standings lost on Friday, with Colgate losing to Brown in regulation and Dartmouth earning just one point in an overtime loss to St. Lawrence.
“I haven’t looked at the standings for a couple weeks now, I have no idea where [we are]. It doesn’t really matter, it’s more about how we’re playing,” Schafer said. “ I feel like we took a really good step to get back to the kind of hockey we need to play.”
Cornell will be back in action next weekend as it will host Clarkson on Friday and St. Lawrence on Saturday for its final home weekend of the regular season. Puck drop for Friday’s game is slated for 7 p.m. and 6 p.m. for Saturday’s contest.
Jane McNally can be reached at jmcnally@ cornellsun.com.
By ELI FASTIFF Sun Staff Writer
After taking home the program’s seventh ECAC regular season championship the night before in a 6-2 win over Brown, No. 4 women’s hockey struggled to find the back of the net in a 1-1 tie with Yale. The Red tallied an impressive 37 shots on goal, but committed four penalties in the contest. Eventually, the Bulldog power play broke through, forcing the Red to settle for a tie and spoiling Cornell’s senior day celebrations.
In honor of their final regular season game, head coach Doug Derraugh ’91 started five seniors alongside sophomore goaltender Annelies Bergmann, and ten of the 11 rostered seniors dressed for their final regular season contest.
With former Cornell captain and current Seattle Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell ’14 in attendance, the Red got off to a hot start in the opening period. 1:27 into the frame, sophomore forward Delaney Fleming nearly lit the lamp on a wrist shot from the slot, but the puck found the chest of Yale netminder Pia Dukaric. A junior forward Avi Adam breakaway three
minutes into the period also elicited an impressive Dukaric save.
Under duress for much of the opening 20 minutes of play, the Bulldog senior made 17 saves to keep Cornell off the scoreboard. On the other end of the ice, Bergmann had a more relaxed opening period, making just three saves, including one on a breakaway minutes after Dukaric had done the same.
With 2:49 to go in the period, junior forward Georgia Schiff committed the first penalty of the afternoon, but the Bulldogs could not capitalize. The successful penalty kill came on the heels of Cornell’s 2-0 win over Yale on Nov. 8, when the Red killed over nine minutes of Bulldog skater advantages.
The second period started just as the first ended: on the penalty kill. Sophomore defender Piper Grober was called for cross checking early in the frame.
3:58 after Cornell killed off the Grober penalty, the Red got a turn with the skater advantage when sophomore forward Karel Prefontaine drew a holding penalty. While Cornell pressured Dukaric, the nation’s 10th-best power play could not find the back of the net.
Joining the parade of penal-
ties, junior defender Grace Dwyer was sent off for tripping with 6:51 remaining in the period, briefly giving the Yale defense a much needed respite. On the ensuing skater advantage, the Bulldogs threatened to take the lead but Bergmann made a difficult save on a point-blank one-timer from a Yale skater to keep the contest scoreless.
Then, with 22 seconds left in the
Cornell finally solved the Yale defense 5:17 into the final period. The rush up to the game’s opening goal started when junior forward Mckenna Van Gelder broke through the Yale defense to earn a one-onnone opportunity.
However, the Ontario native’s deke attempt on the Yale netiminer failed, leading her to circle behind the net with the puck before passing it back in front of the net. Both a Cornell and Yale skater could not corral the pass, and the puck made its way to the high slot before Grober rifled it into the back of the net.
The assist gave Van Gelder her 20th point of the season.
power play, senior forward Gabbie Rud nearly scored the Red’s second shorthanded goal of the weekend, but a Dukaric glove save denied the Cornell captain.
Just seven seconds after Cornell killed the penalty, the Bulldogs were whistled for tripping giving Cornell its second power play. Again, Cornell threatened to score but could not find its way past Dukaric.
The penalty-filled second period was still mostly controlled by Cornell, but the Red were outshot by the Bulldogs, 8-7.
The Red entered the afternoon having won 16 of the 20 games in which it had led 1-0, and for most of the third it looked like that streak would continue.
Unfortunately for Cornell, the lead would not last. With 3:36 remaining in the final frame, junior defender Alyssa Regalado was sent to the penalty box for interference. Just 24 seconds into the penalty, the Bulldogs finally solved Cornell’s penalty kill and tied the score thanks to a collapse of Cornell’s back line.
While Cornell earned a final power play with 42 seconds remain-
ing in the third period, neither team could find a game-winner in regulation, the 1:18 of Cornell’s 4-3 overtime power play, or the 3:42 of extra three-on-three play.
Cornell could not muster a shootout goal, and the Bulldogs converted to claim the shootout win.
As the 1-1 score showed, both Bergmann and Dukaric were excellent over the course of the afternoon, making a combined 58 saves. Dukaric stole the show with her 36 saves.
Despite the disappointing result, Cornell maintained its weekend gains in the Pairwise. The Red jumped the University of Minnesota the previous night for the third spot in the mathematical rankings which determine NCAA tournament seeding.
Having secured a first-round bye in the ECAC tournament, Cornell will next play on Feb. 28 in the ECAC quarterfinals against the lowest remaining seed. That matchup, the first in a best of three series, will take place at Lynah Rink at a time yet to be announced.
Eli Fastif can be reached at efastif@ cornellsun.com.