INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 128, No. 93
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2012
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ITHACA, NEW YORK
SAE Wants Trial Moved to Ithaca
News Solar Energy
EcoVillage at Ithaca has installed a solar panel array that will offset most of its energy use. | Page 3
Fraternity death details revealed
News Different Spring Break
A group of students will volunteer in Nicaragua over spring break.
By MICHAEL LINHORST Sun Managing Editor
| Page 3
Opinion Intrinsic Value
Ian Cohen ’14 argues in favor of obtaining a liberal arts degree. | Page 9
Arts
MICHAEL LINHORST / SUN MANAGING EDITOR
Forging ties | President David Skorton, left, talks with Peretz Lavie, president of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, before the tech campus announcement in December.
Important Things
The Sun reviews Demetri Martin’s performance at the State Theatre on Thursday. | Page 11
Sports
Orgs.Debate Technion Partnership By SYLVIA RUSNAK Sun Staff Writer
Making History
The men’s squash team had its best finish in a national tournament. | Page 16
Weather Partly Sunny HIGH: 45 LOW: 34
16 Pages – Free
Supported by several professors, a proPalestinian student organization is calling on the University to end its partnership with the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The group alleges that the Technion is implicated in war crimes as a result of its involvement in Israeli military research and development. In response to a petition started by the group online, the Cornell Israel Public Affairs Committee on Sunday posted a thank-you
Two Robberies Reported on West Campus Monday Night Two people were robbed at knife-point on West Campus Monday night, according to a report from the Cornell Police. Although the victims gave different descriptions of the height and attire of their alleged assailant, both incidents occurred at “about 9:58 p.m.” and within 550 yards of each other. In both reports, the suspect was a white male, demanded the victim’s wallet and displayed a knife. Additionally, the first robber was reported to have fled toward the Ithaca City Cemetery — a block from where the second robbery was reported. Still, the first robbery was reportedly committed by a 5’10” man in a “gray hoodie,” while the second robbery was committed by a 6’4” male with a “black coat and a rag on his head,” according to reports made to police. The Ithaca Police Department is investigating the reported robberies. A preliminary search by police Monday did not locate the suspects. Witnesses said the area was swarming with police shortly after the reported incidents. — Compiled by Jeff Stein
letter to University administrators for forging the partnership. The two universities will build a tech campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City over the next 30 years. The petition, written by Students for Justice in Palestine, criticizes the Technion’s relationship with two of Israel’s major defense corporations, Elbit Systems and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It calls the Technion “a full participant in the actions carried out by the Israeli military” that See TECHNION page 5
Gitlin ’13 Unopposed For S.A.Presidency By EMMA COURT Sun Staff Writer
Student Assembly Vice President Adam Gitlin ’13 is running uncontested to be S.A. President for the next year. No other applicants for the position turned in the materials by
As a $25 million wrongful death lawsuit against Sigma Alpha Epsilon and several Cornell students progresses, new details have emerged about the events leading up to the death of George Desdunes ’13 last February. According to documents filed in the lawsuit by Desdunes’ mother, a “noose” was tied around his neck so tightly that it left “ligature marks.” The noose, the documents say, was used in addition to zip ties and duct tape during the pledging event that preceded Desdunes’ death. In a separate development, SAE began pushing earlier this month to move the case from New York City, where it was DESDUNES ’13 filed, to Tompkins County, arguing that many potential witnesses are in the Ithaca area. Desdunes’ mother filed the lawsuit against SAE and several Cornell students in June. The suit seeks at least $25 million in damages. Desdunes, 19, who was a brother in SAE, was found on a couch at the SAE fraternity house on Feb. 25, 2011, and later died at Cayuga Medical Center. The lawsuit claims that after a hazing event in which he was tied up and given alcohol by pledge See DESDUNES page 4
Comedic effect
This is the first time a candidate for president of the S.A. has run uncontested since the opportunity to vote for the position was extended to the entire student body in the spring of 2009, according to Corey Earle ’07, associate director of
“Up until this afternoon, I was planning on having an opponent.” Adam Gitlin ’13 the necessary due date for the position of Monday at noon, according to S.A. President Natalie Raps ’12. Gitlin said that he learned he would run unopposed Monday afternoon. “Up until this afternoon, I was planning on having an opponent and running against someone,” Gitlin said. Gitlin is the brother of Ben Gitlin ’12, the editor in chief of The Sun.
student programs and an unofficial University historian. All three presidents who were popularly elected –– Rammy Salem ’10, Vince Andrews ’11, and Natalie Raps ’12 –– ran competitive campaigns, Earle said in an email Monday. Gitlin said he will still run a campaign in order to remain in touch with the student body’s opinions and needs. See GITLIN page 4
OLIVER KLIEWE / SUN SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Demetri Martin performs at the State Theatre on Thursday as part of his tour, Telling Jokes in Cold Places. Check out Page 11 for The Sun’s review.