INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 136, No. 66
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2020
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ITHACA, NEW YORK
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In the latest Climate Justice Cornell effort, protesters blocked intersections on north and south campus. | Page 3
Columnist Olivia Bono ’20 shares the video game that best captures her postcollege anxieties. | Page 7
A single goal tipped the score in favor of the Red men’s lacrosse team. | Page 12
HIGH: 57º LOW: 48º
Coronavirus Updates S.A. President, Executive Vice President Hopefuls Face Off Professors Trial Online Classes At First and Only Debate As Threat of COVID-19 Looms By ALEX HALE
proposed a Greek life committee to S.A. to play a closer role in the administrative decisions. Candidates pushed the plat- Huang and Chukwukere pushed forms they hope to implement in back, citing the impact that Greek the Student Assembly at a debate leaders were already making on on Monday evening, if voted in campus. When the debate shifted during next week’s elections. Within the walls of a Goldwin toward divestment, all candiSmith Hall auditorium, five dates agreed that the University vote-seekers eyed one of the top should divest funding from fossil two positions on the S.A.: presi- fuel industries. Huang furthered dent and executive vice president. her stance on the issue, adding Issues spanned a range of cam- that she wants to ensure that the pus concerns, from Greek life to University doesn’t use divestment against students. divestment. On the topic of Debate festivities campus mental health began with executive services, Wondimu said vice president for candihe believed Cornell dates Noah Watson ’22 has made major strides and Kirubeal Wondimu through recent reforms. ’22. The debate for presThe main hurdle that ident followed them, as HUANG ’21 the University faces Dillon Anadkat ’21, in its mental health Uchenna Chukwukere reforms is in having ’21 and Catherine enough mental health Huang ’21 presented professionals available their proposals. to students, he added. Watson’s and “We need to see Wondimu’s 20 minANADKAT ’21 how [the University] utes featured platform prioritizes spending pitches, which included on this campus so that discussions on mental instead of constructing health services, S.A. a $60 million Fine Arts diversity and the stuLibrary, they’re hiring dent contribution fee. more mental health For the most part, the CHUKWUKERE ’21 professionals to deal candidates agreed on with systemic problems the issues and tried to differentiate themselves on how to at our school,” Watson said, echoing Wondimu’s sentiment. address them. As the current Transfer Huang, the current S.A. execRepresentative, one of Watson’s utive vice president, advocated for safe and affordable housing and goals is to make on-campus judicial reform on campus in her housing more accessible, particularly for transfer students. On opening statement. Chukwukere, undesignated March 5, the S.A. unanimously at-large representative, addressed passed a resolution, co-sponsored a variety of reforms as part of his by Watson and Huang, that plan — such as eliminating the guaranteed housing for transfer student contribution fee, advocat- students during their first year at ing for Cornell’s divestment from Cornell. Topics of the debate also fossil fuels and creating more genextended beyond the administrader-neutral bathrooms on camtion and campus life, as the canpus. didates debated the accessibility Meanwhile, Anadkat’s proof the S.A. posals advocated for increased “The S.A. lives in a small bubfunding for international student ble, and you can actually see that orientation, Greek life policy in the number of uncontested reforms and helping athletes bal- seats that there are in this elecance sports and school. He also tion,” Wondimu said. “I definitely pressed that, as someone who is do think that there needs to be not an S.A. member, introducing more outreach done on behalf of a “fresh face” could spark the the S.A. toward communities that change he believes the governing are underrepresented.” body needs. On the issue of Greek life, all candidates agreed it needs reform. Alex Hale can be reached at But tension rose when Anadkat ahale@cornellsun.com. Sun News Editor
By ANIL OZA and SHRIYA PERATI Sun Science Editor and Sun Senior Staff Writer
As of Monday noon, New York state has reported 142 confirmed cases of COVID-19. With the number of reported cases on the rise, Cornell professors are bracing themselves for the possibility of class cancellations. According to Jason Molino, county administrator for Tompkins County, there are no cases of COVID-19 in Tompkins County. Despite one individual being under investigation the burden of the virus on the county remains minimal at the moment. These assurances regarding the county come after New York state declared a state of emergency on Saturday. Even before the declaration of a state of emergency Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) allocated $40 million dollars to resources necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As it stands, Tompkins County has not received direct aid, but as the circumstances evolve, this could change in the coming weeks, according to Molino. “We are going to be closing schools for weeks,” See CANCELED page 5
CHANG W. LEE / THE NEW YORK TIMES
COVID-19 | As precautionary measures
against the outbreak, some wear masks as professors cancel classes across campus. Above, pedestrians in Queens, N.Y. wear protective masks on Jan. 29.
N.Y. Gov. Cuomo Unveils $40 Million State of emergency declared to address COVID-19 outbreak By ANIKA POTLURI Sun Contributor
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) announced on Feb. 26 that he would appropriate $40 million in emergency funding to support the New York State Department of Health’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The funds will be used to help the New York State Department of Health hire additional staff, procure equipment and any other resourc-
es necessary to respond to the crisis, now declared a state of emergency in New York. With this declaration, the bill also “permits the governor to issue by executive order any directive necessary to respond to a state disaster emergency.” But the bill drew criticism for expanding the governor’s emergency powers. Assembly member Richard Gottfried (D-N.Y.) said that the bill’s amendment of executive law gives the governor “extensive and almost unlimited affir-
DAVE SANDERS / THE NEW YORK TIMES
New funds | Gov. Cuomo (D-N.Y.) discusses COVID-19 in New York state.
mative legislative power to … waive existing laws and provisions of existing laws.” Still, the emergency funding bill, which will cease to have effect after its April 30, 2021 sunset date, passed the State Senate by a margin of 53-4 on March 2. Although the bill was initially presented and signed as a precautionary measure, COVID19 cases have since proliferated in New York. As of Monday evening, there are 142 positive cases statewide. Ninety-eight of those cases are in Westchester County and two are upstate. Cuomo unveiled one precautionary tool on Monday, announcing that New York will produce and distribute up to 100,000 gallons of alcohol-based hand sanitizer each week. The move drew swift criticism after it was revealed that the liquid would be produced by Corcraft, a state-owned company that relies on prison labor. See FUNDING page 5