4-27-23 entire issue hi res

The Corne¬ Daily Sun

Class of 2023 Convocation Speaker Announced

Actor and comedian Ken Jeong will be speaking to the senior class on May 25 as keynote speaker

By SOFIA RUBINSON Sun Managing Editor

The Class of 2023 can expect a laugh at the Senior Convocation on Thursday, May 25. Actor and comedian Ken Jeong — who starred in the film series “The Hangover” as Leslie Chow and the reality singing competition “The Masked Singer” as a panelist — was announced as the keynote speaker on Wednesday.

Jeong was selected by the student-run 2023 Convocation Committee.

“Ken Jeong was a highly covet ed speaker and, from the beginning, our committee was thrilled about the prospect of having him join the Class of ’23,” said Yasmin Ballew ’23, chair of the committee, in a statement to the Cornell Chronicle.

“Of the many names we discussed, he stood out for his passion, com mitment to advocacy and, of course, his humor.”

Jeong wrote, produced and starred in the ABC sitcom “Dr. Ken,” a show that was based on his experiences in medicine prior to becoming a stand-up comedian. He also planned the role of Ben Chang on the critically acclaimed series “Community” and has acted in the films “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Knocked Up” and “The Duff.”

In addition to his performance career, Jeong is a licensed physician and an

Candidates Express Views in S.A. Forum

began acting while attending Duke University as an undergraduate and later received his M.D. from the University of North Carolina

School of Medicine in 1995. In the summer before attending medical school, Jeong took acting classes at the University of California, Los Angeles.

While a medical student, Jeong was a regular at open mic nights in the Raleigh-Durham circuit. After earning his degree, he moved to Los Angeles to practice medicine while performing regularly at The Improv and Laugh Factory comedy clubs. His stand-up comedy led to his landing small parts in television shows such as “The Office,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and HBO’s “Entourage” before landing larger roles.

Senior Convocation will take place on May 25 at 1 p.m. in Barton Hall for undergraduate graduates part of the Class of 2023. Graduating graduate and professional students, in addition to the current Cornell community, will be invited as space allows.

Students Boost Braille Literacy

Student entrepreneurs developed smart braille glove

By ISABELA WILSON Sun Staff Writer By CHRISTOPHER WALKER Sun Contributor

The candidates for Student Assembly president and executive vice president met to discuss their qualifications and plans for dealing with pertinent issues of the student body in a forum on Tuesday, April 25. Among the discussed topics were student relations with the University Administration, free speech and plans to restore the S.A.’s legitimacy within the student

body. The Q&A-style forum was moderated by Angela Bunay ’24, who is the current editor-in-chief of The Sun.

Presidential Forum

This year’s candidates for S.A. president are Sanvi Bhardwaj ’24, Pedro Da Silveira ’25 and Patrick Kuehl ’24.

Bhardwaj, a health care policy major in the College of Human Ecology, currently serves as the

Two Cornell students have created BrailleWear, a smart glove that aims to improve accessibility and increase braille lit eracy rates among the visually impaired.

BrailleWear was co-found ed by information science student Kushagra Jain ’23 and Nolan School of Hotel Administration student Lyon Li ’23 in 2022. The duo founded BrailleWear under their compa ny ORama AI to develop and manufacture a smart glove that would enable the visually impaired to read braille while also learning how to understand braille code in the process.

The Technology

The smart glove is worn on the user’s right hand. A camera is located between its thumb and index finger, tracking the movement of the index finger as it traces the braille. Computer vision technology is then used to translate and read aloud the braille that was just traced.

“If you traced the word cat, the glove would read out ‘C-A-T cat’,” Jain said. “It’s almost like Google translate which would point at another language’s text and read out the translation — it’s the same for braille. [The

own convolutional neural network architecture, an artificial intelligence technology that is useful for finding patterns in images to recognize objects, which is key in identifying individual braille characters.

Finally, an optimized language model leverages context to fix rare detection inaccuracies. The working model yielded 90 percent accuracy under select

Braille is a universal character set, meaning that the BrailleWear smart glove can be used in many

COURTESYOFKUSHAGRAJAIN'23ANDLYONLI'23

pattern detection uses a pre-existing algorithm called YOLO, which stands for “You Only Look Once.” YOLO has the capability to detect large braille blocks and locate their proximity to the user’s finger. The duo also developed their

“The only [step] that changes is the language model, which can be switched out for any language you’re reading in,” Jain said.

The project was largely influenced by Jain’s experiences while volunteering at an institution for the visually impaired in Bengaluru, India, where he developed a close bond with many of the students. As he continued volunteering, Jain said he was surprised to learn that braille

“Of the many names we discussed, [Jeong] stood out for his passion, commitment to advocacy and, of course, his humor.”

Yasmin Ballew ’23

Presidential pleas | Candidates for Student Assembly president answer questions about their priorities and qualifications in a Tuesday forum.

Sofa Rubinson can be reached at srubinson@cornellsun.com.

Daybook A LISTING OF FREE CAMPUS EVENTS

The Neuroscience of Stress and Rest

3:30 p.m - 4:30 p.m., Virtual Event

Bits on Our Mind Student Showcase

4 p.m - 6 p.m., Duffield Hall Atrium

Leveling the Playing Field in Community Development With Ernst Valery ’00 MPA ’01

5 p.m - 6 p.m., B25 Warren Hall

Alumni Panel: Sustainability Careers in Academia

6:30 p.m - 8 p.m., Virtual Event

Tomorrow

Cornell Dining Open Job Call

9 a.m - 11 a.m., Noyes Community Center

Navigating the Intricacies of Implementing Sustainability in Fashion Design Practice With Galina Mihaleva

10:30 a.m - 11:30 a.m., Virtual Event

Pandemic Politics: The Deadly Toll of Partisanship in the Age of COVID With Shana Gadarian

10 a.m - 11 a.m., 401 Physical Sciences Building

Data and Markups: A Macro Information Frictions Perspective With Laura Veldkamp

11:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., 498 Uris Hall

Study Skills Peer Tutor Consultation Hours

3:30 p.m - 4:30 p.m., 420 CCC Learning Strategies Center

Science and Policy in Public Health With Jacqueline Kitulu

2:40 p.m - 4:35 p.m., G-08 Uris Hall

Annual Service of Remembrance

3:30 p.m - 4:30 p.m., Sage Chapel

Modeling for Sustainability Transition: DecisionSupporting for a More Sustainable Future With Jingzheng Ren

12:25 p.m., 253 Frank H. T. Rhodes Hall

Panel: The Future of Science Communication and Public Engagement

2 p.m - 3 p.m., 102 Mann Library

Simon Levin

James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the director of the Center for BioComplexity at Princeton University

• COVID-19 & Challenges to the Classical Theory of Epidemics

Tuesday, May 2, 4-5pm, 223 Plant Science Building

• Ecosystems & the Biosphere as Complex Adaptive Systems: Scaling, Collective Phenomena & Governance

Wednesday, May 3, 12-1pm, 226 Weill Hall

• Systemic Risk & Opportunity: Alternative Realities in Social & Ecological Systems

Thursday, May 4, 4-5pm, A106 Corson Mudd Hall

MESSENGER LECTURES

The Public is Invited

(607) 273-3606 139 W. State Street, Ithaca, N.Y. Business: For questions regarding advertising, classifeds, subscriptions or delivery problems, please call from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. News: To report breaking news or story ideas, please call after 5 p.m., Sunday-Tursday. (607) 273-0746 www.cornellsun.com sunmailbox@cornellsun.com Business Manager Katie Chen ’24 The Corne¬ Daily Sun INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880 ALL DEPARTMENTS VISIT THE OFFICE Editor in Chief Angela Bunay ’24 SEND A FAX THE SUN ONLINE E-MAIL Postal Information: The Cornell Daily Sun (USPS 132680 ISSN 1095-8169) is published by the Cornell Daily Sun, a New York corporation, 139 W. State St., Ithaca, N.Y. 14850. The Sun is published Tuesday and Thursday during the academic year and every weekday online. Three special issues — one for seniors in May, one for reunion alumni in June and one for incoming freshmen in July — make for a total of 61 issues this academic year. Subscriptions are: $60.00 for fall term, $60.00 for spring term and $120.00 for both terms if paid in advance. Standard postage paid at Ithaca, New York. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Cornell Daily Sun, 139 W. State St., Ithaca, N.Y. 14850.

By JONATHAN MONG and GABRIEL MUÑOZ Sun News Editor and Sun Assistant News Editor

Gabrielle Foreman, the Paterno Family Professor of American Literature and Professor of African American Studies and History at The Pennsylvania State University, will give a talk, titled “Why Didn’t We Know?!: The Forgotten History of the Colored Conventions and 19th-Century Black Political Organizing,” on May 2. The event is part of the College of Arts and Sciences’ annual Krieger Lecture in American Political Culture. The American Studies Program is sponsoring the talk as part of an endowed fund started by Sanford Krieger ’65 and Carol Krieger in 2000.

Foreman is the founding director of the Colored Conventions Project, a digital initiative that collects and documents Black Political organizing efforts in the United States.

In addition to her duties as a professor, Foreman is a MacArthur Fellow –– an award intended to encourage people of outstanding talent to pursue their own creative, intellectual and professional inclinations –– and the founding director of the Colored

By JULIA SENZON Sun News Editor

Penn State Prof. to Discuss Modern Black Political Organizing Change-Makers to Speak at “ Te Future is Now” Event

Conventions Project, a digital initiative that collects and documents Black political organizing efforts in the United States. Her research focuses on literary activism from 19th-century women, particularly looking at the ways in which they engaged in community organizing.

Among rapid technological advances, an accelerating environmental crisis and escalating worldwide conflicts, the news appears to reflect a new reality every day.

The talk will take place at 5 p.m. in Goldwin Smith Hall’s Kaufmann Auditorium.

Foreman is also the director of Penn State’s Center for Black Digital Research, which houses multiple projects committed to bringing the histories of early Black organizing to digital life through a series of collaborative partnerships. Their website features exhibits, historical records and informational videos free of charge for the public.

At a 4 p.m. reception on May 3, Foreman will discuss her latest book, “Praise Songs for Dave the Potter.” The book revisits the legacy of David Drake, recognized as one of the United States’ most accomplished nineteenth-century potters, and the impact of his works on later artists that claim inspiration from him.

Free and open to the public, the talk will take place at 5 p.m. in Goldwin Smith Hall’s Kaufmann Auditorium.

TEDxCornellUniversity’s annual conference, which is themed “The Future is Now,” will feature speakers who are pioneering change in the face of these unprecedented modern challenges.

TED — which refers to technology, entertainment and design — is a non-profit committed to spreading ideas, typically through powerful talks that run for 18 minutes or less. TEDx events include live speakers and recorded TED Talks and are managed independently under a free license granted by TED.

TEDxCornellUniversity’s upcoming “The Future is Now” conference will be one of the over 3,000 independent TEDx events

that are formed around the world each year. The conference will take place on Saturday, April 29 in Statler Auditorium with five talks.

Lior Cole ’23, an IMG model and tech entrepreneur, will discuss how artificial intelligence

ian aid to individuals affected by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Prof. Sarah Evanega M.S. ’03 Ph.D. ’09, plant science, who also leads stakeholder communication at Pairwise — a foodtech start-up — will discuss how biotechnologies can be harnessed to foster a more sustainable and healthy food system. Paul Rose, former vice president of the Royal Geographical Society and an expedition leader on the Pristine Seas team of National Geographic, will discuss our collective responsibility to better the world through science and exploration.

and Web3 can be used in creative endeavors. Rumbi Mangwende ’23 is a student entrepreneur who will discuss how the term “social entrepreneurship” can be used to undervalue minority-run businesses. Mark Kreynovich ’19 and Dillon Carrol ’20 are nonprofit founders who will talk about their experience supplying humanitar-

When asked about the theme “The Future is Now,” Justin Yehuda ’23, who is an organizer on the speaker curation team, explained that the slogan refers to the rapidly changing world.

“I feel like the world — over the last couple of months even — has gone in a crazy direction, especially with the way that technology has improved,” Yehuda said. “‘The Future is Now’ is a celebration of times changing.”

According to Paulina Klubok ’23, who is also an organizer on the speaker curation team, “The Future is Now” had been considered in previous years. However, Klubok noted that the team was particularly inspired by their “Ideas Worth Spreading” series, which featured small write-ups of students’ ideas.

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun. com.

Melos Co. Sells Out Risley Teatre With “Spelling Bee”

By MARIAN

Risley Theatre was buzzing with excitement as Cornell’s Melodramatics Theatre Company performed “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” featuring live music, improvisational

humor and intense spelling challenges.

Founded in 2004, Melodramatics Theater Company is an entirely student-run acting group dedicated to producing high-quality theatrical performances. “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” — Melos’ second production of the

academic year — played sold-out shows on April 20, 21 and 22.

“I really love ‘25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ as a show, and I [think it’s] so perfect for Cornell,” said Tiffany Kumar ’24, who played speller Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre. “A bunch of nerdy overachiever children deal-

ing with the pressures of validation and academic competition? I think

“My approach was very grounded in fleshing out the characters in the show,” Scaperotti said. “It’s easy to make characters of the spellers because they’re silly and awkward, but the show has very deep themes that are easy to overlook if not discussed properly behind the scenes.”

we can all see a bit of ourselves in these characters.”

Premiering on Broadway in 2005, the Tony Award-winning musical comedy follows a diverse group of six preteens vying for the ultimate spelling championship. From type A polyglot Marcy Park (Emily Pollack ’24), to the magical, rasp-voiced William Barfée (Justin Lee ’26), the competitors share amusing tales from their personal lives — all while attempting to correctly spell increasingly challenging words.

First-time director Olivia Scaperotti ’25 led and choreographed the show alongside assistant directors Cameron Howland ’26 and Darby Krugel ’24. Scaperotti said she was eager to put on an equally fun and meaningful performance.

Jana Mildner ’24 — who played the loveable cape-wearing contestant Leaf Coneybear — auditioned for the production because she was drawn to its humorous and heartwarming nature.

“What makes ‘Spelling Bee’ so special is how the cast is truly an ensemble, while still highlighting each character’s story individually,” Mildner said. “I think every speller learns from one another, and that is a dynamic that isn’t directly written into the script, but is discovered by the actors.”

The comedic two-act show included spelling-related jokes and ad-libbed quips.

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

“I feel like the world — over the last couple of months even — has gone in a crazy direction.”

Justin Yehuda ’23

TED talk | Karin Sternberg, visiting lecturer at Cornell, discusses the secret to happiness in romantic relationships at her TEDxCornell debut.

MING DEMERS / SUN ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Jonathan Mong can be reached at jmong@cornellsun.com.

Gabriel Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@cornellsun.com.

Julia Senzon can be reached at jsenzon@cornellsun.com.

Marian Caballo can be reached at mcaballo@cornellsun.com.

“It’s easy to make characters of the spellers because they’re silly and awkward, but the show has very deep themes.”

Olivia Scaperotti ’25

CABALLO

Sun Assistant News Editor

Busy as a bee | Tiffany Kumar ‘24 performs as speller Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre in Melodramatics Theatre Co’s spring production “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” which played four sold-out shows.

ANTHONY CORRALES / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Rockonwith TeCornellDailySun

Student-Developed Smart Glove Boosts Braille Accessibility

page

was inaccessible to many of his mentees.

“A large number of them did not know braille,” Jain said. “When I spoke to other teachers, they told me about how important it was to know braille — they compared [knowing braille] to being literate for non-visually impaired people.”

Inspired, Jain conducted his own personal research and found alarmingly low braille literacy rates in India, as expenses prevented families from being able to afford braille lessons. He also discovered that 90 percent of the visually impaired in the United States are unable to read braille, due in part to a federal law that mandated people with disabilities be taught in public schools, eliminating many schooling facilities specifically for visually impaired students.

May 10

Entrepreneurial Duo Jain and Li developed their partnership while studying abroad together at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. There, they developed a method for technologically identifying braille patterns without coming into physical contact with them and subsequently became the first undergraduates to win the 2022 Parmee Prize at Pembroke College Cambridge, a prestigious annual entrepreneurship competition.

Jain and Li continued developing BrailleWear upon their return to Cornell. In the fall semester, they were one of 28 teams chosen for the University’s eLab, a student start-up accelerator that prepares projects for launching and pitch-

ing to potential investors. Jain, a student in the College of Arts and Science’s Milstein Program in Technology and Humanity, also developed his ideas with assistance from the program.

The smart glove’s first working model was developed in November 2022. Since then, Jain and Li have been working to spread awareness about the product in visually impaired communities and related institutions.

“Almost every blind person that we’ve spoken to has expressed that learning braille has been tough and that they would be very interested in using this technology,” Li said. “However, most requests for the glove [have been made] through institutions which will then further distribute the product to the individuals themselves.”

The start-up has garnered national and international recognition. The duo showcased BrailleWear at the 2023 Consumer Technology Association’s Consumer Electronic Show, one of the largest consumer tech shows in the world, where they were named Innovation Award Honorees for Accessibility. They were also recently awarded the Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research Grant, a National Science Foundation program that funds research and development.

BrailleWear has also attracted the attention of investors. Roger W. Ferguson Jr., former Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve and current board member at Google, became aware of the start-up during its presentation at Cambridge’s Parmee Prize, where he was a visiting professor.

“I found the technology very interesting [with its] ability to bring the artificial intelligence, camera and glove together,” Ferguson said in an interview with The Sun. “There was also a great social purpose, which I found very compelling.”

Ferguson has assisted Jain and Li by offering networking opportunities through Google’s accessibility department and his monetary support.

“I’ve gotten a great deal [out of my involvement] in terms of getting to know [Jain and Li] and learning the challenges that young entrepreneurs face while trying to maneuver from a great idea to a product,” Ferguson said.

Jain and Li have ambitious plans for BrailleWear’s future. They are open to offers from prospective investors and wish to establish connections with more institutions for the visually impaired.

“Our short-term goal is to make a good, functional product that blind people will enjoy using and will help them overcome that barrier,” Li said. “Our long-term company mission is to teach one million [visually impaired] individuals braille. We’re hoping that 90 percent of blind individuals do know braille in 10 to 20 years from now due to our technology.”

Student Assembly Candidates Vie for Voters

President and executive vice president candidates discussed campus issues, campaign goals at Tuesday forum

Human Ecology representative and chair of the S.A.’s student health advisory committee. Their main concern is creating a more equitable and safe campus, which they aim to do by pushing for an on-campus basic needs center, reforming the Title XI process and disarming CUPD, among other actions.

“I’m running because I want to make Cornell a better place for all, not just a select few. Cornell is really struggling,” Bhardwaj said. “This is a Cornell where people’s basic needs aren’t met. A Cornell where people are struggling with food insecurity, homelessness [and] the lack of access to healthcare. … Survivors aren’t believed right now, [and] marginalized students feel like they’re constantly pushing up against the wall every single day.”

Da Silveira, a biomedical engineering major in the College of Engineering and the current vice president of internal operations and engineering representative for the S.A., is running on a platform of action and experience, citing his roles in bringing Ithaca Bikeshare back to campus, aiding in the creation of Plan B Vending Machines and launching a plan for heat lamps at bus stops. Through his work as a residential advisor and track record of past projects, De Silveira believes that he is the best person to take the concerns of students and spur action.

“My greatest strength is … that I’ve been able to deliver on various projects. [In] the past year alone, like I’ve mentioned, [I’ve] been able to work with Ithaca City Council, Cornell admin and Jeff Goodmark from Ithaca Bikeshare to help bring back bike-sharing services and e-bikes to Cornell’s campus,” Da Silveira said.

Kuehl is a global development major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences who currently serves on the S.A. as an Undesignated At-Large Representative. Kuehl — who transferred from Ithaca College last semester — arrived in Ithaca prior to the pandemic and decided to take time off when classes moved online, opting to work as an emergency medical technician for Bangs Ambulance. His work as an EMT inspired a presidential campaign that centers around the theme of community.

“I’ve treated thousands of patients in the community, many of them Cornell students, and many of them I’ve treated for mental health problems,” Kuehl said. “Over and over and over again, the one thing I hear facing these students is that they don’t feel like they have community and they feel totally alone. … There are 30 weeks in the term for us and all 30 weeks of mine will be focused on making sure that every student at Cornell University has a place.”

When each candidate was asked what they saw as the biggest issue facing the University, Da Silveira pointed to the lack of support for students and promised that as president, he would push for quality-of-life changes.

“I believe that the biggest issue here at this university is the fact that students … do not feel supported. They feel that there’s no communi-

ty,” Da Silveira said. “From a student assembly point of view, we can do a lot better at ensuring not just that students’ voices are heard, but that they’re respected.”

Kuehl concurred, remarking on the lack of community and the importance of friends and peers in mitigating mental health crises.

“The biggest issue for me at Cornell and for a lot of students is that they lack community,” Kuehl said. “We [need to] make sure that people are being included. There shouldn’t be anybody left behind, not a single student on this campus.”

Bhardwaj, however, focused mainly on remedying the structural inequities that deprive many students of an equitable Cornell experience.

“The biggest issue at Cornell is the way that not every student has the same experience, and it’s due to structural inequities,” Bhardwaj said. “There are students on this campus who are struggling with finding meals that they’re going to have for the next day. [They’re worrying about] where they’re going to live, if they’re going to have access to health care, how they’re going to pay their next bill — not their academics. … This is a disgrace.”

While the S.A. may pass resolutions autonomously, the resolutions cannot be instituted without administrative approval. The candidates discussed their positions on the balancing act of pleasing students while simultaneously retaining administrative support. Kuehl stressed the importance of action and believed that meeting with the Administration would benefit the student body.

Bhardwaj, however, argued that the Administration is not there to support students and routinely fails students who bring forth safety concerns. They argue that students must show administrators that they have power in numbers, and not play into the status quo set by the Administration.

Da Silveira feels that if the S.A. does its job correctly, then it should be able to provide tangible solutions to the concerns of students. He believes that solutions are possible without acting undiplomatically and while still cooperating with administrators.

After the unanimous passage of Resolution 31 — which urged instructors to provide content warnings for traumatic content and allowed students to opt out of triggering content without penalization — free speech has been a hotly debated issue for Cornell, which attracted national media attention due to the resolution. President Martha Pollack rejected the resolution in an April 3 email to current S.A. president Valeria Valencia ’23.

Following this rejection, Pollack sent out a University-wide email deeming “Freedom of Expression” the theme of the upcoming academic year. The S.A. presidential candidates each shared their thoughts on Pollack’s declaration and how they would lead with the theme in mind.

Bhardwaj took issue with Pollack’s framing of attacks on free speech as occurring on “both ends of the political spectrum” and argued that Pollack failed to acknowledge the differentiation between hate speech and opinion.

“I have no intention of governing in a way that is tolerating hate speech — that’s tolerating harassment, that’s tolerating the terrible rhetoric that has been surrounding this resolution,” Bhardwaj said.

Kuehl also supported the content warning resolution and noted

students and added that the S.A. should work to protect students from online attacks and threats, which S.A. members claimed to be victims of.

“I intend to lead the Student Assembly to make sure that we can actually protect our students, that

remarkable things. Noting the few forum attendees, the candidates continuously acknowledged that the Cornell student body does not largely interact with the S.A., and many students hold an unfavorable view of the organization — a fact the three candidates hope to change as President.

Da Silveira seeks to remedy this disconnect by sending out a monthly newsletter to all students updating them on the Student Assembly’s actions as well as regaining the respect of the student body by providing tangible results.

Similarly to Da Silveira, Bhardwaj believes that student engagement increases when the Student Assembly delivers tangible change to its constituents. Bhardwaj provided examples, recalling that more students engaged with the S.A. after the successful implementation of the Plan B vending machines and the Assembly’s push to bring a permanent MD gynecologist to campus.

that as President, he would give all students an opportunity to use their voices.

“I think that every student deserves to be able to gauge where they’re at, but that also doesn’t mean complete censorship of all ideas — it just means allowing students to feel comfortable in their learning environments,” Kuehl said.

Da Silveira agreed with Kuehl’s promise to provide a voice for all

we can stand up for them, [and] work with the Administration to get the adequate protections that all of our students deserve,” Da Silveira said.

Closing the presidential forum, the candidates presented their thoughts on what makes Cornell unique. The three concurred that Cornell’s uniqueness is a result of the exceptional members of the student body who regularly do

Kuehl, meanwhile, argued that visibility is the solution, as many Cornell students are unaware of the S.A.’s presence despite its ability to make changes in their lives. He seeks to fix this by providing a visible S.A. presence in Cornell’s common spaces.

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

Confident candidates | Student Assembly executive vice president candidates Claire Ting ’25 and Rocco DeLorenzo ’24 present their campaigns.

MING DEMERS / SUN ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Christopher Walker can be reached at ccw88@cornell.edu.

Unsung Treats Top Five Hidden Gems of Cornell Dining

By REVA RAO Staff Writer

With over 10 dining halls and 18 cafes scattered throughout Cornell’s campus, each boasting their unique strengths and weaknesses, Cornell dining can be overwhelming for a freshman to navigate. Throughout my first year at Cornell, I found myself trying out different places, but taking random guesses at what to order.

If you’re keen to discover the tastiest menu items and fit in like a true Cornellian, know that you’re not alone. Thankfully, I’ve compiled a list of the top five hidden gems at Cornell eateries, complete with specific recommendations on what to order, as not all menu items are created equal.

Bus Stop Bagel’s Make Your Own Bagel:

Although I am not a huge bagel enthusiast, I do enjoy visiting Bus Stop Bagels when I crave them. Bus Stop Bagels is a cozy, inviting bagel shop located conveniently near the agricultural quad. There are a mix of booths and seats inside to sit, however, at busy times there are lines that run out the door. Bus Stop Bagels offers both savory and sweet bagels, and many people love their egg sandwiches.

Personally, I have a sweet tooth, so I tried creating my own bagel from their menu. I chose a cinnamon raisin bagel and added Cornell’s honey roasted peanut butter, cinnamon sug-

ar creamed honey, mixed berry cream cheese and banana. Too extra? Perhaps.

The bagel was soft and fluffy with a delightful cinnamon flavor. The honey roasted peanut butter was creamy and salty, which balanced out the sweet cinnamon sugar honey. The mixed berry cream cheese was smooth and luscious, and the fresh berry flavor was a lovely addition.

The banana slices completed the whole experience adding a delicate, sweet flair. It was a fantastic combination of flavors that I highly recommend trying.

Although you can always order a regular egg and cheese bagel, I encourage you to experiment with different spreads and flavors. Here are some mouthwatering combinations to consider if you want to try something

new:

1. Cinnamon Raisin Bagel + Honey Roasted PB + Nutella + Banana

2. Cinnamon Raisin Bagel + Blueberry Apple Butter + Honey Roasted PB + Honey Walnut Whipped Cream Cheese

3. Spicy Italian + Basil Pesto + Bacon Scallion Whipped Cream Cheese

Temple of Zeus’s Cookies: Temple of Zeus, located adjacent to the bustling Arts Quad, is a popular spot for students within the College of Arts & Sciences to relax, study and indulge in delicious treats like lattes and pastries.

Because of its popularity, Temple of Zeus is not exactly a

hidden gem. However, while the café offers a vast menu of food items, some are better than others. Among the many options, there is one hidden culinary gem that is underrated and definitely worth trying: Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Mac’s Smoothies

Mac’s is a vibrant cafe situated right in the heart of the Statler. Although the majority of customers are Hotel School students, don’t let that deter you from trying their exceptional smoothies — in my opinion, the best at Cornell. They offer a variety of fruit and frappuccino-style drinks, and I highly recommend trying two of them.

The first smoothie, known as the cookies and cream frappuccino, falls somewhere between a frappuccino and a milkshake. It delivers a much-needed caffeine boost, a sugar rush and the delectable taste of oreo cookies and milk. While it’s not an everyday drink, it’s definitely a treat worth indulging in!

students seeking a respite from late-night studying to partygoers looking for a quick bite after a frat party. While some students may frequently complain that Louie’s Lunch food is too greasy, the reality is that after a long day, grease can be just what the doctor ordered. The real standout at Louie’s however are their customizable milkshakes. With virtually any flavor combination possible, you can create your dream shake. Personally, I have two go-to favorites: the Peanut Butter and Chocolate, and the Strawberry and Chocolate. Other flavors include Caramel, Maple, Mint, Mango, Banana and Vanilla.

RPCC TruFru

You might be thinking, Chocolate chip cookies are a dime a dozen at every dining hall, right? While it’s true that most dining halls offer cookies, they pale in comparison to the heavenly ones you’ll find at Zeus. If you’re a true cookie connoisseur, you’ll appreciate the bakery-style cookies at Zeus that are moist, soft, thick, cakey and boast a melty texture with ample chocolate chunks, all baked fresh. The double chocolate cookies are equally delightful, with a more pronounced cocoa taste that’s sure to please.

The second smoothie is perfect for those who prioritize health and fitness. Even those who despise vegetables rave about the Green Smoothie. Its secret ingredient is spinach, which is indetectable amidst the fruit and orange juice that compile the other ingredients. Be prepared for long lines during peak times, but trust me, it’s well worth the wait, especially on a hot summer day.

Louie’s Lunch Milkshakes

Louie’s Lunch, situated adjacent to Risley Hall, has become a well-known food truck due to its convenient location, fast food-style offerings, and extended hours until 3 am.

It’s not surprising that Louie’s is busiest during late-night hours, attracting a diverse clientele, ranging from hard-working

TruFru has become a popular snack at Cornell after gaining fame on TikTok. This healthier chocolate treat features frozen blueberries, raspberries and strawberries coated in both white and milk chocolate and packaged in small containers. You can find TruFru at various locatwions on campus, including RPCC and Cafe Jennie. It’s the perfect option if you’re looking for a small, delicious and healthy-ish snack to satisfy your sweet tooth without reaching for a chocolate bar, muffin or buttery pastry. Give TruFru a try — it’s pretty delicious.

Reva Rao is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at rr654@cornell.edu

It was a fantastic combination of flavors that Ihighly recommend trying.

Emma Plowe With Gratitude

Ihaven’t felt like a Cornell student since freshman year. I enrolled in Cornell in fall of 2019 an eager, eternally curious and empathetic 18-year-old. My first year was raucous as I flowed through nebulous friend groups and dating in a much larger pool of queer people than I had ever imagined. In the spring semester, the arrival of the pandemic happened to coincide with my developing bipolar disorder, two life events which completely changed my relationship to sociality.

For me, being a Cornell student once meant aspiring to be a socialite, being engaged in more clubs than there is room for on my resume and having the loudest laugh at a party. It meant leading a car full of people off the hill to enjoy the less-polluted gorges, learning how to impress the cool seniors and going to random events to meet new people. But after the pandemic, I simply could no longer exist as this ideal busy Cornellian.

I took fall 2020 and spring 2021 off in what I call in cover letters a “pandemic gap year,” often citing in conversation that I was unable to do “Zoom University” because of problems focusing on the screen. But no accommodation at the time could allow for the tidal wave of my emotional crises to coexist with studies, on or offline. I was lucky enough to find proper care quickly, so for the year I was able to work locally at a farm and in retail when winter came.

and suffering in isolation, many people found it necessary to pay more attention to the wellbeing of others, to appreciate the time we have together. Culture in New York, and other parts of our country, shifted during the pandemic from initial states of fear to community solidarity.

I had never known so much suffering that year — it was like I could not trust the world to be kind or safe, and I could not trust myself to feel safe and treat myself with kindness. I write this because I know that I am not alone in my suffering. All Cornell students endure suffering, and many experience worse suffering than my own through a variety of uncontrollable life conditions and events. I worry that as Cornell grows in non-pandemic times, students will forget to slow down and spread a culture of mutual care.

When life finally looked fully “normal” this year, I found myself getting angry that most people were no longer routinely acknowledging suffering in life. Many people became accustomed to speaking about grief and emotional challenges during quarantine and the wake of the murder of George Floyd. When we were losing lives

The pandemic-learned habits of checking in with one another and prioritizing wellness seemed to have vanished from the student body culture. We seem to have forgotten the suffering everyone endured in 2020-2021. Cornell students, perhaps being immature from my point of view, do not seem prepared to discuss, acknowledge or refer to suffering and emotional difficulty now that most people have moved on from the pain of the pandemic.

On the other hand, I have noticed my professors consistently checking in with students before class, making mental health resources available on syllabi and just genuinely showing an interest in and sensitivity to students’ wellbeing in an accommodating, gentle and non-invasive manner. Why don’t more students do this for one another? Many faculty also understand that speaking about suffering can even be productive toward furthering a concept in the humanities. I have been in many classrooms where faculty lead discussions on how personal experiences and societal phenomena are not separate, so we are encouraged to speak on our own hardships.

While this emotionally stunted university culture has left me aggravated and ready to leave, I deeply appreciate my time at Cornell, grateful for my stellar education and my oasis community of friends. I have learned on this beautiful land the joy of building connections and arguments across disciplines, through time and space. I have met friends — artists, writers, scientists, musicians, finance girlbosses, journalists, poets, activists — who teach me about the world and myself and inspire me to be a better person.

People say Cornell isn’t about the institution, it’s the friends you make. My name is Emma or ED Plowe, and I resign as a columnist with gratitude for you, reader, my friend, too.

I worry that as Cornell grows in non-pandemic times, students will forget to slow down and spread a culture of mutual care.

Developing Trust with Yourself

doing any work right now?”

Yet, in all honesty, that is a cheap excuse to avoid the things that matter. It can become easy to forget your why factor when things feel so hard to address at the moment. Most recently, I’ve resorted to telling myself that, even though I may not see the purpose in staying consistent and putting work first right now, I will thank myself later when I find the success I’ve longed for –– even while other people procrastinate to throw frisbees on the Arts Quad.

Adam Senzon

My Two Sen-ts

Warmth: Te feeling all Cornellians long anticipate after the dreadfully cold and dull winters of Ithaca. Arguably, the sensation of warmth is the most rewarding of all. A haze of happiness and stress-freeness consumes me the moment the weather becomes warm once again — it’s like all of my problems from the winter melt away.

It can become unbelievably hard to get any work done in the warmth when it feels like life is finally being unpaused. Te warm weather, I can assure you, does not help with my reliance on coffee, either. Te intense urge to find the nearest eatery on campus and buy an iced coffee on a warm day in Ithaca is the strongest temptation to resist, a close second being the impulse to grab a picnic blanket and sunbathe with friends on the slope. In times like these when it can be twice as hard to find productivity and get shit done, we have to hold ourselves accountable.

Tis accountability dynamic is rooted in developing a relationship of trust with yourself; this is especially true when doing anything but your work seems like the best option. Nonetheless, I find myself creating the narrative that I’m lazy and unmotivated after I continuously choose to put relaxation first and work second. I find myself thinking, “Can you blame me — who else is

Te idea here is that if you keep a routine of doing the hard things that nobody else wants to do, you’ll get better with time and the hard things will begin to feel easy. When you take control away from the temptations that seem to make decisions for you and start to make choices that control them instead, you will find that you’re beginning to build the future you desire.

Tis is arguably one of the most satisfying feelings, the prospect that you have taken control and no hardship will demand nearly as much stress from you as it used to. You now know that consistency and addressing your problems instead of avoiding them will produce results.

Another aspect of the complicated equation of avoiding work and giving in to temptation is your emotions. You want to learn how to first control your emotions and use them as a tool to help you achieve your goals. Most people let their emotions become a roadblock — they let their emotions dictate when and how they are going to get things done.

tions can result in low-quality work as your mind is distracted from the task at hand.

Take for instance when I came back from spring break after just having traveled across the east coast from New York City to Newport to Southampton to back home in New Jersey. I felt untouchable — the luxury of eating home-cooked meals and the moderately warm spring weather in New Jersey was a privilege, to say the least.

Tis is one of the most detrimental behavioral habits to fall into, as your emotions are easily subject to change and circumstances will start to determine outcomes in your life. Instead, I propose acknowledging your emotions as they are and learning to rely on other forms of motivation like revisiting risk and reward based goal-setting.

If you’re feeling positive about something one day then that’s fantastic, but even excessively positive emo -

Even so, arriving back to Ithaca was not as painful as usual — eighty degrees for one week straight was unexpected. Te weather was unreal. How could I possibly be sad? Ultimately, this warm weather did more damage than good as I had a slew of exams to prepare for and essays to write. I neglected all of my work this week and chose to go on spontaneous ice cream runs and treat myself to dinner out in the Commons. Needless to say, this was not my best idea.

I was screwed. I ended up exhausting myself by cramming for these exams and essays and the results were not promising. I ended up turning in exams and submitting assignments I was not proud of, the quality of work not reflecting my usual effort.

So once again, practice separating emotions from the things that must get done and you will find improved and more consistent results. Tis is the biggest piece of advice I wish I’d heard after being at Cornell for almost one academic year. I promise you, while you may not see it now, the struggle of maintaining momentum and removing emotions from work ethic is worth it — and your successful outcomes will prove it. Stay focused and, most importantly, learn to build trust with yourself and only good things will find you.

Sow Much to Discover: Te Agriculture of Cornell

stench said otherwise. Following the smell of manure, we entered a barn — exploring further, we were delighted to turn a corner and find hundreds of pairs of eyes blinking back at us.

Aurora Weirens Te Northern Light

Aurora Weirens is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at afw46@cornell.edu. Te Northern Light runs every other Sunday this semester.

On my first day ever at Cornell, my family and I got a bit lost. It was the day before move-in, and we were exploring campus for ourselves, far off the beaten path toward the easternmost part of campus where the teaching barns are. A Minnesotan family of animal lovers, we had seen farms on the campus map and were determined to investigate them ourselves. Finally, after a long walk in the rain, we stumbled upon a collection of several different barns, sheds and greenhouses. We wandered about, feet sinking deep into mud, exhausted from days of travel and not really expecting much. We were at a college after all, not the state fair. But the

Several pens full of hundreds of sheep were casually tucked into the corner of campus. Upon further inspection, we found hogs and cows as well. Glowing with approval, we returned to our hotel knowing I hadn’t wasted my Early Decision application. Just last weekend, I visited with my boyfriend on a sunny day to see the spring lambs frolic. Both the lambs and ewes looked happy and healthy. Apparently an unusually high number of lambs survived this spring, hence the impressive amount. I also checked in on the hogs, who had increased in numbers and were enormously fat. Teir jowls quivered with hoggish greed as they stomped and snuffled in their feed. Charmed, I decided it was time to write about Cornell’s fantastic agriculture programs.

By no means am I an agriculture or plant science major — I’m not even in CALS. However, as a government major in A&S with a love for all things plants and animals, I can’t help but revel in our surroundings. Furthermore, I believe not enough Cornellians appreciate or know about the amazing agriculture, animal science and outdoors programs that are available to students on campus.

For example, last summer I worked as a research intern for Cornell Orchards, which is definitely the coolest job I’ve ever had. Prior to seeing the job application, I didn’t even know we had an orchard on campus. Not only do we grow several types of apples,

but also grapes, cherries, plums, peaches, apricots and countless types of berries. We worked at Cornell research facilities and farms in Lansing, Geneva and on Mount Pleasant, and drove tractors, went on cider tours, conducted experiments and ate loads of fresh fruit, all while honing other character-building skills such as weeding, digging holes, pruning trees and hauling heavy objects. I’d highly recommend the internship for anyone interested in agriculture with a taste for fruit and physical labor.

to about the gardens don’t even know they exist, and are shocked to see how nice they are upon visiting. Tey are perfect for running, hiking, picnicking or just relaxing in nature. Tey even have a special winter garden for trees and plants that can be enjoyed in Ithaca’s neverending cold and grayness.

I took a class at the Botanic Gardens my freshman fall, Nature RX, which is my favorite Cornell class to date — I highly recommend it to anyone regardless of course of study. I know that it’s hard to have time to do something outside of your major, work or extracurriculars, especially at a fast-paced university like Cornell, but our gardens are well worth exploring if you have a free hour or two.

Cornell also has three Greek life organizations devoted to agriculture, both professional and social, that support the education and culture of farming in the Cornell community and beyond.

For example, earlier this week there was a lovely agricultural festival on the Arts Quad. Students had the opportunity to sample dairy products, lasso a wooden bull and cradle baby chicks, among other activities. Te thriving student agriculture presence, both in Greek organizations and outside of them, made such an event so successful.

For more casual enjoyers of the outdoors and agriculture, Cornell has a gorgeous botanical garden, wildflower garden and arboretum right on campus, easily accessible from Mann Library, North Campus and Stocking Hall. So many people I’ve spoken

Even those who aren’t in CALS can appreciate the benefits of Cornell’s fantastic agriculture programs and culture. It’s easy to abandon parts of yourself that aren’t essential to success here, but we should all take the time to get outside this spring and visit the animals, orchards or one of the gardens while you and the sun are here at the same time.

Adam Senzon is a freshman at the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He can be reached at ars424@cornell.edu. My Two Sents runs every other Tursday this semester.

Following the smell of manure, we entered a barn — exploring further, we were delighted to turn a corner and find hundreds of pairs of eyes blinking back at us.

The idea here is that if you keep a routine of doing the hard things that nobody else wants to do, you’ll get better with time and the hard things will begin to feel easy.

It can become unbelievably hard to get any work done in the warmth when it feels like life is finally being unpaused.

Amazing Comic 1

Sundoku

Fill in the empty cells, one number in each, so that each column, row, and region contains the numbers 1-9 exactly once. Each number in the solution therefore occurs only once in each of the three “directions,” hence the “single numbers” implied by the puzzle’s name. (Rules from wikipedia.org/wiki/ Sudoku)

Bear with Me

Puzzle 1922

Amazing Comic 2

Amazing Comic 3

SC I ENCE

Mild Winters Can Affect NYS Grape and Apple Crop Production as Spring Warms Up Region

Mild winters weaken the cold hardiness of apples and grapes, according to researchers in the AgriTech Campus who are studying fruit crop physiology and climate adaptation, led by Prof. Jason Londo, horticulture. This can lead to early bud break and higher risk of frost damage.

Cold hardiness refers to the tissue’s ability to survive freezing. “The cells control their hydration levels and they put the water conformations so that it’s harder to form ice crystals,” Londo said.

The effects of cold hardiness on the dynamics of apple and grape physiology is relatively unknown, which is what Londo’s lab is further investigating. However, they know that the only similarity between apples and grapes are that they are both perennials, meaning they are adapted to annual cold periods and changes in light.

The general pattern of cold hardiness in plants forms a U-shape curve, exhibiting

weak defense mechanisms in the beginning of winter, evening out during the lower temperatures of the winter months and then losing the defense mechanism during bud break as a result of warmer spring weather.

Londo and his team measured points on the curve throughout the months to track the progress of cold hardiness before, during and after winter for both grapes and apples.

“The depth of that ‘U’ is shallower… we have less defenses this year and that’s because it’s not been as cold as it has been in the past,” Londo said.

He goes on to note that it is not the mild winters itself that are weakening the crops’ winter hardiness, but rather the fluctuation in weather patterns.

“The issue comes with the erratic nature of climate change. We’re getting more mild so our curves are shallower, but we also have punctuated cold because we’re in New York,” Londo said.

Londo pointed out that Ithaca experiences polar cold

because of its northern latitude location that causes the polar cold to hit this region more frequently.

By TENZIN KUNSANG Science Editor COURTESY OF JASON LONDO

“Those sharp cold events are what we’re worried about because if you don’t defend yourself well, you take damage,” Londo said. “If you take damage in both of these systems, in both of these buds, you have reduced yields because you kill the flowers before they have a chance to be opened and be pollinated.”

The effects of winter hardiness differ based on the variety of apples and grapes. For example, some varieties exhibit much more cold hardiness — a deeper ‘U’ — and reach bud break much faster. Londo notes that these types of cultivars are at higher risk of frost damage because they respond to warm temperatures much earlier in the season and lose the defense mechanism at bud break.

The physiological differences among cultivars signify the importance of crop diversity because it ensures that erratic weather conditions will not eliminate all crop varieties, but rather a select few.

Studying different crop varieties has given Londo a better understanding about plant physiology in order to prepare for future weather occurrences.

“[Crops] are used to only responding to heat because it means spring, but when we have a really warm winter, they respond to heat thinking spring is earlier,” Londo said. “So if we understood that signaling and we could manipulate it, then we could keep

them down and dormant and protected when we have years like this.”

With erratic weather patterns throughout the month of April and a relatively mild winter, Londo emphasized that building resiliency into the framework of crop production is key in fostering sustainability for both farmers and consumers.

Century-old Equation Refines Understanding of Carbon-Dioxide Reduction, Cornell Researchers Find

By LAINE HAVENS Sun Contributor

Cornell researchers recently published findings on a new application of the Cottrell equation to identify the chemical reactions occurring during carbon-dioxide reduction.

On March 27, Cornell researcher and lead author Rileigh DiDomenico grad, as well as senior author Prof. Tobias Hanrath, chemical and biomolecular engineering, published a paper in ACS Catalysis about an unprecedented use of the Cottrell equation, a fundamental electrochemical equation describing the experimental relationship between current and time.

Senior author Prof. Héctor Abruña, chemistry and chemical biology, inspired DiDomenico to apply the equation to her research in carbon dioxide reductions.

“[The Cottrell equation] is a very traditional expression. In this day and age when you want glitter and fluff, people don’t typically use it because it’s old in that context, but it is rigorous from the most fundamental principles,” Abruña said.

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 refers to the transformation of CO2 into different reduced products like carbon monoxide, methanol, ethylene and ethanol. Electrochemical describes the use of a relationship between electricity and chemical change. Voltage

is used to force electrons and protons to interact with CO2 and transform it into other products, similar to how heat drives other chemical reactions.

These chemical reactions are relevant to environmental issues because they can transform CO2 into other products, such as fuels.

“CO2 can be transformed into all these different products, and there’s all these different stages it can go through,” DiDomenico said. “If you imagine CO2 and it branches out into all these different intermediates and pathways to its final product. What we are trying to do is identify what specific route was happening in the system because if we better understand what is happening we can better control the reaction.”

DiDomenico and her team studied the pathways that produced C2 products — compounds with two or more carbons like ethylene and ethanol. In their lab setup designed to create these products, the researchers changed the voltage of the system while measuring current vs. time and the gaseous outcome.

The researchers performed rigorous electrochemical analysis of their results with the Cottrell equation. One implication of the Cottrell

equation is a proportionality between the current and the inverse square root of time. On a graph of this relationship, a straight line is normally generated during a reaction when a single electron is transferred to a molecule. Therefore, any deviations from this line indicate that another type of reaction — one which is not a single electron transfer — must have occurred. Graphical analysis of these deviations provides information necessary to identify the type of reaction.

In plotting the current against the inverse square root of time measured during CO2 reduction, the researchers found that during the experiment, the graph deviated from the linear Cottrell line. However, it did so in a patterned way, going from linear to nonlinear and to linear again. This pattern corresponds to a reaction sequence known as ECE. The name dictates the type of reactions occurring and their order — electron transfer, chemical step and electron transfer again. A chemical step refers to a chemical reaction occuring that does not involve the transfer of any electrons.

The graphical ECE patterning solidified previous speculations regarding electrochemical CO2 reduction that produces C2 products.

“People have suggested that it’s ECE based on studies where they’ve observed a certain inter-

mediate, but no one has shown it this way through current vs. time data,” DiDomenico said.

This confirmation allowed the researchers to simplify the theoretical pathways for this CO2 reduction. Because they knew the reaction pathway had to contain the separate chemical step of an ECE reaction, they could remove branches which did not contain a chemical step.

“This is a very good fit to the proposed model, so it’s more than likely that it actually is a correct interpretation of the mechanistic pathways that were being proposed,” Abruña said.

In addition to refining theory, better understanding the reactions involved gives researchers the ability to construct a reaction environment favoring a particular product.

The researchers plan to utilize the Cottrell equation for a similar method of analysis with other systems of CO2 reduction.

“You could study the full product spectrum and see what products are made, how and under what conditions,” DiDomenico said. “Instead of trying to get a certain performance, it’s more about understanding how it’s happening, which should help performance studies later on.”

Tenzin Kunsang can be reach at tkunsang@cornellsun.com.

Winter hardiness | Londo’s lab is currently studying the hydrology of apple and grape cells to understand its bud break patterns.