INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 138, No. 2
THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021
n
ITHACA, NEW YORK
12 Pages – Free
Sunrise
Arts
Dining
Weather
The Sun is back to its regular print publication schedule, now printing three times a week for the fall semester.
Streaming platforms
Defending moonshine
Partly Cloudy
The Corne¬ Daily Sun
The increased prominence of streaming platforms has upended movie contracts and revenue. | Page 5
Strange laws and taboos surround moonshine, raising questions about why it’s illegal. | Page 6
HIGH: 89ºF LOW: 69ºF
First-Years Cornell Class of 2025 Sees Lowest Acceptance Rate in Recent Years Reflect on Incoming class is among most diverse ever recorded Move-In
protocol was not followed” at her previous university. When asked about starting in-person classes again after nearly two years of a virtual education, she shared Cornell’s Class of 2025 has already begun to set a common sentiment. “While studying online at home, it was difficult to records –– without stepping foot on campus. With an acceptance rate of 8.7 percent, the Class of 2025 has form connections with classmates and teachers at such a large school,” she said. “I truly look forward to being the lowest acceptance rate in recent years. 67,380 applicants applied to Cornell in last year’s more connected in a more intimate and specialized application cycle, an increase of nearly 16,000 from environment this upcoming year.” The Class of 2025 is among the most diverse of the the previous year, likely due to the University’s deciUniversity’s recent classes, with sion to suspend ACT and SAT 34.2 percent of the students requirements. self-identifying as underrepreOut of that application pool, “The members of the Class of sented minorities, an increase 5,836 students were admitted. of 7.3 points from the Class of 2025 are assuredly more Come Thursday, 3,750 fresh2024, and 59.3 percent idenmen are expected to shuffle into resilient and compassionate.” tifying as students of color, a the previously quiet halls of the jump from last year’s 51.7 perUniversity; for some, it will be Shawn Felton cent. their first in-person class since 19.4 percent of the class March of their junior year of are first-generation college stuhigh school. Shawn Felton, director of undergraduate admis- dents, and 55 percent are women, both an uptick from sions, noted the strength of Cornell’s incoming class, previous years. Because 96 percent of Cornell’s on-campus popupointing to their ability to weather a particularly lation –– including students, faculty and staff –– are unusual high school education. “The Class of 2025 has endured extraordinary vaccinated, the campus is moving toward a sense of chaos while learning since the second semester of pre-pandemic normalcy “I think it will be great to have a sense of normalcy junior year of high school,” Felton wrote in an email to The Sun. “High school did not end as was likely after the past year and a half,” said Peyton Lancaster anticipated. But, the members of the Class of 2025 are ’25. Others, however, are unsure if a conventional assuredly more resilient and compassionate because of college experience is still possible as the new Delta the challenges they have already endured.” One of the members of the class of 2025 Billie variant raises questions about the safety of returning Morton ’24, an incoming transfer student from California, decided to apply to Cornell after “COVID See ACCEPTANCE page 4 By KAYLA RIGGS
Freshmen experience more traditional move-in process By MIRA HARRIS Sun Contributor
On Saturday, Courtnee Pete ’25 and her mother drove 30 hours from Houston to arrive in Ithaca just in time for the First Year Carnival. The usual excitement surrounding meeting new people was muddied because of the circulating delta variant causing an uptick in COVID cases locally. Pete’s mother, Bettye Davis, spent the weekend helping her daughter adjust to her new home in High Rise Five. “It was honestly a little scary, especially with the new variant strain out there,” Davis said. Pete was one of nearly 4,000 students moving into the first-year residence halls spread across North Campus, which was filled with suitcases, large red moving bins and cars parked on green spaces to begin moving students in. “This is something Joaquin Rivera ’25 also drove we’ve never to Ithaca from experienced before.” Houston over the course of four days Serwaa Asante in order to bring his dorm decorations, winter clothes, and photos of friends. Though COVID is still a risk, Rivera said that he is “confident about staying safe on campus.” Parents, too, seem to be comforted by Cornell’s success in keeping cases low last year, as well as the detailed COVID-19 guidelines during this year’s move-in, which specified arrival testing requirements for those who are not fully vaccinated and mandated mask-wearing inside for everybody regardless of vaccination status. “Despite everything happening with the pandemic, the move-in process was very well organized,” Serwaa Asante, mother of Nick Asante ‘25, said. “This is something we've never experienced before, [but] it was good to see that masks were being worn and that testing was being given to those who were unvaccinated.” This year’s move-in process had marked differences from last year, with students not being required to quarantine or get arrival testing if they are vaccinated. Eager families were allowed to help students move into their dorms and explore the Cornell campus, and normal orientation events greeted incoming students. Rivera is optimistic about the opportunity to spend time in lecture halls with his peers. “I’m curious by nature, so I’m really excited for my curriculum and just excited to learn more, meet new people and have a great college experience,” he said.
Sun Assistant News Editor
Back to school
MICHAEL SUGUITAN / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Mira Haris can be reached at mah477@cornell.edu.
Returning students have been enjoying the warm weather and soaking up the sun on the outdoor plaza outside Collegetown Bagels while awaiting the start of classes.