INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 131, No. 70
MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2015
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ITHACA, NEW YORK
20 Pages – Free
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On the Move
Anything but ‘Agony’
Through the Hoops
A.M. Light Snow HIGH: 30° LOW: 20º
Changes made to several TCAT bus routes will help address problems with late buses and missed trips. | Page 3
Mariana Watts ’16 says Into the Woods will be able to satisfy “an array of audiences. | Page 10
The men’s basketball team played eight games over Winter Break, going 3-5. | Page 20
Cuomo Pushes for Statewide ‘Yes Means Yes’ Policy By ANNIE BUI
apply to both private and public univer- dardizing a sexual assault policy across sities in the state, and not just institu- institutions would encourage victims to come forward, according to Reuters. tions which are funded by the state. Under legislation proposed by “One out of four women are victims, “It’s worked very, very well [at Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) SUNY],” Cuomo said of the policy at a but only 5 percent are being reported,” Saturday, all colleges and universities in news conference at New York University. Cuomo said. “When you leave alone a the State of New York will be required to “We now want to codify it as a law.” crime, you allow the criminal to do it adopt an affirmative consent Cuomo said again. And that’s what we’re doing now.” policy. The “affirmative consent” language “It’s worked very, very well he believes that The bill — if passed — it is a “crime” for is only one facet of Cuomo’s proposal, would expand on an [at SUNY]. We now want to colleges and uni- according to Reuters. Other provisions already-existing policy versities to keep include “immunity from drug or alcocodify it as a law.” enacted by Cuomo in matters of sexual hol violations for students reporting an Gov. Andrew Cuomo October, which required all assault behind assault, a bill of rights for the victim 64 State University of New and policy training for all school officlosed doors. York schools to include an “I believe cials.” affirmative consent provision to their there are institutions that want to protect Though Cuomo said he believes the own sexual assault policies. their relationship and they don’t want the proposed legislation would “start a The current SUNY policy defines publicity of the attacks happening on dialogue across the nation,” several consent for sexual activity as “clear, their campus,” he said. “... They do what Cornell officials have stated in unambiguous and voluntary agreement,” they can to tamp it down. This is not a the past that the University’s The Sun previously reported. This defin- private matter. This is a crime.” sexual assault policy — ition resembles that of California bill SBCuomo also said he hoped that stan- Policy 6.4 — is already 967, which was adopted in September and mandates that all public universities that receive funding adopt a “yes means Making the law | Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) speaks at a campaign rally in November. On Saturday, Cuomo proyes” policy, according to Reuters. Unlike SB-967, however, the broad- posed legislation that would require all private colleges ened SUNY sexual assault policy will in New York to adopt an affirmative consent policy.
Sun News Editor
aligned with Cuomo’s affirmative consent policy. “If we think about it as a continuum with ‘no means no’ versus a ‘yes means See CONSENT page 4
DAMON WINTER / THE NEW YORK TIMES
Man Pleads Not Guilty Former Student to Face Rape Trial In Murder of C.U. Student By TYLER ALICEA
Sun Managing Editor
Accused of strangling Shannon Jones ’15 what happened than what the prosecution understands,” said Van Houten, according to The Journal’s A previous version of this story was Jan. 2 report. Tompkins County Judge Joseph published online at cornellsun.com on Dec. 23. It has since been updated with Cassidy, however, refused to set a bail, according to The Journal. additional information. In an interview with police folA man accused of strangling a Cornell student to death on lowing the domestic dispute, Cayea admitted to law enforceThanksgiving Day pled ment that he had murnot guilty to the murder dered Jones, according to charges earlier this court documents. month. “During a digitally Benjamin Cayea is recorded interview the charged with murdering defendant admitted that Shannon Jones ’15, an he killed Shannon S. Jones independent major in the by squeezing her neck College of Engineering, in with his hands,” police her Cayuga Heights home CAYEA wrote in court records. on Nov. 27. He was At approximately 6:30 indicted by a grand jury with one count of second-degree p.m. on Nov. 27, Cayea allegedly strangled to death Jones following a murder on Dec. 23. Cayea, 32, appeared in court on “domestic dispute.” Police arrived at Jones’ residence Jan. 2 where he pled not guilty. The Ithaca Journal reports that at 400 Triphammer Rd. where they Matt Van Houten, Cayea’s attorney, found her dead. She was declared said Cayea has no previous criminal dead at 8:48 p.m. at Cayuga Medical history and that because he is not a Center. risk, he should be released on bail. “Based on my investigation of the Tyler Alicea can be reached at case, there are many more layers to managing-editor@cornellsun.com. By TYLER ALICEA
Sun Managing Editor
A former Cornell student and varsity wrestler charged with raping another student will go to trial Tuesday after rejecting a plea deal, according to court documents. Peter Mesko ’13 will face
charges on first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree robbery in Tompkins County Court. If convicted of rape, he could be sentenced up to 25 years in prison. Mesko — who was a student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
before he was suspended pending the investigation — allegedly broke into a Collegetown home and raped a woman while she was sleeping on the morning of March 30, 2013. He pled not guilty to the charges in April 2013 See TRIAL page 4
High voltage
CONNOR ARCHARD / SUN SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Dhruv Gaba ’18 places components on a circuit board for his team engineering project as part of January Fabrication month on Wednesday.