INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 133, No. 53
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2017
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ITHACA, NEW YORK
16 Pages – Free
News
Arts
Sports
Weather
Red Chili
Building Fun
First Since 2013
Snow HIGH: 31º LOW: 20º
Ithaca group Food Not Bombs organized an anticapitalist chili fest, providing free food to its patrons. | Page 3
Weekend games against Yale and Brown helped the women icers clinch the Ivy League title. | Page 16
The LEGO Batman Movie is a lighthearted joy to watch, according to David Gouldthorpe ’18. | Page 8
Mixed-Gender Rooming to Be Available for All Students By NEETU CHANDAK Sun Staff Writer
KATIE SIMS / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Clash of clans | Defenders of Planned Parenthood line Cayuga Street downtown along DeWitt Park as a counter-protest to the demonstration to defund the program that was held across town at the local Planned Parenthood headquarters on W. Seneca Street.
Defenders and Detractors of Planned Parenthood Clash in Dual Protests By MARIN LANGLIEB and ANU SUBRAMANIAM Sun Staff Writers
As the debate over Planned Parenthood funding rages on the national stage, Ithaca was host to protests both for and against giving federal funds to the organization on Saturday. Nearly 20 local students and residents participated in a peaceful protest in support of defunding Planned Parenthood early Saturday morning. The protest, which took place across the street from Planned Parenthood, was one of many happen-
ing across the country and was aimed at taking taxpayers dollars away from the organization. One group of attendees, the Students for Life Club at Ithaca College, spoke about their reasons for coming out to support the cause. “We often talk about choice but for a woman, you hear a lot of stories about women getting pressured into [an abortion]. Often it’s not even what the woman wants but she feels like it’s See PROTESTS page 4
Male and female students will now be able to room together in any residential hall after Cornell announced its final implementation of a gender-neutral housing policy for the 20172018 school year. Students The change was proposed in December 2015 in Student expressed Assembly Resolution 26: mixed Promoting Justice and Friendship in the Housing reactions Lottery. The initiative behind to the the change is to offer flexible new housing options for all students. policy. Gender-neutral housing was first adopted in fall 2012 for upper-level students participating in continued occupancy in their on-campus residences, according to Karen Brown, director of Campus Life Marketing and Communications. Now, the option opens up to incoming first-year and transfer students. The policy will not apply to historically sinSee HOUSING page 4
Renovations for Eastern Half of Ag Quad Complete Phase two of project scheduled to start in spring
By AELYA EHTASHAM Sun Staff Writer
Phase One of the $7.8 million Ag Quad renovation project is largely complete, according to Davis Orinda, project manager for the Ag Quad Utility Upgrades and Landscape Revitalization. Areas on the eastern side of the quad have new paths for Mann Library and Warren Hall, as well as two new blue light phones that have been activated and new light poles. Orinda said that a lot of the landscape work on the eastern half of the quad is complete, adding that the under-
ground utility upgrades work — steam pipes, telecom duct banks, and water pipes — has all been completed. Phase two will involve completing the remaining concrete paths on the western end of the quad and new plazas at Roberts and Kennedy Halls, Orinda said, in addition to benches, lighting poles, new topsoil and plantings are also planned in the second phase. After significant progress, construction has halted for the duration of winter. “Low temperatures are not conducive to the types of construction activities involved in
the project,” Orinda said. Orinda said construction will resume around late March or early April depending on weather conditions. Halted construction means the Ag Quad’s circuitous routes to different buildings will remain in pace for the time being. Although there is clear signage for navigating the buildings, the new concrete paths will provide more direct access. Ag Quad construction is still on track for completion by the 2017–18 academic year. Aelya Ehtasham can be reached at aehtasham@cornellsun.com.
Main Image: A rendering shows how the Ag Quad will look after completion of the current renovations. Inset: Work proceeds at the quad’s west end.
TOP: COURTESY OF CITY OF ITHACA; BOTTOM: COURTESY OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY