INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 131, No. 105
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015
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ITHACA, NEW YORK
16 Pages – Free
Arts
Science
Sports
Weather
Speaking Out
To a Brighter Future
Heartbreaker
Partly Cloudy HIGH: 44º LOW: 27º
Melis Schildkraut ‘17 reviews Cornell’s rendition of the Vagina Monologues.
Carlie Mendoza ‘16 innovates cancer imaging with fluorescent nanoprobes.
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Men’s lacrosse dropped a nail biter at Virginia Saturday, losing 15-14.
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At Forum, S.A.Candidates Address Minority Concerns
K.K. YU / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
An update | Judicial Administrator Mary Beth Grant J.D. ’88 gives her department’s annual update to the University Assembly in the Physical Sciences Building Tuesday.
Candidates speak about diversity priorities first-generation college students and workshops to foster communication between minority groups At a forum conducted by cam- and the University. “These workshops will help you pus minority organizations Tuesday night, candidates running understand the oppression that for positions on the Student [minorities] face, what you can and Assembly addressed concerns cannot say [to minorities] and if regarding the minority presence at you say something insulting, how do you get back from that and Cornell. The two-hour discussion make an apology,” Chak said. “People aren’t included quescomfortable tions from mem“People aren’t on cambers of the comfortable enough on enough pus right now A L A N A Intercultural campus right now with with identifying with any type of Board, Haven, Black Students identifying with any type background, and that needs to United and of background.” change.” other bodies, Maria Chak ’18 S a i m and focused on Chaudhary ’17, issues such as funding for minority initiatives another candidate for the position, and student-administration rela- said his platform aims to increase funding to minority organizations tions. Candidates for three positions by working more closely with the — the minority liaison at-large, Appropriations Committee. He executive vice president and presi- added that he wants to make camdent — participated in the moder- pus spending more transparent and ated discussion and answered pre- wants a less intrusive bias reporting set questions from the moderators system. “I want to advocate for adding as well as the audience. Maria Chak ’18, a candidate for qualitative metrics to when … the the minority liaison at-large posi- unfunded organizations are being tion, expressed her intentions to reviewed by the Appropriations create more “safe zones” on campus for minorities, mentorships for See MINORITIES page 5 By JEANETTE SI
Sun Staff Writer
J.A.Missing Sexual Assault Investigation Deadlines By SOFIA HU Sun News Editor
The Office of the Judicial Administrator is taking longer to process sexual assault cases than allowed under Cornell’s discrimination, sexual harassment and violence code — Policy 6.4 — partially due to “inadequate” staffing and extra procedural steps introduced by the policy, according to Judicial Administrator Mary Beth Grant J.D. ’88. During the 2013-14 academic year — the first complete academic year that Policy 6.4 had been in place — the office generally did not meet the timelines required by the policy, Grant said.
The current version of Policy 6.4, which was implemented in November 2013, states that investigators of sexual assault and harassment cases must complete their investigations within 60 days. Federal guidelines set by the U.S. Office of Civil Rights state that investigators have 60 days to complete the entire process, which includes conducting the fact-finding investigation, holding a hearing, coming to a decision and imposing sanctions. Not one of the approximately dozen Policy 6.4 cases that the Office of Judicial Codes Counselors handled over the last year have met See J.A. page 4
Parks and Recreation’s V.P. Murphy: Fee‘Not Going Away’ Retta to Perform in Statler By PHOEBE KELLER
Sun Assistant News Editor
By ANNIE BUI Sun Managing Editor
Stand-up comedian and actress Retta — best known for her role as Donna Meagle in the hit NBC series Parks and Recreation — will perform in Statler Auditorium April 29, the Cornell University Program Board announced Wednesday. Born Marietta Sirleaf, the 44year-old has appeared in several other popular television shows, including It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Jimmy Kimmel Live! According to Michael Luzmore ’17, executive chairperson for CUPB, Retta is “wildly hilarious” and brings a “great sense of enthusiasm to her work.” “We are extremely excited to
bring Retta to campus,” Luzmore said. “We were told that [she] had began taking stand-up RETTA dates again, so we obviously wanted to jump on that opportunity this semester.” Luzmore said he hopes Retta will bring a sense of “honesty” to her performance. Tickets for Retta’s performance will go on sale next Wednesday for students and the day after for the general public, according to Luzmore. Annie Bui can be reached at managing-editor@cornellsun.com.
“I don’t see the health fee going away,” said Susan Murphy ’73 Ph.D. ’94, vice president for student and academic services, at a University Assembly meeting Tuesday. Murphy, addressing continued concerns about the mandatory $350 fee set to take effect next academic year, said that administrators have discussed creating a health fee advisory committee. “We will continue to track the usage of health services,” Murphy said. “Our intent is to create a health fee advisory committee. We’ve also been answering many emails and trying to make info available on the caring community website.” Murphy acknowledged that for some students, the $350 fee
is a significant burden made worse by an initial lack of administrative transparency. “I’ve heard from one parent who has three children here, and the second largest category of concern was a lack of involvement on would we have a fee or not,” she said. Murphy explained that the
of additional staff members hired in the 2009-10 year, including three medical clinicians, seven nurses and fifteen full-time employees, according to Murphy. Murphy said the health fee will enable greater access to medical services for all Cornell students, according to Murphy.
“Our intent is to create a health fee advisory committee.” Susan Murphy ’73 Ph.D.’94 fee will cover unexpected costs incurred during the 2009-10 academic year, which featured an outbreak of H1N1 flu virus combined with a string of suicides. The fee will also provide for the continued employment
She also stressed the additional capacity of Gannett for maintaining confidentiality under the new system. “We were seeing students See FEE page 4