INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 129, No. 1
MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 2012 ! ITHACA, NEW YORK
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Depew ’15 Dies Suddenly of Meningitis Student ‘was an idol’ C.U.: death poses no additional health risks to her family, friends By KERRY CLOSE
Sun News Editor
By CAROLINE FLAX
and volunteered at Cornell’s dairy Sun Senior Writer barn. She also worked on her parent’s A previous version of this article farm in her hometown of Argyle, first appeared on cornellsun.com on N.Y., played softball at her high May 29. school and graduated as valedictoriThose who knew Krista Depew an, The Post-Star, Depew’s home’15 — who died May 26 in Albany, town newspaper, reported. N.Y., after contracting meningitis — According to Jenine Depew, described her as a Krista’s father’s cousin, smart, caring, down-tofamily was important earth girl who was dedto Depew. Even when icated to her family and she was away from friends. home at Cornell, Krista Depew, who was 19 was quick to respond to years old, was “a proud emails and always “had farmer’s daughter and a time for her little genuinely great percousin.” son,” said her friend “It was amazing; she and hallmate, Conor would babysit for [the DEPEW ’15 Goetz ’15. cousin] a lot, and they An applied economics and man- always loved to have her come over agement major in the College of to babysit,” Jenine Depew said. “She Agriculture and Life Sciences, was an idol to our kids — that’s for Depew was interested in agribusi- sure.” ness, or the production operations of Goetz also noted Depew’s dedifarms. At school, she was not only cation to her family and friends. A focused on her studies but also was a member of Alpha Phi sorority, See DEPEW page 6 worked at Cornell Fitness Centers
A previous version of this article first appeared on cornellsun.com on May 29. After a rising sophomore who reportedly carried meningococcal meningitis died May 26, health officials said the disease poses “no increased
risk” to either the Cornell community and to Tompkins County residents, according to a statement released by the University Monday. Krista Depew ’15 died early May 26 morning after suffering from an “acute illness,” according to a message from President David Skorton released
Orienting freshmen
MATT MUNSEY / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Renee Curless ’13, a member of the Orientation Steering Committee, cheers on new students and their families as they move into the Court-Kay-Bauer dormitories on North Campus Saturday.
Avicii Will Play Homecoming Show By DAN TEMEL Sun Staff Writer
TINA CHOU / SUN FILE PHOTO
Words of wisdom | NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg shared his advice for thousands of departing graduates and families at Cornell’s 144th Convocation.
Bloomberg to Graduates: Take Risks By AKANE OTANI Sun News Editor
A previous version of this article first appeared on cornellsun.com on May 26. At the University's 144th Convocation, Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged the Class of 2012 to keep Cornell’s land grant mission, as well as the willingness to take risks, close to their hearts as they depart from The Hill. In the sweltering heat of
Schoellkopf Stadium, many in the crowd shielded themselves with umbrellas as they awaited
to the almost 5,000 Cornellians graduating this weekend, drawing laughs and applause.
“Remember that this great University ... was not built by timid minds but by grand hopes and bold actions.” Michael Bloomberg Bloomberg’s arrival. Seemingly unfazed by the heat, however, Bloomberg readily delivered his speech
See MENINGITIS page 6
“If you haven’t found a job yet, you’d be better off See BLOOMBERG page 4
A previous version of this article first appeared on cornellsun.com on Aug. 14. House music sensation Avicii has agreed to play at the Ho m e c o m i n g Weekend concert at Cornell’s Barton Hall this fall.The Swedish D.J. and producer, known for his radio friendly mega-hit “Levels,” will perform Sept. 22, according to a schedule of confirmed tour dates posted on the D.J.’s website Tuesday. Born Tim Bergling, Avicii has been a leader in the electronic dance music community since breaking into the scene in 2010 with singles including “Seek Bromance” and “My Feelings for You.” He also produced Flo Rida’s stadium anthem “Good Feeling” and was featured on Leona Lewis’
single “Collide,” which sampled his 2011 track “Penguin.” Avicii has headlined the Ultra Music Festival in Miami in March and has performed at many college campuses across the country, including a stop at Syracuse University last fall. His appearance on campus will come at the back end of a nationwide tour that includes stops at Radio City Music Hall — marking the first D.J. to headline a show at the distinguished New York City venue — and the famed Marquee Nightclub in Las Vegas. Avicii will also play at the Turning Stone Casino in Syracuse and the Broome County Arena in Binghamton in the weeks leading up to the concert at Cornell.
News At a Crossroads
Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick ’09 aligned himself with developer Josh Lower’s ’05 Collegetown Crossing project. | Page 3
Opinion Yes We Can?
Noah Karr-Kaitlin ’13 explains why Obama love has waned since the 2008 presidential election. | Page 11
Arts Having a Ball
The Sun reviews Governor’s Ball, a laid-back musical festival boasting both big names and up-and-comers. | Page 12
Arts Laughing Through Tears
Comedian Tig Notaro, diagnosed with cancer, proves that you can find comedy in even the most tragic situations. | Page 13
Sports Big Red Olympics
Three Cornellians sprinted, rowed and jumped their way through the 2012 Summer Olympics. | Page 32
Weather Dan Temel can be reached at dtemel@cornellsun.com.
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2 THE CORNELL DAILY SUN | Monday, August 20, 2012
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It’s Not Easy Being Green: The Intersection of Sustainability and Spirituality Noon - 2 p.m., One World Room, Anabel Taylor Hall Next to Normal 2 p.m., Hangar Theater
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Much like last week’s moody weather, Monday will have scattered thunderstorms as the Class of 2016 gets to know what Ithaca is all about. However, it is all uphill after today as the week gets sunnier. Look forward to ample time for taking advantage of the last days of summer. Lay out on the Arts Quad or Libe Slope after class and seize some of the final opportunities to get some sun before the chilly fall weather rolls in. Ithaca will be gorges for the first week back, so be sure to take the time to enjoy it!
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THE CORNELL DAILY SUN | Monday, August 20, 2012 3
NEWS
Cornell Names A.J. Edwards CIO of University
By AKANE OTANI Sun News Editor
COURTESY OF CITY OF ITHACA
Roadblock | Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick ’09, supporting Josh Lower’s ’05 proposal to construct a six-story building on College Avenue, criticized the city’s parking laws for driving up housing prices.
Ithaca Mayor Backs Developer’s Plan By JEFF STEIN Sun Managing Editor
A previous version of this article first appeared on cornellsun.com on May 31. Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick ’09 threw his support behind a controversial proposal to construct a new housing complex on College Avenue in a memo he sent to city officials in April, saying that the city’s current parking laws create “aesthetic blight,” drive up housing prices and need to be revised. Developer Josh Lower ’05 is proposing to construct a six-story building at 307 College Ave. that would add 103 bedrooms to the area and a ground-level GreenStar grocery store in the heart of Collegetown. But Lower says to do so he must first obtain a variance — an exemption from the city’s parking laws — to avoid creating 57 parking spaces for the residents of the proposed building, a requirement Lower has said makes the development financially unfeasible. Although Myrick urged city officials to grant Lower the variance and approve his “Collegetown Crossing” project, he took aim at a larger target as well. In the message, which was obtained by The Sun, the mayor says he plans to work with the Common Council in the coming months to overhaul the city’s parking laws. “We know that mandating parking has helped make this city too expensive for working families by subsidizing the cost of vehicular ownership and increasing the cost of housing,” the mayor writes in the email, which was addressed to the members of the city’s Planning and Development Board. “We know that our current policy promotes sprawl, underwrites car use and makes housing more expensive.” In an interview May 31, Myrick explained that because the city’s laws force developers to construct a certain number of parking spaces when building new apartments, there is now an oversupply of available parking in Collegetown. Property owners can thus only charge at far lower rates than the cost incurred of having to build the parking spaces — a discrep-
ancy that is then passed onto the resident through higher rent prices, he said. “The parking prices, while high, are not as high as they would be in a free market system,” Myrick said. Additionally, Myrick writes that he is convinced that Lower’s proposed mitigations — which include TCAT and carshare access for his residents — will “substantially alleviate any parking pressure created.” The mayor, who was until recently a Cornell student and still lives in Collegetown, also claims that students will walk to campus and forego car use. “When parking is appropriately priced and appropriately restricted, the vast majority of people will not bring their cars at all,” Myrick writes. “This project will promote transit and pedestrian activity, and change the economics of land-use in Collegetown so radically that a fullservice grocery store will finally be viable.” Still, despite the mayor’s support, Lower’s project has been assailed by those who question whether failing to force Lower to build the parking spaces would have a “spillover” effect on the surrounding communities. These critics have maintained that it is the lack of available parking that drives housing prices up and have expressed doubts about Lower’s assurances that students will leave their cars at home. In February, for instance, Common Council member Ellen McCollister ’78 (D-3rd Ward) said in response to a large public showing of support for the development that its impacts have not yet been fully understood. “My concern about the project is that the applicant is holding out the carrots of the GreenStar to tout as a public amenity,” McCollister said. “The problem with this application is that everybody has [gotten] so enthusiastic over GreenStar, but we’re still not thinking of the land-use ramifications of the proposal.” Additionally, a preliminary, unapproved draft review of the project from the city states that “by not providing on site parking, the existing parking shortage in Collegetown will
be exacerbated” by the development. “History has shown that inadequate/expensive parking in Collegetown encourages students, faculty and staff to park in surrounding neighborhoods,” the review, which was prepared in February, states. In April, the Planning and Development Board told the developer to provide the city with a detailed study about future residents’ projected car use to move the project forward. In a written response to the board, however, Lower predicts that the development will have a different impact. “Or perhaps [the development] will set a trend ... that stops the DESTRUCTION of the neighborhood,” he notes. If Myrick had concerns about the project, they did not appear in his email. Instead, like Lower he expressed confidence that “our current policy is far worse for the environment than the proposed variance.” “We know enough to know that our current policy is backwards and that this project is not just a departure from the zoning, but an improvement on it,” Myrick writes. Jeff Stein can be reached at jstein@cornellsun.com.
A previous version of this article first appeared on cornellsun.com on May 29. Confirming a report leaked to a news outlet May 25, Cornell announced May 29 that A.J. Edwards, the University’s former interim chief investment officer, was named its chief investment officer. “I am humbled by the confidence placed in me by President [David] Skorton, Trustee [Donald] Opatrny and the entire Board of Trustees,” Edwards said in a University press release. “I look forward to continuing the work we have done together over the last year as we look to Cornell’s sesquicentennial and beyond.” The Board of Trustees approved Edwards’ appointment at its meeting May 25 — the same day the private market news site peHUB reported that “a source with direct knowledge of the appointment” came forward with news of the new CIO. In partnership with the Board’s investment committee, Edwards will direct investment officers who stand guard over Cornell’s $5.3 endowment, according to the University. He will also oversee risk management within the University’s investments and make recommendations about asset allocations to the committee. Edwards began serving as the University’s interim CIO in May 2011 after Cornell’s former CIO, Michael Abbott, abruptly stepped down from his position. Edwards, who was, at the time, senior investment officer for the University, was chosen to “take over Abbott’s responsibilities until the University names a replacement,” The Sun reported in May 2011. Top administrators and University trustees lauded the decision to appoint Edwards CIO, citing his track record over the past year. Edwards’ “skillful management” of the investment office and “close and effective work with the investment committee of the Board of Trustees” was integral to Cornell maintaining its strong recovery from the recession, President David Skorton said. “His ongoing record of accomplishment and wellestablished skills will hold us in good stead for the future,” Skorton added. In the course of his year as interim CIO, Edwards also improved the “internal investment decision-making process” in the office, according to the University. Although it is unclear why Abbott departed the University, shortly after Abbott stepped down, Tommy Bruce, vice president for University communications, said in an email that it had become apparent that Abbott’s “style of conducting business is inconsistent with Cornell’s policies and expectations.” In contrast, Trustee Donald Opatrny ’74 recently described working with Edwards as “a pleasure.” “We have gained from his leadership of the investment office. The entire investment committee looks forward to continuing our fine working relationship for Cornell’s benefit,” Opatrny said to the University. Akane Otani can be reached at aotani@cornellsun.com.
Cornell Says Sigma Pi Shares Responsibility for Racial Attack Kent Hubbell ’69, dean of students, placed Sigma Pi on probation on May 8 for the 2012-13 academic year for its role in the May 6 incident in which an individual hurled racial epithets at black students. Santorum, Dean Will Debate At Cornell in October Rick Santorum (R-Penn.) and Howard Dean (D-Vt.) will debate at Cornell on Oct. 18, a spokesperson from the Cornell
Republicans said on August 14. John Oliver of The Daily Show Will Play Bailey Hall Show British comedian John Oliver is coming to Cornell early this fall, the Cornell University Planning Board confirmed Tuesday. The 35-year-old from Birmingham, England, is best known for his political satire as a writer and correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. — Compiled by Akane Otani
S
4 THE CORNELL DAILY SUN | Monday, August 20, 2012
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NEWS
Bloomberg Touts Tech Campus in Convocation Speech BLOOMBERG
Continued from page 1
coming to the city than coming to your parent’s couch … I promised your parents I’d say that,” he said. “But don’t worry if you don’t have a job yet, because whatever plan you have, it’ll probably change a hundred times before you turn 30 years old.” The New York City mayor described the series of unexpected twists that led to his current career in politics: He started as an aspiring electrical engineer before heading to business school. After 15 years, Bloomberg was fired from his equity trading job at Salomon Brothers — but he said it was “the best thing that happened to me.” “If I hadn’t gotten fired, I wouldn’t have started a tech start-up company and certainly wouldn’t have run for mayor,” he said. “It’s fine to make plans, but the only thing I can urge you is to be ready to change plans at short notice.” Throwing a playful jab at Silicon Valley, Bloomberg told students considering moving west, “If you really want to experience life … and yes, if you want to find a date whose name is not Siri, come to New York City.” Bloomberg said that he hopes Cornell’s partnership with the city, cemented in December after it won the tech campus competition, will position New York to “be the global leader in the information age, just as we were in the industrial age.” “I would say this is the biggest thing that has happened to Cornell in decades, but I know two years ago, the men’s basketball team made it to the Sweet 16 … which sort of rivals it,” he joked. He also reassured the crowd that Cornell’s tech campus would not “change a thing about the undergraduate experience,” addressing a concern raised by some faculty in the months after Cornell committed
itself to the $2 billion campus on Roosevelt equal rights for all.” Island. “If you stand up for it it will happen, The tech campus will open doors for and you will extend Lincoln's legacy of freeCornell, attracting new faculty and alumni dom just as your parents and your grandto the University — and when it opens, he parents did for you,” he said. told students, “Don’t worry. We won’t hire Quoting the late Prof. Carl Sagan, who away Happy Dave to swipe cards at the din- taught astronomy and space sciences at ing halls [at the tech campus].” Cornell from 1971 to 1996, Bloomberg Cornell’s legacy as a land-grant institu- said, “‘Somewhere, something incredible is tion, Bloomberg said, made it “only fitting” waiting to happen.’ [Sagan] may have been the University won the competition. talking about the origins of the universe, President Abraham Lincoln, who signed but he very well may have been talking the Morrill Act of 1862 — enabling land about our lives. And as you leave these ivycovered walls, a new grant colleges to world is waiting for be created — “I would say [the tech campus] you.” arguably ”did Bloomberg urged more to advance is the biggest thing that has the American eco- happened to Cornell in decades.” soon-to-be graduates to “go out and find nomic growth … new experiences than any president Michael Bloomberg and insights” beyond before or since,” Cornell. Travel wherBloomberg said. The president, in passing the act, also ever you can; read wherever you go; be “made your Cornell experience possible,” skeptical; and stand up for your beliefs, Bloomberg said, adding, “Don’t forget especially when they are not popular, he said. that.” “Remember that most people who have “The challenge before you as you go out before the world is not to preserve changed the world have first been ridiculed [Lincoln’s] legacy but to expand it. There’s or dismissed, and remember that this great an enormous amount of work to be done University, and our country, was not built and we know we can’t sit back and wait for by timid minds but by grand hopes and Washington [D.C.] to do it,” Bloomberg bold actions,” Bloomberg said. As he concluded his address to the said. There are medical advances to be discov- crowd, he asked graduating students to do ered; young students who must be educat- “one small favor” for him at midnight: ed; tyrants abroad who must be fought; and “Raise your glasses to the memory of Palms equal rights, including “the right to love o’clock and the future that is yours to disand marry whoever you wish,” to be advo- cover.” “Congratulations, good luck and cated in the country, he said. Although the challenges that face gradu- remember, if you are moving to New York ates beyond Cornell have never been City, I get the couch. Go Big Red!” he said. resolved quickly or easily, Bloomberg said that “eventually, in every case, the federal Akane Otani can be reached government has stepped in … and declared at aotani@cornellsun.com.
THE CORNELL DAILY SUN | Monday, August 20, 2012 5
NEWS
Judge: Discrimination Suits Against Ithaca May Proceed
By JEFF STEIN Sun Managing Editor
A previous version of this article originally appeared on cornellsun.com on May 31. In the closing weeks of February 2009, Ithaca Police Chief Ed Vallely reportedly summoned Sgt. Douglas Wright to his office. Vallely needed to appoint someone to the highly-coveted position of lieutenant, and Wright was known to want the job. Wright had reason to be optimistic. He joined the IPD in 1992, was apparently told by the former IPD chief that the post would eventually be his, and, unlike his competition, had never been accused of aiding drug dealers. But Vallely had other plans in mind. At the meeting, Vallely allegedly told Wright, a white officer, that he had to prove that he was a better candidate than Marlon Byrd, a black officer, to get the appointment, according to a discrimination lawsuit recently filed by Wright against the City of Ithaca, the IPD and several city officials. “I need to show clear and convincing evidence why you are the better candidate; otherwise, I have to promote Marlon,” Vallely said at the meeting, according to Wright. He did so in early March, making Byrd a lieutenant despite “evidence of serious criminal allegations” against Byrd, Wright claims. Sworn testimony from 2008 to 2011 indicates that several IPD officers believed Byrd was tipping off drug dealers, according to The Ithaca Journal, though these claims have been disputed. Citing this incident and others, Wright has alleged in a $10.5-million lawsuit that the IPD and City of Ithaca promote policies that “subject male Caucasian employees to
greater scrutiny … and treat them as second class citizens.” In May, Judge Gary Sharpe ruled that the case could proceed, rejecting most of the city’s arguments in its attempt to have the lawsuit dismissed. His decision follows the ruling of Judge Michael Telesca, who in April also ruled that a separate discrimination case against the city could proceed. In that case, former city firefighter Mark Hassan argues that he faced discrimination within the Ithaca Fire Department. In the suit, he says he has been called, among other terms, a “‘towel head’ and ‘dune coon’ and portrayed as prone to violence.” Hassan was fired from the department in 2011 and argues his dismissal was a retaliation against him for raising discrimination claims. Telesca said Hassan “has plausibly alleged claims of employment discrimination and a hostile work environment.” “At this stage, the court finds that plaintiff's allegations are sufficient to plausibly allege [Hassan’s] claims of discrimination,” Telesca’s decision states. But Telesca did throw out certain parts of Hassan’s complaints — one, that the discrimination he purportedly faced amounted to an abridgement of first amendment rights, and, two, that the firefighter’s union breached its duty of representation. Similarly, not all the allegations put forth by Wright in his discrimination suit were permitted by the judge. For instance, Wright claims that his wife, Melissa Wright, was “deprived of her husband’s comfort” due to the city’s discrimination — a claim dismissed by the judge. The cases are just two of the four discrimination lawsuits being fought by the city. Former housing inspector Ramon
Head west, young woman
MATT MUNSEY / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A student is helped by her family as she prepares to move into her West Campus dormitory.
Santana claimed that he was discriminated against, while in a $17-million suit IPD officer Chris Miller says he faced harsher discipline than his non-white colleagues. Taken together, the lawsuits could do significant fiscal harm to an already cashstrapped city. Despite the judges’ rulings, Ithaca’s lawyers have issued defenses of its policies and its officials’ conduct. For instance, in petitioning the judge to dismiss the case, the city’s lawyers say that, even if true, Wright’s allegations do not amount to a racial discrimination claim. Wright was also the second-highest paid employee in the Ithaca police and fire departments in the recent pay period, pulling in more than $100,000, according to SeeThroughNY.net, which gathers information about government expenditures. “Wright has alleged that on two occasions, he was not promoted and that black officers were promoted. He states no purported facts to support his assertion that his race was the reason for these events,” the
city’s lawyers state. “The only purported facts pled to support his claims is the assertion that black candidates were promoted instead of himself.” Likewise, the city’s lawyers contest in their defense brief that Hassan’s allegations do not constitute discrimination. “The lack of any alleged factual nexus between the alleged stray comments and the discipline imposed on [Hassan] is fatal to his claims,” the brief states. “Vague assertions that certain epithets have been used — mostly by unspecified individuals at unspecified times over the course of plaintiff’s 10year tenure with the city — do nothing to suggest that the discipline imposed on Plaintiff was discriminatory, and indeed constitute nothing more than a springboard for a disgruntled employee to continue harassing his employers and co-workers with a frivolous lawsuit.” Jeff Stein can be reached at managing-editor@cornellsun.com.
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6 THE CORNELL DAILY SUN | Monday, August 20, 2012
NEWS
Doctor Said Student Had Flu a Day Before Her Death MENINGITIS
Continued from page 1
later that day. On Sunday, Gannett Health Services posted a statement on its website warning students of the dangers of meningitis. The Post-Star, Depew’s hometown newspaper, reported May 27 that Depew had meningitis at the time of her death. Quoting Marsha Depew, Krista’s mother, the paper said that Krista had complained of not feeling well before she returned home to Argyle, N.Y., from her first year at Cornell. According to the paper, Marsha Depew said Krista felt sick after playing ball with her nieces on May 24. On May 25, the story continues, she was told by a doctor that she probably had the flu. She died May 26. Marsha Depew is also quoted in the paper as saying that Krista received a vaccination against meningitis. The disease is known to strike quickly and often suddenly, according to WebMD. According to the American College Health Association, 70 to 80 percent of cases of meningitis are caused by “potentially vaccinepreventable strains” in people between the ages of 15 and 24. However, Depew, who had been vaccinated against meningitis, still contracted the disease. “It is true that this vaccination does not prevent all cases of
stay informed
meningococcal disease,” Sharon Dittman, associate director for community relations for Gannett, said. “But it is highly effective against four of the five most common strains of [meningitis].” It is unknown which strain Depew was carrying, according to Dittman, who said this information is “personal … [and] will be determined by the hospital that treated her.” First-year college students living in residence halls are at a “higher risk” of contracting meningococcal meningitis, a disease which comes in several forms, than the general population, according to Gannett’s website. Although Cornell is not at any greater risk for meningitis now –– according to reports from health officials from New York State, as well as from Tompkins and Washington Counties –– Dittman still emphasized the importance of informing the public about the disease. “We want people to know the signs and symptoms and the importance of seeking medical care as soon as possible when those symptoms arise,” Dittman said. “[Meningitis] is a very rare disease, but we are reminded this week just how serious it is.” Dittman said Gannett intends to reach out to individuals who were close to Depew at the time of her death. Kerry Close can be reached at kclose@cornellsun.com.
Students Say Deceased Student Was‘True Friend’ DEPEW
Continued from page 1
typical weekend for Depew would include spending time studying, working at the dairy barn and going to church, Goetz said. Aside from her other obligations, Goetz said, Depew would also be sure to make time to see her friends. “Really, the first word that comes to mind when I think about Krista is loyalty. She would do anything for the many people she loved, and they felt the same way. During the second semester, when the pledge process disrupted and ended many friendships, Krista remained loyal to all of her friends,” Goetz said. “She really went out of her way to foster went out of her way to foster these friendships.” Liz Harrington ’15, a member of Alpha Phi who was also Depew’s hallmate, said that people knew Depew as “the life of the party.” According to Harrington,
however, she was “so much more than that”; Depew was also a reliable person “her friends could count on for anything and everything.” “If you needed someone to go on an outrageous adventure in the middle of finals week with, Krista was your girl. If you simply needed a friend, Krista would be there in a second,” Harrington said. “Krista always had her friends' backs no matter what.” Aside from her loyalty to her friends, Harrington said, Depew was very personable, and could get along with “all types of people.” “Krista couldn't care less about status or stereotypes. She formed her opinions of people solely by her experiences with them,” Harrington said. Stephen Love ’14 said Depew would go out of her way to help her friends. One of his favorite memories of her, he said, was when Depew joined his intramural water polo team even though
would have freaked out, but she thought it was hilarious,” Love said. Love said that even though he had thrown Depew into the pool, “she had this smile that was so huge and sincere that I knew she wasn't mad.” Another close “She was a bright, caring, fun-loving, friend, Heather beautiful, down-to-earth girl who Hunt ’15, r e m e m b e r ed was just so full of life, which makes feeling at ease her death all the more tragic.” with Depew even at their very Conor Goetz ’15 first meeting and thought she “could see myself first night the team played, Depew being friends with [her].” Recalling staying up all night joked about trying to keep her hair dry during the game. She had suc- with Depew taking care of cows cessfully kept her hair from getting before Cornell’s annual sale, Hunt wet by the end of the game, Love said “we froze our butts off in the said, but “as she was getting ready barn but managed to make it a fun to go ... I picked her up and night.” When they spent nights out dunked her in.” “Most girls who spend that together, Hunt said they would much time keeping their hair dry lose each other and end up at different places “before we knew it,” but still would have fun. Hunt said Depew had a “crazy” personality, and could “pull off life with hard work and not let a bad test get to [her].” Despite having to juggle a busy social life with her academics and extracurricular activities, Depew “pulled it off like a champ,” Hunt said. “There wasn’t a part of [her] life [she] didn’t fill with sarcastic humor,” Hunt added. “[She] had all those characteristics a girl wishes she had rolled into one. A true friend and loving heart.” Friends described Depew as being not only genuine and loyal, but also exceptionally cheerful and positive. Goetz, echoing Hunt, said friends loved her personality. “She was a bright, caring, funloving, beautiful, down-to-earth girl who was just so full of life, which makes her death all the more tragic,” Goetz said. Depew’s friends cherished her, and, according to Harrington, “Krista was truly a unique girl, and I respect and admire her greatly. She will truly be missed.” Depew’s funeral took place Wednesday in Argyle, N.Y.
she was working at the opposite side of campus before the team’s games. “Playing with us was going out of her way, but she did it anyways,” Love said. He continued, saying that the
Jeff Stein contributed reporting to this article. Akane Otani can be reached at aotani@cornellsun.com.
THE CORNELL DAILY SUN | Monday, August 20, 2012 7
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OPINION
Hope? Nope! A
lot has happened this summer that I would love to write about. The Supreme Court’s Obamacare decision; the Fast and Furious controversy; the premiere of Newsroom — Aaron Sorkin’s god-awful new show that I cannot stop watching; the selection of Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney’s running mate; and most importantly, Romney’s ballet-dancing horse finished a disappointing 28th in the London Olympics. But there is something that has been at the back of my mind the past few months and here it is: I’m just not that excited to vote for Barack Obama this November. Don’t get me wrong, I am going to vote for Obama and
care plan) and 66 percent of Americans professed to be worried about climate change. On top of that, the President-tobe was a charismatic leader who could finally communicate the benefits of smart-government to a country ready for change after decades of supply-side economics and deregulation. I was giddy. I expected that by 2012 I would be looking at a country that had passed universal health care, climate change regulations, strong financial reform and used the depressed economy to enact a “Second New Deal,” investing around $1.5 trillion into our shoddy infrastructure and education. Needless to say, the last four years have not worked out as I hoped. The economy remains sluggish — a result of a stimulus package, half of whose contents were tax breaks total Plain sum wasandnotwhose enough to Hokum dig us out of the Great Recession. Financial reform was passed, but is a 2,300 page monstrosity. Instead of responding to the vast financial complexity that led to the crisis in the first place with simple regulatory guidelines, Congress tried to out-confuse the banks with their labyrinthine legislation. Obamacare was passed, and it is more-or-less a vanilla law that attempts to both provide near-universal healthcare and bend the healthcare cost curve over the coming decades. It’s a technocratic piece of legislation, exceedingly similar to the one passed by my former Governor (Mitt Romney) that seemed to be working well enough for my family back home in the People’s Republic of Massachusetts. However, the Democrats did such a horrible job of selling Obamacare to the American people that its unpopularity, combined with the underperforming economy, cost them their House majority and almost cost them their Senate majority in 2010. Virginia Foxx, a Republican Congresswoman, actually said these words on the floor of the House of Representatives: “I believe we have more to fear from [Obamacare] passing than we do from any terrorist right now in any country.”
Noah Karr-Kaitin
feel assured in doing so, in the same way that my conservative friends will feel assured in voting for Romney. I will not, however, be voting for Obama with the same enthusiasm that I, and a large swath of the country, felt in 2008. Coming of age in the Bush administration, as my generation did, provided a frightening picture of what government can do — in a negative sense. We witnessed two bloody wars turn into quagmires, saw our country torture both foreign captives and deny habeas corpus rights to our own citizens. We watched as corruption after corruption investigation lead to countless elected officials resigning in disgrace and — most tragically of all — we watched as Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt’s marriage came to an end. As somebody of the more liberal persuasion, I also was forced to watch my home state’s second best senator — John Kerry — lose a presidential election. Fast-forward to November 2008. The economy is in ruins, the war in Iraq is almost universally considered a cataclysmic failure, health care reform was popular (as even Republican John McCain proposed a sort-of-universal health
She actually said that! Now, it is possible that she was just taunting terrorists everywhere … But, even if she was, there were plenty of people saying equally ridiculous things (see: Palin, Sarah). Looking toward the next four years, there is little space for optimism, and that’s why I’m not so excited to cast my ballot this time around. My conservative friends are quick to point out that I was foolish for being so optimistic about President Obama, and they are partially correct. One man can only accomplish so much, and our political system is not designed to allow for rapid change. Yet, the constant filibustering, the hyperbole and the outand-out lying that characterized the last four years of opposition has to make Americans of all political stripes sick to their stomachs. It just has to. If President Obama is reelected, I expect more of the same. There is no reason to expect an end to the petty fighting and sniping from both sides of the isle. The filibuster will ensure little is achieved in the way of progress. And polling indicates that Republicans will likely keep control of the House. Even those who disagree with much of what I support politically have little to look forward to. If Governor Romney is elected and Republicans grab control of the Senate, the next four years will be defined by Democrats in the Senate filibustering Republican bills, Republicans calling them unpatriotic for filibustering said bills, Democrats reminding said Republicans that they are the ones who won the 2012 Olympic Gold Medal in competitive filibustering, and maybe a war with Iran. Obviously I’m being glib and simplistic. There are real issues at stake in this election — issues that are worth debating and discussing. But, I bet my predictions aren’t really all that far off, and that’s frightening. As a liberal, I suppose I’d prefer the scenario where President Obama is reelected. But, borrowing from Obama’s 2008 campaign slogan, do I have much hope? Nope. Noah Karr-Kaitin is a senior in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He may be reached at nkarrkaitin@cornellsun.com. Plain Hokum appears alternate Mondays this semester.
Russian Court Puts Pussy Riot In Crucible for Punk Hooliganism T
he upcoming film production of Anna Karenina clocks in at a little over two hours, an impressive achievement considering that Tolstoy took more than 800 pages to tell his story. It seems that in Russia, it’s not only the master novelists who are long-winded. Marina Syrova, the judge in the trial of the female punk band Pussy Riot, took three hours to deliver her verdict last Friday. The crime and punishment are both clear: The three 20-something band members (two of whom are mothers) will each serve two years in a penal colony; they turned the altar at a Moscow cathedral into a makeshift music video set for their protest-as-prayer song “Virgin Mary, Put Putin Away” this February. As the length of the verdict suggests, what exactly the women were found guilty of is more complicated. The charge was hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. The term hooliganism might invite a few wry smiles or laughs, which was exactly the reaction of the women from the glass cage they were confined to for the duration of the trial. The whole scene mildly resembled the Salem Witch Trials more than three centuries ago. Hooliganism is not poorly translated Russian but an actual crime that was codified in 1960. Judge Syrova defined hooliganism as open disrespect and defiance against the communally expected norms and the tastes of others and driven by acts of hatred or degradation of any given social or national or religious group, as translated by the Guardian. The lyrics to “Punk Prayer” are indeed sacrilegious: “Shit, shit, the Lord’s shit!” Perhaps that’s bad editing or a feminist jab, because primarily, the band is protesting Putin and secondarily, the politicization of the Russian
Orthodox Church that has been a boon to Putin’s hold on power. Another line from the song, “The head of the KGB, their chief saint/Leads protesters to prison under escort,” refers to Putin and Kirill I, the church patriarch, and guesses at the band’s own fate. This is a point Pussy Riot’s supporters have picked up on. In Kiev, a topless activist with FREE RIOT written on her chest felled a wooden cross with a chainsaw and hurriedly said, “No institution, even such a successful one as the church, has the right to violate women’s rights,” before fleeing the scene because “We don’t have freedom yet.” Judge Syrova found offense in the vague feminist message of the lyrics: “Virgin Mary, Mother of God, become a feminist.” She acknowledged that gender equality is upheld by the Russian constitution but insomuch that Orthodox Christianity does not support feminism, the protest was deemed a hate crime because it made one political movement superior to another. The judge is certainly right in saying that the incident sparked enmity between punk feminists and members of the Church (the women visiting or working at the cathedral were stunned and mortified by the scene) but to arrest and imprison the women is to place the Church above the law and the people. The verdict essentially reinforces Pussy Riot’s point that the Church has become a political actor with passes from the president and judiciary to violate the constitutional rights of citizens. The women themselves fully realized the corruption of the trial. In her closing statement, translated by Chto Delat News, Yekaterina Samutsevich accepts personal losses for the band members but celebrates a win
for the cause because “the system cannot conceal the repressive nature of this trial.” The Guardian reported that the judge ruled out the band members’ testimony as false because it was an attempt to evade justice, and the New York Times reported that the defense was denied expert witnesses and eyewitnesses, while the prosecution was allowed witnesses
befallen Russian activists in the wake of Putin’s re-ascendance to power. In December, tens of thousands protested Putin’s September announcement that he would seek a third term as president, and in May, tens of thousands protested again against his inauguration. The increasing use of force against protesters, including outside
Jing Jin Ringing True who had viewed the incident only by video. Even more incomprehensibly, Judge Syrova charged the band with broadcasting their demonstration to the public through media outlets and bloggers. What protester wouldn’t try to crank up the figurative or literal megaphone? The judge is celebrating their victory when she complains that they added insult to injury. Indeed, Pussy Riot garnered attention and support throughout countries in Eastern Europe and the Western World, with protesters donning balaclavas — ski-masks, usually neon, sometimes DIY — in solidarity. Music megastars Madonna, Paul McCartney, Bono and Yoko Ono are among those who have sung in support for these women, their talent notwithstanding. As expected, state officials, foreign embassies and human rights organizations have also chimed in. The band has succeeded in drawing international attention to the growing suppression of dissent that has
the courtroom of the Pussy Riot trial, and especially against those who are peaceably demonstrating makes hooligans out of the police. Taken together, the crackdowns, followed by a new law against unauthorized demonstrations, followed by the disproportionately harsh sentence for an offensive but harmless protest spell a trend toward less leniency for political dissenters. Putin told reporters in London that he thought “the girls” shouldn’t be judged too severely, but the verdict is out. And, now many more eyes are on Russia, which is a good thing for emboldened writers, musicians and activists, who may not all have foreign celebrities backing them.
Jing Jin is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. She may be reached at jjin@cornellsun.com. Ringing True appears alternate Mondays this semester.
A&E
12 | The Corne¬ Daily Sun | Monday, August 20, 2012
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The 2012 Governors Ball:
One Chillfest to Rule Them All
PHOTOS BY ZACHARY ZAHOS / SUN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
BY SYDNEY RAMSDEN AND ZACHARY ZAHOS Sun Dining Editor and Sun Arts & Entertainment Editor
This article first appeared on cornellsun.com on June 29. “We’ve done a lot of festivals, and this is the most chill one we’ve ever done.” And with this remark would Cults guitarist Brian Oblivion capture Day 2 of New York City’s Governors Ball, situated on the East River’s Randall’s Island. It would be safe to say that Day 1 of the fest was every college campus’ dream lineup, with acts like Santigold, Major Lazer, Passion Pit and Kid Cudi all on the same bill (apparently the festival’s organizers are tight with CCC). But Day 2 boasted big names that united fiercely loyal fans mostly for the sake of nostalgia. Many of the acts, like freak-folkster Devendra Banhart and ’90s rock outfit Built to Spill, both of whom haven’t released LPs since 2009, were not there to self-promote, relying solely on their past (but much adored) work. But that’s not to say that festival goers weren’t treated to newer bands who have solidified themselves as indie mainstays for the Coachella generation. Of the more recent acts at the Governors Ball, boy-girl techno-pop duo Cults fit the sunny, carefree vibe of the weekend perfectly. Straying from awkward onstage banter except for a mousey “thank you” from singer Madeline Follin after nearly every song, the band, sporting identical long and unkempt black hair, launched into bouncy dance number / murder mystery “Abducted” and maintained a steady energy throughout the set before closing with breakout hit “Go Outside.” After heavier sets from The Jezabels and Phantogram, native New Yorkers Cults, who only hold one LP to their name, set the tone for what would be a (mostly) mellow afternoon of blasts from the ’90s alt past. Perhaps the most talked-about, non-headlining name of the lineup belonged to a certain Fiona Apple. The notoriously outspoken yet mysterious songstress was welcomed to the stage with a Latin-tinged intro by her stellar backup band before opening with “Fast As You Can” off her sophomore effort When the Pawn... The opener was the first in a set dedicated primarily to tracks off Apple’s previous albums rather than her newly-released fourth record The Idler Wheel..., hence the enormously enthusiastic reaction from the equally enormous crowd that sang along with each number. Apple also seldom sat at her signature instrument, sticking mainly to the microphone in the center of the stage. But the performance’s lack of showiness or
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
acrobatics was more than appropriate, even during playful numbers like “Extraordinary Machine.” Even as she predictably ended the set with the career-defining girl-power hit “Criminal,” she effortlessly fixated the audience with her smoky, robust vocals that, aside from brief hoarseness, just refused to give out. The sheer power that her voice evoked even got her biggest fans to stop singing and just listen. Cutthroat anticipation — read: impatient shoving — welcomed the not so serene but perhaps more exciting Modest Mouse set that followed. The Modest Mouse fanbase is an incredibly diverse and passionate collective, reciting the lyrics to every song, and sometimes shouting them, like the “This plane is definitely crashing!!!” that opens “Shit Luck.” Isaac Brock and Co. breezed through a 14-song retrospective of their career, from hits like “Fire It Up” to older gems like “Custom Concern.” Live performances always sound different than the studio versions, but the band added minor tweaks to some songs’ structure, like starting the verse of “Dashboard” on an upbeat, giving it a bouncy feel. “Gravity Rides Everything,” a personal favorite from their seminal The Moon & Antarctica, bares raw when stripped of that backwards-looped intro accomplished in studio post-production, sounding vulnerable and open even in a sweaty festival setting. Despite some rowdiness prior to the band’s arrival, there was a welcoming, communal vibe pulsing for the set’s duration. One girl was just blowing bubbles the whole time, without pause. And when one drunk fan threw a punch at another, a gap instantly widened between the brawlers and filled with a half dozen folks eager to peacefully break up the fight. One dude subsequently yelled, “This is fucking Modest Mouse — chill the fuck out!” He belted the mood of the night. Headliner Beck, backed by an absolutely fantastic band of familiar faces from tours past, brought a mixed bag of his Mellow Gold-era bizzaro sound collages and his chiller, more mature and polished tracks from albums like Guero
and Modern Guilt, his last full L.P. Playing for an understandably sleepy (yet surprisingly sparse) crowd for his first New York City show in four years, Beck undoubtedly proved the timelessness of his extensive discography. Unlike his past shows of the early 2000s that featured marionettes and spastic dancing, Beck’s set at the Governors Ball was totally void of gimmick and all about the music. The guy himself even shrouded his face with shaggy hair under a fedora and was, for the most part, glued to the mic, guitar strapped to his chest. The performance was evidently in three acts: the first was dedicated to the more recent Guero, The Information and Modern Guilt, the middle solely to ballads from token breakup album Sea Change and the last to the eclectic, nonsensical raps from Mellow Gold and Odelay that solidified Beck as a god to dudes across America in the mid- to late-90s. But despite the obvious presence of the set’s three distinct parts, the songs he pulled from each era of his sweeping catalogue, from tongue-incheek lo-fi rap “Loser” to somber ballad “The Golden Age” to synth pop ditty “Girl,” molded together seamlessly. Beneath the overall weirdness of his sound, Beck’s music has an undeniable intelligence, from the intricately crafted riffs and arrangements to the slyly profound lyrics. Beck’s lasting relevance as well as the crowd’s appreciation for his performance despite a lack of any new material for over four years is more of a testament to the timelessness of his music than anything else. And if the Governors Ball continues to recruit big names without big commitments, this New York chillfest may continue to offer some beautiful respite during the hectic summer festival season. Sydney Ramsden is a junior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She can be contacted at dining-editor@cornellsun.com. Zachary Zahos is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. He can be reached at arts-and-entertainment-editor@cornellsun.com.
A&E
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Monday, August 20, 2012 | The Corne¬ Daily Sun | 13
Sit-Down Comedy
rior to last August, my life was exceedingly boring. approximately 250 audience members that she simply I am not exaggerating when I say that I spent near- couldn’t bring herself to tell silly jokes about a bee passly all my weekends in high school on the couch ing her on the 405 freeway with this in her life. with my cat, Theo, watching Doctor Who. So freshman She continued on to tell us how, not only does she year came as a bit of a shock to my system. I had an have breast cancer, but also her mother just died. And amazing time, but in May I was looking forward to on top of that, she just went through a heavy break-up. some relaxing quality time with Theo. I did, however, As if all that wasn’t enough, she had just gotten over an decide to take advantage of living in L.A. and get out of infection in her intestine that caused the already petite the house some more. By the end of the summer, I had woman to lose 30 pounds. a few more freckles and the unexpected pleasure of havI know that all that doesn’t sound like it would make ing seen a variety of remarkable comedians. a particularly amusing night at the comedy club, but, I watched SNL cast member Taran Killam perform amazingly, it did. Tig joked about all of it not as though some incredible improv, Sarah Silverman reduce an she were taking it lightly, but that she knew it was out audience to cackling fits and superb sets from Patton of her control and now the only thing left to do was to Oswalt, Bill Burr, Moshe Kasher, Bo Burnham, Nick feel better. I’m not going to try and describe any of her Thune, comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates (Riki jokes from that night because I know I won’t be able to Linholme and Kate Micucci), Anthony Jeselnik, Todd do them justice, so you are just going to have to take my Glass, Jeff Garlin, Ed Helms and Louis C.K. But over- word for it. You can also take Louis C.K.’s word for it. shadowing all of these comedy gods was Tig Notaro, He tweeted the next day, “In 27 years doing this, I’ve delivering the greatest seen a handful of truly stand-up set I have ever great, masterful stand-up seen. sets. One was Tig Notaro Tig Notaro has long been last night at Largo.” I didn’t one of my favorite comedistop laughing for a ans. She has a bit called “No moment, although each Moleste,” which you should punch line also made me all go find on YouTube tear up a little bit. It was Carrot Top immediately. But the set she comedy and tragedy and it performed on August 3 was was brilliant. Confessions simply brilliant. It was part We all have heard that of a show called, “Tig has there is truth in comedy. Friends.” Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe from 24) went Comedians have the difficult and vitally important job first and was followed by Ed Helms (Andy Bernard on of talking about things that are unpleasant to talk about The Office and famed fictional Cornell alumnus). After and do it such a way that makes us want to discuss Helms finished, he introduced Tig, who was greeted them. Under normal circumstances, I would probably with warm applause. “Thank you, thank you. I have not want to spend my evening hearing about cancer, cancer, thank you, I have cancer, really, thank you,” she even though it is a topic that is on our minds. When said. comedy is done right, it shouldn’t just make us laugh so The applause quickly died out and turned into hard we can barely breathe. It should hit those personal uncomfortable laughter as the audience wondered if she notes that make us reflect on our own lives. was serious or not. It turned out she was. Notaro had After that glorious example of stand-up comedy at its been diagnosed with breast cancer in both breasts just finest, I did do a fair amount of reflecting on the past days before she went up on that stage. She told the year of my life, which has been the most eventful one by
Julia Moser
COURTESY OF TIGNOTARO.COM
far. My freshman year was wonderful, but it wasn’t without unhappy moments (nothing compared to the couple of months Tig has had). And though there are many lessons one can take from Tig Notaro’s beautiful set, the one I am going to take is that some tragedies can reach comedy, even without the onus of time. Because of Tig, my New Academic School Year Resolution is to stop wallowing over those moments. Tig reminded me that comedy and tragedy are not opposing concepts. If Tig can turn a truly tragic situation into the best stand-up comedy I have ever seen, and probably will ever see, I can certainly turn a bad day into something I chuckle about the next day. And now I’ve had about as much peace and quiet (and time with Theo) as I can take and am excited to go back to Ithaca. I will certainly be keeping an eye on Tig Notaro’s career (as should you) as she moves to New York to be a writer on comedian Amy Schumer’s new show, among other projects. I will also be sending her warm thoughts. No matter how funny tragedy can be, I think Tig has had enough. Julia Moser is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at jmoser@cornellsun.com. Carrot Top Confessions appears alternate Mondays this semester.
Beauty and the Beasts of the Southern Wild COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX
Part Malick-esque meditation on man's relationship with nature, part magical folk tale and part coming of age story, Beasts of the Southern Wild is a true triumph in the This article first appeared on cornellsun.com on July 17. fusion of striking realism and creativity. Director Behn The Sundance Film Festival has given American cul- Zeitlin (only 29 years old) miraculously succeeds in placture noted gems such as Reservoir Dogs, Sex, Lies, and ing a traditional father-daughter tale in the backdrop of Videotape, and Little Miss Sunshine. But now, the Utah both a decaying ecosystem and a modern myth. What indie showcase has granted us perhaps its greatest gift in could have been a patronizing post-Hurricane Katrina lecBeasts of the Southern Wild. ture is instead a true work of art, narrowing in on a largeHushpuppy (Quvenzhane Wallis) and her father, Wink ly ignored subculture of America with both nuance and (Dwight Henry), live in The Bathtub, a small, lawless imagination. Zeitlin's choice to have Hushpuppy's exisisland beyond the levees of New Orleans. The residents of tential narration play over gorgeous shots of nature could The Bathtub are joyful outcasts of society, living in have been a pretentious disaster but manages to fit seamsqualor but finding joy in nature, drinking and dancing. lessly because of the honesty of the filmmaking. When a sudden storm arrives, Eight-year-old Quvenzhane some Bathtub residents, includWallis astonishes in the central Beasts of the Southern Wild ing Hushpuppy and her father, performance as Hushpuppy, choose to stay put. Coinciding accomplishing more in a single Directed by Behn Zeitlin with the storm's arrival is the look than most professional Featuring Quvenzhane reckoning of mythical creatures adult actors will probably Wallis and Dwight Henry known as "aurochs," fierce bullachieve throughout their entire like beasts that have been released careers. Though we do not by the imbalance of nature and know how much Wallis could are now coming to eat Hushpuppy. With her town have accomplished without her director, excellent child destroyed and her father falling ill, Hushpuppy must learn performances are a rare breed and this one will not be forto live on her own and face the impending arrival of the gotten come Oscar season. Meanwhile, Dwight Henry, in "aurochs," all while the world falls apart around her. the sometimes despicable role of Wink, adds a wonderful BY JASON GOLDBERG Sun Staff Writer
A+
authenticity that elevates a character that could have merely been a stereotype. The score is both epic and haunting. Combining New Orleans jazz with the transcendent sounds of nature, Dan Romer and Benh Zeitlin create a beautiful soundtrack with a memorable theme that speaks true to the tone of the film. I was lucky enough to attend a screening with a surprise Q&A from Zeitlin, the true mastermind behind this extraordinary little film. Zeitlin shared his experience from spontaneously working on a short film in Louisiana that eventually became Beasts of the Southern Wild. The director selected Wallis over thousands of young girls, seeing something in the young actress that clearly stood apart from all the others. The filming of the movie coincided with the BP oil spill, leading to a tumultuous filming schedule and illuminating some of the environmental warnings that the film presents. Zeitlin's energy and passion for the project was evident, and a true testament that young filmmakers are finding new ways to be creative when telling stories. Beasts of the Southern Wild is an Americana modern masterpiece, and one that should not be missed under any circumstances. Jason Goldberg is a junior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He can be reached at jgg57@cornell.edu.
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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 No. on a utility bill 5 Show of affection 9 Dust and grime 13 Old woman’s home, in a nursery rhyme 14 Capital NNW of Copenhagen 15 TV’s Uncle Miltie 16 *Place to prop a pillow 18 Win by __ 19 St. Francis’s home 20 Emulate Georgia O’Keeffe 21 Well-suited 22 Luck of the draw 25 French girlfriend 27 Deadlocked 29 *Vital central section of a country 31 Sawbones 34 Joint-bending ballet move 35 Actor Beatty 36 Youth organization whose focus areas begin the answers to starred clues 39 Leave openmouthed 42 Oklahoma tribe 43 Spread here and there 47 *Effortless way to win 50 Length x width, for a rectangle 51 Wheel holder 52 “... nothing to fear but fear __” 55 Unspecified high degree 56 Bundled, as hay 58 Pretenses 60 Chutzpah 61 *Recuperative resort 64 Raring to go 65 Part of ISBN: Abbr. 66 Resting on 67 Small bills 68 Barely passing grades 69 Spoil, with “on” DOWN 1 Bat wood 2 Any product at a dollar store
3 Rolled with the engine off 4 “Bill & __ Bogus Journey” 5 __ ball: rubber toy fad of the ’80s 6 Old Testament prophet 7 Camera type, for short 8 Roll-your-own grass 9 “It wasn’t me,” e.g. 10 Armored superhero 11 “Goosebumps” series author 12 Casual shirt 15 Sheep’s bleat 17 Ballpoint brand 20 Hazards 21 24-hr. cash source 23 Brothers of nieces 24 Differential or integral math subj. 26 Onetime Leno announcer Hall 28 “What’s the __?”: “Seems the same to me” 30 German: Abbr. 32 Lovey-dovey murmurs
33 Surpassed in performance 37 Ginger or ginseng 38 Lingerie top 39 “I get it!” 40 Yellow-podded veggie 41 Make bigger 44 Che’s given name 45 Slippery area to mop up 46 “Let’s not” 48 Probes, with “into”
49 Prove false 53 Calm spells 54 Strong and healthy 57 Suffix with auction 59 Herring known for its roe 60 Recent: Pref. 61 Stayed out of sight 62 WSW opposite 63 Mimic
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Greek Awards Ceremony 2012 Winners Outstanding Chapter Alpha Zeta Beta Theta Pi Delta Chi Sigma Alpha Mu Kappa Alpha Theta Kappa Delta Delta Gamma Lambda Theta Phi Kappa Phi Lambda Delta Sigma Theta Most Improved Chapter Alpha Epsilon Phi Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Sigma Phi Sigma Chi Delta Outstanding Service to the Community Kappa Alpha Theta Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Sigma Phi Delta Tau Delta Zeta Psi Kappa Phi Lambda Alpha Phi Outstanding Facility Management Kappa Alpha Theta Sigma Phi Epsilon Theta Delta Chi Outstanding Faculty Fellow Program Delta Chi Delta Tau Delta Sigma Chi Delta Sigma Phi Epsilon Outstanding Cultural Program Beta Theta Pi Kappa Phi Lambda Lambda Theta Alpha Omega Phi Beta Theta Delta Chi Kappa Delta Outstanding New Member Program Alpha Zeta Beta Theta Pi Delta Tau Delta Alpha Phi Alpha Kappa Phi Lambda Kappa Delta Kappa Alpha Theta Outstanding Social Responsibility Beta Theta Pi Sigma Alpha Mu Kappa Alpha Theta Kappa Phi Lambda
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Dream Team Has Edge Over 2012 Olympic Squad TOLEDO
Continued from page 32
for the gold this summer had seven NBA players — one of whom is a 2-time NBA champion. I’m not going to say which team would win, but it would be one hell of a game. What I am saying is that when you compare these two teams and the state of basketball in the NBA, it’s apples and oranges. The truth is that comparing the two teams is somewhat problematic due to the 2001 NBA rules changes. The NBA that the Dream Team played in is not the same NBA that the 2012 team plays in now. The changes approved in 2001 focused on speeding up the game and eliminating slow isolation play. Speed and versatility are two very important attributes to have in the NBA today. If you have ever watched the Thunder or Heat play, especially their movement up and down the court and their transition game, they’re like a bunch of racehorses running up and down the court. Not to say the Dream Team was slow, but this year’s Olympic squad was full of young, athletic, multi-position players. Consider all the point guards on the team: Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Most experts agreed that the Dream Team’s size would be a distinct advantage over that of the 2012 squad — with David Robinson and Patrick Ewing standing above seven feet and Tyson Chandler being the only 7-footer on this year’s team. Ever since George Mikan first stepped on a basketball court and owned the paint, big men like Mikan, Russell, Wilt, Kareem and Shaq have dominated the game. The truth is that the NBA today has moved away from having dominant big men anchoring the teams. If you don’t believe me, then quickly name the starting center for the Heat team that
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just took the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to Miami. Ya, I didn’t think so. With a speed emphasis growing in the NBA, it’s no wonder why my Lakers — with two very highly skilled 7-footers in Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum — were run off the court by Oklahoma City. Teams that play with a low post isolation emphasis are just not in line with the direction in which the NBA is moving. Another argument for the ’92 team is that every player on the team, with the exception of Christian Laettner, has been enshrined in the hall of fame. Members of the Dream Team have pointed this out and tried to calm down the young bucks that just won gold in London. Despite that fact, the Dream Team players have the unfair advantage of all being retired, so we’ve seen their careers play out. We haven’t had the same luxury from this current squad. Kobe Bryant is the only member of the 2012 team who is older than 30 and the only one who is nearing the end of his career. When it’s all said and done, the members of the 2012 squad should all definitely have a spot in the hall of fame waiting for them. Basketball traditionalists can have their Dream Team. I was only one year old when they played in Barcelona, so I can’t exactly say I was part of the generation that watched those players during their legendary careers. Call me blasphemous, but I think I’m going to have to say that the 2012 London games squad for the U.S. is the team I’d rather watch. These are the players whose careers I’ve been able to witness in my prime as an NBA fan. But as far as comparing which team is better, it’s apples and oranges. Juan Carlos Toledo can be contacted at jtoledo@cornell.edu. Showtime at the Forum appears alternate weeks this semester.
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SPORTS
BASEBALL
Cornell Caps Historic Season With NCAA Run By SCOTT CHIUSANO Sun Assistant Sports Editor
OLIVER KLIEWE / SUN SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Welcome back | Rob Pannell will return to play for the Red during the 2013 spring season, after receiving approval from the Ivy League Executive Director about a fifth-year eligibility waiver in early August.
Pannell Awarded Medical Redshirt
By LAUREN RITTER Sun Sports Editor
In late May Brendan Staudt initially broke news on InLaxWeTrust.com that midfielder Rob Pannell would be forgoing graduating and would instead apply for a medical redshirt. On August 2, the Cornell Department of Athletics and Physical Education announced that Pannell has been granted a fifth-year eligibility waiver through the Ivy League Office. He will return to East Hill to play for the Red and to complete degree requirements in the spring 2013 semester. Pannell exploded out of the gates in the first game of the spring 2012 season, notching 10 points (6 goals, 4 assists) against visiting Binghamton and contributing to a 17-12 victory for the Red. The senior captain and midfielder seemed on par to have a strong final year with the Red; however, in the second game of the season against Army on March 3, Pannell suffered an injury to his left foot — despite contributing 6 points (1 goal, 5 assists) to Cornell’s 18-7 landslide. He underwent surgery to mend the broken bone; however, he was never able to return to the lineup. The captain transformed his position of leadership for the Red from a hands -on role of leading by example on the field to being a mentor to the underclassmen from the sidelines. “My goal from the moment that I got hurt was to return to the team during the 2012 season. I was told that I could be back in 6-8 weeks and I pushed myself, hoping that would be the case, but I think that was an overly optimistic timeframe,” Pannell said in a statement. “I ended up reinjuring my foot while rehabbing and at that point it became clear that I could not return to the team. In evaluating my future, my family and I decided that there are many academic oppor-
tunities at Cornell that would better prepare me for a job, so I have chosen to pursue them. I adjusted my academic plan with the University and will return to Cornell in Spring 2013 to complete degree requirements, fulfill a second Applied Economics and Management specialization in strategy, and play lacrosse. In the end, there were many other options out there, but Cornell is home to me and I want to finish what I started.” According to the rules of the Ivy League, eligibility to play beyond four calendar years requires approval by the Executive Director. Other factors that affect approval include the student having an academic enrollment plan that is approved by institutional academic officials. “Our coaching staff is ecstatic that Robert and his family have decided that it is in his best interest to pursue this course of action,” said head coach Ben DeLuca, The Richard M. Moran Head Coach of Men's Lacrosse. “Robert is one of the best leaders and students that I've had the privilege to work with during my time at Cornell. He is a tremendous role model both on and off the field and he has been a phenomenal ambassador for the sport of lacrosse, the Cornell Lacrosse family, our University and the Ivy League.” Pannell is a three-time All-American, a two-time USILA National Attackman of the year and a twotime Ivy League Player of the Year. At the time of his injury, the 2011 USILA National Player of the Year was averaging 8.0 points per game, recording seven goals and nine assists in two games. He ranks second all-time in Cornell history in assists (149), is third overall in points (252) and sixth overall in goals (103).
After a dramatic walk-off homerun by junior Chris Cruz powered the Red to its second Ivy League Championship in program history, the squad headed to Chapel Hill, N.C. for the NCAA Regional Tournament. In its first game, the Red faced off against ACC powerhouse North Carolina. The Tar Heels (46-16, 22-8 ACC) finished the regular season at the top of the Coastal Division of the ACC, but fell to Miami — the ACC’s runner up — in the conference tournament. The Red sent Rick Marks ’12 to the mound for his final start in a Cornell uniform. The righthander held down the explosive Tar Heel offense for the first three innings, only allowing one run, before running into trouble in the fourth. Six North Carolina hits led to four runs in the inning, and Marks was taken out of the game — unable to record the final out. Sophomore Nick Busto relieved him and went on to pitch a scoreless fifth inning. The Red had quickly found itself in a 5-0 hole, with threatening skies overhead. However, in the top of the sixth, the squad’s seniors pieced together an answer. Shortstop Marshall Yanzick ’12 began the inning with an infield hit, then outfielder Brian Billigen ‘12 took advantage of a 2-0 count and put the next pitch he saw over the right-center field fence. Just as the Red looked like it was gaining some momentum, the skies opened up and what began as a rally ended in more than an hour of rain delay. Though Cornell was able to put another run on the board after the delay on an RBI single by sophomore Kevin Tatum, it was not enough to hold down the Tar Heels. North Carolina answered in the bottom of the inning with two runs of its own,
which was all the team needed to secure the win. Though the Red’s bullpen combination kept the Tar Heels at bay, the offense only mustered up one more run in the top of the eighth, falling 7-4. The following day, with its hopes of heading to the NCAA super-regionals on the line, the Red fell to a powerful East Carolina team. Through four innings, the squad led 4-2, powered by RBI singles off the bats of Brandon Lee ’12 and junior Ben Swinford. Though sophomore pitcher Brian McAfee was able to work out of one jam after another for four innings on the hill, he ran into trouble in the fifth — allowing five runs, only three of them earned. The Red offense could not overcome that deficit and eventually fell 10-6. In his last game for Cornell, Lee had another big game at the plate with three hits and an RBI, while junior Tom D’Alessandro chipped in three hits and two RBIs. The loss to East Carolina capped a historic season for the Red, but the accolades did not end there. The baseball team was one of 11 Cornell teams honored by the NCAA for APR scores, which measures semester-bysemester records for every individual team in Division I. Sophomore reliever Kellen Urbon also received some individual honors, as he was picked by the NCBWA to the FirstTeam Freshman All-American and named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. Just two weeks after the NCAA regionals, Billigen — whose .361 average and consistent play in center field led the Red all season — signed a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, putting him into a mix of 14 Ivy League standouts who were drafted this year. Scott Chiusano can be reached at schiusano@cornellsun.com.
LEENA KULKARNI / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Lauren Ritter can be reached at sports-editor@cornellsun.com.
FOOTBALL
NBC Sports Network Will Televise Homecoming By LAUREN RITTER Sun Sports Editor
Pressure may be slightly larger than normal for the Cornell football team as it prepares for its home opener and 2012 Homecoming game against Yale on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. The Red will not only welcome the Bulldogs to Schoellkopf Field, but also camera crews from NBC Sports Network, as the Ivy contest will be nationally televised as part of a doubleheader. Cornell and Yale will be the day’s first game, with Harvard visiting Brown at
4:30 p.m. Cornell and Yale kick off the first of seven Ivy League games that the network plans to air, with an eighth game being televised by CBS Sports Network. The series between the Red and the Bulldogs has largely been in Yale’s favor in recent years, with the New Haven squad claiming eight of the pair’s last 11 meetings and leading the all-time series, 4428-2. Last year, Yale picked up a 31-17 win, despite 271 yards passing and a touchdown by rising junior quarterback and 2011 Ivy League Player of the Year Jeff Mathews. Other recent highlights
between the two programs have included Cornell upsetting the preseason Ivy League favorites, 17-14, at Schoellkopf Field in 2008 and edging out the Bulldogs, 14-12, at the Yale Bowl in 2009. The Red will return 45 letter winners and 19 starters (9 offense, 8 defense, 2 special teams) from last year’s squad, which finished 55 for the year. Cornell opens the 2012 season on Saturday, Sept. 15 at Fordham. Lauren Ritter can be reached at sports-editor@cornellsun.com.
Senior Standout | Brian Billigen helped piece together a comeback in the game against North Carolina during the NCAA Regional Tournament.
Sports
The Corne¬ Daily Sun
MONDAY AUGUST 20, 2012
32
Cornellians Compete in London Olympic Games
Uceny’s ’07 gold medal run marred by fall
JENNY CRAIG / SUN FILE PHOTO
By MANU RATHORE Sun Staff Writer
Morgan Uceny ’07 did not finish the race during the women’s 1500 meters final in London due to a fall. However, she can be expected to make a complete come-back. Uceny — who was pitched as the frontrunner for gold at the 2012 Olympics 1500 meters event — had a similar fall at the World Championship in Daegu last summer. Kenyan athlete Hellen Obiri tripped and collided with Uceny, knocking her to the track at the event back then. "Obviously I was super-disappointed to have had this golden opportunity taken away, which is what it felt like. The first 24 hours after that were pretty rough,” Uceny said in 2011, according to NBC. At Daegu, Uceny got up and finished the race after her fall. However, in London after being clipped by Ethiopia’s Abeba Aregawi, Uceny was
overcome with emotion and could not finish the race. “Once I hit the ground, I was just devastated,” Uceny said, according to Associated Press. As a junior at Cornell, Uceny proved herself to be among the nation’s best in the 800 meters — earning a 4th-place finish and her second straight AllAmerica honor at the NCAA indoor championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Apart from her success at Cornell, Uceny also won a Diamond League season title at Brussels in 2011 and the 1500 final at the 2012 US track and field Olympic Trials. She placed second in the Round 1 and third in the semifinals of the 2012 Olympics women’s 1500 meters race. Manu Rathore can be reached at mrathore@cornellsun.com.
Record breaking | Muhammad Halim ’08 recorded the best triple-jump record (16.70 m) in program history at Barton Hall during the Cornell Relays.
Halim ’08 misses qualifying mark for triple jump finals By MANU RATHORE
SUN FILE PHOTO
Making a splash | Ken Jurkowski ’03 started his Olympic journey on a strong note, but was unable to medal.
Sun Staff Writer
Muhammad Halim ’08 represented the U.S. Virgin Islands in the men’s triple jump event at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Halim was unable to qualify for the final event — ranking 9th in the trials after he missed the qualification mark by .23 meters. Halim first made a name for himself on the world athletics stage when he won a silver medal in the long jump event at the Central American and Caribbean Games held in Puerto Rico in 2010. Halim set a personal best and a new USVI indoor record in the triple jump by reaching 16.70 meters at the Cornell Relays. His performance was also the best triple-jump performance ever recorded at Cornell University's Barton Hall, according to the Virgin Islands Daily News. “I’ve been trying to get that record ever since I went to school there,” Halim told VIDN in 2010. “Doing it with my old track coach and some other alumni there made it extra special. That's why I went there. It was sort of a reunion for all the Cornell track and field guys, but I wanted that record.” Manu Rathore can be reached at mrathore@cornellsun.com.
Jurkowski’03 races in single sculls finals By MANU RATHORE Sun Staff Writer
Ken Jurkowski ’03 began the 2012 London Olympics with a third place finish in the men’s single sculls heats. Finishing fifth and sixth place in the quarterfinal and semifinal events, respectively, Jurkowski qualified for the finals, but ended the race in last place. Jurkowski finished sixth in the single sculls at the 2011
Pan American Games and finished 11th in the single sculls at the 2011 World Rowing Championships. At the 2010 World Rowing Cham pionships he finished 12th in the single sculls and finished 11th in the same event at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Jurkowski has secured a place on the national team for the past five years. He was one of 10 to 15 collegiate athletes that has finished in under six
minutes on the erg machine for 2000 meters. “He was an engineering geek coming in having done no sports in high school whatsoever, but from a physiological standpoint, he’s not normal,” head coach Dan Allen told The Sun in 2003. “Most people don’t have his the perseverance and focus.” Manu Rathore can be reached at mrathore@cornellsun.com.
Apples and Oranges: Comparing Olympic Eras N Magic, Bird, Jordan, Drexler, Barkley and Ewing. I could keep name dropping, but you get the point — at least you should. Sports Illustrated went as a far as to compare the team to Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison. Please listen to “Cocaine Blues” live at Folsom or watch “Walk the Line” to understand the meaning behind how powShowtime at the Forum erful his performance was. I digress though. To say that games has been labeled as the most dominant squad ever another basketball team could ever compete with this assembled in any sport — an honor which the iconic squad of basketball titans — let alone defeat them — group of players has maintained ever since. Referred to would be blasphemy, right? Try telling that to Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, both as the “Dream Team,” the roster featured names like o, this is not a column about fruit. This is a column about basketball — Olympic basketball, that is. The men’s basketball squad that represented the red, white and blue in the 1992 Barcelona
Juan Carlos Toledo
of whom went on the record as saying that the 2012 American Olympic squad that won the gold medal would beat the Dream Team. Believe me when I say that Charles Barkley had a field day taking these comments apart. Any basketball traditionalist would probably say the ’92 team would have the edge. Statistically, the Dream Team scored more points and had a higher average defeat margin than this year’s squad experienced in London. These statistics become somewhat diluted though when you consider the disparity in the quality of international basketball when you take a snapshot of ’92 and now. The Spanish side that the U.S. defeated in London See TOLEDO page 29