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The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 132, No. 3
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015
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ITHACA, NEW YORK
20 Pages – Free
Science
Arts
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Weather
Research Roundup
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Mostly Cloudy HIGH: 72º LOW: 54º
The Sun’s science staff reviews summer developments in Cornell science. | Page 14
Jack Jones ’18 says rapper Vince Staples is ‘wonderfully ambivalent about right and wrong.’ | Page 16
Wes Newman ’09 and Patrick Gallagher will join the swim program as coaches after Joe Lucia steps down. | Page 20
Commons Finally Sees Summer Completion
Following delays, cost-cuts and fatal Simeon’s crash, downtown pedestrian mall revitalized PHOTOS BY JASON BEN NATHAN / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Brand spankin’ new | Ithaca residents stroll around yesterday enjoying the new Ithaca Commons, completed late this summer.
By PHOEBE KELLER Sun Assistant News Editor
After more than two years of construction, the fences are down and a vibrant new Ithaca Commons has been unveiled. Michael Kuo, project manager of the Commons construction, reported that his team met the July 31 deadline set for the pro“Already we have seen ject’s substantial completion. thousands of people Three years ago, Mayor Svante enjoying the new Myrick ’09 and variamenities.” ous Ithaca City officials created a plan to Gary Ferguson transform the Ithaca Commons. The project was championed by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (DN.Y.), Myrick said, and the federal government funded $4.5 million of the $15 million project. “Gillibrand was one of the key people to support our request for federal DOT funding,” said Gary Ferguson, the executive director of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance. “That funding was crucial.” Gillibrand attended an event in Ithaca on Aug. 3, and was able to stop by and enjoy the newly renovated commons, The Ithaca Voice reported. “I love being on the Commons,” Gillibrand said. According to Ferguson, many people said they agreed. “The project has provided us with a brand new and very inviting, attractive pedestrian mall,” he said. “Already we have seen thousands of people enjoying the new amenities.” Highlights of the new Ithaca commons include a new Bernie Milton pavilion, which will host free concerts Thursdays through Sept. 10, smart trash cans which use solar power to compact waste, interactive information See COMMONS page 5
Chapter House Reconstruction Planned Popular pub to reopen following devastation in April fire By REBECCA BLAIR Sun Assistant News Editor
Four months after the Chapter House was ravaged by an earlymorning fire, plans are underway for reconstruction of the iconic pub. After surveying the damage sustained from the April 14 blaze, the property’s owners have decided to demolish the structure’s remains and construct a new building from scratch, according to Jerry Deitz of CPS Management, the company that manages the Chapter House. “We spent the summer working with architect to come up with concept drawings and deciding whether to keep or demolish the remaining
structure,” Deitz said. Summer, and to allow student resiThe process of acquiring a dents to move into apartments on demolition permit is still ongoing, the second and third floors of the according to Deitz. He said CPS was “We hope to have the permit issued in recently issued a the next couple of weeks and to begin certificate of appropriateness to demolition by September.” demolish the Jerry Deitz remaining structure, which is a prerequisite to receiving a demolition permit. building by that fall. “We hope to have the permit “This is admittedly an ambitious issued in the next couple of weeks schedule,” he allowed, “but we are and to begin demolition by hoping for cooperation from the September,” he said. City in order to achieve this.” Still, Deitz says the group is hopSee CHAPTER HOUSE page 4 ing to reopen the pub by next