INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 131, No. 48
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014
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ITHACA, NEW YORK
16 Pages – Free
News
Arts
Sports
Weather
State of Security
Pride and Prejudice
Last Hurrah
Partly Cloudy HIGH: 52° LOW: 36º
Letitia Chai ’18 says Pride earns “the sympathy and tears of the audience.”
Former Florida Rep. Allen West spoke about the national security threats from the Islamic State Thursday. | Page 3
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The Costs of Sisterhood at C.U.
for Fine ting rea Mist cies: Lega 00 $3
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The sprint football team won its final game of the season against Mansfield.
Formal recruitment violations result in fines for Greeks By TYLER ALICEA and ANUSHKA MEHROTRA
for Fine ‘ICS’ ing Miss dline: Dea ast e At L 0 $15
for Fine ing a reat Mist amma: G ’ Rho inimum At ‘M 200 $ GRAPHIC BY ELIZABETH SOWERS / SUN DESIGN EDITOR
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Sun Managing Editor and Sun News Editor
Chapter dues, new member fees, costs of apparel and spending for ‘Big-Little Week’ are among the apparent costs of sorority life at Cornell. However, unknown to many who choose to “go Greek” are hidden fees and fines imposed throughout the year from both the chapters themselves as well as the Cornell Panhellenic Council. The list of infractions for Cornell’s formal sorority recruitment — which occurs at the beginning of the spring semester — is extensive, including restrictions such as “no photos containing men” visible in the house, according to the list of formal recruitment infraction guidelines obtained by The Sun. A combination of just four “major infractions” during recruitment can result in a $1,200 fine for the sorority from Panhel. Mistreating a Rho Gamma — a member of the Panhel community who has temporarily disaffiliated
from her sorority for the purpose of guiding new members during formal recruitment — results in a “minimum” $200 penalty for a particular chapter, according to the guidelines. Additionally, any reports of legacies — potential new members with personal ties to a fraternity or sorority — being mistreated by sisters or being dissuaded from joining the house automatically results in a $300 fine, according to the infraction guidelines. Sororities also use an online system known as ICS — Interactive Collegiate Solutions — to rank potential new members during the recruitment process, according to Panhel. However, submitting these lists late — “on ICS and in person” — results in significant fines, according to the infraction guidelines. Submitting the list after the deadline automatically results in a $150 base fine for the house, according to the guidelines. Submitting the list just 90 minutes late results in a $390 total fine for chapters. See FINES page 4
MIDTERM ELECTION 2014
Vying for Seat,Robertson’75 Talks Jobs,Blasts Opponent By NOAH RANKIN Sun City Editor
KELLY YANG / SUN NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
False alarm | Residents of the Eddygate apartment complex were forced to evacuate after a false fire alarm went off early Sunday morning.
Eddygate Evacuated After Foam Fills Seventh Floor By RACHEL WEBER Sun Staff Writer
While dozens were left standing on Dryden Road out in the cold after a false fire alarm went off at the Eddygate apartment complex, the seventh floor of the building was coated with foam. The Ithaca Fire Department received a call at approximately 1:45 a.m. Sunday that a fire alarm was tripped at 110 Dryden Rd., and responders were on the scene in minutes, according to IFD Chief Tom Parsons ’82. Yet upon further inspection of the site, firefighters discovered that the seventh floor was
covered in a film of foam discharged from a fire extinguisher, according to Parsons. Responders also found a broken exit sign near the floor’s stairs and shattered glass on the floor. Across the street, students filled Collegetown Pizza, donning Halloween costumes and ending their night of debauchery. Yet outside of Eddygate, residents of the complex expressed their concerns as alarms sounded, including Jess Anson ’15, who described the event as a “really scary moment.” “I heard a loud noise, which caught me completely by surprise, and I figured some drunk See EDDYGATE page 5
Martha Robertson ’75 — the Democratic challenger against incumbent Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) for the 23rd Congressional District seat — says she aims to aid students by boosting
local job growth and working to regain lost research funds. Robertson, a member of the Tompkins County Legislature from 2002 to 2013, said in an interview with The Sun that one of her one of her largest successes in the county was
KELLY YANG / SUN NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Seeking victory | Martha Robertson ’75 looks to unseat incumbent Republican Tom Reed on Tuesday.
job growth, a key focus of her campaign that she says applies especially to students in the area. “We’ve been able to create the lowest unemployment rate in New York State right in this community,” Robertson said. “A lot of students I know fall in love with
mountains and mountains of debt,” Robertson said. “Reed has voted to make that harder for you. He’s voted to increase the rates of Stafford loans. He’s voted to cut Pell grants. He’s even voted to make it so you have start paying back the interest on your loans “You shouldn’t have to when you’re in college. That’s graduate college with just unacceptmountains and able.” According mountains of debt.” to Robertson, the increased Martha Robertson ’75 loans brings millions of the community and dollars to the special would love to be able to interests she says funds stay. We really want to the campaigns of certain make that possible for politicians — including the best and the bright- Reed — and limit the est to be able to stay in involvement of recent this community and graduates in the econocontinue to enrich it.” my. Robertson criticized “If [students are] the voting history of her spending half their payopponent Reed, saying check directly just to he works against the pay loans back, then interests of college stu- they’re not buying a car, dents with his record they’re not buying a regarding college debt. house; in some cases “You shouldn’t have to graduate college with See CAMPAIGN page 5