INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 143, No. 11
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2026 n ITHACA, NEW YORK
16 Pages – Free
‘An Injustice to One is an Injustice to All’: Students Hold Vigil for Nolan Wells
SAMANTHA MICULINICH/ SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
By TEVIS PIXTON and SOPHIA RILEY SIM Sun Contributor and Sun Senior Writer
Oct. 30 — Roughly 70 students attended a vigil for Nolan Wells on Ho Plaza Wednesday night to honor his life, contest the lack of criminal charges pursued after an investigation into his death and call for social and institutional reform for racial justice and equality. The event organizers, Cornell NAACP, Cornell Black Students United and SoulAAn Nation, also aim to establish a shrine in Ujamaa Residential College, a historically Black program house, in Wells’ memory. 18-year-old Wells, a Black student-athlete who played on the football team at Southwest Mississippi Community College, went missing on July 4 after celebrating Independence Day with friends on a remote barrier island off the southern shore of Mississippi. His body was found near the shore two days later. The circumstances surrounding his death have drawn suspicion from his family and the public alike, with much of the public speculation focused on the fact that Wells was the only Black friend in the group and the only person who did not return from the trip. Though a grand jury concluded that there was no
evidence of criminal conduct in the case, Wells’ legal team alleges that the investigation has been mishandled on the grounds of racial bias. Takiya Henson ’27, Cornell NAACP juvenile justice chair, began Wednesday’s vigil with Wells’ story and a moment of silence. “There were too many inconsistencies with this case,” Henson said. “Nolan’s life mattered. He didn’t have the chance to graduate college. He didn’t have the chance to meet the love of his life. He didn’t have the chance to pursue his dreams, have kids, to grow up. He didn’t have the chance to have his life start. He was taken away too young. So at this time, I invite everyone who is able to stand with us to remember Nolan.” Suspicions about racial bias in the Wells case are rooted in Mississippi’s long history of racial violence. Last September, the body of 21-yearold Demartravion “Trey” Reed was found hanging from a tree on the Delta State University campus in Cleveland, Mississippi, sparking similar conversations about racially motivated crimes. Athena Holloway ’27, president of Cornell NAACP, followed the moment of silence with a
Faculty Senate Votes 48-76 Against Delaying No-Confidence Vote
speech about racial injustice and her organization’s goals. “Too often, the deaths of young Black people are dismissed, downplayed or inadequately investigated unless we demand answers,” Holloway said. “Our movement in this case is part of our ongoing commitment to make sure those answers are pursued with urgency and respect for Black life.” Alongside Holloway, representatives from BSU, SoulAAn Nation — a student organization dedicated to celebrating African American culture — and The Black Ivy Pre-Law Society spoke during the vigil. Common desires of broad justice system reform, racial equality and building a stronger Black community within the University connected their addresses. Kennedy Young ’28, co-president of BSU and publicity chair of Cornell NAACP, led attendees in a call-and-response chant honoring Wells. Young called out, “Say his name,” prompting the crowd to respond, “Nolan Wells,” repeatedly. One speaker, Jocelyn Swavy ’28, vice president of SoulAAn Nation, shared her poetry at the vigil. See VIGIL page 10 GABRIEL HANKINS/ SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
By ALLY AGGARWAL and ZEINAB FARAJ Sun Contributor and Sun Senior Editor
Oct. 29 — The Faculty Senate rejected a motion to delay its vote of no confidence in the Cornell administration during its Wednesday session, in a 48-76 vote. The motion would have delayed debate of the resolution until after the conclusion of Sally Yates’ independent review into the University’s handling of sexual misconduct. The Faculty Senate will now proceed with its vote on the no confidence proposal, with voting set to open on Friday and run through Nov. 6. The proposal, introduced on Oct. 7, addresses concerns over the University’s handling of sexual assault allegations made by a former Cornell student, identified as Jane Doe, in a September lawsuit. Jane Doe alleged that she was sexually assaulted and gang raped in Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house after being coerced into consuming drugs. While the one-sentence proposal would hold no binding consequences if passed, it expresses that the Faculty Senate “has no confidence in the ability of the central administration to effectively address the ongoing crisis of sexual assault at Cornell University.” See VOTE page 5
Conservative Commentator Nick Freitas Discusses Sex, Morality in ‘Cornell 7’ Talk By CECILIA CUÑADO-JAMES and ROWAN WALLIN Sun Contributor and Sun Senior Writer
See FREITAS page 4
2 The Cornell Daily Sun | Wednesday, November 4, 2026
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The Cornell Daily Sun | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 3
PHOTO
SUNBURSTS: Colors of Fall Vibrant fall foliage adorns campus in splashes of reds, oranges and yellows.
By SUN PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
Aya Howard / Sun Contributor AUTUMN AIR | A person enjoys the fresh autumn air as they lean against a tree.
Aya Howard / Sun Contributor VIEW POINT | Two students enjoy a conversation as they overlook Beebe Lake.
Linus Mekhaya / Sun Staff Photographer COLORED CROSSROADS | Students enjoy the fall foliage as they walk along the base of the Slope.
Nathan Ellison / Sun Photography Editor CLOUDED | A cyclist bikes up the hill towards Rockefeller Hall under dark clouds of impending rain.
Audrey Zhang / Sun Staff Photographer SCARLET | Trees on campus transform into deep red, vibrant orange and warm yellow colors.
Audrey Zhang / Sun Staff Photographer SEASONAL IMPRESSION | The campus trees lose their vibrantly colored leaves as the seasons transition.
Nathan Ellison / Sun Photography Editor ZEN GARDEN | Colorful leaves line the Human Ecology hill for trekking students to admire.
Nathan Ellison / Sun Photography Editor LAST LEAF | Leaves begin to fall and litter the campus ground at the end of October.
To see more photos, please visit cornellsun.com.
4 The Cornell Daily Sun | Wednesday, November 4, 2026
FREITAS
Continued from page 1 Conservative commentator, combat veteran and former Virginia delegate Nick Freitas spoke at Willard Straight Hall on Wednesday night, discussing recent news of the alleged gang rape at the Cornell Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024 as a basis for his critique on social views on sex, morality and truth. The event, hosted by Cornell Republicans in partnership with Young America’s Foundation, a national conservative youth organization, was advertised as a discussion on the “‘Cornell 7’ Controversy.” To an audience of approximately 120 attendees, Freitas shared his views on conservatism and sexual ethics for the first half of the hour-long program before dedicating the second half to answering audience questions. Referring to the alleged 2024 Chi Phi gang rape, Freitas said that when he first heard that “seven students raped a girl,” he saw it as a “very, very clear moral problem.” But, he said the debate grew more ambiguous to him as more details emerged surrounding questions of consent. Throughout the speech, he challenged the idea that consent alone is enough to define sexual ethics. “With consent or without consent, I found what happened to be atrocious,” Freitas said. “If I had found out that my son participated in that, and my son had come back and said, ‘Oh, Dad, it’s okay. It was consensual,’ I’d have beat him,” Freitas said. “‘No, your job in that role, son, would’ve been to stop it.’”
News
Freitas discussed society’s evolving “sexual ethics” — pointing to the dissonance between the rise of casual sex coupled with people’s understanding of sexual violence as a “moral atrocity.” As an example, when comparing a mugging to a rape, he argued that people’s instinctive reactions to sex crimes shows that sex carries more moral weight than modern culture admits. “But if sex is no big deal, why?” he asked. During the Q&A period, Freitas argued that sex has been “cheapened” in modern society, and should instead
“Arbitrary rules invite rebellion. So too do arbitrary punishments.” Nick Freitas be treated as sacred and tied to marriage. “[God] created the institution of marriage for a number of wonderful and incredible things, not the least of which is bringing forth human life,” he said. He also argued that if intoxication can remove a person’s ability to consent, that standard should apply equally to both the men and woman involved in the case. Victoria Reiter ’24 D.V.M. ’27, a member of the Cornell Republicans, asked about Freitas’ view on the University suspending fraternity parties and social events through the end of the academic year. Freitas said he respected Cornell’s right to set its own
rules, but warned against group punishment. “Arbitrary rules invite rebellion,” Freitas said. “So too do arbitrary punishments.” Reiter told The Sun that the event filled a gap in the conversation on the case. “There’s a lot in the media, and a lot of people outside of campus are talking about [the case], but they’re not talking to people on campus about it,” she said. Audrey Wansink ’28, a member of Cornell Republicans, said she believes consent should be applied the same way to men and women, echoing Freitas’ argument. “We say we want women and we want men to be equal,” she said. “Then why … are we saying consent only matters on one side when in reality consent matters for everyone, for everything?” Andrew Liu ’29, who heard about the event from a flyer near Okenshields, told The Sun that, amid weeks of intense national media attention on Cornell, he believes many students who protested may have been misinformed about the case. “I believe most people here who went out to protest did not actually read the police report, and if they did read the police report, they would have much different views on the case,” he said. Liu said he hopes that clubs like Cornell Republicans continue to bring in new voices to campus, explaining that he values hearing “different opinions from both sides of the aisle.” Rowan Wallin and Cecilia Cuñado-James can be reached at rwallin@cornellsun.com and cic42@cornell.edu.
Cornell Democrats, Republicans Share Predictions For 2026 Midterm Elections
By JAMES COVIT Sun Staff Writer
Nov. 2 — Americans across the country will head to the polls to cast their votes in the 2026 midterm elections on Tuesday. The Sun spoke with Cornell
Democrats and Cornell Republicans about their feelings on the upcoming election and its implications for Cornell and the country at large. Democrats and Republicans expressed hope and dismay, respectively, at the potential for a “blue wave” and the issues they believe students
are basing their votes on. Cornell students who are registered to vote in Ithaca can vote in the New York Gubernatorial election, as well as the races for New York’s 19th Congressional district, New York Attorney General, State Comptroller, State Senate in District 52 and State Assembly in District 125. In the race for New York Governor, incumbent Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) is facing a challenge by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R-N.Y.). In N.Y.-19, incumbent Josh Riley (D-N.Y.) is running against State Senator Peter Oberacker (R-N.Y.). New York Attorney General Letitia James (D-N.Y.) is also facing attorney Saritha Komatireddy. Cornell Republicans President Eben Hill ’27 told The Sun that he expects Republicans to get “hammered” during this election cycle. “This midterm season is not looking too good for Republicans,” Hill said. “I think the Republican Party needs to carry itself better in these elections.” Hill explained that there are many reasons he believes Republicans will not perform well in the midterms. “With the Iran War [and] the gas prices being very high, everyone has something to be very angry about,” he said. Cornell Republicans have yet to make any official endorsements for the midterm elections. Ameera Aftab ’28, communications director of Cornell Democrats, told The Sun that many Cornell Democrats members are considering a range of issues as they cast their votes this cycle. Aftab said that students
are paying attention to “how these results are going to affect bigger issues which directly impact them, so affordability… higher [education], immigration and the economy.” Cornell Democrats have endorsed Democratic candidates up and down the ballot, including for governor, Tompkins County Sheriff and many others. Aftab added that many Democrats on campus are excited about a potentially strong showing for the Democratic Party. “There’s obviously a lot of optimism, but also a bit of uncertainty as well,” she said. “From previous elections, we have seen how much is at stake.” According to Aftab, many members of Cornell Democrats believe the results on Tuesday could demonstrate a decisive rebuke against President Trump. She described the current administration’s actions as “very concerning,” adding that “this election is going to say a lot about accountability in general [and] checks and balances.” Should Democrats reclaim Congressional majority, Aftab hopes they will be able to “conduct greater oversight and also challenge policies … that are harmful to students and the immigrant community.” Nash Wickremeratne ’27, president of Cornell Democrats, told The Sun that the organization has seen high levels of engagement in phone banking and canvassing for the midterms. “People who initially wouldn’t have been involved are starting to get more involved because of the positivity and the idea that there is going to be a blue wave,” Wickremeratne said. Despite fractures in her party, she said it is “beautiful” that Democrats are united “regardless of [their] centrist or socialist” views. Cornell Democrats plan on hosting an election night watch party, similar to the one they hosted for the 2024 Presidential race. Cornell Republicans is also hosting an event to watch the election results after polls close Tuesday. Hill urged Cornellians to turn out to vote — even if they anticipate that results may not end up in their favor. “There is always a place for hope, and I would encourage everyone who is Republican to go out and vote and [not] give up,” Hill said. James Covit can be reached at jc3684@cornell. edu.
The Cornell Daily Sun | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 5
News
Cornell Pens Agreement Allowing New York State Police to Investigate Allegations of Sexual Assault On Campus By ATTICUS JOHNSON Sun News Editor
Oct. 29 — Cornell has signed an agreement with the New York State Police allowing survivors of sexual assault pursuing criminal charges to choose whether the state police or the Cornell University Police Department investigates their case, the University announced in a statement to the Cornell community on Thursday afternoon. The agreement, part of the University’s “Immediate measures to strengthen campus safety and better support survivors” announced on Oct. 13, will be effective immediately and in place throughout Sally Yates’ independent review of the University’s handling of sexual misconduct. It comes in response to national uproar after a former Cornell student, identified as Jane Doe, alleged in a September lawsuit that she was sexually assaulted and gang raped after being coerced into consuming
drugs at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024. But the agreement will “not changea survivor’s full autonomy over whether or when to engage with law enforcement or file a criminal complaint,” Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff wrote in the statement. “Interviews and investigations will continue to be conducted using trauma-informed practices.” And, survivors will retain the option to have CUPD, Ithaca Police or the Tompkins County Sheriff conduct the criminal investigation, Kotlikoff added. “As we embark on the work of rebuilding our community’s sense of safety and trust, it is essential that all members of our community feel able to report sexual assault with confidence that their reports will be handled with professionalism and sensitivity,” the statement reads. Atticus Johnson can be reached at ajohnson@cornellsun.com.
CAMERON POLLACK/SUN FILE PHOTO
State supervision | Survivors of sexual assault will be able to choose if Cornell University Police Department or New York State Police reviews their cases, per the University’s agreement.
Cornell to Offer Free ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini for Students, Staff By ZEINAB FARAJ Sun Senior Editor
Oct. 28 — Cornell will begin rolling out free access to several artificial intelligence tools for students, faculty and staff this school year, according to a University statement released Monday. The initiative is expected to include access to ChatGPT, Claude and Google Gemini. Ithaca campus and Cornell Tech faculty, staff and Ph.D. students will gain access in November, while master’s and undergraduate students will gain access in early 2027, according to the statement written by Provost Kavita Bala and Thorsten Joachims, vice provost for AI strategy.
“Currently, access to AI tools at Cornell is uneven. Many people have bought AI tools on their own, without institutional review of legal terms, privacy, or security. To address this, Cornell — including Weill Cornell Medicine — has negotiated institution-wide agreements with leading AI providers.” Kavita Bala and Thorsten Joachims Eligible community members can opt in to basic access to a suite of AI tools at no cost. Faculty and staff will also be able to purchase additional capacity at discounted rates. A limited number of licenses for Google’s agentic AI tools will also be available for free in the spring. Within the suite, the University noted multiple specific work and coding tools that will become available to the campus community, including ChatGPT Work, ChatGPT Codex, Claude Cowork and Claude Code. “Currently, access to AI tools at Cornell is uneven. Many people have bought AI tools on their own, without institutional review of legal terms, privacy, or security,” Bala and Joachims wrote. “To address this, Cornell — including Weill Cornell Medicine — has negotiated institu-
tion-wide agreements with leading AI providers.” Cornell’s agreements with the AI providers have accounted for privacy and security, according to the statement. The University noted that, unlike individual accounts, information entered into AI tools through Cornell accounts will not be used to train AI models. Community members interested in using advanced AI tools will be required to “complete an introductory training on AI and responsible use,” before gaining access, according to the announcement. The rollout follows the University’s “extensive preparation” through the Cornell AI Initiative and the Committee on the Future of the American University, who recommended AI be integrated into education as the role of universities evolve. The statement also highlighted Cornell’s broader AI advancement initiatives, including the AI Critical Literacy Program for firstyear students, new AI courses and minors and research initiatives focused on responsible AI use. The University’s agreements are intended to address concerns about privacy, security and legal terms associated with individually purchased AI tools. Weill Cornell Medicine is expected to create “its own phased implementation plans,” due to its “distinct clinical, research, regulatory,
privacy, and security environment,” according to the statement. Members of the Weill Cornell community are expected to adhere to current policies regarding AI tool use. “We selected multiple tools because no single AI model is best for every discipline or task and offering several avoids relying on a sin-
gle vendor,” the statement reads. “Bringing these tools together on a shared platform also helps us understand usage patterns and track the environmental footprint of AI use across the university.” Zeinab Faraj can be reached at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
6 The Cornell Daily Sun | Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Opinion
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Letter To the Editor Independent Since 1880 144th Editorial Board SOPHIA DASSER ’28 Editor in Chief SOPHIA ROMANOV IMBER ’28 Associate Editor
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Alexander Thomson Alexander Thomson is an assistant clinical professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine. He can be contacted at act65@cornell.edu.
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Cornell’s Faculty Senate Is Playing With Fire
s the Faculty Senate considers a vote of no confidence, the politics of blame threaten to derail the difficult work of real reform. It's bonfire season in Ithaca, and Cornell has no shortage of combustible conditions or faculty eager to strike a match. Demands for resignations, accusations of bad faith and public denunciations have set the discussion around Cornell’s sexual violence crisis ablaze. This type of rhetoric would be right at home in Washington D.C., but in importing the worst habits of national politics into Cornell, we have undermined the cooperation, intellectual rigor and evidence-based problem-solving necessary to address serious issues effectively. In short, we seem to be confusing the intensity of our anger with the effectiveness of our actions. The Faculty Senate's proposed resolution of no confidence in University leadership exemplifies this problem. Consisting of only a single sentence, it identifies no specific failures of leadership, names no responsible officials and proposes no corrective action. It tersely declares a sweeping loss of confidence in an undefined "central administration," asking faculty to render judgment against University leadership before the Sally Yates investigation has concluded. More remarkably, according to an account from a Faculty Senate representative, the Faculty Senate has passed no resolutions specifically addressing sexual assault in the past decade. If true, this raises an uncomfortable question: Why, having exercised so little of its own institutional influence over this longstanding problem, is the Faculty Senate suddenly so eager to condemn the efforts of administrators who have arguably taken more action? University administrators are not politicians, and the Faculty Senate is not an opposition party. Our administrators have the extraordinarily difficult responsibility of maintaining an institution through successive crises, balancing competing obligations while preserving the environment in which we, as faculty, can pursue our academic mission. They are not single-handedly responsible for solving society’s problems, nor should we expect them to do so without our active participation. There is also a perverse incentive created by indiscriminate criticism. What message do we send to leadership by censuring them without first establishing, specifically and factually, what they have done wrong? If administrators are publicly tarred and feathered regardless of their actions, can we
Brian R. Crane, Barbara A. Baird and Richard A. Cerione are professors across the departments of chemistry and chemical biology. They can be reached at bc69@cornell.edu, bab13@cornell.edu and rac1@cornell.edu.
To the Cornell Faculty Senate, We Have Confidence
W
e are writing as faculty who have been part of this institution for 26-plus years and who have had daughters and sons attend Cornell as students. We hold deep affection for Cornell and thus have been greatly saddened by the prevalence and persistence of sexual violence on our campus. However, our purpose in writing is to offer another perspective relative to the many expressions of concern and outrage that we have heard. It is in this vein that we believe the motion of no confidence in the administration before the Faculty Senate will not yield the desired effect of remedying the problems of sexual harassment present in our institution. Rather, we believe that a vote of no confidence will undermine our collective ability to redress the serious issues at hand and will potentially compromise faculty governance at Cornell. The deeply troubling case of sexual assault in 2024 that is being newly scrutinized has affected so many of our students, faculty and staff and has been especially painful to those who have suffered from similarly life-altering experiences. It is fair to question what might have been done differently by our University. The investigation headed by Sally Yates is intended to help provide answers to those questions. As President Kotlikoff himself has stressed, we are faced with an extraordinarily complex problem. Effective solutions will require the solidarity, dedication and resolve of our entire community to confront and rectify. As colleagues familiar with President Kotlikoff’s character and demonstration of integrity and leadership, it is our conviction that this administration has the capability and the determination to confront these difficult challenges. We have strong reasons to believe that they will lead us effectively in addressing sexual harassment and assault at Cornell, in part because they have brought us through multiple extremely challenging circumstances. Although not everyone will agree with all the steps that were required to address these previous situations, in aggregate, one must appreciate that they were incredibly complex issues for leadership to navigate. As provost, President Kotlikoff led
us through the COVID-19 pandemic, which required complex operational adjustments and public-health coordination. In response to the horrific events in the Middle East and then subsequent unrest on campus, President Kotlikoff entrusted the Cornell community with the creation and codification of Cornell’s Expressive Activity Policy to ensure fair and transparent engagement on difficult subjects. Most recently, President Kotlikoff, Provost Bala and their colleagues had to contend with the hostile actions brought by the federal government to exert pressure on Cornell, which resulted in a complete freeze on our research funding and represented an existential threat to scholarship on this campus. Those actions threatened the fundamental ability of the University to operate. With our federal grant support cut off, we could not pay the stipends, tuition and salaries of the graduate student and postdoctoral researchers that we train in our laboratories, putting their careers in jeopardy. With little support from the courts or legislators, President Kotlikoff and his team resolved the financial constraints placed upon us. For a broader response the administration convened the Committee on the Future of the American University, whose expansive charge was to identify and address the major stressors that will transform higher education over the coming decades. And when confronted with the egregious alleged acts of sexual misconduct in October 2024, President Kotlifoff enacted the Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault in early 2025. To our knowledge, this was the largest coordinated effort taken by any Cornell administration to address sexual assault at Cornell. Collectively, this long line of dire circumstances required crisis management, vision, careful thought and action, while balancing many conflicting interests. Therefore, we submit that these examples of past performances should bolster our confidence that President Kotlikoff, Provost Bala and other members of their team will be agents of change, rising to meet the current challenge in addressing sexual misconduct at Cornell and helping all of us make this University a better place.
really expect their continued initiative, transparency and proactive engagement? As another example, a guest columnist published in The Sun this week criticized President Kotlikoff’s apparent "clinical detachment” from the issue of sexual violence. Many of us who share Dr. Kotlikoff’s medical background see this approach quite differently. Medical training instills the importance of maintaining analytical clarity in emotionally charged, high-stakes situations. We learn to recognize uncertainty, evaluate evidence and remain composed when the consequences of rash decisions may be severe. What is described as “clinical detachment” is not an absence of compassion; it is a professional discipline developed in service of those who depend upon our decisions. In my own work in patient safety, distinguishing blame from accountability is fundamental. Frameworks such as Root Cause Analysis and Action emphasize understanding why adverse events occur, distinguishing individual misconduct from systemic failures and developing interventions that measurably reduce the risk of recurrence. The parallels with the current crisis are striking. We begin by presuming positive intent and then seek to understand what went wrong, recognizing that righteous indignation and the scapegoating of individuals are rarely effective at preventing future harm. Anger can motivate change, but it cannot substitute for the difficult work of implementing it. If we want that change to be effective and lasting, it must be methodical, meticulously considered and ruthlessly analytical. Yet it is anger that our institutional discourse increasingly seems to reward. We are quick to assign blame, demand consequences and question the motives of anyone who calls for careful consideration. We seem to be considerably less interested in examining our collective responsibility or asking whether the interventions we demand will actually work. This should concern anyone committed to the University's academic mission. A university ought to be a place where evidence matters, uncertainty is acknowledged, competing proposals are evaluated critically and conclusions remain open to revision. Instead, our current discourse creates a polarized environment in which asking for evidence is interpreted as indifference, and disagreement as moral deficiency. Let me be clear: I am not suggesting that Cornell’s leadership should be immune to criticism or accountability, or even that it has done enough. We simply don't know yet, and I hope the Yates investigation will provide more clarity on this question. But regardless, the Faculty Senate, University administration and wider Cornell community have a collective responsibility to come together to identify specific institutional shortcomings, develop evidence-based interventions and measure whether those interventions make our community safer. That is a far more demanding task than pointing fingers at each other, but also a far more worthwhile one — and it is not accomplished by prioritizing performative antagonism. Sexual violence deserves our outrage. But justice deserves our intellectual rigor. If the University leadership deserves accountability, so too does the Faculty Senate, and indeed all of us. The uncomfortable truth is that throwing stones at the administration from our glass houses won’t absolve us of our own culpability. Let’s sit down together and get to work.
The Cornell Daily Sun | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 7
COLUMNS
Get Starbucks Actually Off Campus Adriana Vink One Day Longer
Adriana Vink '27 is an Opinion Columnist and a student in Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Her column One Day Longer takes aim at campus politics, international relations and labor exploitation. She can be reached at avink@cornellsun.com.
I
f you frequent the vending machines across campus or tend to grab a drink from the fridges in our eateries, chances are you’ve recently grabbed a Frappucino. Maybe you didn’t give it a second thought. But did you know Cornell is in violation of its own policy to stop selling Starbucks products? A majority of those reading this have never known an Ithaca with a Starbucks cafe. There was even one in Collegetown, on the corner of College Avenue and Dryden Road! In April 2022, Ithaca was the first city in the nation to unionize every single one of its Starbucks locations. Workers came together to form an organization that represented their collective interests, to fight for better wages and working conditions. As you can imagine, many workers at the Collegetown Starbucks were students. Those students were too often
Elise Carpenter Guest Room
Elise Carpenter '28 is a student in the Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Sciences. She is a member of Greek Life. She can be reached at esc229@cornell.edu.
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any girls today are raised on the premise that if they work hard and get educated, they can escape the age-old system of being objectified by men. I believed it. I worked my way to the top of male-dominated organizations in high school and wrote one of my Cornell admission essays about the misogyny I endured along the way. Cornell was supposed to be a haven where I would be seen for my mind instead of my gender. Instead, I have found a sexist, degrading culture, and fraternities are to blame. Although only about a third of Cornell undergraduates belong to a fraternity or sorority, Greek life is undeniably the center of the school’s social culture. At Homecoming each year, thousands of students pack the streets of Collegetown in bright red to show their school spirit, as fraternities’ 10-foot banners hang over the crowd carrying sexual puns aimed at the visiting team. This year, “size does matter,” beside the Cornell Bear and Lehigh Hawk; last year,
Fiona McAleer Guest Room
Fiona McAleer ’25 is an investigative journalist and Cornell alumna who has advocated for survivors and studied Title IX throughout her college career and onward. She can be reached at fbm34@cornell.edu.
I
t is Oct. 1. As I walk off a plane, I sort through my messages and emails. Journalists want to know about Title IX. I should feel relieved that this is turning into a largescale conversation, but as I scroll, doom festers in my chest. I was 19-years old, attending school at University of California, Santa Cruz, when I was assaulted. I made a report to the university Title IX office in November 2021. After immense institutional betrayal and intimidation from their office, my case was closed in April 2023. Between Title IX, the Santa Cruz Police Department, the university police and numerous law offices I contacted, every path I took was a dead end. Like Jane Doe, some of the sanctioning taken against my assaulter included essays. I was raised as a fighter. My dad used to say if someone hits you first, don't stop fighting until someone else pulls you off. No matter how hard I fought, how creative I got, how persistent I was or which strategy I used, there was no way to stand up for myself against an institution that was built to function against me. I felt that if I could not change the UC Santa Cruz Title IX system in any capacity through all the means that were available to me, then what was the point? I had accepted
denied time off during regularly scheduled Cornell breaks. That being said, most people assume that when workers unionize, it’s because they hate their job. In fact, one organizing committee member and Cornell student shared with The Sun, “I like my job, I wanna keep it.” Even in 2022, Starbucks was already union-busting. Since then, Starbucks has become the largest labor law violator in modern history, breaking the law over 130 times across six states since 2021. One of those violations includes illegally shutting down two Ithaca stores in response to workers unionizing. An additional 550 unresolved charges of unfair labor practices against workers are currently pending. On May 11, 2023, the Student Assembly passed Resolution 1: Starbucks Off Our Campus, demanding a termination of Cornell University’s relationship with Starbucks. More importantly, that same day, students and Starbucks employees took over Day Hall to protest Cornell’s contract with the company. In the weeks leading up to this, almost 1,000 students had sent emails to Cornell’s leadership in support of ending the sale of Starbucks products at Cornell. On May 17, 2023, then-President Martha Pollack responded to Resolution 1, writing that “Cornell supports fair labor practices in compliance with federal and New York State law.” That June, Cornell promised to terminate its contract with Starbucks no later than its expiration in June 2025. Since then, Cornell has mostly fulfilled this. Cornell’s eateries and dining halls have replaced Starbucks products with coffee from a host of companies, a combination of La Colombe, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters, Copper Horse Coffee and Sun Coffee Roasters. If you’re more likely to head to a cafe in search of freshly-brewed caffeine, then you’ve enjoyed these products. Students and workers stood up to both Starbucks and
Cornell — and won. And yet, today, Starbucks products are still being sold across campus, in vending machines in academic and residential buildings from Balch Hall to Goldwin Smith Hall to even Ives Hall, home of the ILR School. They’re also being sold in the fridges at eateries from Mac’s to Green Dragon to Bear Necessities (also known as Nasties). As your Student Workers’ Representative, I’ve introduced a new Student Assembly Resolution, “Starbucks Actually Off Our Campus.” Cornell must live up to the full meaning and spirit of its 2023 commitment to remove union-busting Starbucks from our campus. That means putting an end to the sale of their products in any form or place at Cornell. On top of that, it’s immoral and contrary to their promises for Cornell to continue to profit from Starbucks products, and any remaining stock should be sold at a discounted price, just enough to recover what the University paid for them. 12,000 Starbucks workers across 700 stores have been trying to form a union and negotiate with their employer for over five years now. They’ve been on strike for almost a year. What they want is simple — $17 minimum wage, reasonable working hours and enough staff at each location. It’s way past time for Starbucks to meet their demands. Starbucks workers have declared that until their demands are met, allied organizations must pledge to run a Starbucksfree organization, which means excluding Starbucks from all events, catering and sponsorships. Cornell was supposed to be one of those organizations, and we will make it one again. To support Starbucks workers on strike, sign the boycott pledge and find union-made coffee in your city. Gimme! Coffee, with locations on campus and around Ithaca, is a great example. If you’re looking for a sweet treat, I’d recommend the hojicha. No contract? No coffee!
Kotlikoff, Ban The Frats “Colgate, open wide.” For every major Cornell event or holiday, Greek Life is deeply integrated. This fall, a lawsuit filed by a former student stating that seven Chi Phi fraternity members raped her in 2024, now known internationally as the “Cornell 7” case, led the University to suspend all fraternity parties for the rest of the academic year. Students have called for harsher punishment of those responsible and, in the same breath, for the parties to return. Individual accountability matters, but with 20% of all assaults against undergraduate women reported at Cornell taking place in fraternity houses, sexual assault within fraternities cannot be dismissed as the work of a few bad actors to be sorted out one hearing at a time. Prior to this case, Cornell put a one-month ban on fraternities following a sexual assault in 2022. Cornell has long handled misconduct case-by-case, but fraternities at Cornell run through cycles of transgression, suspension, and rebuilding each year; with this, cases like Jane Doe’s continue to emerge. At some point, recurrence stops looking like a failure to punish the right individuals and starts looking like a failure of the system those individuals operate within. When social systems concentrate power and control in
the hands of men, existing gender inequalities can become more dangerous. Under Greek life at Cornell, men control the house, the alcohol, the guest list, and the door, while everyone else must gain access through their approval. There is no female equivalent of an American fraternity. Sororities were created to foster female belonging in predominantly male institutions, but they also developed around ideals of female purity. All 26 sororities recognized by the National Panhellenic Conference are dry, meaning alcohol is prohibited in all chapter houses and at chapter-sponsored or Panhellenic-planned events. Fraternities face no equivalent rule from their own umbrella organization. The result is a social structure in which sororities gather women, sort them, and deliver them to the men who host them. Last semester, a friend told me that a fraternity her chapter had socialized with for years cut ties after the sorority’s leadership refused to send photos of their newly initiated members. In my own chapter, the pressure is constant. Every weekend, there is a push to dress cute and talk to brothers at their parties so that we can stay in good relations with them. To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun. com.
We Need to Talk About Title IX, No Matter the News Cycle that my school failed me, but I could not accept the idea that I had failed other survivors. There would be more people just like me, and I could do nothing to protect them from institutional betrayal. I dropped out of school and watched as my dreams slipped away. I tried several medications, none of which helped. Different therapies could not turn back time. I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. My idea of justice, of how the world functioned and that there were means put in place to right wrongs dissipated as I realized that this mindset was a plushy privilege. I wish that I did not have to discover this at the expense of my body. After spending time at home, I decided I would continue my education elsewhere. In my application essay, I explained that I wanted to attend a university that protected and supported survivors, and got into Cornell University. I was hopeful, but when I arrived on campus, I found that there was no way to outrun the institutional betrayal. I wanted to become as knowledgeable about Title IX as possible. While I studied for classes, I contacted lawyers, sociologists and other survivors about Title IX, and found that my case was in no way an anomaly. Many individuals from schools across the United States, including Cornell, shared shocking details that showed how the Title IX sys-
tem strategically works against survivors every step of the way to dissuade individuals from reporting or continuing with their reports. It is a nationwide issue that permeates every institution of higher education. So, I turned to the media. I reached out to an endless number of journalists, explaining the issue, saying I could go on the record. I received very few responses. Nothing was ever published. I decided that if no one would write about my experience and Title IX, I would write my own piece. I wrote an investigative piece comparing the mass arrest and suspension of student protestors to the lack of expulsion, suspension and arrests of individuals accused of sexual violence within the Cornell University Title IX office. I discussed Jane Doe’s case. I pitched the piece to publications and individual reporters in April 2025 and onward. Very few responded, and of those who did, they expressed that the piece did not relate to current news events. They didn't think that universities' mistreatment of sexual violence survivors was a big enough story on its own. The piece was never published. To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun. com.
8 The Cornell Daily Sun | Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Science
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY From Curiosity to CAREER: Behind Four National Science Foundation Award Recipients By NIYANTHA KAUSHIK Sun Staff Writer
Earlier this year, thirteen professors at Cornell were awarded the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development Program Award, otherwise known as the CAREER Award. The award recognizes early-career researchers with promise as “academic role models in research and education.” The Sun spoke with four of the recipients — Prof. Laura Gunn, plant biology, Prof. Yunan Yang, mathematics, Prof. Lenan Zhang, mechanical and aerospace engineering and Prof. Flavio Lehner, earth and atmospheric sciences — representing a wide range of fields and interests. Each researcher is pursuing a unique project, shaped by distinct experiences that led them to their work. Laura Gunn: Roots, Range and Rubisco Gunn’s research focuses on an enzyme in plants known as Rubisco, which converts carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into sugars. However, this process is slow — which is not a major problem for plant survival, but limits agricultural productivity. “We want to grow lots of food, and we want to grow more food with less input, so less input like land and water and fertilizer and things like that, and so this one enzyme often limits the efficiency of that process,” she said.
“I really just like asking the why and the how and being able to chase questions just for the sake of it.” Prof. Laura Gunn Gunn studies how some organisms, like tomatoes, eggplants and peppers, make Rubisco more efficient. She says she’s looking to nature for answers before seeking to apply those processes for human use. After completing her undergraduate degree in biochemistry, followed by a PhD working as a chloroplast engineer, Gunn went to Sweden to learn more about the structural biology behind her work. Then, in 2021, she began at Cornell. “I got the job at Cornell, and I could come and I could start putting all this together,” she said. “I could use the chloroplast engineering, the structural biology, synthetic biology, using all these different cool tools that were available to really get at the Rubisco molecular mechanisms.” Her curiosity about how things
work is ultimately what led Gunn towards academia. “I really just like asking the why and the how and being able to chase questions just for the sake of it,” she said. Yunan Yang: Inquisitiveness, Interest and the Inverse Yang works on inverse problems — using observable data to infer what cannot be seen directly. This approach can be applied from locating the source of earthquakes to medical imaging. “There’s a lot of mathematics in it to make it both mathematically rigorous or to make it computationally efficient, since a lot of those problems come from real world situations,” she said.
“It’s like a puzzle. You find some clue, and you try to find what’s happening.” Prof. Yunan Yang Her path to this field started with a mathematics degree from Zhejiang University. Yang began in pure, theoretical math, but then her interest was piqued when she volunteered at a research workshop in her department. “During that process, I encountered many people working on inverse problems, and I thought it was interesting,” she said. “It’s like a puzzle. You find some clue, and you try to find what’s happening.” Her interest eventually led her to graduate research, then to academia, where she could pursue a career using everything she had learned in her courses. During her time in academia, mentorship has become one of the most meaningful aspects of her work, especially watching students grow in their graduate studies. Yang’s career award will support a new approach to the inverse problem that she is exploring: assuming that anything she observes is uncertain. Instead of producing a single answer, she aims to develop methods that can quantify uncertainty in answers. Yang advises future researchers to pursue what they genuinely care about. “I think it’s very important to choose what you truly are interested in,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if there’s something trendy or not.” Lenan Zhang: Engineering, Energy and Education Zhang’s research centers on energy and sustainability, with three areas of interest being clean energy production, water purification and thermal management.
His work applying principles of heat and mass transfer includes finding ways to use waste heat from computer chips. Initially trained in heat and mass transfer, Zhang decided to apply his background to meet society’s emerging demands. “We still implement the same knowledge about thermal science, energy conversion and transport and also heat transfer,” he said. “But we want to implement this in a smarter way, to make them contribute to the clean energy transition and decarbonization.” Zhang was always keen about joining academia as it would allow him the freedom to apply his research to a range of challenges while educating the next generation of scientists and engineers. Creating real-world impact is one of the most rewarding aspects of his work. “This tangible, real-world impact makes you truly excited because you are producing something,” he said. “You can make a change to society.” Zhang’s CAREER award has allowed him to create the course MAE 6340: “Advanced Optical Metrology for Sustainability,” introducing students to interdisciplinary approaches, such as the intersection of optics, energy and sustainability.
“This tangible, real-world impact makes you truly excited because you are producing something. You can make a change to society.” Prof. Lenan Zhang “I can formally introduce ... to the graduate-level student why we need optics, why optics is unique and can help us to solve or understand something previously unknown, and also the specific applications or situations we can implement this technology,” he said. Flavio Lehner: Maps, Models and Melioration
A course he took on climate change brought that geographical interest towards climate science. Lehner was then drawn to academia by the opportunity to answer interesting, open-ended questions about how the planet works.
“[Research] is a little bit like going to outer space or going to Mars.” Prof. Flavio Lehner “It’s a little bit like going to outer space or going to Mars,” he said regarding research. “Humans are just going there, and in the process of going there, we learn new things. We develop new technologies … but we don’t know yet what technology we’ll develop to get there, and what new knowledge we gain. This is this exploration of the unknown.” His CAREER award will support research on the Pacific Ocean and how its changes affect the weather over North America, while incorporating outreach through partnerships with zoos to talk to a broader audience about climate change. For Lehner, this connection between research and people is one of the most meaningful parts of academia. “If you can help other people do good work and advance in life, be it through teaching or working with students on research, it’s pretty hard to beat in terms of how fulfilling it is,” he said. Though their work ranges from plant biology to mathematics to energy and climate change, these four professors are connected by curiosity. Despite distinct paths to academia, each found questions and pursuits that motivated them to continue their explorations.
“If you can help other people do good work and advance in life, be it through teaching or working with students on research, it’s pretty hard to beat in terms of how fulfilling it is.”
Lehner studies climate models — Prof. Flavio Lehner computer models that are used to simulate and predict weather over large spans of time. He focuses priFor them, the NSF CAREER marily on identifying the strengths and shortcomings of existing mod- award is an opportunity to pursue els, working to improve them to what they believe in, to expand increase confidence in their pro- their research and to invest in the jections by contrasting the predic- next generation of curious minds. As Gunn put it, “Stay excited, tions of several different models worldwide and comparing results and if you’re not excited about it, question what’s going on, because with real observations. A fascination with using geo- excitement means the cool stuff is graphic information systems to happening.” make maps and a high school project on data-based mapping of school commute routes drew Niyantha Kaushik can be reached at Lehner into geography. nk725@cornell.edu.
The Cornell Daily Sun | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 9
Lifestyle
LIFESTYLE
Your TikTok-Inspired Fashion Is That Serious By JESS AGRAN Lifestyle Columnist
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f you’re someone who likes to go out at Cornell, then you have probably had this exact experience: You walk into a party and witness a sea of girls wearing (1) a tiny black top, (2) medium-wash jeans, (3) white beat-up shoes and (4) “no-makeup” makeup. And let’s be honest, you are probably wearing the same thing. This would not warrant a second thought for the average student. The homogenization of aesthetics is nothing more than a wisped, dissolving thought. Before I begin, I want to be clear that I, too, fall prey to socially gravitating trends, scrolling and saving my favorite pieces from influencers. It is difficult for everyone not to be influenced by the beautiful girls on socials who present their lifestyles like a trophy. I happily join the masses in my love of Brandy Melville basics and Edikted night-out tops. There is some merit behind favored pieces circulating among strangers. There are incredible levels of ecstasy from the question, “Oh my God, I love your top. … Where is it from?” My issue with this phenomenon is the overconsumption and absent-minded shopping that accompanies the choice to buy what’s popular. It seems like everyone dresses the same these days, and the death of personal style is looming. At this point, I will welcome an extreme level of cringe (I’m talking a My Little Pony tee with highlighter-green gym shorts) just for the charm-
ing air of individuality. In this digital age, where inspiration is found on TikTok, Instagram or Pinterest, individuality is threatened by the growing value of the averaged, most appealing goods. Christian Allaire recounts her time on TikTok back in 2020, when her outfit-related videos only reached a widespread audience when they followed trending algorithms. In a world where popularity has exact numerical reciprocity, and where it feels like our fashion choices are faced with everlasting scrutiny, teens and young adults prefer the safest, least shocking clothing option. We must step back and look into our own closets and ask, “Is what I wear a true representation of my spirit, or simply a culmination of society’s current preferences?” Writer Jalil Johnson warns of this phenomenon: “People want an easy copy-paste formula to style that they’re being told will look good on them and will fit their lives.” Unfortunately, there simply isn’t a baseline way to dress that works for everyone. So, I have crafted a list of questions to ask yourself when you are buying clothes or whatever next trendy thing an influencer is yelling about: First and foremost, you must sit back and ask yourself, “Do I actually want this?” Now, this may seem borderline idiotic because if you’re shopping and picking something, it’s reasonable to assume that you want it. But often, our preferences are molded by those around us, and more often, by the celebrities we admire. When choosing a new item, you must consider if there are external
JESS AGRAN / LIFESTYLE COLUMNIST
factors that are shifting your habits. ally wanting out of this thing, you may Next, you must reflect to see if this find it already in your closet. item makes sense in your lifestyle. No In a world where even dance moves matter how much you love that spa- are branded (i.e. the Sophia Richie ghetti-strap slip dress, you may not be dance), our generation faces an extreme able to apply it to your lifestyle. It’s overexposure to consumption. It feels easy to fall into this trap after seeing like our brains are literally melting, an influencer with a luxurious lifestyle and yet, racing for the new “it” girl, wear completely impractical clothes, cool girl, “I just threw this on” nonchaand thinking you could replicate the lant slop. Following these trends often whimsy. Sadly, we live in Ithaca and dismantles personal creativity, steering go to Cornell … and no amount of away from true authenticity. If you look wishing will bring you to a mansion in at your closet and only see a mosaic of the valley. successful marketing tactics … I hate When you are originally picking a to tell you, but you had no individual new piece of clothing for your rota- input in what you wear. Popularity doesn’t necessarily equate tion, it’s easy to zero in on one thing mindlessly and view nothing as wor- to ‘unstylish.’ As long as you honestly thy of being an alternative. Instead, like what you wear, you can count youryou should consider what you want to self as having a superior sense of style. accomplish. Is there a certain fit you’re looking for? A special aesthetic? A tran- Jess Agran is a member of the Class of 2027 sition piece for a certain outfit? If you in the College of Human Ecology. She can be are able to consider what you are actu- reached at jba76@cornell.edu.
The Paradox of Skipping Class: Shameful or Strategic? By ARYA GOEL Lifestyle Contributor
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s Cornellians, we pride ourselves on our academic success. In high school, many of us had excellent grades, extensive extracurricular activities and above all, excellent attendance. Yet, the classic university stereotype holds true: As we move further and further into the semester, we see our lecture halls emptying and class attendance diminishing. Skipping class can be quite the controversial topic. Some students will attend class on an empty stomach, exhausted or sick with whatever strain of campus plague comes their way. Others, however, hear the words “attendance not mandatory” and see it as their guiding light to never attend lectures again. Nevertheless, the debate of skipping class is more nuanced than most give it credit for. In some cases, skipping lectures may be the most productive use of a student’s time. The complexities of this claim lay in observation. In large lecture halls, more than half the class can be found writing emails, studying for prelims or using their 9 a.m.’s as the backdrop for their rigorous naptime regimens. For many, lectures have become more of a study hall, where students attend purely out of obligation rather than with the intention of learning. Oftentimes, students struggle to commit their full attention to either their laptops or their lecture, making them entirely unproductive. Additionally, the sea of students staring at their screens can signal disengagement from professors, possibly influencing how they deliver lectures and diminishing the environment for those who are genuinely trying to pay attention. With this infor-
mation in mind, the question must be asked: At what point is it more productive to simply skip class? The reality is that everyone learns best in different environments. The traditional method of single lecturers and large class sizes has become the norm, yet some find the environment overstimulating, or tend to learn more efficiently independently. Additionally, the style of large lectures may not be accessible for students with learning disabilities, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or dyslexia, where huge classrooms or fast-paced lectures can make it impossible to maintain focus. Many students, such as myself, have found that viewing the slides outside of class and utilizing face-to-face office hours have been a more effective way to learn the material. Conversely, lecture halls may be the best way for certain students to learn the content. It is a place to forge bonds, meet peers and ask questions about the material as they arise. Showing up to class allows students to build communities and support networks, leading to connections with classmates and professors. It is no mystery why this style of education has become normalized. However, requiring all students to attend every class ignores the complexities of different learning styles or disabilities that make a classroom environment unappealing. Another perspective to consider is financial status. Certain students who feel a heavier financial burden to attend Cornell may feel more obligated to attend every class and make use of their university education. For others who feel less of a financial burden, however, skipping class may not evoke the same guilt. Thus, they may be more inclined to skip lectures. When considering the different income backgrounds each student in
JAEIN KU / SUN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
the Ivy League comes from, it becomes clear a student’s financial background can influence their perceptions to attend class and the value they place on their education. There are, of course, exceptions to the nuances of class attendance. In smaller classes, such as first-year-writing seminars, physical education courses or labs, attendance is not only mandatory but integral to understanding and completing the coursework. This trend can also be dependent on your field of study. For example, with students studying fashion or architecture, attending class is essential for completing projects. In fact, teamwork and creativity typically thrive in these specific classroom environments. The stigma of class attendance has labeled students who skip as lazy or unmotivated, but it fails to consider what students are doing during their skipped class time. For some, it may be the only time they have to schedule doctors appointments or talk
to family from home. It may be the only time they can attend office hours for a different course. Admittedly, it could simply be because they slept through their 8 a.m. Regardless of the reason, it is dangerous to apply blanket labels when every student has their own learning capabilities and external circumstances. Ultimately, the question should not be if skipping class is inherently good or bad. It should ask if attending a lecture is the most efficient way for a student to learn. For some, that may mean showing up to every class, and for others, their time may be better spent studying independently. There is rarely one path to success, and in our world of “ ... any person … any study,” we must also consider “any student, any learning style.” Arya Goel is a member of the Class of 2030 in the College of Human Ecology. She can be reached at asg325@cornell.edu.
10 The Cornell Daily Sun | Wednesday, November 4, 2026
NEWS
The University Assembly Debates a Frat Parties Allowed Proposal for 'No Confidence' Vote at Off-Campus Annexes By TEVIS PIXTON AND EVERETT CHAMBALA Sun Contributor and Sun Assistant News Editor
Oct. 29 — The University Assembly discussed holding a “vote of no confidence” in Cornell administration for its handling of the alleged 2024 Chi Phi gang rape at its Oct. 20 meeting. The U.A. also listened to a presentation by Prof. Steven Jackson, information science, the vice provost for academic innovation, about artificial intelligence and sustainability. At the meeting’s open forum, assembly members briefly discussed the logistics of implementing a vote of no confidence, although no resolutions addressing the vote were proposed by the U.A. The U.A.’s discussion follows Faculty Senate debate over a proposed vote of no confidence. The conflicted senate did not come to a decision when the proposal was initially raised, and decided to open voting starting Friday after rejecting a motion for further delay. The Senate proposal states that “the Faculty Senate has no confidence in the ability of the central administration to effectively address the ongoing crisis of sexual assault at Cornell University.” Nicholas Maggard ’25 M.Eng. ’28, chair of the U.A., explained in a statement to The Sun that a vote of no confidence would not have any binding consequences if passed. “A resolution of no confidence would not itself compel the President’s resignation or removal,” Maggard wrote. “However, an adopted resolution would constitute a formal expression of the Assembly’s position.” Prof. Esra Akcan, architecture, introduced the idea of the vote during the meeting’s open forum period. It was met with mixed reactions from several assembly members and shortly concluded without a clear consensus. Christian Tarala ’27, Student Assembly representative to the U.A., questioned the vote’s impact. “What would the benefit of a no confidence vote be?” Tarala asked. “Is it really just asking Kotlikoff to step down voluntarily? Because I think he’s made that pretty clear to the media that that’s not going to happen.” In response to Tarala’s question, Akcan said that “it’s still relevant to take that vote because it sends a message.” Prof. Jonathan Butcher, engineering, said that if the
vote were to occur, he would want the proposal to be “more specific.” In order to be brought to a vote in the U.A., the vote of no confidence would first need to be passed by a U.A. committee, Maggard wrote to The Sun. Prior to the discussion on the vote, Jackson presented to the Assembly about his work as a vice provost, including implementing AI expansions and computing energy tracking across campus. Sustainability remained a consistent talking point throughout the presentation. Jackson began his presentation with an explanation of the Sustainable Computing Working Group’s goals, emphasizing their effort to improve “tracking computing-specific energy and water usage” at Cornell. Jackson also discussed a new suite of campus-wide AI tools from OpenAI and Anthropic which will become available to students. Officially announced in an Oct. 26 University statement, base-level access to ChatGPT Edu Work/Codex, Claude Enterprise Cowork/Code and Gemini Chat will be included in the suite. These tools will be released to faculty, staff and graduate students at the start of November, and to undergraduates “in the new year,” Jackson said. Privacy and security safeguards, like preventing the use of user-imputed information for AI training, will be provided, according to the University. Additionally, Jackson noted that the Cornell-granted tools will allow his team to more accurately quantify the sustainability impacts of Cornell’s AI usage. Jackson summarized his AI sustainability goals with an analogy about plastic. “Let’s be transparent about things, so we can sort out the difference in the AI space between worth it AI — like plastics in medical devices — and not worth it, stupid AI — like plastic bags at the grocery store,” Jackson said. Jackson also brought up his group’s sustainability awareness project: Cornell Unplugged. The initiative, piloted in September, seeks to reduce tech usage across campus in response to environmental impacts, academic decline and mental health concerns, according to Jackson. Tevis Pixton and Everett Chambala can be reached at tmp86@cornell.edu and echambala@cornellsun. com.
By EVERETT CHAMBALA Sun Assistant News Editor
Nov. 3 — Cornell Sorority and Fraternity Life has released a policy clarifying that Cornell Interfraternity Council fraternity parties and social events are permitted in third-party spaces, which includes off-campus annexes, according to the SFL website. Social events and parties held at on-campus fraternity houses remain barred for the duration of the academic year, the SFL guidance, which is also available on the SFL website under “Social Event Policy” clarified. This comes after a SFL representative told Greek Life leadership that IFC fraternities could not host parties or social events at their off-campus annexes on Oct. 16, the Friday before Homecoming weekend. The representative did not specify the duration of the guidance at the time and it is unclear how long it lasted. An “annex” describes an off-campus house associated with a fraternity, but typically not owned directly by the fraternity. An annex will typically form when individual fraternity members lease and live in the house together. These houses are often used by fraternities to host events. “Annexes are considered private residences, and the university does not control what happens within them,” a University spokesperson wrote to The Sun. “We encourage students to register any organization activity held at a private residence per the social event policies and treat such gatherings with the same attention to safety and care for one another that is expected across our community.” The spokesperson noted that students are subject to Cornell’s Code of Conduct regardless of where they gather. Any fraternity event that includes alcohol, invites outside guests or is sponsored or endorsed by the fraternity is required to be disclosed via a CampusGroups event form. Fraternity members are also required to have plans for rides to and from third-party venues, and require substance-free monitors with one monitor per 15 attendees. Cornell’s SFL website has also been updated with a suspension guide to reflect the policy change. “The University recognizes that students will continue to gather and socialize in personal residences,” the website reads. “While the University does not control events in personal residences, we encourage students to register any activity at their personal residence per the social event policies.” To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com. Everett Chambala can be reached at echambala@cornellsun.com.
VIGIL
Continued from page 1 “Take my flesh and make it into something you can sell, something you can own, something you can sit upon,” Swavy read. “But when you reach for my throat, know that you will not make me into nothing, because I was somebody, and we were somebody and we will not be forgotten.” During Swavy’s poem, an attendee shouted out “shame” as she read the line: “How many mothers must identify their children before this country recognizes that we’re somebody’s child, that we are loved, that we deserve to be loved?” Domaine Waysome ’28, a member of The Black Ivy Pre-Law Society, also spoke about feeling disillusioned by the justice system. “Regardless of how much we are told to trust the justice system, it will continue to fail us as Black individuals in the United States,” Waysome said. After the speeches, Cornell NAACP passed out sticky notes to attendees and asked them to write their response to the question: “What did Nolan Wells deserve?” Responses were added to a community board that will be donated to Ujamaa to build Well’s shrine. Flowers, notes and other momentos will also be donated to Ujamaa. “[The community board] is a forum for people to share, but also for people to read and understand that they're not alone,” Young said in an interview with The Sun. The effort is a part of a larger initiative to “regain [Ujamaa’s] culture,” Holloway said. The residential college has experienced a decrease in its Black student population, while cultural artwork has also been removed from the dorm’s walls, Holloway said. She hopes to make greater use of the residential college to build community and create a space that reflects and celebrates the Black community, including the shrine for Wells. Attendees were also invited to donate to the Wells family GoFundMe, a fundraiser for the family’s funeral and legal expenses and the cost of an independent investigation into Wells’ death. The Wells family and its legal team have indicated that they will continue to pursue answers in the death of Wells, with the support of the NAACP. As the vigil concluded, Young gave a final message to the Cornell student body in an interview with The Sun. “An injustice to one is an injustice to all,” Young said. “While the victim looks like me, if we live in a society where people are subject to these institutions that allow injustices like that to happen, … none of us are safe.” Tevis Pixton and Sophia Riley Sim can be reached at tmp86@cornell. edu and ssim@cornellsun.com..
Comics
The Cornell Daily Sun | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 11
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Last week’s solution:
The Illusion of Choice By Le Wang ’29
Clocktower Pumpkin! By Sophie Cheng ’29
12 The Cornell Daily Sun | Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Features
When a Side Quest Becomes a Mission:
Jane Wang ’29 Offers Free Tattoos for Sexual Assault Survivors By ALEXANDER WALTERS Sun Arts & Culture Staff Writer
Editor’s Note: This article references sexual assault. They’re permanent. They can be impulsive. They can be symbols for deeply-held values, emblems of hyperspecific periods of your life or houses for emotional cogitation. Jane Wang ’29 loves tattoos. She’s devoted a lot of time and thought to tattoos, especially her own; who wouldn’t? Tattoos, unlike traditional artistic crafts, take high-stakes intimacy and an outsourcing of self expression to a scarring extreme. All of the above describe what Wang, herself a licensed tattoo artist, loves about tattoos. She had recently announced on Instagram that she SOPHIA ROMANOV IMBER / SUN ASSOCIATE EDITOR
was offering free tattoos to survivors of sexual assault, and together we took over an Olin Library reading room to talk about the project. “I think that there’s such a beauty behind the permanence of making a decision like that,” Wang told me. “Tattoos are something that have so much meaning to them. … They can signify a really important period, or even just [a] moment, in your life.” Her decision to offer free tattoos to survivors comes in response to Jane Doe’s lawsuit alleging that she was coerced into consuming drugs and gang raped at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. The case has led to national uproar, student demonstrations and scrutiny of University administration. Wang got her first tattoo on
her 18th birthday: a Chinese symbol behind her ear. “It says my middle name and my last name in Chinese,” Wang said. “This is [pronounced like Jia’en], and it stands for community and gratitude.” When I got my first tattoo, also at 18, I went into it nervous with the anxiety of decision-making; I loved it, but was fixated on potential appearances of childishness. Not Wang. “I remember going through the process in my mind of deciding to get the tattoo, and then the feeling afterwards of thinking about the importance of it for me, and how it was a symbol for my background and my personal lived experiences,” she said. Without a quiver in her recollection, she continued: “I was like, whoa, it’s so cool that you can combine the art side of things and then use that as a way for self-expression in a way that’s so permanent.” The petrification of indecision never took hold of her; rather, in tattoos she saw a future for herself. After getting her first tattoo, Wang recalled thinking, “‘Okay, I’m an artist, so, I should learn how to do this because I know that I’m going to get more tattoos for myself.’” In her first semester at Cornell, she started an apprenticeship at a local parlor. Securing her license
by the end of the semester, she started accepting tattoo appointments out of her dorm room. “It was mostly word of mouth — I didn’t really advertise online yet,” she told me. That’s changed with this new project for survivors of sexual assault, and for rather personal reasons. “In light of recent events here, and after coming forward with my own testimony and my own personal experience at the school with sexual assault, it introduced me to so many fellow survivors,” she explained. At the Student Assembly’s public hearing on sexual violence earlier this month, she recounted her experience in reporting her assault and her disappointment in the University’s response. Beginning the Title IX process in January of her second semester, by May there had been zero progress made. She made the decision to close the investigation, with no institutional closure granted. She took processing her experience into her own hands — literally. In her dorm room during finals week, she gave herself this tattoo:
Wang drew the design right onto her leg and inked it. It’s also the design she’s offering to other survivors for free: the official symbol for survivors of sexual assault, but with her own unique spin on it. “The rose is something that is beautiful, right? “ Wang said. “And then the fire is also something that’s beautiful, that represents life, right? But it’s also something that’s destructive. When you put both of those things together, the idea is that the fire is going to burn the rose; it’s going to destroy it, it’s going to hurt it. But with the tattoo showing both of those symbols coexisting, the rose is still there in all of its beauty. And the fire is also a part of that picture, right?” The image is symbolic of moving on from a sexual assault; the possibility of destruction is integral to the beauty of the image, much like the resistance to allowing an assault to destroy you becomes an unextinguishable component of a survivor’s experience. The resonance of the symbol has a wide reach. “Oh my gosh, there’s actually been so many [appointments] … [s]o right now, I’m at like 75.” My exact response was “wow,” and she went on to tell me about the time commitment. “But there are some days, especially starting this weekend, where before school, in between classes and then after classes, I’m tattooing the whole day, [waiting] for
SOPHIA ROMANOV IMBER / SUN ASSOCIATE EDITOR
different people to come in,” she explained. The tattoos have created a visible web of a community of fellow survivors, she noted. “I think it’s really opened the doors for me to be able to connect with this new community in a way that I would have never had the exposure to before,” she said. “That’s actually been one of the few silver linings [in] the dark [of this] case … the community behind it.” When asked if her project is aimed at spreading awareness of the University’s ineffective Title IX office, she replied in the affirmative, but identified it with the broader community. “I think in the past, my tattoo stuff was more so a hobby or like a side quest … but now we’re seeing in our school environment that people are speaking up, and these organizations are coming together to push for change in our [Title IX] office. … I think this kind of goes hand in hand with the service that I’m providing.” For Wang, her project is part of a community of survivors and allies coalescing behind the common call for reform and accountability. I think of my own tattoos as designs that carry a sentimental value, one that I want to incorporate into my own identity; at face, the idea of getting a tattoo that explicitly symbolizes a traumatic experience like sexual assault is confounding. Why would I want to incorporate my victimhood into my identity? To quite literally wear my trauma on my sleeve? Wang sees it differently. “It’s like the literal version of the rose and the fire,” Wang said. “My interpretation is, these tattoos aren’t solidify[ing] a bad memory. It’s not supposed to make you ‘remember something bad.’ It’s about recognizing it, and then growing from it — moving on from it. I think that is genuinely the best way to heal, with or without a tattoo is … being able to recognize that something happened to you,” she explained. Often after reporting a sexual assault, survivors begin to water down their experiences and doubt themselves in the endless streams of paperwork and follow-up questions. For Wang, her tattoo (and those offered for free to fellow survivors) isn’t a reminder of her trauma, but an emblem of her resilience. Alexander Walters can be reached at awalters@cornellsun.com.
The Cornell Daily Sun | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 13
NEWS
He’s Asking for $50,000 to Save the Ithaca Times — But Failed to Pay Past Investors By ATTICUS JOHNSON Sun News Editor
Nov. 3 — The head of a nonprofit that operates The Ithaca Times is asking for $50,000 from community members in order to save the 54-yearold local paper from eviction in early November. But Roy Allen, the head of the nonprofit, Pathways to Equity, failed to pay around $300,000 to Maine investors in 2003 and was found liable for stiffing nearly the same amount in Arizona in 2025. He is now battling accusations of securities fraud, claims that he has not paid Ithaca Times staff in weeks and rapidly accumulating debt that has worsened the paper’s financial crisis. The Ithaca Times was already facing eviction from their downtown office after an Ithaca City Court judge gave building owner Jim Bilinski, the paper’s former publisher, the go-ahead to kick out the newspaper he ran for more than 50 years on Oct. 1 due to a failure to meet rent payments. Bilinski handed the paper’s reins to Pathways to Equity, in May 2025, and Allen pledged to continue “preserving cultural traditions and values
that define the community’s identity.” Pathways to Equity has since accumulated about $63,000 in unpaid rent. “I do the best I can,” Allen told The Sun, about leading The Ithaca Times amid financial troubles. “I’ve been very transparent with people down here; what I’m trying to do.” The Ithaca Times was founded in 1972 by two Ithaca College students as The Ithaca New Times and focused reporting on national news issues like the Vietnam War, before later merging with an entertainment-driven paper, the Good Times Gazette, in 1978.
“Roy is a dreamer. He’s an optimist, sometimes too optimistic, and when that happens, people get burnt.” Scott Manson Since then, the newspaper has chronicled local history and happenings as a “true community newspaper,” The Times piece on their 2025 transition reads. Its stands populate Cornell’s campus and the Ithaca community, marked by the paper’s trade-
VARSHA BHARGAVA / SUN MANAGING EDITOR
Tough times | The Ithaca Times is facing eviction from their downtown office after Pathways to Equity, the nonprofit which owns the paper, accumulated more than $63,000 in unpaid rent under Allen’s leadership.
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mark navy-and-white logo. Like many local news outlets that have confronted increased costs and decreasing advertising revenue in recent decades, The Ithaca Times suffered from declining revenue even before Allen’s takeover. It faced losses of $84,000 in 2024, an investor at an Arizona public hearing over Allen’s finances said on Oct. 19. Allen, who admits he can be “overly optimistic,” took on the project in the hopes of turning the business, and the five Finger Lakes newspapers the company publishes, around. But as he was beginning to take over The Ithaca Times, Allen was in Arizona asking for hundreds of thousands of dollars for other endeavors. “Roy is a dreamer,” said Scott Manson, associate publisher of The Ithaca Times and an attorney who has worked closely with Allen’s nonprofits, in an interview with The Sun. “He’s an optimist, sometimes too optimistic, and when that happens, people get burnt.” Beginning in 2022, Bruce McHenry, an Arizona community college professor, poured over $200,000 into Allen’s plans, which included investing in local businesses and Succession Bonds — Allen’s initiative to raise funds to help people purchase businesses from retiring owners. He never got the vast majority of his money back, he said during an Arizona Corporation Commission hearing in October. Now, Allen and McHenry, who Allen called his “brother from another mother,” are locked into a legal battle spanning years. “I’m not happy with what happened out there, but I also didn’t intentionally do anything wrong,” Allen told The Sun. “The idea that I used this money for personal gain is ridiculous.” In March 2025, the Maricopa County Superior Court ordered Allen to pay McHenry hundreds of thou-
sands of dollars in unpaid principal, interest and legal fees. Both have refused the other’s offer to settle. After a complaint from McHenry, Arizona regulators are going after Allen for similar claims, alongside allegations of securities fraud. Manson said the securities charges levied against Allen were “bogus” and based on “a grudge” against him.
“My biggest sin is being overly optimistic. I’m just a guy trying to do work that matters.” Roy Allen McHenry “knew what he was getting into, and he signed the note,” Manson said. “He knew the finances of smallMatters was kind of shaky.” In 2003, Allen promised to invest $300,000 from two Maine residents into Career Management Services, Inc., a Massachusetts-based hairdressing and massage therapist school at an above average 14.5% return, funds the vast majority of which investors never got back. Maine regulators in 2009 found Allen never paid the full amount back and ordered him to stop all selling of promissory notes — legal agreements to pay a certain amount of money — in the state. In fact, Allen claimed it was Career Management Services that received the money and made the decision to not repay investors, not him. If given the chance to do things over, Allen said he was “too generous with the interest rate” he offered and would have sought donations — not investments. “My biggest sin is being overly optimistic,” Allen told The Sun, later adding, “I’m just a guy trying to do work that matters.” Atticus Johnson can be reached at ajohnson@cornellsun.com.
14 | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | The Corne¬ Daily Sun
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A Failed Attempt at Bread and Circuses AARAV BAVISHI ARTS & CULTURE WRITER
In centuries past, public executions have been used by institutions in power as a dual modality to assert control and deter unwanted behavior of their populace. Empires and countries would publicly kill criminals, political opponents and other unwanted denizens with open spectatorship to demonstrate the consequences of rejecting their authority. Despite thankfully failing, the United States — our supposed paragon of freedom and progress — sought to bring back this public form of capital punishment back for the first time in 90 years. On Aug. 13, 2013, Nidal Hasan was sentenced to death for killing 13 and wounding 32 others at Fort Hood, Texas with a handgun, firing over 200 shots on troops before military police stopped him. A U.S. Army major and physician turned Islamist extremist, Hasan’s mental issues were allegedly apparent to others in the military yet ignored, with no actionable change taking place after his act of terrorism either. The method of his execution was announced on Oct. 7 to be death by firing squad, a procedure legal in only five states, and the first death by firing squad to be conducted by the military since World War II. On Oct. 8, the Pentagon added that Hasan’s execution would in fact be livestreamed. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fervently advocated for killing Hasan via firing squad, claiming it would help to deter any such attacks in the future. Propagating this rhetoric of public punishment, however, may only be a way for him to push his own values into the American mainstream. Hegseth is a fierce critic of Islam as a whole, speaking disparagingly about the increasing populations of Muslims in Western countries. As with public executions of ages past, it seems that this form of capital punishment may be a vessel to strike fear into those who oppose
his beliefs, or any of the authoritarian values of the current administration. Not only is death by firing squad a widely criticized practice on its own, but publicizing it with a national broadcast pushes the execution from a sentencing to an act of barbarism, one that received bipartisan outrage immediately. Even Vice President JD Vance expressed disdain at the idea, stating that he would not be watching. In light of Hasan’s horrific crime, our government has made such an aggrandized spectacle in order to express its own dominance rather than properly punish him for his egregious actions. Now, instead of a guillotine in a Parisian public square, the killing of Nidal Hasan will spread across the internet for all to see repeatedly, forevermore. On Oct. 16, President Trump ultimately cancelled the execution set for Dec. 3, noting that although the average person should not want to watch it, he maintains his support for the execution referring to it on Truth Social as a “strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with terrorists and SCUM.” Such spectacles and attempted demonstrations of power are not uncommon within his administration, however, as they often use big controversies to mask the moves they make toward their real goals. This harks back to the Ancient Roman concept of ‘bread and circuses,’ a superficial appeasement or distraction to keep citizens’ attention away from underlying economic and political problems. Extending past actual circuses and into generally theatrical acts like fights in the Colosseum, the key point is to both distract and desensitize people from an overcontrolling or reckless government. Although the Trump administration has consistently failed to fully distract people like this, such as with its theatrical yet faulty rollout of the Epstein Files, it tends to drum up enough noise to drown out other issues the government creates. The execution of Nidal Hasan is specifically reminiscent of The Hunger Games, one of the most popular modern interpretations of bread and circuses. The novel pictures a dystopian future wherein those in power are able to publicly murder criminals that
hold ideologies they are against instead of using the legal system to democratically and impartially punish them. Moreover, it imagines a setting where people simply do not care about public violence because for them, it is ordinary. Trump again tried and failed to replicate this with the Patriot Games, an athletic competition eerily evocative of The Hunger Games and one meant to inspire unbridled patriotism among the people. If it wasn’t for sheer incompetency upon rollout, Trump, Hegseth and the rest of this administration could have unleashed a new era of bread and circuses. However, their penchant for abrupt flair and extremism have signaled to the American people that this is not normal. Despite how alarming even suggesting a live, public firing squad death in the modern day is, this execution is simultaneously a deafening call that change is necessary.
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Aarav Bavishi is a member of the Class of 2029 in the Brooks School of Public Policy. He is a staff writer for the Arts & Culture department and can be reached at arb438@cornell.edu.
Honesty Versus Sensitivity in Arts Journalism RAINA LOCKWOOD ARTS & CULTURE WRITER
By definition, arts journalism involves voicing opinions. A successful critical review of any creative work must be subjective, expressing the writer’s unique perspective on the work being reviewed. However, not every opinion should be expressed with the same level of transparency. Though honesty and accuracy are vital in almost any type of writing, public writing has an additional, sometimes conflicting, responsibility to show sensitivity and respect for its subjects. When I write about something I enjoy (for example, in my recent review of Lizzy McAlpine’s album Angel), honesty comes easily. I have always gravitated towards writing about what I love, and my music reviews are no exception. But when a writer’s opinions are not so unreservedly positive, taking an appropriate critical stance becomes more challenging. Writing for a wide audience means it is essential to craft claims that do not come across as unnecessary attacks. How can commitments to accuracy and sensitivity be balanced when they come into conflict? Every journalist’s response to this question will be different. Some writers, myself included, err on the side of positivity, preferring to minimize any flaws in the works we review. One Billboard review of Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, for example, showers praise on the deluxe album’s four new songs without so much as a glance at the original album’s mixed critical reception. This choice, though magnanimous, becomes a fault when it leads to neglect of the writer’s responsibility for honesty. Reviews exist for a reason: The public wants to know whether consuming a piece of creative work is worth their time (and often money). As a journalist, it is my job to provide accurate, honest represen-
ARTS & CULTURE
tations of the works I review; otherwise, I risk losing my credibility as a critic. On the other hand, some writers take delight in tearing works they dislike to shreds. There is certainly a place for this type of firmly opinionated writing, on The Sun’s Hater Friday column, for example. Still, scathing reviews must be approached with care. Expressing unwarranted cruelty reflects poorly on a writer’s public image, perhaps even more so than giving undeserved praise. Writer Aaron Cooper describes receiving hate messages for years after his withering 2015 review of a Twenty One Pilots remix album. Furthermore, particularly when featured in well-known publications, negative reviews can have tangible consequences on artists’ careers, not to mention their feelings. And yet, artists cannot and should not expect critics to avoid expressing uncomplimentary opinions. Despite the defensive reactions of some creators to criticism of their work, freedom from negative feedback is neither realistic nor desirable. Constructive criticism’s most essential function is to help creators refine their work; by recognizing areas that could benefit from improvement, artists can learn from their past mistakes to strengthen their bodies of work going forward. Of course, art is fundamentally subjective. Because no two people have exactly the same taste in music, visual art, literature or any other art form, there is no single correct assessment of any work’s artistic merit. Still, there are some near-universal standards for quality. Heavy reliance on vocal runs and other embellishments in a singer’s performance can be seen as impressive to some and excessive to others, and critics may disagree about this singer’s merit; but a singer who consistently struggles to hit notes on pitch is almost always considered unskilled. A writer who avoids addressing the flaws in the latter singer’s performance seems negligent; this writer cannot rely on the intricacies of individual taste to explain the
omission. Failure to acknowledge an artist’s weaknesses suggests a deeper failure of attention, interest or both. The attention and interest paid by arts journalists to the art they cover is more necessary than ever in the digital age. Careful, nuanced attention to creative work can help counteract the fast-paced nature of online content, which encourages people to make quick, allor-nothing judgments about what they like and dislike. The ubiquity of algorithmic recommendations makes it easy to consume art without thinking about it at all; the journalist’s job is to do the thinking anyway and invite readers to do the same. Perhaps even more vital than the journalist’s commitments to honesty and sensitivity is this commitment to careful thought. Whether delivering a glowing or a critical review, the process of arts journalism demands full intellectual engagement with its subject matter. Regardless of the critic’s eventual conclusion, a journalistic willingness to pause, pay attention and think deeply about a work of art is among the highest forms of respect an artist can receive.
Courtesy of Creative Commons Raina Lockwood is a member of the Class of 2027 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a staff writer for the Arts & Culture department and can be reached at rl978@cornell.edu.
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The Corne¬ Daily Sun | Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 15
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Building a Space for Black Expression at Cornell LESLIE MONTER-CASIO ARTS & CULTURE WRITER
“There is not a space dedicated to Black self-expression,” said Kayla Harvey ’27, vice president of Cornell’s Black Arts Collective. As a predominantly white institution, where 47.4% of undergraduate students in the class of 2028 identify as white, Cornell presents a challenge for students of color seeking a space to express themselves freely. The Black Arts Collective seeks to address this reality: the absence of a dedicated space for creative expression. When Jocelyn Swavy ’28 began writing poetry during her first year at Cornell, she yearned for a place to share her work. She found no such space; Black creatives at Cornell had no dedicated space to be uplifted and supported. Swavy recalls thinking, “I’m not the only one.” That realization, followed by a final project in Cornell’s MUSIC 1332: “(Intro) to Black Music: Listening, Sounding, Studying Black Radical Possibility” course, is what ultimately inspired her to found BAC, a student organization built on the belief that art is more than what fills a stage or a page. Art gives people a place to be their authentic selves. “I saw [ BAC] less as just about artists, but as a safe space for self-expression altogether,” Swavy said, BAC’s president and founder. Swavy emphasized that BAC’s mission reflects this belief in the importance of a dedicated space for the self; participation in the collective isn’t limited to just artists, all are invited to enter and explore how their particular sense of creativity shows up in their everyday lives and identities. “Just allowing yourself to think freely, like in the ways that you dress and the way that you show up in everyday life, that is creative expression,” Swavy explained. “That is you using your freedom to be yourself, to exist.” Swavy and Harvey both emphasized the longstanding relationship between art and Black culture in the United States, making the lack of a dedicated space for Black creatives on campus reflective of a broader trend of historical inequities that push Black artistic expression to the sidelines. Black creatives receive dedicated attention only when they themselves labor to carve out
recognition and space for their work. Thus, BAC also gives Black students a space to be seen and heard on a campus where, as Harvey puts it, “in all aspects of Black life, we can feel overshadowed.” Meanwhile, for Swavy, the prior absence of such a space reflects a broader tension surrounding the role of the humanities and creative expression within academic life. “People don’t really respect the humanities very much. … Your creative expression is always put on the back burner,” Swavy explained. For Swavy, creative expression is integral to her academic life, serving as an avenue to respond to political and social tensions on campus; as she explains, the act of “turning negative emotions into something beautiful ... it turns into social action.” This connection between self-expression and social action pushes Swavy and Harvey’s vision for BAC forward; they hope that through BAC they can bring together students across backgrounds and experiences, because “when we come together,” as Swavy puts it, “we can truly see each other for who we are.” This vision is reflected in the organization’s name. Swavy deliberately chose the term collective rather than club to reflect BAC’s unique approach to student organizing; while most student organizations often center their work on event programming, BAC seeks to do more by actively empowering its members. “It’s not only us producing events, but it’s also giving people a platform for their own creative pursuits,” Swavy explained, “that’s where the collective part comes from.” This focus on community-building and support shapes how Swavy and Harvey envision BAC’s future; their ultimate goal is to build a more inclusive culture at Cornell, one that moves beyond social division and towards meaningful connections between students. However, for Swavy, that goal first requires us to “restructure what it means to build a community.” She also emphasized the importance of the “grassroots work that needs to be done at Cornell” to bring students together, arguing that institutional efforts alone cannot create the trust necessary for a genuine sense of belonging. Both Swavy and Harvey expressed frustrations with
what they perceived as performative approaches to diversity and representation at Cornell. When asked whether the University should play a more active role in creating spaces for Black students to express themselves, Swavy stated: “It’s not the best that it’s put in our hands to make a safe space for ourselves, but I feel like that’s the only way that it would be able to be a safe space truly.” Swavy’s response captures a central tension on college campuses today: balancing the need for dedicated institutional support alongside student-led spaces where students play a direct role in defining what belonging looks like. Swavy was particularly critical of the University’s current efforts towards inclusion: “A lot of things [Cornell does] to show that they’re making sure students of color are represented; it’s for performance,” she explained. “You don’t really want us to embrace our cultures or our background or remember our history, because if you did, you wouldn’t be doing what you’re doing right now.” So, for Swavy, BAC presents itself as a response to the University’s perceived failure to create a space for Black creatives on campus. The Collective has established itself as a space made by Black students for Black students. When asked to imagine BAC’s future, Harvey described a future where BAC hosts a large gala featuring student performances and artwork, a celebration of Black creativity and community. Ultimately, the Black Arts Collective seeks to create room for students who don’t see themselves reflected in Cornell’s current creative community. Its work is rooted in the belief that students shouldn’t have to compartmentalize or sanitize their identities out of fear of judgment when expressing themselves. While the word “Arts” in the organization’s name might suggest a narrow focus on artistic practice, Harvey explained: “Yes, we have arts in the name, but it’s not about the typical arts that you think about. … It’s [about] Black Joy.”
Leslie Monter-Casio is a member of the Class of 2028 in the Brooks School of Public Policy. They are a staff writer for the Arts & Culture department and can be reached at lmontercasio@cornellsun.com.
‘Whalefall’: Forgiveness From Inside a Whale CAROLINE KELLY ARTS & CULTURE WRITER
I admit I didn’t have high expectations going into this film. The premise of a man swallowed by a whale seemed too far-fetched and cliche to make for a truly impactful horror film. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how captivating the film was, and the deeper themes of family and morality it evoked. Based on Daniel Kraus’ 2023 bestselling thriller novel, Whalefall (2026) follows teenager Jay Gradiner (Austin Abrams) as he finds himself trapped inside a whale after diving to search for his estranged father’s remains. Jay’s father, Mitt Gradiner (Josh Brolin), was an established diver in his local community who committed suicide by intentionally drowning himself following a diagnosis of mesothelioma. Jay deals with conflicting feelings of guilt and anger about his father’s death, with his refusal to visit his father shortly before his death having endured his abuse as he struggled to live up to his father’s expectations. The audience learns more about the intricacies of their relationship through flashbacks to their interactions, which feature survival tips that guide Jay’s attempts to escape the whale. A hallmark of a successful horror movie is balancing frightening imag-
ery with realism. Although viewers are aware the film is fiction, they still need to buy into its premise. Whalefall tackles this challenge by conveying the dangers of the deep sea while maintaining the audience’s sense of immersion. The color palette and ocean sounds during Jay’s underwater ordeal looked and sounded impressively authentic, reminding me of my own experiences in natural bodies of water. The film also successfully creates the illusion of never-ending ocean depth, balancing both wonder and realism. The whale’s interior, the film’s most fantastical detail, is surprisingly convincing. Its appearance resembles familiar imagery of bodily insides, letting the audience focus on the plot without questioning the plausibility of the surroundings. The sea creatures shown are also hauntingly real and elicit appreciation for the majesty of marine life. One of the film’s most unforgettable depictions of marine life is a pod of orcas brutally striking the whale one by one. This image of a massive whale teetering on the brink of survival as killer whales launch a merciless attack evokes the harshness of the natural world and the limits to which anyone can control nature. Beyond its compelling visuals, Whalefall uses flashbacks to explore Jay’s memories of his late father. The flashbacks fit naturally into the plot,
offering a deeper look into Jay’s relationship with his father without disrupting the flow. These flashbacks vividly illustrate Jay’s strained relationship with his father, demonstrating the tensions between familial bonds and peace of mind when mistreatment is involved. The fact that memories of his late father, who caused him so much pain, enable him to survive is symbolic of this friction. Another notable element of these recollections is how they balance dramatism with realism. While Jay’s memories are undeniably intense and filled with abuse, the verbal abuse he experiences reflects behavior normalized in everyday life, making these interactions likely to resonate with more viewers in ways that more overt forms abuse might not. Despite the film’s limited character development beyond Jay and his father, I found their complicated father-son dynamic compelling enough to sustain the story. This dynamic is especially engaging thanks to Austin Abrams’ and Josh Brolin’s stellar performances. Abrams’ performance screams self-conscious teenager trying to present a composed front. He conveys Jay’s coping with his father’s rejection by shifting between cold, angry, and mature demeanors, showing a teenager who outwardly seems accustomed to his father’s disappointment but internally
struggles with it. Brolin portrays Jay’s father’s cruelty and occasional insanity while maintaining his humanity. Mitt’s love for his son shows through subtle expressions of affection in Brolin’s performance, but that tenderness sharply contrasts with the fierce rage he displays when Jay fails to meet his expectations. Whalefall blends the thrill of a well-executed horror film with the emotional impact of a Lifetime movie, leaving me both entertained and reflective. For a movie about being swallowed by a whale, Whalefall punches way above its weight in emotional depth. Jay’s entrapment inside a whale represents more than a physical confinement, as it also symbolizes the mental cage he finds himself in, unable to let go of the anger he holds towards his father. The movie also instills genuine fear in its audience, avoiding the easy pitfall of letting its farfetched premise undermine its ability to evoke sincere horror. This balance is crucial; horror movies that feel superficial often distract their audiences from deeper themes. The film ultimately isn’t about the struggle of surviving inside a whale, but rather something more universal: the struggle to forgive those closest to us who have hurt us.
Caroline Kelly is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a staff writer for the Arts & Culture department and can be reached at ckelly@cornellsun.com.
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16 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2026
Sports
The Corne¬ Daily Sun
Women’s Hockey Defeats RPI at Alumni Weekend By TYLER GOLDBERG, LILY STAHLMAN AND MADISON YOUNG Sun Senior Writer and Sun Contributors
On an afternoon when Bill Duthie ’71 drops the puck, it would be disrespectful to lose. Luckily, the storied coach, along with members of the 1976 Ivy League Championship-winning team, the first in program history, were on hand to witness No. 12 women’s hockey (4-2-0, 1-1-0 ECAC) 4-1 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1-12-0, 0-4-0 ECAC). This win marks the first in ECAC play for the Red this season and was a dramatic bounceback from yesterday’s overtime loss. It didn’t take long for the physicality of the contest to boil over. Less than four minutes into the opening frame, freshman forward Jillian McLaughlin cut to the center of the ice and was leveled – triggering the Red’s first skater advantage of the afternoon. The power play could not generate any offense — losing the opening faceoff and recording just one shot on goal on the advantage. McLaughlin would once again give the Red a golden opportunity, drawing a high-sticking penalty with 12:14 minutes left in the period. “It’s a good way to take advantage of when they’re getting frustrated and they’re making dirtier plays,” McLaughlin said. “I was just kind of going in. No fear, taking a couple beatings.” Yet it was much of the same for Cornell — once again mustering only one shot on goal. Halfway into the period, the Red began to break free from the Engineers’ strong defensive hold. Banking the puck off the head, junior forward Lindzi Avar capitalized on a goal opportunity, firing a puck from near the goal line and finding the back of the net. “That was a really tough angle,” head coach Doug Derraugh
’91 said. “I didn’t think there was much to shoot out there, but she’s got a real heavy shot. But the Engineers would not let the Red’s lead go unchecked. With close to two minutes left in the first period, junior forward Kami O’Brien found a patch of soft ice with little to no Cornell defenders, ripping a shot past junior goaltender Jeanne Lortie. Though Cornell led 8-3 in shots on goal, it lacked offensive zone progression, trailing in faceoff wins 9-7. The second period looked eerily similar to the first. Cornell dominated in shots on goal – 11-4 – yet lost crucial faceoffs, trailing11-4 in the period. While Lortie was not tested often in the frame, she had to turn aside multiple Grade A chances from the Engineers. “[The defense] played amazing,” Lortie said. “They were sponges.” Despite the scoreboard, the Red was dominating the pace of play but could not break through the tight defense of RPI.
“I honestly just saw a wide open net. It was awesome.” Freshman forward Jillian McLaughlin
“They made it hard to get to areas that we needed to get to to score,” Derraugh said. “They were aggressive on their PK and made it difficult for our power play.” In the final minutes of the second, the Red was swarming. Senior defender Piper Grober collected the puck at the blueline and double-clutched a shot. The puck found its way to McLaughlin — one of Cornell’s best players this game — who swung a backhanded pass cross-crease to senior forward Karel Prefontaine, who lasered a shot into the open net.
“This next goal is a big one,” Derraugh said. “Let’s make sure that it’s us that gets that next goal. And thankfully we did.” With just 49.4 seconds remaining in the middle stanza, Cornell once again had the lead. From that point on, it was all Red. Cornell managed to claw back in faceoffs — 11-5 in the period — and widened its shot lead to 34-14. The third period saw the Red improving upon the success of the second. Already in the lead, Cornell continued to apply steady offensive pressure to the opponent’s defense, allowing two freshmen to team up for the Red’s penultimate goal. With 12:06 on the clock, freshman forward Renee Bishop cut left through RPI’s defense towards the net, where freshman forward Jillian McLaughlin tapped it home for the goal. “I honestly just saw a wide open net,” McLaughlin said. “It was awesome.” From there, the Red kept rolling; at 7:47, freshman defender Carly Dann found herself on a breakaway and buried Cornell’s 4th goal and the game. A RPI penalty shortly thereafter gave the Red another opportunity, but as has been a growing theme this season, the advantage went uncapitalized. A late crosschecking penalty — Cornell’s sole infraction of the net — prompted one final stand. Lortie stood firm in the net, gaining confidence after RPI’s first and only goal and finishing the game with 13 saves off 14 shots on goal — giving the Lynah faithful a look into post-senior goaltender Annelies Bergmann life. “Just hoping to win for the team,” said Lortie. “It was nice.” Tyler Goldberg can be reached at tgoldberg@cornellsun.com, Lily Stahlman can be reached at lms468@cornell.edu and Madison Youg can be reached at mgy@cornell.edu.
Football Drops to Princeton in Halloween Clash By MATTHEW LEONARD Sun Sports Editor
After a tough overtime loss against the Brown Bears (4-3, 2-2 Ivy), the Red hoped to bounce back with a win over the Princeton Tigers, a team that has largely found success up to this point in the season. Despite holding a double-digit lead, the Red lost 21-20 after a late push from its opponent. The Red began the game by demonstrating defensive excellence, holding the Tigers to an immediate three-and-out. With a momentum boost, the Red hit the ground running. Senior quarterback Garrett Bass-Sulpizio found senior wide receiver Sam Musungu for a 13-yard reception and then senior wide receiver Brendan Lee for a 29-yard reception. After gaining another 14 yards through three rushing plays, the Red sent out junior kicker Caden Lesiewicz for a 29-yard field goal attempt. Lesiewicz sent the football through the uprights, giving the Red a 3-0 lead in its first drive of the game. Following this field goal, the two teams exchanged possession of the football a combined five times, in what became a defensive battle, as neither team was able to put together any substantial offensive play. The first quarter ended with the Red still holding its 3-0 lead. Cornell continued to show defensive effectiveness, as Princeton (5-2, 3-1 Ivy) stepped onto the field for the second quarter on third-and-12. Just when it seemed the Red had sent the Tigers off the field on downs, a defensive pass interference call gave the Tigers a lifeline. Despite the call, the Red (3-4, 1-3 Ivy) persevered, shutting down the Tigers’ next three plays to put the football back into the hands of Bass-Sulpizio. Slowly and meticulously — that is exactly how the Red’s next offensive drive could be characterized. Despite an excellent punt from the Tigers that saw the Red begin the drive in its own end zone, it slowly worked the football downfield. Highlight plays of the drive included a 16-yard reception from Musungu, back-to-back receptions for 13 combined yards from junior tight end Blaine Zoller and another set of back-to-back receptions for 17 combined yards from sophomore wide receiver Ja’von Broussard. Following the excellence demonstrated by the Red receivers, it was the Red running backs who put the Red in the Tigers’ red zone. Junior running back Jordan Triplett rushed
for 10 yards and sophomore running back John McAuliffe slipped through the Princeton defense for 16 yards. Following McAuliffe’s rush, the Red held the football on Princeton’s two-yard line. Despite almost being able to touch the end zone, the Red found difficulty reaching it. The Tigers did everything they could to stop the Red, though a defensive pass interference on third down gave the Red another three opportunities to secure its touchdown. It was eventually Lee who stepped up for the Red, grabbing the football and swinging left for the Red’s first touchdown of the game. The touchdown capped off a 97-yard offensive drive for the Red, an impressive showing of determination from the offensive unit. Following a successful extra-point attempt by senior kicker Alan Zhao, the Red held a 10-0 lead over the Tigers. After a slower, diligent drive from the Red, the Tigers responded with exactly the opposite. A 16-yard reception kicked off the Princeton drive, but it was the following play that undoubtedly caught the Red off guard. Looking downfield, the Princeton quarterback launched the football towards the Red’s end zone, connecting with a receiver who secured a 44-yard touchdown reception. The Red ran over 20 plays for its touchdown. The Tigers ran two plays for their touchdown. After a successful extra-point attempt, the score sat at 10-7 in favor of the Red. Now holding the football with less than two minutes remaining, it did not seem the Red was going to put any additional points on the scoreboard, especially after its previous longer drive. However, this notion quickly changed, as BassSulpizio completed three straight passes for a combined 25 yards to begin the drive. Bass-Sulpizio continued his quick and efficient style of play, continuing to find a range of receivers while also rushing for eight yards himself. As the time began to fade away, the Red found itself on Princeton’s 17-yard line. Once again, Lesiewicz stepped onto the field hoping to add more points for the Red in the form of a second field goal. A 24-yard field goal was ultimately sent through the uprights by Lesiewicz, placing the score at 13-7 as the clock hit zero. Second-half play began with the Red holding the football, and it did not seem anything could stop it as Red rushers and receivers were doing whatever they wanted against the Tiger defense. Triplett capped off the dominant drive with a 13-yard rush
that put the Red just seven yards away from the Princeton end zone. He immediately followed this with a seven-yard rush for the Red’s second touchdown of the game, his fifth of the season. Zhao once again secured the extra point, placing the scoreboard at 20-7 in favor of the Red. Despite beginning the drive with a three-yard loss, Princeton quickly gained 60 yards through two plays to once again enter striking distance of the Red’s end zone. After a few stops by the Red defense, the Tigers found themselves on fourth-and-three on Cornell’s eleven-yard line. Looking at the end zone, Princeton connected, as a receiver caught the football in the end zone. However, the pass thrown to the edge of the Red’s end zone left the receiver unable to keep his feet inbounds. Despite initial celebrations by Princeton and the home fans, the football returned to the Red, being turned over on downs. The Red was not able to capitalize on its next offensive drive, returning possession to the Tigers after just three plays. It seemed the Red was poised to force the football out of Princeton’s hands, but once again, a massive throw flipped the game on its head. A misstep in Red coverage left a Princeton receiver wide open, allowing the receiver to bring down a massive throw and run into the end zone. When all was said and done, it was a 53-yard touchdown. The scoreboard now stood at a 20-14 Red lead. Despite the misstep, the Red could not be thrown off its game. The third play of the drive saw Bass-Sulpizio connect with Lee for a 41-yard reception. Following an incompletion, the next four plays saw four different receivers seize another 30 receiving yards. The final whistle of the third quarter blew, following a six-yard rush from Bass-Sulpizio that put the Red on fourthand-one, giving it a big decision to begin the fourth quarter. The Red could go for it or attempt a longer field goal. The decision made was to go for it. Unfortunately for the Red, Triplett was halted by the Princeton defensive line. Princeton obtained possession with nearly the entire fourth quarter remaining, trailing by just six points. To continue reading this story, please visit www.cornell sun.com. Mathew Leonard can be reached at mleonard@cornell.edu.