INDEPENDENT SINCE 1880
The Corne¬ Daily Sun Vol. 140, No. 35
8 Pages — Free
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 n ITHACA, NEW YORK
News
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Choices, Choices
Grammy Reviews
Streak Survives
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With over 200 colleges to choose from, Dennis 'Maliq' Barnes '27 explains why he chose Cornell. | Page 3
Ili Pecullan '26 covers the winners, surprises, performances and more from this year's Grammy Awards. | Page 5
A red-hot men's hockey stifles Union in 6-1 victory, extending its unbeaten streak to 12 games. | Page 8
HIGH: 36º LOW: 22º
Expression Policies Incite Student Concern By DOROTHY FRANCE-MILLER Sun Staff Writer
Approximately two weeks after Cornell announced its Interim Expressive Activity Policy, protestors participating in Thursday’s Coalition for Mutual Liberation divestment protest were referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for disciplinary action. As outlined in the new policy, the protestors failed to comply with the University’s “time, place and manner guidelines to ensure the ability of our faculty and students to teach and learn without disruption,” according to Vice President for University Relations Joel Malina. The new policy, announced on Jan. 24, adds to Cornell’s current Political Campaign Activity regulations and the Campus Code of Conduct to regulate expressive activity on campus. The new policy requires registration for all “indoor demonstrations, tabling or other expressive activity” and for outdoor events for groups over 50. The policy also places limitations on amplified sound, a twoweek time limit on posters, signs and light projections and restrictions on items that can be used and carried in protests or events. The policy’s language centers on protecting public safety. “Expressive activity may not
compromise public safety, impede the free movement of people or vehicles, damage university property or interfere with regular university operations, as determined by the University,” the policy reads. Some members of organizations, including Luke O’Brien ‘27, a member of the Coalition for Mutual Liberation, disagree with the policy’s restrictions on organizing, gathering and campaigning. CML frequently holds pro-Palestinian protests, including eight events within four days in November. “[The policy] is an attempt to stifle the organizing happening on campus,” O’Brien told The Sun. “No amplified sound? Such a decree comes from such a place of privilege — that the hostility people supposedly feel is some yelling.” Tensions regarding the policy particularly emerged throughout the University Assembly’s open meeting to hear questions, comments and concerns regarding the policy on Tuesday, Feb. 6. At the meeting, Vice President and General Counsel Donica Varner said that the policy was created to facilitate a supportive and diverse educational environment. “The policy was designed with an intentional educational focus to encourage individual responsibility within a diverse and pluralistic academic community,” Varner said. See POLICIES page 4
JULIA NAGEL / SUN PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Divestment discipline | A student waves the Palestinian flag at a Dec. 2 demonstration outside Day Hall.
Divestment Die-In Protestors May Face Disciplinary Action By HENRY FERNANDEZ and CHRISTINA MacCORKLE Sun Staff Writers
Students participating in Thursday’s Coalition for Mutual Liberation “Walk Out To a Die In” divestment protest have been referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for disciplinary action. Approximately one hundred students walked out of their classes at noon and gathered in the Ag Quad before sprawling within Mann Library, where they read the names of Palestinians who have died throughout the Israel-Hamas War and chanted “Cornell is complicit in genocide,” referring to the University’s investments. Police were called to the library to remove and collect identification from the students “to refer [them] for disciplinary action,” according to Vice President for University Relations Joel Malina. Students left Mann Library about 10 minutes after the police officers’ arrival but contin-
ued to occupy other libraries and academic buildings including Klarman Hall and the Cocktail Lounge in Uris Library, propelling further police intervention. In a statement to The Sun, Malina said the protest broke the University’s Interim Expressive Activity Policy which was announced on Jan. 24. The policy states that “organizers should plan the time, place and conduct of demonstrations wisely to avoid disrupting classrooms, libraries, auditoriums, laboratories, living units, administrative offices and special event venues.” The policy also stipulates that outdoor events, including those on the Ag Quad, involving more than 50 people are expected to be registered. Registration is also expected for all “indoor demonstrations, tabling or other expressive activity.” The policy specifies that “living units, private laboratories and offices, dining halls and libraries are never appropriate locations for indoor demonstrations.” See DISCIPLINE page 4
Inaugural City Manager Reflects on New Position Deb Mohlenhoff, Ithaca College alumna and long-time Ithaca resident, began her term on Jan. 1. By DINA SHLUFMAN Sun Staff Writer
Ithaca is now one month into a new system of governance after a vote last November introduced the City Manager position. The inaugural City Manager, Deb Mohlenhoff, began her term on Jan. 1. The City Manager role was created after 76 percent of voters approved the switch from a strong-mayor to a council-manager form of government. As City Manager, Mohlenhoff oversees all the City’s departments, facilities, operations, programs and services. Previously, the Mayor was in charge of managing both the City of Ithaca and the Common Council.
“[This new system] draws a firewall between elected officials and the staff that runs all of the day-to-day operations of the City,” Mohlenhoff said. “It provides for cleaner, easier decision-making and resource-allocating.” Mohlenhoff acts as a buffer between the City departments and the Common Council to help implement various infrastructure projects and City events. “I am here to do the will of the Common Council,” Mohlenhoff said. Mohlenhoff has a long history with community involvement. During her CASEY MARTIN / time working THE ITHACA VOICE at Ithaca College,
Mohlenhoff ran various volunteer trips to New Orleans. Reflecting on what first got her interested in politics, Mohlenhoff recalled what one resident once told her on a trip rebuilding houses in New Orleans. “If you really want to change the world, you need to get a seat at the table where the decision-makers are,” Mohlenhoff recounted the advice. As a long-time Ithaca resident and an Ithaca College alumna, Mohlenhoff wanted to give back to her community. “I’ve lived here for almost 30 years. I absolutely love the City. I love everything about it. I want to see it survive. I want to see it thrive,” Mohlenhoff said. “The behind-the-scenes stuff was where I felt that my skills aligned. I thought I could make a difference.” Mohlenhoff also hopes to promote transparency in all government processes. “The tax-payers deserve to know that their local tax dollars are being used as effectively
and efficiently as possible,” Mohlenhoff said. “Being in this role, I will have a direct impact on that.” As part of her plan for her first 100 days in office, Mohlenhoff aims to fill many of the leadership roles that were left vacant after a slew of retirements that included the City’s human resources director, City controller and City attorney. Mohlenhoff also plans to improve the management of the City budget. Having previously worked in public office, Mohlenhoff said she understands where these critical gaps in leadership and funding are. As for her long-term goals, Mohlenhoff wants to prove to Ithaca residents the value of her appointment. “I want to demonstrate to the public that they made the right choice in voting for this form of government,” Mohlenhoff said. Dina Shlufman can be reached at dshlufman@cornellsun.com.