5-4-23 entire issue hi res

The Corne¬ Daily

Remembering the Life of Matthew Friedman '26

Friends and family refect on the freshman's dedicated and compassionate character

By SOFIA RUBINSON and AIMÉE EICHER

Sun Managing Editor and Sun Assistant Managing Editor

Matthew Friedman ’26, a first-year student studying biological sciences who hoped one day to become a surgeon, was announced dead on April 12. He was 19 years old.

The primary cause of Friedman’s death was a brain aneurysm suffered in his sleep, according to his father, Brian Friedman ’95.

As the Cornell community reels from his death, Friedman’s former friends, fraternity brothers and family remember him with affection and admiration for his kindness, intelligence and infectious happiness.

Friedman grew up in Marlboro, New Jersey and frequently volunteered with his local Emergency Medical Service. At Marlboro High School, Friedman ran on the track team, was on student council and served as his class president senior year.

“Matt was one of the most influential people I’ve ever met,” wrote Keith Omane-Agyei, a friend of Friedman’s from high school, in a statement to The Sun. “He set the standard incredibly high, and I always wanted to chase

“I knew that Matthew would be successful at Cornell ... because of his hard work, determination and what seemed like endless knowledge about anything and everything”

Alexa Friedman '24

it. No matter where we were, whether we were on the track or [in] the classroom, I’ve always looked up to him.”

In coming to Cornell, Friedman joined his older sister, Alexa Friedman ’24. The two would frequently spend time together and had a tradition of

PAM Renamed Public Policy in Major Switch

By ERIN YOON and JULIA SENZON Sun Staff Writer and Sun News Editor

The policy analysis and management major — which is designed for students interested in policy implementation, government and social issues — is currently offered through the College of Human Ecology. However, in April, the PAM department announced its plans to transition the program to a public policy major offered through the newly-established Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. Both the College of Human Ecology and the Brooks School of Public Policy charge undergraduate students state contract college tuition rates. For the 2023-2024 school

year, annual tuition rates before financial aid for state residents attending contract colleges are discounted by $21,316.

According to Prof. Sharon Sassler, PAM, psychology and sociology, the possibility of forming a public policy school at Cornell was discussed starting approximately 15 years ago, tied to the larger discussion about strengthening the social sciences at Cornell.

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

“Quesadilla Wednesdays,” when they would update each other on classes and their personal lives.

“The day that my brother got into Cornell was one of the best days of my life, because I knew that we were going to school together again. I was so excited to share all of my favorite Cornell experiences with my little brother,” Alexa Friedman wrote in a statement to The Sun. “I knew that Matthew would be successful at Cornell, even in the hardest classes, because of his hard work, determination and what seemed like endless knowledge about anything and everything.”

A student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Friedman had a concentration in neurobiology and was pursuing a minor in law and society. He planned to attend medical school following graduation and hoped to join Cornell EMS in his sophomore year.

'My AI' Chatbot Raises Concerns

By CANELA GARCIA DEMETROPOLIS Sun Contributor

Snapchat’s recent entry into the AI race with the release of its new chatbot, My AI, caused an immediate, significant uproar amongst its user base when they discovered it had unexpected access to their personal information.

“I'm your new AI chatbot,” the opening prompt says. “You can ask me just about anything and I’ll do my best to help. I’m always here for a laugh, and you can give me a name if you’d like. Is there anything I can do for you today?”

My AI appeared pinned to the top of every user’s chat feed — who has the automatic updates setting enabled — on April 20 without their consent or warning, and cannot be removed, blocked or hidden. Though it is powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology, the chatbot’s reception has been far from favorable among students The Sun spoke to — even when compared to its parent AI — with Cornellians concerned about intrusive behavior and potential pri-

vacy breaches.

My AI has the ability to track a user’s city-level location and general distance if a user shares their location with SnapChat — even if they are in “Ghost Mode,” which prevents the user from appearing on the SnapMap. According to Snapchat’s website, My AI cannot view the location of users who do not grant permission for the app to track their location.

“I’ve seen people ask what their location is, and the AI will respond with their location, and they’ll [the user] say how do you know, and the AI will say I don't,” Ben Chenven ’26 said.

For years, Snapchat has been a trusted platform for many, primarily due to its emphasis on privacy, according to students who spoke with The Sun. The inability to remove or control the My AI feature has eroded their confidence.

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

Posing at prom | Friedman poses for pictures at the Marlboro High School senior prom.

COURTESY OF THE FRIEDMAN FAMILY

Friedman family | Friedman held close friendships with his two sisters, Jenna and Alexa '24.

COURTESY OF THE FRIEDMAN FAMILY

Special bond | Friedman deeply cared for the Sigma Chi fraternity's two Saint Bernards, Franklin and Howard.

Gleaming graduate | Friedman graduated from Marlboro High School in 2022.

Canela Garcia DeMetropolis can be reached at cmg276@cornell.edu.

Erin Yoon can be reached at eyoon@cornellsun.com.

Julia Senzon can be reached at jsenzon@cornellsun.com.

Pavvilion Engages Cornellians With Local Businesses

By ISKANDER KHAN Sun Contributor

To facilitate better engagement between local businesses, campus groups and students, Pavvilion — an app that has been in the works since 2021 — was launched this past August to the entire Cornell community. This semester, Pavvilion began partnering with local businesses and Student Agencies, Inc. in an effort to bridge the information gap on Cornell’s campus.

The app was born out of the Cornell Tech Policy Institute — part of the Brooks School of Public Policy that studies the relationship between emerging technologies and policy.

Team lead Nina Miller ’23 described the app as a mix between CampusGroups and Instagram or

Remembering Matthew Friedman

Friedman’s love for life inspires Cornell community

FRIEDMAN

Continued from page 1

Friedman also had a deep connection to his fraternity, Sigma Chi, and deeply cared for and looked after the fraternity’s two Saint Bernards, Franklin and Howard. He was a member of the fraternity’s newest pledge class.

to in 60, though he encourages me to follow his lead.”

Ritter compared Friedman to great thinkers who represent the best that mankind has to offer and who left this world too soon or went through their lives unrecognized.

Pinterest, with hints of Craigslist.

“Pavvilion is a hyperlocal online campus community designed to help you find new events and opportunities, join clubs and interact with your peers,” reads the app’s welcome message.

Co-lead Max Hadden ’23 said the developers of Pavvilion all came together at the Tech Policy Institute from different pathways, with each member bringing a unique perspective to the team.

Originally led by Prof. Sarah Kreps, government, the team began creating what was originally intended to be a COVID-19 tracking app.

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

“Matt’s passing has left a void in the hearts of all who knew him. He was a cherished friend and a beloved member of our fraternity,” wrote Sigma Chi president Jaden Queen ’24 in a statement to The Sun. “I was fortunate enough to have shared a variety of passions with him. Whether we were discussing medicine, sports, music or even becoming president, Matt made every conversation engaging and enlightening. … His absence is deeply felt, and we will forever cherish the memories he gave us.”

One of Friedman’s closest friends, fraternity brother and roommate at Cornell, Jasper Cahn ’26, remembers Friedman as an intelligent man with multifaceted interests.

“Matt was the most brilliant, positive and beloved individual in every community I shared with him. Having interests in becoming an orthopedic surgeon, minoring in law and taking electives about sports management, there wasn’t an academic field that didn’t interest Matt,” Cahn wrote to The Sun. “There are no words to describe how much our community misses such a key component of our daily lives.”

Friend Will Ritter ’26 recalled his car ride back from spring break on Easter Sunday with Friedman. They discussed Friedman’s recent trip to Italy, architecture and art, and how Friedman was almost moved to tears upon seeing one of Michelangelo’s statues.

“We talked about becoming janitors in the Vatican if only to wander the halls and the Sistine Chapel alone late at night — to sleep under ceilings the color of stars. It is this realization of self and real beauty that I think separates wisdom from intellect, and it is clear he possessed both of these virtues,” Ritter wrote in a statement to The Sun. “He lived so intentionally that I believe he lived more of what is really life in 19 years than I might hope

Friedman’s girlfriend, Sara Papale ’26, remembers him as the best friend she could have and a constant support.

“Matthew Friedman was a person who always brought out the best in all of us. He always provided a positive example for everyone around him, he was honest, kind and giving,” Papale wrote in a statement to The Sun. “Matthew would want all of us to strive to accomplish our goals and achieve greatness as he was destined to do. The way Matthew could perform at school is something I strive to achieve in my educational career. He was brilliant in so many ways here at Cornell.”

Friedman’s family and friends remember him as someone who constantly put others before himself.

“In my comments at Matthew’s funeral, I talked about trying to live life in a way that would make Matthew proud of us,” Brian Friedman wrote in a statement to The Sun. “To love life the way he loved life, and live it the way he would have. That is all we can do. If we can do that then his impact will live on.”

Friedman is also survived by his mother, Diane Friedman, and his younger sister, Jenna Friedman.

According to Alexa, Friedman was always happy. He made sure those around him were as happy as he was.

“If anyone was going to change the world, it was going to be Matthew,” Alexa Friedman wrote. “Matthew positively impacted so many lives in his too short 19 years. He will be very missed by everyone who was lucky enough to know him, and our family will never be the same.”

Sofa Rubinson can be reached at srubinson@cornellsun.com.

Aimée Eicher can be reached at aeicher@cornellsun.com.

Te Cornell Hunger Relief Begins Annual Big Red Food Drive

By MARIAN CABALLO Sun Assisstant News Editor

Cornell Hunger Relief’s tenth annual Big Red Food Drive will begin Saturday, May 6 and run through May 21. Throughout this allotted time period, students may donate non-perishable food items or contribute their unused Big Red Bucks to feed the local Ithaca community.

“[Through the Big Red Food Drive], students are able to learn about the issue of food insecurity in Tompkins County and work to address the issue through food donations,” said Olivia Kornstein ’23, volunteer coordinator for Cornell Hunger Relief.

Cornell Hunger Relief is a student-run organization supported by David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement that was developed to combat food insecurity in the Tompkins County community.

According to Cornell Hunger Relief co-presidents Catherine Diao ’24 and Kayla Hsu ’24, the Big Red Food Drive has been hosted at the

end of each spring semester since 2012.

“The goals of the Big Red Food Drive are to educate students on hunger issues in Ithaca and Tompkins County, while providing them the opportunity to get involved in the effort to provide resources for these families in need,” Diao and Hsu wrote in a statement to The Sun.

To donate non-perishable goods, students can drop them off at collection bins in the lobbies of Robert Purcell Community Center and Noyes Community Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the weekends and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. during weekdays.

Non-perishable goods are products such as canned food and dried fruits that can be stored for a long period without refrigeration and are not prone to spoilage.

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

Iskander Khan can be reached at ik275@cornell.edu.

Marian Caballo can be reached at mcaballo@cornellsun.com.

Club hub | The Pavvilion app acts as a form of social media for students to easily view upcoming club and campus events in one place.

CLAIRE LI / SUN ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

BOE Extends ‘I Voted’ Sticker Contest

By GABRIEL MUÑOZ Sun Assistant News Editor

In an announcement Wednesday, the Tompkins County Board of Elections extended its ‘I Voted’ sticker contest for local youth. Extending the deadline a month, the BOE is now accepting submissions until June 1 from students from grades five through 12. The contest is the latest effort from the Board of Elections to encourage political engagement in the area.

The Tompkins County Board of Elections

first announced the contest in an announcement this February. The contest is open to all young people in grades nine through 12, where the six best designs would be selected by the board before entering a public election by members of Tompkins County.

The announcement included requirements that the design must read “I Voted” somewhere visible and must fit in a two-by-two inch circle. All submissions must be original artworks and can be hand drawn or designed digitally.

The sticker competition follows a similar initiative that went viral last election cycle in Ulster County, New York, where a 14-yearold won the competition and had his design replicated and sold in multiple online retailers.

The Tompkins County sticker contest is one of the latest initiatives from the local government to increase involvement in local elections, following other efforts like the timeoff-to-vote notice from 2019, which requires employers in New York state to provide three hours of time off for workers so they can vote. The announcement poster also emphasized

how there are more than 77,000 eligible voters in Tompkins County, but only 55,706 registered voters.

The Board of Elections expressed their interest in involving young people in the election process and enthusiasm at the prospect of a more engaged community.

“Initiatives like this are great ways to draw interest to elections in years when there aren’t presidential campaigns. I think people will be excited about the young people who’ve shared their artwork with us to celebrate voting,” said Democratic Elections Commissioner Stephen Dewitt in the BOE press release. “We’re very excited to see what creativity we get from local students.”

Gabriel Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@cornellsun.com.

Harvesting Happiness: T e Beloved Ithaca Farmers Market

By JIMMY CAWLEY Sun Dining Editor

The cars are sometimes backed up all the way down Route 13 to Ithaca High School. The parking lot looks as if trench warfare had broken out, and when it rains, the dirt road transforms into a muddy field that even the most qualified all-wheel drive vehicles struggle to handle. However, awaiting the bravest drivers at the end of the long terrain is something truly magical.

Beyond the rows of cars along the treeline, pedestrians walking and crater-sized pot holes is the Ithaca Farmers Market. Open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. between the months of April and October, and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with limited hours in November and December, this market offers fresh produce and meals, deriving fresh ingredients from all of the Ithaca seasons.

Perhaps the single best dining destination in Tompkins County, this market offers a cultural immersion into the best that local produce and dairy farms have to offer, supplemented by niche restaurants and elegant craft booths.

The worst aspect of the Ithaca Farmers Market comes at the beginning of your journey. Parking, especially during the hours of 9 a.m. to1 p.m. on Saturdays, can be an absolute nightmare. Cars stack behind each other incredibly easily — it can be a disheartening way to start your market experience.

To avoid potential road rage, I recommend that you park at the Aldi, located on 3rd Street. This spot allows for you to bypass the large queue of locals in their 2009 Subaru Foresters who claim they know there are open spots ahead.

If it’s a nice day, you could even park at Stewart Park and enjoy the picturesque walk along the Waterfront Trail, taking you directly to the back side of the market. As a bonus, you can burn some calories before devouring one too many breakfast burritos or crêpes.

Although the Farmers Market’s website raves about the plethora of shops, restaurants and vendors, it truly does not do justice to the spectacle

of the market. The open-air high ceilings and the hustle and bustle that is rarely seen outside of a New York City flea market is one of a kind for Ithaca.

As I walked in on a Saturday afternoon, I was impressed by the number of people there on a dreary, unseasonably cold late April day. I walked in through the main entrance, past a booth selling fresh carrots and produce as well as a stand with flowers and plants. I took a left, admiring all of my surroundings as I headed toward the first end of the market.

While it appeared that Ithaca locals comprised the majority of the patrons at the market, I was pleased to see that a few students made the seven minute trek from campus.

As I ambled through the marketplace, a few booths stood out from the rest in terms of their popularity and especially enticing offerings. Solaz, a Mexican food stand with a large painted truck, accumulated a significant line.

Their breakfast burrito was their most popular option, with seemingly the majority of patrons interested in it. Another stand that caught my eye was Macro Mamas, a local, seasonally-conscious catering company that served a variety of baked goods, noodles and soups.

I yearned for something sweet, so Macro Mamas tempted me, but as I continued walking I was ecstatic to have arrived at Veronika’s Pastries, a shop with the longest line of them all.

This booth serves a wide array of crêpes, with flavors ranging from scrambled egg crêpes, grilled chicken crêpes and the classic breakfast crêpes with Nutella and fruit. The catch for me was that this spot offered gluten-free crepes.

While I may have missed something, the only other booth offering gluten-free baked goods was the Bluebird Bakery.

I ordered my gluten-free breakfast crepe from Veronika’s, conveniently paid with Venmo and took my meal outside through the back. A burst of wind immediately caught my napkins,

blowing them into the path of a small dog — a small price to pay for the sheer beauty of the Cayuga Inlet.

I sat down at a lakeside table and took the partly cloudy, 55 degree April day in. Although it wasn’t the best possible Farmers Market weather, there was a scent of hope in the air; a feeling of the beginning of something great. The fresh tomatoes, asparagus and carrots that wafted through the open air encouraged me to return in future seasons to see what the Farmers Market could offer. It’s truly never the same, and everytime you return, there’s a new meal, grocery or craft calling your name.

It’s truly indescribable what the Farmers Market brings to the Ithaca community. No matter how picky an eater or how pessimistic you may be from your years at Cornell, there’s something for you at the Farmers Market.

Don’t be discouraged by the stagnant line of cars or the muddy lot, the Farmers Market is a cultural experience that must make its way into your Saturday morning routine.

Jimmy Cawley is a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences. He currently serves as the dining editor for the 141st board. He can be reached at jdc354@ cornell.edu.

Roei Dery Te Dery Bar

Roei Dery is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. He can be reached at rd462@cornell.edu. Tis is the final installment of his column Te Dery Bar.

One Last Lick

The other day, I spoke with a friend who asked about how I liked my time at Cornell. To that I said, “I got lucky.” I got lucky starting a fantasy football league with two podmates on the fourth floor of Kay Hall. I got lucky randomly sitting next to a student at Appel, who later that night introduced me to a fellow physics major. They are all now my closest friends. I got lucky that home was a two hour bus ride away, and I could go see family and reset whenever I needed. I got lucky that I had a support system around me that talked me out of stupid decisions like pulling unnecessary all-nighters, and talked me into stupider ones like bat hunting in McGraw Hall.

It was not too long ago that I was sitting alone in the silence of my room on North Campus after my parents had dropped me off for orientation week. My door was cracked open in the hope that a friendly face would come walking in, but none did. At that moment, I could not conceive the enriching experience that my four years on the Hill would turn out to be. I wouldn’t trade in my four years here at Cornell for anything.

Thank you, Paris, for your warm welcome to Cornell that summer night in 2019 when I received the “Welcome to Opinion!” email. I will always cherish the opportunity to write my first column, Take Your Headphones Off, before even taking my first college course. And the moment at the beginning of French class where my professor shouted out Stop Glorifying Busy. I even cherish that time I wrote my first article after getting sent home for COVID-19, sluggishly typing every letter with my index finger as I layed sideways in bed.

As the years have gone by, for better or worse, I started to wear headphones a little more, and my schedule has only gotten busier. Aside from winning a Pets of Becker competition by submitting pictures of my friends and me, I never really did feel the dorm pride either.

man, but The Cornell Daily Sun, and by extension The Dery Bar, was the only club I would join. I do not necessarily regret this — it meant that the (albeit limited) amount of time outside of physics was time without structure. I gained two main skills: The first is spontaneity, a trait I grew into over my time on the Hill and will embrace for the rest of my life. The other is Mario Kart.

I believe that my Cornell experience lacking diversity in activities is not an anomaly. A Cornell education, if done to its fullest, is highly rigorous and offers so many leads to take. I was soon faced with defining what are and are not valuable investments of my short time here. Unfortunately, for much of my time, a problem set was more important to me than that orientation week party, and eventually more important than joining clubs, and not too long after that, more important than hobbies, too. Once I’ve fallen down this slippery slope of skewed priorities, I find it hard to change. Long nights carried into weekends, ensuing prelim seasons, then finals weeks and eventually, semesters — now I find myself weeks from graduation still having a problem set to finish tonight.

I’ve never been much of a hobbyist, but I’ve learned that Cornell takes any priorities you may have and exacerbates them to the maximum. I hope to reintroduce hobbies back in my life as I leave the Hill, and I encourage any young Cornellians to think critically about priorities — and divvy up four years’ worth of time here accordingly.

Thank you, Morrill Hall, for being my study spot and second home on campus for four years. My first memory was stumbling into the room closest to the Southern entrance and FaceTiming my mom in despair after my first ever prelim. I’ll miss the little walks from Morrill to Libe Cafe for lunch, and hearing the Chimes on my way back, hands full with a PB&J sandwich, cheese stick and chocolate milk. Morrill Hall sheltered me during the November 2021 bomb threat. It spectated hours of catch on the Quad and falling asleep during an all nighter only to be woken up by the janitor. Morrill bore witness to other successful all nighters that blended into West campus breakfasts. It watched as I stumbled in, exhausted and sunburnt after my first Slope Day. Indoor cricket games. Pasta night. Falling asleep after movie night and getting kicked out by another janitor. Writing my last column. It will certainly be my first stop whenever I come back to visit.

What I value most from reading The Dery Bar over the years, however, is that I can unlock memories of anecdotes that documented each chapter at Cornell. I do not know what the right graduation column looks like, but in this last lick at The Dery Bar before it all melts away, I only hope to be able to unlock a memory or two when reading this down the road.

I did not know it as an incoming fresh-

As for myself, Cornell has presented me with many challenges — both academic and personal — and I am richer for it. In four years, I have grown remarkably in my ability to perceive, do thoughtfully and, more importantly, do spontaneously. I am going to miss the people the most, but I am ready to graduate. I think any more time spent here would just have me burrowing further down the same rabbit holes I have nestled myself into. I can look at my time on the Hill in the eye and give it a confident smile. Maybe even take it out to dinner. But then again, I do have that problem set due tonight.

At that moment, I could not conceive the enriching experience that my four years on the Hill would turn out

be.

Thoreou, part 1

FULL THROTTLE

Fill in the empty cells, one number in each, so that each column, row, and region contains the numbers 1-9 exactly once. Each number in the solution therefore occurs only once in each of the three “directions,” hence the “single numbers” implied by the puzzle’s name. (Rules from wikipedia.org/wiki/ Sudoku)

Facial Reognition

Johnny Woodruff, part 2

Johnny Woodruff, part 3

SC I ENCE

Weill Cornell Researchers Identify A Key Human Gene That Enables SARS-CoV-2 Infection

By KAITLIN CHUNG Sun Staff Writer

Researchers at the Chen Lab, led by Prof. Shuibing Chen, cell and developmental biology, recently published a study identifying a key gene in the pathology of COVID-19. The gene, CIART, helps establish the viral infection that causes COVID-19, also known as SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2 is a systemic respiratory virus that originates in the lungs and can spread to many other parts of the body — including the heart, liver and kidneys. These organs tend to respond differently to infection, which can have fatal consequences. The Chen research team created multiple models of small three-dimensional clusters of human tissue, called organoids, to look for common host factors that can enable infections by SARS-CoV-2 across tissue types.

Dongxiang Xue, a research associate in the Chen lab and co-first author of the study, emphasized that the multi-organoid approach was crucial in the team’s breakthrough. Over the past three years, the Chen lab had conducted single-organoid studies and found many organ-specific effects. Although results were promising, they did not offer an overall picture of the SARS-CoV-2 infection pathway.

“If we really want to block viral infection, targeting a mechanism in a single organ will not be enough,” Chen said. “We want to use this multi-organoid model to identify shared mechanisms between different organs. In future antiviral studies, we will

then be able to address a target that is relevant in multiple organ systems.”

Xuming Tang, a research associate in the Chen lab and co-first author of the study, highlighted how the team used human stem cells to create models of alveolar tissue, responsible for exchanging gas in the lungs and heart muscle tissue — both of which are both known to be affected by SARSCoV-2.

The team then infected the organoids with different concentrations of the virus. Using RNA sequencing — a technique that indicates which genes are turned “on’’ and “off” in a cell at different times — they were able to discover that 18 genes became consistently more active in response to viral infection across different organoids and concentrations of the virus.

Once the 18 genes were identified, the researchers used CRISPR, a genetic engineering technology, to test their specific roles in SARS-CoV-2 infection. They created “knockout cells,” where specific genes of interest were turned off.

“Using CRISPR, we knocked out genes in cardiomyocytes –heart muscle tissue – and exposed these cells to the virus to see if the absences of the genes inhibited infection,” Xue said. “Based on this, we select- ed the genes with the most potential.”

Thirteen genes appeared to play a role in enabling SARSCoV-2. In knockout cells where these genes were suppressed, the virus levels were lower. The strongest enabler with the greatest

effect on virus levels was CIART. CIART is a protein that was previously known to regulate the circadian-clock feedback loop, which creates sensations of sleepiness and alertness depending on the presence of sunlight in the environment. It had never before been associated with SARSCoV-2. Tests demonstrated that CIART enhanced the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to reproduce and spread by enhancing the production of certain lipids via a pathway called the RXR pathway. The supply of these lipids is critical to virus replication, and the team found that by treating the organoids with an experimental RXR

inhibitor before exposing them to SARS-CoV-2, they were able to successfully block the infection.

From a clinical perspective, these findings indicate that targeting CIART and the RXR pathway may be an effective treatment method for SARS-CoV-2 infection. In particular, this strategy can prove advantageous because it targets the host side of the virus-host interaction. Many current antiviral treatment pathways for SARS-CoV-2 seek to address the virus side, but the issue is that the virus can quickly adapt, with hundreds of variations already identified worldwide. It is significantly more difficult for the virus to evolve resistance on the

host side, according to Robert Schwartz, co-senior author and associate professor of medicine at Weill Cornell.

“The organoid model to study viral infection is a relatively new method,” Chen said. “From COVID-19, we learned about new opportunities to study viral infection and, in a broader sense, infectious disease. We are definitely interested in building more complicated models, adding different components to make them closer to human systems.”

Artifcial Light Boosts Caterpillar Predation, Study Finds

By ANNA LABINER Sun Staff Writer

Using clay caterpillar replicas as bait for predators, Cornell graduate John Deitsch ’22 found that increased artificial light enhances caterpillar predation.

Deitsch graduated from Cornell in 2022 with a double major in biological

sciences and entomology, though his interest in the interaction between insects and artificial light extends back to high school. As a budding entomologist, he enjoyed watching moths interact with a lightbulb, and when considering a topic for his honors thesis, turned to his long-term interest in artificial light.

To observe the relationship between

artificial light and enhanced predation on insects, Deitsch and his team of researchers created over 550 caterpillar replicas out of soft modeling clay. These mimics were placed in eight separate pairs of plots — one that was experimentally illuminated and one that was naturally illuminated.

By examining the imprints made on the soft clay caterpillars by local predators, the Cornell researchers were able to observe the differing predation rates between the paired plots.

While the experimental design is an accepted method of studying predation, there are several limitations, according to Deitsch.

“Some predators — and most parasitoids — simply don’t target artificial prey models and marks left by predators cannot be reliably identified at a fine taxonomic scale,” Deitsch wrote in a statement to The Sun. “Nevertheless, we found clay caterpillars a happier alternative to the struggle of mass-rearing and live-tethering genuine caterpillars.”

The research team found that predation on the clay caterpillars and abundance of arthropod predators and parasitoids were higher on the plots that were exposed to artificial light. The impact of artificial light on predator-prey relationships is an active area of research, according to Deitsch. However, these findings seem to point toward a trend in how arthropod commu-

nities react to artificial light exposure poses a potential ecological threat to caterpillar populations, as artificial lighting at night from homes and other buildings becomes more ubiquitous.

“One nice aspect of light pollution is that the negative impacts largely disappear when lights are turned off,” Deitsch said. “It doesn’t linger for days or decades or generations like plastics and chemicals. Turning off unnecessary nighttime lighting is an easy step to help reduce the impact of artificial light on insects and other organisms.”

Since conducting his honors thesis research, Deitsch has worked for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and as a field technician through the University of Georgia. He will be starting graduate school at the University of Texas at El Paso in August where he plans to continue his research on light pollution and insects.

“There’s just so many questions left to answer about artificial light and arthropods,” Deitsch said. “Insects and other arthropods already face so many other threats like habitat loss, widespread pesticide use and climate change. It’s important to know where light pollution fits into this puzzle.”

Clay caterpillars | An experimental design using caterpillar mimics made out of clay was used to study the impact of artifical light on predation.

Anna Labiner can be reached at alabiner@ cornellsun.com.

Kaitlin Chung can be reach at kchung@cornellsun.com.

Genius gene | The Chen lab used immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy to evaluate the impact of CIART in SARS-CoV-2 infection in the different cell lines.

COURTESY OF DONGXIANG XUE