Author Archives: Albert

We Choose What We Eat

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Last Wednesday, faculty members from the Cornell Food and Brand Lab came to talk about the recent changes in food choices in the dining halls. They gave an interesting, economic point of view on food choice. In fact, they’ve conducted research so as to place emphasis on eating healthier.

From their work, the Cornell Food and Brand Lab saw a trend of people filling their plates with the first three courses at a given station. Therefore, most dining halls have conveniently placed steamed vegetables and healthier food options first followed by the more protein centered meals. Furthermore, their research also showed that people who cleaned their plate tend to feel more full, hence plate size also plays a factor in our diet.

Now that I think about what they presented, I do find myself filling my plates with vegetables in most of the dining halls before portioning myself some meat. And by the time I get to the protein, a lot of my plate is already covered with rice, steamed vegetables, or a vegetable stir-fry. It’s fascinating to see the cooperation and live implementation of research done here at the university to the consumer level. I also see that the tactics being applied here are also in line with the new initiatives that Cornell Dining has embarked on, namely the mission to provide healthier choice options for students.

Ultimately, we end up choosing what we want to eat, but it’s intriguing to see that the university is actively improving and subtly changing our eating habits for a healthier lifestyle.

Religion & the Solar System

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On Wednesday’s Becker-Rose Café, Professor Gregory Sloan of Cornell’s Department of Astronomy came to give an interesting talk about science versus religion. His example was none other than Galileo with his famous model of the solar system. Before Galileo, people believed that the Earth was the center of the universe and stars and extraneous planets orbited around the planet. However, there was a phenomenon, in where Venus would move forward and back in the sky, which could not be explained by the existing geocentric model of the solar system.

And Galileo sought to understand this phenomenon in detail, which later led to proposal of the heliocentric model. But unfortunately, the heliocentric model was not well accepted since it was seen as a direct attack on religious beliefs. The bible and other religious literature emphasized the Earth as the center of all creation, and the Church thought it to be risky to have scientific evidence ruin this claim. But as stubborn as he was, Galileo refused to refute his studies and continued to publish and work for science. He was ultimately put on trial for his work.

I think it’s interesting to see how the debate between science and religion has developed over time. Back in Galileo’s time, the Church was responsible for funding most of the education and I can clearly see why the Church would be worried to fund studies that went against their beliefs. That being said, I tend to put my trust in scientific evidence because it shows that there has been research and documents trends that have been observed over time. Though I do not doubt religious beliefs, I personally, tend to prefer solid date and Professor Sloan’s talk definitely recapped and reinforced some of these ideas.

Crisis in Hungary

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On Wednesday’s Becker-Rose café, Professor Holly Case of Cornell’s Department of History gave a talk about the refugee crisis in Europe. As part of her summer, she went to Hungary to see how the recent events have impacted civilian lives in addition to understanding the situation of the country in more detail. She provided images of her trip to Hungary, which varied from government vandalism to support groups that welcomed refugees with open arms.

Professor Case started off with the description of a political group named the ‘Two-Tailed Dog’ party. While the party is affiliated with politics, members often work to make fun of government decrees. In fact, if the government put up new signs, members of the ‘Two-Tailed Dog’ party would cover up the text within hours of the sign being erected. In addition, the party is known to make a mockery of government politics and often attempt to ‘humor’ the situation, but help to advocate for freedom and expression. However it is precisely of these mock parties that Hungary is also in a political dilemma. In fact, it’s hard to say present day which political group in Hungary has the most influence.

Beyond political troubles, Hungary has also been active in wanting to help the refugees in Syria. A collection of the photos that Professor Case presented featured workers who genuinely cared about the ongoing crisis. Despite government criticism in letting in immigrants to Hungary, Professor Case made and met friends who gave out food, water, and shelter for those who seek refuge. I found it fascinating to see such a contrast between the government and the country’s people. On one hand, it seems that the Hungarian government did not want to get involved with the ongoing crisis and consequently decided to not participate by offering aid while the citizens of Hungary were more than willing to help these refugees.

I had not expected to see such hospitality and it was heart-warming to see that there are people out there actively helping those in need.

Healthy Dining

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On Wednesday at the Becker Rose Café, Chef Daniel Czebiniak of Rose House and Paul Muscente, associate director of West Campus dining, came to elucidate the workings of Cornell Dining. Recently, Cornell has been rated as #1 for university dining in the state of New York and within the top 10 nationally! As students, we barely see how the corporation operates, so Chef Paul and Daniel took time to introduce and explain in detail some of the new programs that Cornell Dining has been instituting.

Cornell Dining’s goal is, obviously, to provide students with nourishment to supplement the harsh days of cramming and studying for classes. However, it is also important to make sure that what is being served to the students is actually healthy. In previous years, the dining halls have been known to serve delicious desserts, such as tiramisu, chocolate covered cream puffs, chocolate eclairs, etc. While these desserts do boost morale in some students, they are not particularly healthy. And Cornell Dining’s initiative in joining the Menus of Change program hopes to change that.

You might have recently noticed that there are a lot more fruits in the dining halls. Or you might have noticed that there are a lot more fresh vegetables. Or you might have noticed that meats are starting to be portioned. Or you might have noticed the decrease in delectable desserts. Well, there’s a reason for that! The Menus of Change program aims to bring healthy nourishment to students and decreasing the amount of protein and sweets that could potentially ruin their health! Hence Cornell Dining has increased the orders for steamed vegetables and fresh fruit for the student population. However, that is not to say that you shouldn’t go and starve yourself of meat. These are just nutrition guidelines that Cornell is trying to expose to students, but you should go and ask for more meat if you’re hungry!

So go to your nearest dining hall today and grab yourself a plate of vegetables and a piece of fruit togo! Eat healthy!

Also, it is rumored(Paul Muscente said it) that there is to be a steak/salmon night (Prime Night) in December because Cornell has been named #1 in New York State. So keep an eye out for that too!

Glass of the Deep Sea

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On Wednesday, Professor Drew Harvell of Cornell’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology presented “Fragile Legacy”, a film made by David Brown. She expressed her enthusiasm with creatures of the deep sea and called to restore one of the most valuable resources in learning about the world’s past. Cornell is home to a collection of glass representation of ocean invertebrates, which were made by a famous father-son duo in glass making, Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka.

The film illustrated the intricate glass objects that could only be crafted with years worth of training and experience back then. Andrew Dickson White, Cornell’s first president, had set aside money to commission a set of these sea animals for the university to study ocean biology. However, this collection soon ended up in a storage house and only when Professor Harvell asked to restore this collection and bring it back to the Cornell campus did restoration begin.

But what is most valuable in restoring this collection is not in its aesthetic value, but in the insight it gives to marine biologists and evolutionary biologists. In the making of “Fragile Legacy”, Professor Harvell and a few of her colleagues when out on a quest to see if living counterparts of these glass representations still existed. Unfortunately, the world’s changing climate and well as industrialization has led to changes not only on land, but also in the ocean. After many failed attempts in searching for the common octopus, Professor Harvell and her team finally found it living in the oceans nearby the Mediterranean, where there was a body of water preserved for studies.

There has been many changes in biodiversity and Cornell’s collection of Blashcka’s Invertebrate Models give helpful and interesting insights in biodiversity. Evolution is constantly progressing and one of the most overlooked fields is marine biology. Research is constantly being conducted and the Blashcka models are only a portion of what the ocean offers.

Environmental Policies

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While people have heard of the term ‘global warming’, many fail to look at the causes of climate change. But thanks to Professors Greg Poe, David Wolfe, and Shanjun Li, they shed some light onto the problems that plague the world physically as well as politically.

For instance, education progresses along with technology and teams of engineers and scientists have constantly been searching for alternatives for fossil fuel. One method known as fracking, which involves pumping fluid into the ground after drilling wells, allows users to harvest natural gas. However, there are environmental trade offs. By drilling into the ground and forcing liquid through the said holes, fracking creates cracking in shale. But what damage does breaking the shale cause in addition to destroying the underground environment? Nearby water transport systems that carry water to and from residencies could potentially be contaminated by chemicals and methane.

Another contributing factor to climate change is the burning of fossil fuels. Japan and Germany have reverted going back to burning coal in lieu of using nuclear sources due to the recent power plant meltdowns. And while nuclear power plants provide enough energy, they produce nuclear waste, which is potentially more dangerous than the byproducts of burning coal. However, Professor Shanjun Li and Professor David Wolfe told us to take note of recent development of fourth generation nuclear technology in China. Instead of creating more wastes, these new power plants are able to recycle old wastes to generate power.

While these alternatives are still in process of being adopted by other countries, Professor Shanjun Li shifted the focus of the talk onto international policy by extending the points he presented with Japan and Germany. Since most countries burn coal (not limited to just Japan and Germany), the toxic byproducts affect the Earth as a whole. But how can this be justified? If one country burns more coal than another, shouldn’t there be regulation rules to account for these differences? Unfortunately, the current policies, as Professor Greg Poe mentioned, are not enough to motivate companies or countries to stop burning coal.

The question therefore poses a dilemma. If a heavy tax is put on the burning of fossil fuels in the United States, this would most likely reduce the production of pollutants in the air. However, if another country refuses to apply this tax, profits from the United States could be given to the other country. A possible solution would be to create a system of caps and limits, which each country allotted a certain amount relative to firms and population. This way, there would be a system where there is active trading and reduction of overproduction of toxic byproducts.

While the issue of environmental policies are still being debated, there are ways that we can contribute to the environment as individuals! Cornell has a plethora of initiatives at the ‘Sustainable Campus’ webpage, but if you are not up to joining a club, turning off your lights when you leave the house or turning off the faucet when you’re brushing your teeth are ways to contribute as well!

War Crimes & Justice

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With the recent hospital bombing in Afghanistan, issues dealing war crimes are brought to light. But what specifically is a ‘war crime’? Isn’t killing involved in war? When is it applicable to say that a country or a leader has committed a war crime since war typically involves casualties among armed forces?

At the Becker Rose Cafe, Professor Ohlin of the Cornell Law School gave a short information session pertaining to war politics as well as his opinions on current events. He started off by detailing the ‘rules’ of war, which are generally understood amongst all powers in conflict. While battle will result in deaths, the combat should, in no way, hurt innocent civilians, injured soldiers (who are beyond the point of service), or medical facilities. There is extra emphasis on hospitals because they are a safe zone since they are typically associated with recovery or healing for people who are suffering. However, if the injuring of civilians occurs as collateral damage, it is perfectly legal. But what does collateral damage mean? If, for instance, a building in destroyed and debris falls onto passing civilians, then this act cannot be deemed a war crime.

Another issue that officials have to deal with when observing these cases is the proportion of civilian deaths when compared to that of soldier deaths. But since these numbers are often hard to calculate, a lot of courts choose not to try these cases unless it is a major event.  The bombing of the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan, for example, is one such case and the United States has yet to provide a full debriefing as to what had actually happened before bombing the local hospital. In addition, it is important to note that this unfortunate event happened on a national scale and is part of the reason why further investigation will be conducted to determine if this could actually be categorized as a war crime.

If the problem persisted internationally as seen in Syria, the case is much harder to handle. Much of these issues will be sent to the International Criminal Court, which is a coalition formed from numerous countries. With the current system, if any one of the participating countries vetoes to receive a case, the issue is immediately dispelled and not even glanced at. But from news reports, it is apparent that the civilians of Syria are being killed left and right while Russia is conducting covert, illegal activities in the country. While the reports of criminal activity in Syria may be sent over to the International Criminal Court, Professor Ohlin mentioned that Russia will, without a doubt, veto this case.

Even with a political organization, the world seems to be unable to deal with international war crimes through its failure to effectively implement its resources. With such weaknesses, is it not necessary to revise international political law as well as search for solutions that brings war crimes to an end?

Ezra Cornell: Founding of an Institution

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“I would found an institution where any person could find instruction in any study.” – Ezra Cornell.

As many of you know, Ezra Cornell is the founder of the university we’re all part of today. But perhaps what you didn’t know is that Ezra dropped out of school after third grade. That’s right. Even without a high school diploma or a college degree, he started one of the world’s most prestigious institutions. And out of curiosity, one might ask, “Well how was it even possible that he could have created such an institution with such a weak academic background?” The answer: dedication and hard work.

Shortly after dropping out of school, Ezra Cornell worked as a carpenter in Ithaca. His financial situation simply didn’t provide enough for him to pursue any of his academic interests. But fortunately, he didn’t think much of it and continued to apply all that he had learned into his job. In fact, his hard work paid off and he became well known enough to be hired by Colonel Beebe to be a manager of a mill. (Beebe Lake in Fall Creek at the Cornell Plantations is actually named after Colonel Beebe!)

While Ezra was working at the mill one day, a friend named Francis Smith approached him with a problem. Smith needed a way to dig a ‘two and a half feet’ trench to lay down telegraph lines. It turned out that Francis Smith had close business relations with Samuel Morse, the developer of Morse code as well as the single-wire telegraph system, and intended to build a telegraph line that ran underground from one place to another. Without hesitation, Ezra stepped up to the plate, crafting and patenting a plow that would dig a two and a half feet trench in the dirt. However, the plow was never put to use since it was later seen that the lines would freeze under the ground during the winter. Nevertheless, Ezra showed his persistence and invented a way to lay telegraph lines, but not on the ground. He decided to suspend them in the air on poles, where the wires would be wrapped snugly around the wood and capped with a glass jar to preserve the electrical charge. And with this new method came a new business.

Since the concept of telegraph lines were relatively new, Ezra completed most of the installations himself. But during this time, most of these companies did not have the money to repay Ezra for his efforts. As a result, they paid him by giving him shares, making him a partial owner of small, scattered companies. Once a carpenter, he had suddenly become a wealthy, industrious owner.

And when Ezra had raised enough money from this business, he worked with Andrew Dickson White to establish Cornell University. His original intents were to create an institution that provided affordable education to anyone from anywhere and thus objected to the creation of dorms. But luckily for us, this idea didn’t sit long with future presidents, which led to the creation of North Campus and West Campus shortly thereafter.

Though I originally thought the tour on Saturday would’ve been purely about the secret tunnel connecting Becker and Rose, I was truly fascinated by the history of Cornell Professor Blalock presented. Thinking back on it, Cornell is not only an academic institution but also a success story!

 

Silenced Native Americans

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Back in high school, there were rarely any classes that taught Native American history. As Professor Eric Cheyfitz said on Wednesday at the Becker/Rose Cafe, the American school system tends to focus on a “binary” black-and-white history. Much of the aftermath of Western civilization into Indian territory is rarely spoken of and tends to be ignored even to this day.

For instance, did you know that the land that Cornell is built upon belongs to the Cayuga people?

In addition, passive and aggressive forms of genocide, such as preemptive war and ethnic cleansing, have plagued the Native American population. One of the examples of ethnic cleansing that Professor Cheyfitz gave was Native American children would often be made to wear Western clothing as well as have a clothespin clipped onto their tongue if they did not speak English. While this isn’t any physical indication of genocide, Western civilization basically discovered a loophole to wipe out the Native American population by targeting the youngest of the community. But the children weren’t the only ones who were affected by westernization. Professor Cheyfitz also mentioned that one in three Native American women were raped, much of which have been told through a story in a book called The Roundhouse by Louise Erdrich.

Furthermore, Professor Cheyfitz listed both political and economical complications that Native Americans had and still have to go through. While the government takes responsibility of the reservations that they live on, many criminal cases are rarely tried. One of the more notable ones that did occur was Cherokee Nation vs State of Georgia, when the Cherokee Nation sued Georgia for determining boundaries on the land they shared and depriving the Indians of their rights. The Supreme Court ruled that Cherokee Nation wasn’t seen as a foreign nation and therefore could not sue Georgia for depriving land rights. But while the case that followed a year later, Worcester vs Georgia, said that Georgia had no right to take away the Native American’s rights, President Andrew Jackson refused to station troops in Georgia, but in fact rooted to expel the Cherokee Nation. This is more commonly known as the start of “The Trail of Tears”.

Overall, I think that this talk was educational and eye-opening. I have never really considered the condition of Native American and I think it’s overlooked because high schools rarely expose students to the history of the indigenous. I am very thankful that Proefssor Cheyfitz took the time to attend the Becker-Rose Cafe to enlighten us on the issues that still plague the group today. I certainly would like to take a course on Native American history in the future.

From New York to Ithaca: An Artist in Progress

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Growing up in an Asian family, I’ve never had the opportunity to go to an art show or a museum. Unless I was required to go in order to complete an assignment, I usually looked up pictures on Google. In fact, I still remember searching up paintings by Rembrandt, or pictures from the baroque or impressionist periods. And as much as I wouldn’t like to admit, my interest at that time was to complete a graded assignment.

Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to attend my first art show ever, featuring artist Nicholas Lawson Carbonaro. Now living in Ithaca, he used to live in New York, which had influenced most of the pieces that were put on display. His works were hung along the wall opposite of the entrance to the dining hall, and interestingly enough, he told me that he had specifically chosen that place so people walking outside would be able to admire his art through the windows.

After taking a short tour along the wall, I noticed that most of the pieces were made in different years, with ones that dated from the late 1990’s to 2013. Though this collection is not representative of his whole career as an artist, Nicholas mentioned that they particularly stood out to him and he deliberately chose from different years to showcase his thoughts about the progression of life.

Personally, the highlight of the art show was to be able to strike a conversation with the artist himself. As an outsider, I can only tell so much of one’s life through art. Take the first photo on the right, for instance, which featured a portrait on a tinier canvas compared to the others. At first, I thought the woman looked like a renowned super villain who would star in a cartoon or movie. But it turned out that the person featured in the painting ‘Rose’, was actually his grandmother! Furthermore, this was created during his recovery from kidney surgery, since he couldn’t really maneuver bigger and heavier canvases. Isn’t his grandmother so cool?!

'Rose'‘Rose’ – 2013

Another piece I admired was ‘Welcome to My Home’. In some museums, there’s a bit of a distance between the viewer and the canvas hanging from the wall to prevent any damages from occurring. However, Nicholas invited me to take a closer look and he later told me that the canvas for this painting was a Victorian style door that was flipped over and repainted! It was solid wood! (And upon inspection, I noticed that this painting had what I thought were pepper seeds? Though I didn’t have the opportunity to ask him about why he had decided to use them as part of his media.)

Welcome to My Home‘Welcome to My Home’ -2002

'Welcome to My Home'‘Welcome to My Home’ – 2002

All in all, it was incredible to meet Nicholas in person and to be able to learn about the deep connections he had with each and every one of his works. To the audience, some of them might just be a painting. But now I understand that they hold a cherished story in his life and I’m glad Nicholas had decided to share it with us.

Also, if anyone wants to get a haircut or new hairdo, you can find him at Studio 108 in College Town! He works as a hairstylist too!