Author Archives: Lauren Chan

To Eat or Not to Eat?

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Last Wednesday, I attended the final Becker-Rose Café Series of the semester. Representatives of the Cornell Food & Brand Lab came to speak – David Just, Co-Director, Adam Brumberg, Researcher Specialist, and Gnel Gabrielyan, Post-doc Researcher. The researchers have different focus areas and target groups, but it seems that their main goals are to interdisciplinarily merge the fields of nutrition, behavior economics, and psychology, just to name a few.

For the past two semesters, I have walked past the Food & Brand Lab’s display cases in Warren Hall multiple times a week. It is hard not to notice the colorful posters and TV monitors documenting some of their experiments. There is one display in particular that always catches my eye. It is the one showing two-equally sized cookies with one on a larger plate and one on a smaller plate. A card above the plates reads, “Which one makes the cookie look larger?” Perhaps I am always a bit hungry when or walking by, or maybe it is the fact that the researchers look into really interesting questions like this one, but I always manage to take a glimpse of the display.

David, Adam, and Gnel shared some examples of studies that they have conducted and the outcomes of their results. For example, the simple act of placing large arrows on the ground directing grocery store shoppers to the produce section of the store actually resulted in the stores produce sales going up. It was a win-win because the grocery store then made more money selling produce and shoppers were purchasing more healthful foods. Another example that I found to be really neat was on buffet behavior. The “all-you-can-eat” probably gives some indication of what restaurant patrons will do at a buffet. However, there are ways to curb some of the eating, while still enjoying the buffet-style setting. One such method is to survey all of the food options first, then start filling up your plate. Another such method is to sit facing away from the food. Having noticed the increased listing of calories especially in fast food restaurants, I was fascinated to find out that having the calories displayed on menus can actually be detrimental to a person’s eating behavior. They may either ignore the calories or try to get their money’s worth instead.

A major theme that was raised was that of choice. Choice implies conscious decision-making. When we make a decision, the brain can feel happy because it knows that it made that choice. For instance, the researchers discussed how students did not really eat their carrots when given to them without a choice with their school lunch. However, when they were able to choose between carrots and celery, they more often chose the carrots and ate more of them. The act of choosing made a difference. The researchers seem to focus on the general population when they design their experiments, which makes sense. This made me think about those who cannot afford the luxury of such choices, whether it be for financial reasons, access reasons, etc. How would not being able to choose affect their eating habits and behavior or even their attitudes and perception towards food? We have a wonderful dining program at Cornell with numerous options. I think that it is easy to take this for granted.

The next time you are in a dining hall, try using a smaller plate. Also, definitely check out the Food & Brand Lab’s display in Warren Hall! The Lab has done so much influential work, such as apple slices and milk in Happy Meals. I wonder what they are going to study next!

The Road Less Taken

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Last Thursday, I attended an event called “THRIVE at Cornell”. The event took place in the Common Room of Alice Cook House and was led by former Vice President Susan Murphy and Catherine Thrasher-Carroll, mental health promotion coordinator at Gannett. Prior to the event, I was not quite sure what to expect. I had a general idea from the poster that the event would offer ways to enhance the meaning of our Cornell experience – truly experiencing it, not just living it. However, I did not know the structure of the event. I liked that it was in the style of a presentation and that Ms. Murphy and Ms. Thrasher-Carroll asked interactive questions throughout the presentation. It was a smaller audience than say, the Becker-Rose Café Series talks, which made it feel even more intimate and personalized.

From the start of the presentation, Ms. Thrasher-Carroll and Ms. Murphy had the audience engaged. Ms. Thrasher-Carroll asked everyone to lift an object they brought with them or had in from of them up over their heads. We were asked to keep holding the objects up if we thought we could hold them up for a minute, five minutes, a day, a week. With each longer interval, fewer audience members remained holding up their objects. To me, this was an extremely powerful visual. It was also a great representation of how we are weighed down by our worries, thoughts, and stresses throughout the day. At some point, we have to let them go in order to lighten our physical and mental loads. Stress can take such a toll on the body, and while some stress can be motivating and invigorating, chronic stress can have negative short and long-term effects.

Ms. Murphy and Ms. Carroll helped us to explore some great topics, including the importance of breathing and sleep. I was most inspired by the concept of a growth mindset. Although everyone would like to think that they are able to maintain a positive, healthy attitude, we do often find ourselves getting stuck in a mental rut – it feels like everything is a struggle. I live by the motto of “slow and steady wins the race”, so when the tortoise and the hare analogy came up in a video that was played, I was all eyes and ears. Persevering even in a time of hardship is usually easier said than done, but with the growth mindset, you tell yourself, “I cannot do that, YET.” You have to give yourself time to get through the challenges. I really appreciated the analogy and the imagery.

Having gone to this event, I learned a lot of great tips about time management and keeping a healthy body and mind. But most importantly, I learned to be a bit more patient with myself. It is easy to get wrapped up in the hectic schedule of life at Cornell. What sets apart our experiences is if we are able to take a step back and give ourselves a break every now and then – giving ourselves the chance to truly grow. Ultimately, there are two roads – the one to survive and the one to thrive. I choose the latter.

Fine Dining

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Last Wednesday, I attended the Becker-Rose Café Series talk given by Paul Muscente, Associate Director of Cornell Dining and Daniel Czebiniak, House Chef/Manager of Rose House Dining Room. They began the talk by giving some background on the different eateries at Cornell and how Cornell dining has ranked in the previously and as of late amongst other college eateries. We have consistently been ranked within Princeton Review’s Top 10! Both Paul and Chef Daniel then elaborated on some of the initiatives that Cornell Dining has taken as a whole and West Campus dining has taken in recent years. Such initiatives include the Cornell Dining Mug Club to reduce the use of disposable cups, Five Days of 5 in which everyone on campus was encouraged to eat five cups of fruits and veggies for five days last semester, and the set servings of meat to encourage students to fill their plates with more veggies and fruits and less protein.

It made a lot of sense to me that Chef Daniel and the dining staff look at what gets returned to the kitchen to gauge what students like and do not like as much. But what stood out to me most was the amount of care that Chef Daniel, Paul, and the entire Cornell Dining staff puts into ensuring that all students’ dining needs are met. There is a nutritionist who will work with students if they have allergies or other dietary guidelines and restrictions. Chef Daniel will also prepare foods especially for people with allergies. This personalization and dedication speaks volumes. I would agree with Paul that in addition to the variety offered on campus, what makes Cornell Dining so unique is the staff’s willingness to work with students and ensure that everyone has a pleasant dining experience. I was really impressed that the day after this talk, the cookies were moved away from the fruits to where the other desserts were as one student suggested. I applaud Cornell Dining’s efforts to help students eat healthier and to be more sustainable.

I would be lying if I did not say that a highlight for me was receiving Cornell peanut butter at the end of the talk. I think that this also speaks to how special Cornell Dining is. We are able to enjoy products that are made right here on campus, such as peanut butter, yogurt, and apple cider. We also reach out to local producers and donate food to local food banks. A large portion of the Cornell Dining staff is also comprised of student and local workers. All of this is extremely important in building relations within the Cornell community, as well as, the greater Ithaca community. I can tell that the Cornell Dining staff takes great pride in their work. For that, I just want to say, “Thank you” to them for all that they do. I am so appreciative. They certainly do a great job with a so many mouths to feed day-in-and-day-out. Cornell Dining, you rock!

 

 

 

ARTastic Excursion: Public Masterpieces

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Last Saturday, I attended the Public Art walk around the Ithaca Commons. The group met in the Rose House Lobby and walked to the parking lot next to Aladdin’s in Collegetown together. This is where the tour began. Our tour guide, Caleb, gave us some background on his work with the Ithaca Public Art Commission and asked what we liked the most about the public art in Ithaca. One student liked the uniqueness of the art and how it is displayed in various forms – painting, sculpture around the Commons. Another student liked all of the colors and the vibrancy that the art adds to the community.

We first saw some of the murals painted on the walls of the parking garage. One was done by a group of 12-year-old students. Another was done by a famous artist whose work was featured in a documentary. The subject of the murals in the parking garage varied greatly. On one wall we saw a large, painted tiger. On another wall we saw a mother, child, and sheep standing in a meadow with a poem incorporated into the mural. This demonstrates the diversity in the artists’ backgrounds and in the types of works that can be seen around the Commons. I was actually surprised by the fact that many of the pieces were created by artists from around the world as opposed to local artists. The Art Commission notifies artists of the available spaces and requests drafts of the potential pieces. Then, there is a more extensive process that occurs in order to get the pieces approved. We ventured towards the Commons, looking at the electrical boxes along the way.

One student asked a great question about whether or not the Art Commission foresees any potential issues with real estate and having spaces like the parking garage taken over and used for other purposes. Caleb has not seen this being an issue in the past and does not think it will be a problem in the future. The spaces may get repurposed, but not removed completely. GRF Esmerelda added that the art being “public” is a consideration. Such initiatives do require funding and community support. In other cities around the world, such works may not as encouraged. While the future of public art in Ithaca does not seem to be in danger, I do believe that this is a discussion that needs to be had at some point.

My favorite piece was on one of the electrical boxes. At the moment, I do not remember which country the artist was originally from. However, I do remember Caleb saying that he was able to complete the piece within just a couple of hours and that the artist contributes public paintings in the poorer neighborhoods of his home country. The colors are so rich and it is empowering that the subject is looking upwards. The front and back of the electrical box are pictured below.

Rose Scholars Public Art Walk 1Rose Scholars Public Art Walk 2

The walk took place on Halloween, so we were able to see all of the adults and children dressed up. Because of the Harry Potter event in the Commons, there were many wizards and witches wandering around – even a Dolores Umbridge! This definitely added some spice to the walk! In its own way, it was a form of public art. I highly recommend that others explore the art in the Commons when they have a chance. It is a great excursion that is close to campus!

Leaving Our Footprint

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On Wednesday, I attended the Becker-Rose Café Series talk led by three Professors at Cornell. Professors Shanjun Li and Greg Poe are professors of environmental economics, and Professor David Wolfe is a professor of plant sciences. The discussion began with the word cloud for some of the biggest environmental concerns that the audience has for the future. A main concern was global warming. One student brought up the issue of fracking, which is when pipes are run underground, releasing chemicals to break up the shale for fuel supply. The panelists had mixed results on the practice, but were in agreement that Ithaca and New York state overall, is very opposed to it.

I found Professor Li’s comment very interesting on how the key factors needed to implement change are policies and technology. These are probably two of the most difficult things for policymakers, innovators, and the general public to agree upon. While Economics has never been my strong suit, I can definitely understand how it is logical to look at environmental issues from this lens. In developing policies and creating/implementing new technologies we truly are constantly weighing costs and benefits. It seems to me that more often than not, the crux of environmental debates seem to be pitting people against the planet. The costs vs. benefits perspective may then come off as a bit harsh. At one extreme, some may say, “Of course we should do whatever will make life easier for people.” At the other extreme, some may say, “Of course we should do whatever will save the planet.” Perhaps the sweet spot is somewhere in the middle. We need to serve the needs of our billions of people, but we can try our best to do so in eco-friendly ways.

While a majority of the audience raised their hands that they are worried about the future of our environment, few could attest to participating in major climate change movements or reforms. There was a discrepancy between actions, such as recycling and attending marches at Washington. All of the panelists gave reassurance that as students, we do have power to make change. We can vote in major elections or take part in efforts on campus. West Campus is cooled by Lake Source Cooling!

My goal is to be informed about all the current issues being raised and their proposed solutions. This is something that the panelists heavily emphasized and a sure way that we can leave our mark, or maybe in this case, a footprint – just not a carbon one.

The Controveries of War Crimes

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Last Wednesday, I attended the Becker-Rose Café Series talk given by Professor Ohlin, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law at the Cornell Law School. Professor Ohlin focuses on criminal law, both domestic and international.

The word cloud for this talk asked for names of war criminals. Most of the discussion was centered around the recent bombing of a hospital in Afghanistan and whether or not we can classify the act as an international war crime. Patients as well as volunteers with Doctors Without Borders were killed in the incident. Some students in the audience at the talk offered suggestions for how the US can take responsibility for the bombing. One mentioned accepting a trade embargo, another offering to pay monetary sanctions. Since news broke last week of the incident, President Obama has since issued an apology and the US has indeed gone with the latter option. It is amazing how many different factors can be at play in a situation like this.

Professor Ohlin proceeded to discuss extensively the International Criminal Court (ICC). It was a bit tricky for me to wrap my head around all of the terms and conditions. However, I gathered that the ICC has a difficult job to do and that making decisions on the complex cases that they must review is not easy. Despite rulings that the Court makes that may be in a country’s best interest, they are not always carried through.

From this talk, I left with a greater appreciation for international policy and politics. The bombing of the Afghan hospital was an extremely unfortunate event. I wish I knew more of the details of what happened. The most that I feel that is in my power to do in the present moment is to acknowledge that human lives were lost. While we can certainly discuss such events from different views and perspectives, perhaps it is best to leave the final say in the hands of the experts.

A Forkful

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Wednesday was the Farm to Fork House Dinner. Following the Dinner, I attended the Becker-Rose Cafe Series talk given by Justine Vanden Heuvel and Mary Jo Dudley. Justine is a professor here at Cornell who focuses on the science of wine grape production. Mary Jo is the director of the Cornell Farmworker Program, which combines research, education, and outreach to better the lives of farm workers and their families.

Mary Jo began by giving some statistics and background on the farmworkers’ lives and working conditions. Many are undocumented workers who live in fear of being deported. They rely on seasonal work to maintain their livelihood. Because of this, their work is not guaranteed or secure. Often their children have to attend multiple schools within a given year because they have to travel from one worksite to another. Justine followed by explaining some of the work and research that she does to optimize wine grape production and improve the flavor and aroma of the grapes. The common thread between Mary Jo and Justine’s work is that there are disparities within agricultural work and that as consumers, we often take for granted the work and efforts that go into bringing the food we eat literally from farm to fork.

This conversation stimulated my thoughts on connections between the field of agriculture and a topic from my Education class on the distinction between “brain work” and “hand work” that is being made in our workforce and in schools. As we move more and more towards a technology-based society and economy, we are placing emphasis on mechanization and forgetting how much we rely on people who work towards the production of basic needs, such as food. This translates into a stronger appreciation for seemingly academically rigorous fields of study and work when emphasis should also be placed on the intellect and physical risks involved in the agricultural realm and similar fields.

Overall, I think that we need to have more conversations on the topics of farm workers and food production. As our economy and country’s population continues to change, grow, and evolve, we have to seriously consider what the situation is going to look like in the future. With the multiple factors of politics, livelihoods, and lives involved, these are certainly complex issues with a lot at stake. Moreover, they are  not issues that only impact the lives of specific groups of people. Everyone is impacted and numerous generations are affected. Therefore, they are issues that everyone should be informed about. I am definitely open to learning more.

This Land is Your Land, This Land is American Indian Land

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Last Wednesday, I attended the Becker-Rose Café series talk given by Professor Eric Cheyfitz. Professor Cheyfitz has been very involved with American Indian studies, previously serving as the director of the American Indian Program at Cornell and teaching on U.S. federal law. He gave us a brief history of the relations between American Indians and the U.S. government/citizens. It certainly was not as simple as the typical “Thanksgiving story”.

Professor Cheyfitz made clear that over the course of history and still today, there has been a great deal of controversy regarding how the U.S. has majorly disrupted American Indian culture in the process of seeking out their land. I asked a question on what Professor Cheyfitz thinks is the greatest misconception that American citizens have of American Indians to which he replied that the American people are very ignorant about American Indians. Starting in elementary school, children are not well-educated on American Indians and the more negative ways that the U.S. has impacted them.

Overall, I was interested in this talk because I am currently in an Education class that focuses on the social and political contexts of American education. In class this past week, we discussed American Indian education – the boarding schools and forcing the students to not practice their customs and speak their language. Given all that I had been learning about in class and from Professor Cheyfitz’s talk, I was intrigued by his view that the American Indians faced genocide. The fact that many American Indian children are hesitant about school and their chances of overcoming the incidence of alcoholism, suicide, and sexual assault struck a chord for me. School should be a place where children feel safe and accepted, not fear or having been wronged. In one of the readings for my education class, the author described the American Indian experience as being robbed of their culture and childhoods. Professor Cheyfitz confirmed that this was true.

In terms of what we can do moving forward to promote the well-being of American Indians without taking advantage of the culture, it seems that Professor Cheyfitz was recommending that we look to our past. This can be hundreds of years back or even more recently. There are court cases and other incidents that did not occur all that long ago. In instances like these, is it ever too late to instill change? There are courses here at Cornell that delve deeper into these issues. I would certainly like to take one to become a more informed student and citizen.

Apple of My Eye

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Last Friday, I went to the Cornell Orchards. I set out on foot from Central Campus and characteristic of me, ended up getting lost along the way. Heading in the opposite direction of the Orchards, I circled back and ran into a fellow Rose Scholar and close friend who was also somewhat lost, though not quite as lost as me. In hindsight, the Orchards are not very far from Campus. I had gone many years ago with my family and as my friend and I approached the Orchards, everything started to look more familiar.

Once a majority of attendees arrived at the Orchards, we started on our guided tour. We saw a number of apple varieties, some of which were not yet named and just five years old or so. As we walked through the bright rows of trees, our tour guide answered questions about the Orchards and apples in general. One of the most interesting facts that I learned was that planting an apple seed will not result in the same variety of apple as the original fruit because virtually every variety is a hybrid of two other varieties. For instance, the Empire is a combination of Red Delicious and McIntosh. I was curious about climate effects on the apple trees over the past couple of years to which our tour guide answered that there is an irrigation system in place. This past year, the Cornell Orchards received enough rain water, but there are many other places, such as on the West Coast that are facing drought and water issues. Along the way, we got to taste the Snap Dragon – a Cornell-developed variety and got a glimpse at the organic varieties grown at the Orchards. It was really awesome to see the cider press and the stored apples that we will soon be drinking in a matter of days!

Much of what I learned that day reminded me of what Professor Stanley, professor of HADM 4300 Wines, talked about at the Becker-Rose Café Series last year and in her class. It is this idea that principles from every college at Cornell can be applied to the wine-making process, or in this case the apple growing process. (In case you did not know, grapes are grown at the Cornell Orchards, too!) There is the agricultural component, the business component, the policy component, the engineering of machinery component – to name a few. Like many sites on and off campus, the Orchards encompasses all that is Cornell. There is history, as well as, innovation present. I highly recommend that everyone make a trip to the Orchards. Now that we are in the fall season, it would be the perfect time to go! I know that I will be returning. One goal will be to not get lost on my next trip there. But if I do, hopefully I will run into a fellow Scholar to help me find the way!