Author Archives: cc2226

Modern Primitives

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At this week’s Rose Cafe, GRF Sam Legasse, who is working towards an English Ph.D, discussed the idea of Modern Primitives. He first discussed with us the meaning behind the word modern and the meaning behind the word primitive. They at first seem to be simple ideas, but actually have many nuances and interesting concepts behind them. He showed us a video of the Tiller Girls and other images to illustrate what modernity is. In the video of the Tiller Girls, he explained that juxtaposition of masculinity and femininity is an example of what modernity is.

I also thought the discussion of our society today in relation to primitivity and modernity was very interesting, especially with regard to technology. People sometimes try to reject modernity, such as not using technology and attempting the paleo diet, in order to show appreciation for the primitive. After hearing about this, I noticed more examples of rejection of modernity in my everyday life. For example, people that choose to stop using social media or to take notes only on paper. It shows how the concepts of primitivity and modernity can be applied to everyday life. Hearing more about Sam’s work was very interesting, since it is a topic that I am unfamiliar with as a STEM major. It demonstrated to me some of the virtues of my Cornell education and how I can learn about many different areas of study. It can also help us understand more about our society today, which I also believe is important to be more aware of the world around us. I am looking forward to hearing about more about the other GRF’s work and research in future Rose Cafe events, which definitely have strong applications to my everyday life. 

Cornell and City Planning

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At this week’s Rose Cafe, guest speaker John Schroeder talked about city planning and the development of Cornell. It was interesting to hear about the changes that Cornell has gone through in the development of the campus and in housing, since I learned more about how historical events have influenced the current housing situation. First, we were shown a map of Cornell drawn in the 1880s, which showed a very different layout of the campus compared to the way it is now. Seeing the dramatic changes to campus over time was surprising to me and also eye opening to see how much the campus has changed from having Collegetown as the main entrance to Cornell, to the development of West Campus and North Campus.

However, there have also been negative changes that students have to face today. Specifically the housing issues that students have to face with high rent and difficulty in finding good housing options. I previously thought that the simple solution to the problem would be to build more dorms and housing options, however John Schroeder revealed that the solution is not so simple. Some of the dorms and buildings are protected to preserve their historical appearance, which has also made the housing situation more difficult for students. There is a high cost and difficulty in renovating these old buildings to stay in line with the law.

In addition, Schroeder discussed the economics behind the housing problem. In a free market scenario, the increase in housing options would indeed lower the cost of rent, however Schroeder talked about how the market is more of an oligopoly, with many of the housing properties owned by very few owners. In this situation, increasing housing options would not necessarily be able to lower the rent by an appreciable amount. 

Although the housing situation is not ideal, Schroeder discusses possible hopes and improvements for the future. Many more housing projects are underway to provide more housing to students and hopefully begin to lower the price of rent in the future. It was interesting to hear about all the considerations and interrelated reasons for why housing is a problem at Cornell. Had I not attended this event, I would not have learned about all the nuances and the complicated reasons behind a seemingly simple housing issue. It definitely gave me a new perspective on why the housing problem exists and how it can be managed in the future. It also helped me realize that many issues that may seem to have a simple solution in my mind are in reality far more complicated, with reasoning and development related to history. This event helped me to realize that looking deeper within a situation or scenario can reveal much more than I previously thought. 

Sketching on the Arts Quad

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This week’s Rose event that I attended was the sketching event on the Arts Quad. I have previously taken a few drawing lessons in the past, but have not practiced in a while. At the event, we were taught a bit about two point and one point perspective and how it appears on paper. GRF Seema demonstrated a bit on paper how to draw a one and two point perspective before we attempted sketching ourselves. I thought it was interesting to hear about perspectives, since many times while walking on campus, I do not pay attention to how the buildings around me appear to my eye and what the visual effect of perspectives are. Understanding how to draw perspectives also helped me better understand the appearance and visual of the campus around me.

In addition, actually drawing out one of the buildings on the Arts Quad revealed some of the details on the building that I have not noticed before. When I was trying to look carefully at the buildings, there are many details and nuances in the building structure and appearance that usually are not noticed while walking past everyday. I think that this event was able to help me be more aware of my surroundings and be more appreciative of the beautiful architecture that is present on campus. There are many aspects of campus that many seem to take for granted, architecture being one of them. It was also a great experience as a study break and to take some time to revisit an old hobby. It was a good reminder of some drawing skills and visual analysis skills as well, which are not only important in drawing but also in other areas of study. I was glad I was able to learn more about the process of sketching architecture and the details that are present around me.

Fake News

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At the Rose Cafe, the guest speaker Professor Schwartz discussed the concept of fake news and how it affects us. I thought his talk was very interesting and I was able to hear the opinions of fellow students on the topic of fake news. Fake news is an important topic in today’s news output and information, influencing our knowledge of current events. Notably, fake news has played a role in the spread of information in the most recent presidential election and other major political events. A widely accepted piece of fake news could be taken for reality, leading to changes in public opinion or changes in election votes as a result. Professor Schwartz discussed credible news sources and how even the most accurate news sources can still make mistakes and errors in the news that they present. As a result, we have to be mindful of the media that we see and the news that we read. I thought this was a meaningful reminder of the importance of understanding our news sources and what they may be presenting. 

In addition, I think that people commonly think of fake news in relation to political issues, however Professor Schwartz explained how fake news can be applied to many other areas of our lives. In general, fake news can be thought of as extremely twisted information and lies, which can relate to our social lives and academics. Spreading false information about other people or hearing about untrue academic information can also be thought of as fake news. It can be extremely detrimental and frustrating to handle the lies spread by fake news. I think that understanding how fake news is a part of our lives can help us be more aware of the wealth of information that surrounds us and what we see online. We can be more cautious of the information we see or hear about and work on spreading information about the truth, rather than fake news.

 

Life in Malawi

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At the Rose Cafe, guest speaker Ruth Magreta talked about her experiences growing up in Malawi and her current research interests to help the rural communities in Malawi. Her experiences were interesting to hear about and also helped to broaden my perspective on the world. She talked about growing up in a rural village in Malawi, and how even though they had no running water or electricity, they lived happily, because they didn’t know that these things existed at all. She also discussed the cultural differences between her town in Malawi and typical Western culture. She mentioned that most people were farmers and the typical, traditional familial roles in their culture. For example, as a woman, she was tasked with preparing food and taking care of the animals. 

In addition, she showed a genuine support for education and the importance of schooling, mentioning that the reason why she can now do research and come to the United States was due to her decision to remain in school and in an education system. Hearing about these differences in culture and ways of life helped me to understand more about the world and realize the many common things in my everyday life that I take for granted. It also demonstrated that some of the issues that I worry about, are not issues that others around the world worry about or consider. It really shows that there are so many different experiences that people have around the world and that we should make an effort to learn more about other people’s perspectives and lifestyles. This event helped me realize that we should take the time to appreciate our privileges and be more aware of the lifestyles around the world. I also hope that I will be able to apply my education to helping others around the world through problem solving and research, just as Ruth Magreta has been doing.

Law and Order

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The Honorable Judge Scott Miller was the guest of the Rose Cafe event this week. I was very interested to hear more about the judicial process, an area that I am not familiar with. Some of the main topics discussed included the balance between morality, prejudice, and law in the judicial system. One of the topics discussed was the importance of the jury members in the outcome of a case. For example, having more men or more women on a jury panel could affect their final decision. This brings up an interesting discussion on what types of members should be chosen for the jury. According to Judge Miller, having more women on a jury for a defendant that is a woman is not advantageous for the defendant. This was unexpected to me and it was a learning experience to hear more about the nuances of the judicial process, which I have not considered before. 

Judge Miller also presented different examples of cases he has worked on as a lawyer and cases that he has facilitated as a judge to give clear illustrations of his points. These cases were also quite interesting to hear about, since news sites tend to report only large and controversial cases rather than the more common cases that occur day to day. I thought this was particularly engaging, since I was able to hear more about the typical judicial process rather than the theatrical perspective that is presented in movies or in highly publicized cases. 

In addition, Judge Miller also discussed the dilemma of defending someone who seems like they are clearly guilty from the evidence presented. By law, every person is allowed the chance to be defended in court and judged by their peers. However, it can be difficult for an attorney to defend someone who seems so clearly guilty. I thought this was an interesting topic of discussion and also a virtue of the American judicial system. Even though someone may seem guilty, the real truth could be discovered through the process of the trial. Judge Miller also talked about the government system as a whole and how the judicial system is an important part of maintaining balance and order in the nation. I thought that this event was a great way to learn more about the judicial system and to understand more about the process of law from a Judge currently practicing law. I think that it is valuable for all Americans to have knowledge about the judicial system and how it may affect us. I believe that this Rose Cafe event was a great way to learn more about law and has broadened my understanding of the American judicial system in general. 

A Trip to the Farmer’s Market

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I have previously never attended the Ithaca Farmer’s Market before, and was excited to attend an event to visit the farmer’s market. I was surprised to hear that it is one of the best rated farmer’s markets in the nation, bringing many visitors who are not from the local area, as well as serving many local families and communities. With close to 150 vendors from the local area, any purchases go towards supporting the community of smaller sustainable farming. In addition, the farmer’s market only uses biodegradable utensils and containers for serving food, which helps make local communities more sustainable and conscious of environmental choices.

I thought that the farmer’s market was a great experience to see more of the local community off campus and to support local communities. It also brings consumers much closer to the source of produce and to the food that they are eating, rather than the more impersonal and corporate nature of going to a grocery store. People can really see where their food comes from, specifically they can get a better idea of how food is grown and produced before it makes its way into homes to be consumed. There is also more than just produce at the farmer’s market. Many vendors sell handmade crafts and different ethnic foods and musicians play instruments near a boat dock. It is a popular destination for tourists and for local families. 

After going to the Ithaca Farmer’s Market, I grew to be more appreciative of local businesses and the importance of my lifestyle choices in helping the environment. The use of biodegradable utensils and containers has made me think about a more sustainable lifestyle and how people can help the environment. I hope that I can visit again in the future to continue supporting the local community.