I got the chance to sit down with Ms. Kushnir and talk about free will for an evening. We explored what free will was about, and if we as human beings, really have the option to do anything we please. Before we began, she had us participate in an activity. She told us to raise our hand whenever we felt like it, and then she proceeded to stare out at us intently. Although initially, I felt pressure to raise my hand for the sake of the simulation, I slowly realized that I really didn’t want to raise my hand. And then I told myself… I guess this must be the whole point of this exercise – so if that’s the case I won’t raise my hand. I ultimately never raised my hand, and although I felt like I didn’t do so on purpose, I also partially felt like that was me “winning” (by not participating). In my opinion, although we technically have free will and can do anything we please, I feel as though our “free will” is placed under certain mental restraints in accordance with society so as to not be seen as strange or deviant.
Author Archives: klm346
Roses and Thorns
This past Monday, I was able to sit down with a few students and speak with them about the semester and reflect on the positives and negatives of academics and personal life. GRF Ty, who is currently in his sixth year of study, told me of his interest in working on his post-doctorate, wanting to possibly work in a lab overseas in Switzerland. During the table talk reflection, we also brought up different events going on around the world and on campus, speaking about the Hong Kong democratic protests, as well as the recent passing of Antonio and the efforts to curve the negative externalities that Greek life brings about. Although I do enjoy reflecting on my past semester, which was one of the better semesters that I have had at Cornell, I also took some time to think of what I’m looking forward to next semester. I am going to be participating in the semester-long program Cornell in Washington, and I’m looking forward to getting involved with an internship as well as taking classes and enjoying the DC area. Although it is important to look back, looking forward to the future with hope is something that I also recommend, as it can help to lift spirits and re-align goals.
Finding a Balance
This past Wednesday, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Vice President Ryan Lombardi and speaking with him and several other students and faculty about the lack of power that the university has. Cornell University holds little power to seriously rebuke students when “bad things happen.” The Office of Judicial Administration is an independent and autonomous department, and the administration (President Pollack, VP Lombardi, etc.) are not able to singularly hand down punishment. The discussion opened up on Wednesday was VP Lombardi asking us what we thought about the power dynamic, as it is ultimately up to us as a student body to govern ourselves and collectively ostracize and rebuke poor student behavior on campus.
He asked us what we personally prefer – as he feels that many people are asking the administration to “do something” about behavior on campus when in reality he doesn’t, technically speaking, have the direct capability to do so. He asked us if we prefer the administration to encompass the power or if we as students should keep it.
I personally think that it is unfair to expect students to step up and collectively advocate for a solution when students among us our at fault for certain things. Why should it hang on my shoulders to keep other students accountable? Although I want to see justice served, fraternities suspended, and in some cases, students expelled… it shouldn’t be on me and my peers to make these things happen by causing uproars and pressuring the Office of Judicial Administration to take action – In a perfect world for me, the administration would have the power do these things, and they would actually do them.
I, personally, however, do not wholly trust Cornell University to do the right thing when it comes down to it. With a university like this, I would believe that it is in the administration’s best interest to not cause a stir in the media, to keep some situations as under the table as possible, to not be as transparent as possible, and if it means keeping things quiet… to not take action against certain students. When I shared this with VP Lombardi, he understood my concerns and then asked me how to find the balance between the two. Between us, as students, having power, and the administration having the power. It is a difficult question to discuss and find a solution to – but definitely, something to think deeply about and contemplate over, as it has the ability to lower tension among the administration and students and find more agreeable solutions.
Lessening Polarization
On Wednesday I had the opportunity to sit in on an intellectually stimulating conversation with Professor Kenneth Roberts as we discussed how to overcome polarization in America. He took us through the historical voting patterns of Republicans and Democrats, and surprisingly, Dems and Repubs have not always voted so unilaterally in the past. Another fact that he shared that was particularly troubling was the idea of “sports team” politics, in which many people have more hate for the opposite party than they have a love for their own party. Roberts then opened up the conversation, inviting us to talk about our experience with political polarization and how Americans or us, personally, can go about lessening this abhorrence that both parties seem to have for each other. One woman shared her experience, stating that when she was younger, during the holidays her family would fight with each other over their different political views, but now, her family doesn’t even discuss such views at all. I agreed with her in the respect that because politics has the ability to be a controversial topic, many people don’t have the desire to approach the topic in the first place. I, however, think it’s important to talk to people about different political views, as I think it would help us to understand that those who think differently than us are not necessarily “bad people.” Just last summer we learned that our close family friends had voted for President Trump of whom we are not supporters. Although that was a subject of contention for a brief moment, we didn’t cease being friends, and I think it helped to open both of our different perceptions.
American Horror Story: Apocalypse
On Oct. 27th, I got the opportunity to participate in a pumpkin painting party! I based my painting on the entirety of the eighth season of American Horror Story – It showed the season’s storyline through abstract drawings. I had an incredible time painting, and I was able to see everyone else’s beautiful carvings and paintings. I sat next to Aiyana, and we related to each other, as neither of us felt incredibly confident in our artistic abilities. There was also a young man next to us who took an incredibly unique approach to carving and carved his pumpkin into a spiral. It was such a fun experience and nice to see everyone’s unique designs and creations.
travel across seas, help the children
This week’s Rose Cafe was a pleasure, as we got acquainted with Ms. Nel de Mûelenaere who is from Belgium. She is a historian whose interest is with those who came to Belgium shortly after the first World War. One of those who came to Belgium around this time was Ms. Flora Rose, and she taught us a lot about Rose’s life and the impact that she made. Flora Rose was born in the 1870s, and she was quite a progressive thinker during her time. She along with Ms. Martha Van Rensselear became co-heads of the Department of Home Economics within the School of Agriculture. In addition to this, they were partners that lived together, and also went overseas and helped children in Belgium. They gathered the extent of the devastation after the War, as Rose was one of the first to take a combination of qualitative and quantitative data. They worked with Herbert Hoover to help fight against the starvation that was going on in Belgium at this time. Because of this, I now have a deeper appreciation of the house that I’m apart of, and I understand why Flora Rose has had a house named after her, as she was a feminist, a pioneer, and an expert in nutrition!
No Limit
Earlier this evening, I got the chance to attend a mixer with Rose House Fellows, and I had a great time. Vice President Lombardi, Thomas, and I got the chance to have dinner before the mixer, and we spoke at length about quite a few things. Specifically, we spoke about changing the world. I had shared my story of speaking to my advisor about wanting to become an attorney that changed the landscape of the criminal justice system. When I had told my advisor, I had undermined myself saying, “I know this sounds cliche and dumb, but…” My advisor had stopped me and told me not to think like that. That you can change things on a small scale too, through everyday interactions and the daily connections you make. VP Lombardi agreed saying that it’s all about one person at a time in order to facilitate larger movements of change. I also enjoyed the mixer, as I spoke with Judge Miller about some of his recent cases as well as what he finds to be so fulfilling about his job. This evening was exciting because I got the chance to meet so many different people who were not only very friendly but who also made me think in a more positive light about my future and the world.