reading between the lines

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Emily

Professor Andrew Mertha wasn’t the planned speaker for the night, but he definitely gave an admirable lecture for someone had received news that he was speaking on short notice. I don’t really have any background on China or government, and even though I didn’t grasp some of the topics he was discussing, Dr. Mertha’s interests for the subjects was clear. The takeaways I received from the talk were not necessarily the specific details of the history lessons, but rather the paths that perseverance can take you.

Professor Mertha discussed the obstacles he encountered and the hoops he had to jump through in order to succeed in his research, and he told us about the struggles he ran into while trying to uncover the secrets in his Khmer Rouge primary source documents. By luck, by perseverance, and by the help of his senior honors student, Professor Mertha managed to track down people who lived through these key points in history and piece together the stories behind the words on paper. Had he not put every ounce of his focus into solving the puzzle, he would not have been able to finish his book.

The passion he displayed for his research motivated me to continue my own search for a subject that will pique my interest as strongly as the Khmer Rouge era did his.

ashes to ashes

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Emily

The first question Dawit Solomon asked us was a bit of a wake up call. “What is soil?” he asked. That simple question, as basic as it seemed, caught me off guard. I realized I really didn’t know much about soil besides what it looked like. I knew that it consisted of minerals, and that plants and animals found a home within it. Other than that, I drew a blank.

Dr. Solomon walked us through the ways that soil affected an ecosystem. And while some things I remembered from my middle school days, such as the carbon cycle, I had never truly considered how these natural processes were related to soil. Something that drew my attention was how much chemistry and material science went into soil science–I always thought it was more related to biology and geology. I was really surprised to see STEM and dark field microscope images on his powerpoint, since these were images I was used to seeing in my chemistry and engineering experiences. But when I think about it, this makes complete sense.

Soil at its most basic level is just made of minerals. And minerals are nothing more than the same elements that compose everything else. When he mentioned how his research dealt with looking at soil at the nanoscale in the CNF, I began to realize how much soil is connected to other disciplines of science that I had never considered. Especially when subjects are studied at such high levels of specialization, we begin to see that everything is just built on information from the past–whether it is humanities, social sciences, pure sciences, arts, engineering–everything is connected, a fact that became evident when he discussed his project with the Abyssinian Phosphorus fertilizer.

Dr. Solomon’s fertilizer truly impressed me with how neatly it provided a solution for two of the world’s greatest, seemingly insurmountable challenges. It not only provides a sustainable method for carbon emission reduction (from a surprising source, no less), but also a feasible method for helping impoverished communities dramatically improve their food production. Using ground cow bones, the team proved that ashes to ashes, dust to dust the saying may be, but from the ashes an unlikely provider for life can be found.

the path to greatness

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Emily

Last night, I attended the first Rose Café I’ve been to this year. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in–maybe a canned motivational speech, maybe discussion about tennis that I would barely be able to follow. But Silviu Tanasoiu proved me wrong. Firstly, he had an air of humbleness, yet self confidence about him that made me really listen to his story instead of writing him off as a typical coach. His appreciation of the sacrifices that his family and coaches have made for him made him stand out as a speaker, especially when he talked about how honored he was to be speaking last night. I feel like almost all the motivational speakers I’ve ever heard talk a lot about their own hard work and only mention a little about the sacrifices that people have made for them to get there, and Silviu clearly has not forgotten his blessings which made the overall talk all the more fascinating to listen to.

He discussed how adversity breeds success and how the student athletes must be strong of mind as well as of body if they want to be successful. They must follow their schedules religiously and ensure that they don’t focus on the outcomes, whether those relate to prelims or matches. I have so much respect for student athletes–they work so hard and have many more responsibilities than many college students, and they still manage to get everything done. That kind of work ethic is really inspiring to hear about, and it was clear that Silviu is truly proud of his team for being of strong character as well as great athletes.

I think the idea of not focusing on outcomes is definitely a motto that I try to live by. I had a mentor when I was younger who always reminded me that often, things happen in a way that will protect us from other possible outcomes. She always told me that anything we encounter can be a lesson, and everyone we encounter in life will teach us something. That tied in strongly to what Silviu talked about yesterday about how adversity breeds success–it’s definitely tough, but if we can keep in mind during the bad times these lessons, then we can definitely overcome those obstacles and succeed.

one in a billion

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Emily

The visit to the Lab of Ornithology started off with a hike around the grounds while the guides pointed out various birds. To be completely honest, I pretty much couldn’t see any birds. This was because I a) have terrible vision and b) I have no idea what in the world I’m supposed to be looking at, because when I looked at the forest, all I saw were trees. Still, it was a lovely day for a hike and it was amazing to hear so many different types of birds chirping all around us once I began to differentiate between the sounds.

I think one of the most amazing things about the Lab of Ornithology was the shear amount of knowledge and learning in the place. It’s always so fantastic to see people that are really specialized talking about their field because their excitement and enthusiasm really shines through. Seeing how much knowledge was in this lab just for birds was truly astonishing and really made me think about how humankind has amassed such a huge collection of information about so many subjects. One of the guides mentioned that we’ve only documented maybe 10-20% of all the species that exist or have existed on Earth, even after thousands of years of human existence on this planet, and that made me think about how little we know about the world. The ocean floor is less well mapped out than the surface of Mars, and that fact really shows how little we actually know about our planet.

There’s so much to learn about the world and I think it’s great how we can see from places such as the Lab of Ornithology that we are all standing on the shoulders of giants and continually building on foundations of past human beings to discover more, learn more, and create more.

salsa in our seats

Posted on March 12, 2016 by Emily

A fair amount of the Rose Scholars events I go to are concerts at Bailey. Firstly, they’re usually at a time of the week that I can go to. They’re also great because the program will give us tickets to go see some amazing performances. But above all, I love going because music is one of the most important aspects of my life.

The previous musical performances I had seen at Bailey were lovely classical programs. As a pianist myself, I really enjoyed hearing the familiar pieces played by professionals. However, there’s a certain atmosphere at classical concerts. It’s a more serious, sedate sort of event, in which everyone is there to enjoy the music but you feel like if you cough everyone will glare at you. The music itself is so calming and beautiful that just by sitting in your chair you begin to doze a little in that warm hall, letting the music surround you like a warm blanket.

Last night’s concert couldn’t have been more different. The Spanish Harlem Orchestra came on stage and, from the first note of their opening song, I felt the music hit me like a wave of sound. The salsa flowed through the room, filling everyone with its toe-tapping, head-bobbing delightful melodies. This concert was really fantastic because not only did people really enjoy the performance in their seats, but all around the aisles and balconies there were also people dancing and having a great time.

While dance and the atmosphere are such an integral part of the salsa experience, the music itself is no easy feat to perform either. The complexity of the rhythms is such that I was surprised anyone could understand the sheet music they were playing, much less perform it with such gusto. As often is the case with salsa, the rhythm syncopates and jumps around off beat, until it suddenly snaps on beat, somehow continuously keeping perfect time while meandering everywhere. The orchestra’s jazz-influenced sounds added depth to their traditional salsa ensembles, with ballads and instrumental tracks rounding out the solid setlist they brought to the stage. When the three vocalists hit those chords with perfect, resounding harmonies, or when the bass player’s pizzicato echoed in the hall, I felt chills with how much I enjoyed the music.

This was the most fun I’ve had at a concert this year, and I’m so glad I got to be a part of such a fantastic experience.

a college student’s guide to the galaxy

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Emily

At first, when I heard that we were going on a tour of the Museum of the Earth, I was a little disappointed. I’m someone who usually likes trying everything out myself and just exploring on my own time. But in the end, I’m actually glad we were given a tour of the museum. The tour leader was an enthusiastic woman who brought us on an incredible journey through time by using a fun activity to simulate natural selection.

Learning about the Earth’s history always astounds me, primarily in two ways. Firstly, the fact that we have obtained so much knowledge about the world. The fact that we have managed to learn so much about events that happened millions, even hundreds of millions of years ago blows my mind. I mean, I can’t even remember what I ate for dinner yesterday. The fact that we can know that a specific brachiopod came out of central NY however many million years ago or that it averaged 80 degrees in Ithaca 350 million years ago is so crazy to me.

The exhibits were cool, and information was interesting, but what I took away was really the sense of humbleness and the magnitude of spacetime and Earth’s history. Today’s event just reminded me again about how small we are and how short are lives are in the grand scheme of things, and it gave me a sense of peace to think about how even when bad things happen to us, when you think about it in the scope of Earth’s history, it’s not as significant as it seems at the time. I’m hoping I’ll be able to remember to carry that sense of peace with me throughout college, because it’s a lesson I often forget as I get bogged down with the weight of stress and tests and getting through school.

a little night music

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Emily

It was a night of many live firsts for me. My first time seeing a live opera singer, my first time seeing a live clarinetist–and my first time in over 5 years seeing a live orchestra play. The Freiburg Baroque Orchestra concert was simply phenomenal. There’s something really beautiful about hearing live music that just makes it incomparable to the recording, no matter how carefully mastered and produced. It’s why going to concerts is so much fun even if the singer or band doesn’t sound as perfectly in tune as they do on the album. Live music brings about a rush of excitement and joy that only the best things in life incite.

Maybe it’s the rush of sound echoing around Bailey Hall’s pristine white walls. Maybe it’s the looks of delight and concentration passing over the musicians’ faces. Maybe it’s the roar of the audience’s clapping after the third encore. Whatever it is that makes live music so enjoyable, was abundantly in session tonight at the Mozart concert.

The orchestra was masterfully led from the concertmaster in his seat, with just the right amount of musicians to make the concert seem cozy, but still give the grandeur of a full symphony. The clarinetist was truly magnificent–and a real treat. It’s not often that one sees a world-renowned professional clarinet player, especially one as talented as the one we saw tonight. He gave an amusing little speech about the instrument as well, which made watching the performance all the more engaging. The opera baritone was phenomenal-every note was carefully crafted and richly supported as it rang, echoing around the hall. And at the end, I loved the little encore they played with the mandolin, as if giving a lullaby to send off the audience for a peaceful night’s slumber after the lovely concert.

But above all, the best part for me about live music and this orchestra was seeing how much fun the musicians were having. Music is really a two way street–it’s not just for the audience; the performers have a fantastic time as well. I can’t wait to attend more concerts in the future and see what other exciting performances the world of music has in store.

freedom of thought

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Emily

I arrived at the Johnson Museum’s opening reception yesterday, quite unsure of what the atmosphere would be like. Art museums tend to hold a reputation of a sort of hauteur, and an “opening reception” seemed like a rather fancy sort of event in which my leggings and t-shirt would be unwelcome. In fact, when we arrived, almost all heads swiveled around, some faces already turning skyward with a barely perceptible disdain. Nonetheless, the group of college students forged ahead, and once other attendants saw us getting plates of refreshments, they joined in. Soon after, once more people came in, the atmosphere quickly became warm and inviting as jazz melodies danced in the background and people mingled.

I mention the initial reaction of some of the adults not to be petty or complain; rather, I mention it because it exemplifies a problem with many art museums. Oftentimes, people seem to think that art can only be appreciated by the aged. A lot of adults seem to think young people can’t understand the importance or meaning of art. It is my opinion that art is for all ages, because there is no correct explanation for any piece. The age-old cliche, “A picture says a thousand words” perfectly sums up this thought. For every brushstroke, there are a hundred different interpretations. I will not attempt to explain the pieces I captured below for that very reason, except to say that the bottles at the bottom were all used to contain snuff (tobacco).

more than noise

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Emily

The first popular/mainstream song I ever heard was the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” played on a purple cassette tape in 2003 in the back of a minivan on a roadtrip to Atlanta. I then ventured into jazz and classical with Fats Domino and Beethoven on the radio. But I always was on the hunt for new genres, and upon my entry to middle school, I discovered hip hop. First it was 808s and Heartbreak, then I jumped back to The College Dropout, then the Chronic, and the rest is history. Hip hop has been a central part of my life for over a decade–though I couldn’t relate (and sometimes, didn’t understand) to some of the lyrics–the production of hip hop cemented its position as one of my favorite genres from the first beat.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I sat down to watch Straight Outta Compton. I had listened to a significant amount of Dre and Ice Cube’s music before, but admittedly I wasn’t as familiar with the rest of the members of NWA, and I was completely ignorant of the background of West Coast hip hop besides knowing there was a rivalry with the East Coast.

The men who later become legendary godfathers of hip hop had humble beginnings–in the opening minutes, Eazy flees a raid on a crack house, Dre’s still living at home, and Cube’s riding around on a school bus. But even starting from the bottom, one thing is starkly clear: they all have extraordinary raw talent for music. Their meteoric rise to fame and notoriety shows a young, talented group which loses its way amid the chaos of partying, drugs, and violence. Even at the peak of their success–their 1989 tour–it was painfully clear that the system was not in their favor.

Straight Outta Compton is more than just a biopic on the supergroup N.W.A. It also examines a battle for equality that has been ongoing since the inception of this country. The film used real footage of the LAPD’s beating of Rodney King and several scenes show LAPD’s clear racism and violence towards N.W.A. And although this movie is set in the late 80s/early 90s, any of the scenes involving the police could have taken place today–and are taking place, all over the country. The genius of Straight Outta Compton is that it superbly depicts the importance of hip hop within American society; not only do hip hop lyrics explore political themes and societal critiques, but the very fabric of the production itself demonstrates how the genre grew from culture. Delivery, breaks in speech–all parts of hip hop, especially gangster hip hop, contribute to its influence as a social indicator. Hip hop exposed main stream audiences to a wider range of issues which, until the rise of N.W.A., were largely relegated as problems that happened in the “hood”.

When hip hop is no longer dismissed as noise “…blasting from car speakers…[that] wakes up [someone’s] wife and kids” (Dr. Trisha Rose, Black Noise), that’s when Straight Outta Compton will have done its job in cultivating an understanding no longer steeped in the internalized racism of our society. Until then, we’ll have to continue pretending we’re surprised it didn’t garner more than a nomination for Best Original Screenplay when it easily should have claimed several others.

Rose Scholars Spring 2016

Explore, challenge, connect

Author Archives: Emily