Author Archives: Deepika

The Ethics Behind a Company

Posted on by

This week’s Rose Cafe was given by Keith Lemnios who founded the company Sun Coffee Roasters in 2006. I found his talk to be very insightful, even for a coffee un-enthusiast like myself. Mr. Lemnios started by talking about the qualities that help a company succeed, the most important of which is having a core message or a mission somewhat independent from the product itself. For his company, their goals are to be environmentally friendly and socially responsible. Their harvesting of coffee beans is done in the rainforests, chemical-free, and their roasting of beans is done with very little pollution emitted. In terms of helping the coffee farmers, Sun Coffee Roasters provides living wages and helps provide education for the children of the farmers in Nicaragua. Mr. Lemnios goes to the country frequently and oversees the building of schools and daycares which help the children complete their education so that they may have opportunities in their lives that their parents did not. This is a mission that resonates particularly well with colleges, and Cornell University is among many that support his company by buying the coffee for the dining halls.

Mr. Lemnios’ parting words were essentially asking us to reflect on our own decisions as consumers when choosing what to buy and which companies to support. This got me thinking about the products that I frequently use and buy. For example, there have been many reports over the years about inhumane labour practices in Apple factories and the Nike sweatshops, etc. Yet, I’m sat here typing this on my Mac computer, with a pair of neon Nikes on the ground below me, and a bunch of ‘fast fashion’ clothes hung neatly in my closet. I am more or less in an ethical dilemma between my wanting to stand by principles on what is right and my own materialist desires for ‘luxury’ goods. I honestly have no idea how to reconcile these two, so I sort of live with this vague feeling of uncomfortable guilt when I think too much about stuff this.

It is so great to hear about how companies like Sun Coffee Roasters are really making a difference in people’s lives and I’m glad that Cornell supports them. I only wish every other company cared so much about the environment and the people.

Cascadilla Gorge: Behind the Scenes

Posted on by

Last Saturday, I attended the hike through Cascadilla Gorge. I had already been a couple times but as this was a guided tour given by Cornell’s Botanic Gardens Director of Natural Areas and Flora Rose House Fellow Todd Bittner, I learned so much about this gorge that I had never known. It was so fascinating to hear about the geographical history of the Cascadilla Gorge, about its formation and the changes that occurred due to plate tectonics, climate shifts, and water erosion. We also learned about the relatively recent history of the Gorge, the donation to Cornell in the early 1900s and the renovations to the trail in the past ten years. One thing that really stuck out to me was the fragility of the gorge. It doesn’t appear so but changes in weather like floods or droughts frequently necessitated costly repairs and renovations. I really have a new appreciation for all the aspects that must be taken into account when building the trail: safety, cost, durability, aesthetic, etc.
I also realised how fortunate we are to be attending a school so closely integrated with nature. Cascadilla Gorge is a mere ten minutes walk from Rose House and such a beautiful and peaceful place. It’s truly a great way to de-stress from schoolwork and enjoy nature.

Political Satire and Black Comedy

Posted on by

This week’s Flora’s film was the 1964 movie Dr. Strangelove. Before watching it, I read some of the reviews and learned that it had nearly universal critical acclaim. Some even describe it as one of the best comedies of all time. I had really high expectations going into it, and I have to say that I really enjoyed the movie. It was simultaneously absurd and tragic, satirical and concerning. The basic premise is that a mentally deranged general oversteps his authority and orders the dropping of a nuclear bomb on Russia. The president and top politicians and generals try desperately to stop it and save humanity but of course nuclear warfare ends with only one outcome and that is complete destruction. Even though this movie was made in 1964, it seems like the world today is once again on the brink of nuclear war, between North Korea, Russia, China, and the United States.
It is really interesting to note how comedy and satire often make a distressing situation somehow seem more bearable. I personally don’t think I would have mentally survived the last election season if it weren’t for late night TV and internet memes. Even though comedy is silly and light-hearted, I think it’s a truly necessary part of society.

La La Land: Living up to the hype?

Posted on by

Last Sunday, I saw the film La La Land for the first time. Despite it being one of the most talked about movies so far this year, I managed to avoid all spoilers so I could take in and enjoy every moment of the movie experience. So, if you haven’t seen La La Land and plan to do so at some point, beware that there are major spoilers below!

Walking into the theatre, I wasn’t sure that I was going to like the movie. Perhaps because of the way that it was presented, I expected it to be a cliche, romanticised story about dreams coming true, finding true love, etc. Furthermore, there are some criticisms of the film for being problematic. For example, one reviewer deemed it to be “whitewashed nostalgia” which is of course an important issue that should be talked about in the movie industry.

However, as soon as the movie began, I forgot about the real world and was immediately absorbed into the charm of the opening sequence. The flawless acting, storytelling, and singing made for a great production. The film also surprised me in ways I did not expect. In particular, I loved the ending. I think most people expected a “perfect” ending between the two main characters but I prefer the true ending because it shows that we do not live in a fairy-tale world and things don’t always work the way you want. We always live with some regrets and “what if’s,” but that’s okay.

On some degree, I do think the movie was a little bit overrated. I think the idea that “Hollywood loves movies about Hollywood” applies here. I personally couldn’t relate so much to the film’s themes such as the struggles of being an artist, but I imagine it would resonate well with a certain audience. I didn’t find the movie to be life-changing or incredibly revolutionary like some of the other films nominated this past awards season, but nonetheless I do think La La Land is a great production with catchy songs that certainly knows how to entertain an audience for two hours.

In The Not-Too-Distant Future

Posted on by

This week’s Flora’s films featured the 1997 science fiction movie Gattaca. This was my third or fourth time watching this movie, yet I found it to be just as enthralling as the first time.

The story takes place in the ‘not-too-distant’ future where science has advanced to a point where the majority of humanity consists of ‘designer’ babies. Parents choose traits, like gender and eye color, while the doctors guarantee that the child will not have any physical maladies, like heart disease or myopia. Nothing is left to chance.

The movie follows the story of an outcast who was conceived without eugenics and who must overcome societal genetic discrimination in order to achieve his goal of space travel.

Apart from being a great movie, Gattaca also warns its audience of what happens when science goes too far, a message that is very relevant today. The discovery and research of the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 indicates that it is completely plausible that we will see the making of ‘designer’ babies in our lifetime. However, a big threat to our freedom and protection from genetic discrimination is much closer than you may think. A U.S House bill aims to mandate genetic testing of employees who will otherwise face penalties, including a rise in insurance price. The House committee claims this will “promote a healthy workforce and lower health care costs.” From works of fiction like Gattaca or Brave New World, it is hard not to imagine all that can go wrong when an entity like the government knows every citizen’s genetic code. It is a slippery slope that is quite frankly dangerous to go down.

In our society, we may be at a point where science is moving much faster than political laws or societal consensus of scientific ethics. It is important to stay cognizant so that we will not end up in a dystopian society, like the one in Gattaca.

Scientific Eating

Posted on by

The guest speaker at this week’s Rose Cafe was Ms. Jane Ziegelman, who is a historian and the  author of a book titled Nutrition Warriors: Home Economics and the Fight to Feed America During the Great Depression. The topic of the night was about the struggle of working class families to eat as nutritionally as possible under extreme financial distress. At the forefront of this moment for home economics was Cornell’s own Flora Rose.

Often times, when we learn about the Great Depression, we focus on the economics and governance of the time era, but just as important is the cultural aspect within the families. At the peak, the unemployment rate was 25% and people who had never accepted charity before, such as the professional middle class, found themselves in breadlines. Children stopped attending school because of the effects of malnutrition. We know today that mineral and vitamin deficiencies led to their poor physical and cognitive health, but these concepts were relatively new in the 1930s. Therefore, it was incredibly important to come up with solutions for feeding families, especially children. Flora Rose and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt worked together to come up with recipes that, as advertised, cost only seven and a half cents but contained all the vitamins for a nutritionally wholesome meal. Furthermore, this created a whole new home economics movement where women went to university for essentially a degree in the sciences, especially here at Cornell.  For example, Cornell was involved with the first nationally distributed fortified cereals, not unlike the ones we eat today.

It is so interesting to see how humans’ relationship with food has changed over the course of generations. Trends and fads, such as most recently a ‘gluten-free’ diet, come and go. In another example, the Atkins’ diet led to a decrease in sales for pasta and rice. However, most of the time, these diets have no scientific basis, unlike the scientific eating that was introduced during the Great Depression. Because the types of food we consume directly impact our well-being, the study of nutrition has always been and always will be an incredibly important science.

Superbugs: a super big concern for everyone

Posted on by

The topic of this week’s Table Talk was superbugs and antibacterial resistance, and how they are very closely tied with our own actions. From the overuse of antibacterial soap to doctors unnecessarily prescribing antibiotics, we are feeding a dangerous process of natural selection that may come back to kill us all – literally.

One major but perhaps not obvious way that humans use antibiotics is in agriculture and herding. This article speaks to usage of the antibiotic drug colistin that has led to the rise of an antibiotic resistant bacteria that has already resulted in human infections. Just this Monday, the World Health Organisation issued a warning  about the imminent threat posed by these ‘superbugs’ while we are running out of treatment options. This threat to human health is as much a national security threat as is terrorism, according to one chief medical officer. We are at a critical point where we must invest in antibiotic research or risk losing the effectiveness of our drugs which may ultimately lead to an apocalyptic and world-wide pandemic. We must also consider the policies regulating the use of antibiotics in our farms or else face the consequences.

One very cool concept that adds a note of optimism is in the alternatives to antibiotic products and drugs. Right now, there are no other drugs that work as effectively as antibiotics, but an emerging area of science is synthetic biology: the use of artificial viruses for treating bacterial infections. The development of this discipline and its eventual practice in medicine are essential if we humans want to continue to be one step ahead of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Interpreting Instructor Feedback

Posted on by

Regardless of major or area of study, I think every student has at one point received a piece of unclear or vague feedback on a paper that has left them thinking ‘…what?’ All those ‘OK’s and ‘?’s can be a source of frustration and confusion for students but interpreting that ‘code’ of feedback was the topic of discussion in this week’s Rose Cafe. Led by Ms. Cynthia Hill, we engaged in a conversation about instructor feedback, its value, and tips for taking advantage of it.

One of the major talking points was about rubrics and outlines. Personally, I think that rubrics are helpful for both the grader and the student, but are also a bit problematic in that they ‘box’ a writer in and stifle creativity. I think my best pieces of writing came from me writing freely and naturally, rather than a more formulaic approach. However, as an engineering student, my experience with humanity courses are a bit limited so it was really interesting to hear other people’s strategies for approaching essays, and how much of an impact instructor feedback is.

Although the topic of the night was not about how to achieve high grades, the conversation inevitably turned to grading many times – perhaps a mark on how the educational system ingrains students with an emphasis on exam scores. With all the required standardised testing with SATs and AP exams, so many of my high school classes were taught specifically toward the test. This is why I think an instructor’s feedback is so much more meaningful than the grade received. Feedback of every kind allows us to grow and learn, more so than any arbitrarily assigned grade; and I really wish I had realised this earlier. Obviously, I’m not any sort of education expert, but from my own experiences, the most meaningful and memorable classes are the ones more focused on learning rather than on exam scores.

Fight Fear with Facts

Posted on by

This week’s Rose Cafe guest speaker was Professor Enns, who teaches in Cornell’s government department. I really liked the set-up of this event in Professor Blalock’s office because it was much more conducive to holding conversations. This evening’s discussion was fueled primarily by our questions, comments, and observations on the current political happenings. Some of the topics discussed were the checks and balances of the government, the two-party system, and political polarization.

Often after leaving such political discussions, I find my head spinning with new ideas and perspectives that I had never considered before. I left the event questioning myself on some of my own beliefs. For example, Professor Enns spoke about political bias versus principle. He was against the confirmation of Betsy De Vos as Education Secretary and upset that the Republicans strategically decided to delay the confirmation of Jeff Sessions as the Attorney General so that he could partake in the voting. Yet, he was unsure if he was against this solely on principle or just because he didn’t approve of De Vos. Likewise, I found myself questioning how I was so against all of Donald Trump’s executive orders and thought he was totally overstepping his power. Yet, I applauded when Barack Obama bypassed Congress to pass his own executive orders. It’s really difficult to separate bias from principal, but is something that is really important to be cognizant of.

The other main topic was the intense polarization on both sides of the parties and how the media is in the thick of it all. It’s so difficult to have a conversation with someone on the opposing side when the very ideas of ‘truth’ and ‘fact’  seem to no longer exist objectively and independent of the human mind. A phrase I had read recently in an article, “fight fear with facts,” really resonated with me. As a populist candidate, Trump was able to gather supporters who voted for him out of legitimate fears over their safety, job security, etc. I think the best and really only way to cure this intense political divide is to have open conversations with people of differing political opinions. As Professor Enns advised, we should not come across as attacking the other person,  but rather be understanding and sympathetic. I know that many people have great respect for the truth and I do believe that educating others is the only solution to fight fear on both sides.

Inspiring Women of Cornell’s History

Posted on by

I thought this week’s Rose Cafe event was very enlightening and inspiring. The guest speaker was Ms. Eileen Keating, who is the University Records Manager and the archivist for the College of Human Ecology. She gave a talk about the history of the college, as well as the close ties between Martha Van Rensselaer, Flora Rose, and Eleanor Roosevelt. It was so fascinating to hear the actual letters exchanged by the three of them as they discussed the home economics movement and their passion for politics and social reform for women.

I do have to admit, when I first learned that the College of Human Ecology was originally a women’s college for home economics, I did a bit of inward eye-rolling and thought to myself of course women were expected to be involved only in domestic affairs and Cornell University only perpetuated this belief. However, I soon realized that this was not the case at all; in fact it was the very opposite. The three women believed the term “home” referred not only to the physical house of a family, but also to the community, the nation, and the world. The home economics program provided an access for rural farmers’ wives and daughters to pursue higher education with no cost of tuition. Home economics was an interdisciplinary subject with a focus on science and applied sciences in the topics of child rearing, food nutrition, textiles, and management of family and communities affairs. For example, one project was the testing of toasters and this is actually a project in consumer research. In reality, this program was incredibly progressive at a time when many colleges would not even admit female students.

Another point that Eleanor Roosevelt, Flora Rose, and Martha Van Rensselaer really emphasized was the importance of women to be politically informed. For example, they were actively engaged in the suffrage movement. In terms of current events, it’s incredible to see women today being politically active and organizing protests like the Women’s March, which will surely be remembered as a historic event. Women like Eleanor Roosevelt, Flora Rose, and Martha Van Rensselaer are great inspirations for a whole generation of women’s rights activists.