I’ll be honest, I assumed this Rose Cafe would be about assisted suicide based on the title. So I was very surprised when Jeff Prince started talking about cutting cable and switching to other forms of media. Probably the most interesting thing that I learned from this talk was the difference between latency and bandwidth, and when each would be most important. Professor Blalock provided the best analogy–he said you should imagine them as a highway, where bandwidth is the number of lanes on the highway and latency is the length of the highway. So at a certain point, high bandwidth loses its relevance because there are already enough lanes, but latency can always be reduced. I would have to agree with Professor Prince that latency is the future, and that putting your money into smaller latency would result in faster internet than higher bandwidth. I also really enjoyed Prince’s discussion of his research, because he discussed selection biases as well as difficulties with surveys. It was a reminder to always question the statistics you see day to day, because almost all data can be skewed due to some sort of bias or inaccuracy inherent in the experiment. Honestly, I didn’t think I would enjoy a talk that was so tech-y, but I was fascinated by the subject. Cornell really pushes you to specialize early and stop exploring new subjects, but this was a good reminder to keep trying to push the boundaries of what you already know interests you–because you never know what might pull you in!
Author Archives: Sara Jenab
Reflecting on the Rose Scholar’s Program
First of all, I’d like to say that I really appreciate the faculty’s desire for feedback on the Rose Scholar’s Program. It’s refreshing to feel like students’ opinions and wishes about a Cornell program are not only heard, but are a necessary building block for success.
I agreed with most things that were said at the forum, but I identified most strongly with the goal of creating some sort of a unique culture for each dorm on West Campus. This definitely existed freshmen year on North campus. The first question you would ask another freshman would be which dorm they lived in, and each dorm had different stereotypes about it. Unfortunately, most of the stereotypes were about the quality of the buildings, but not all. Now that I wonder why this existed for North campus but not West, I think the answer is that freshmen are more likely to latch onto any semblance of a family. They latch onto any perception of a feeling that they belong somewhere. Whereas sophomores already have a friend group, a “Cornell family”, and are less willing to identify with new places and things.
I’m not sure what the answer to this problem would be, because I know that there’s no way freshmen would be allowed to come directly to West campus, nor is there a way to somehow say (for example) that Clara Dickson is the sister dorm of Rose house. But I don’t think that the problem is unsurmountable. I think the solution has to be tied to a diversification of the dorms on West campus. If there were more discernible differences between the houses, then people would start to filter themselves into the house that aligns most strongly with their sense of identity. How to achieve this diversification is another matter altogether…and any strategy would need mass public and administrative support to succeed. So, theoretically, the first step is gaging support on campus for this idea. Then, maybe we can work to achieve it.
Dr. Strangelove–More Like Just Strange
I went to the showing of Dr. Strangelove completely unaware of the movie’s plot or style. All I knew was that it was widely regarded as one of the best comedies/ general movies of all time. Maybe these characterizations raised my expectations too high, but even had I gone into the movie expecting nothing, I think I still would have been disappointed.
I found the actual viewing experience tiresome and any comedic relief meager at best. While I really enjoyed the message of the film, I just couldn’t stand the way in which it was presented. It’s possible that I just didn’t prepare myself properly for a “comedy” from the 1960’s, or maybe I just don’t find the idea of nuclear war funny. But I do think that at the time the movie was made, it would have provided some much-needed levity to the incredibly tense atmosphere surrounding the Cold War.
Putting aside the actual movie, I found the idea that one mad general could destroy the world intriguing, if not a bit scary. In the movie, the different bureaucratic levels of the military caused myriad problems, and I don’t think that things have become much simpler now. Our entire system falls apart when someone just decides not to follow orders, and it’s frightening to think that so much trust is placed in faulty human beings who could decide to rebel at any time. All in all, I’m glad I went to the movie because it presented interesting topics, even if I disliked the way in which they were presented.
Randomized “Justice”
I won’t lie, I came to this movie thinking it was the new Mad Max, but I really enjoyed the old version. Obviously this one doesn’t have all of the amazing special effects that the new one has, but it has much better dialogue and a more interesting storyline.
That said, I found many themes in the movie very powerful–specifically the idea of justice. Justice sprang up numerous times throughout the movie, but the most concrete example was when Max was forced to spin the wheel of punishment. Tina Turner looked at him and said “justice is blind”, as if the randomization of a verdict somehow equated to the idea of our justice system. Blind justice in American law refers to the impartiality of judges. Theoretically, it should not matter what color you are or what your economic status is, in court you should only be judged based on the crime you are accused of committing. It is entirely debatable about whether or not this principle is a reality–personally I believe that the attempt by the courts to be “race-blind” has created a new kind of racialized discrimination. Either way, the idea of a completely random punishment is at odds with the American justice system, which relies heavily on an adversarial “combat” by lawyers to reveal the truth.
I suppose, in a way, Turner simply took upon herself the role of judge, and the clamoring horde screaming for blood constituted a type of “jury of one’s peers”. Nevertheless, Barter Town definitely adhered to their twisted idea of justice. Their laws are what allowed the town to function, and every person knew it. Thus, they obeyed, and they propagated the system.
GATTACA (TGCAAACTGATTGCCAT…)
I’d first like to mention that the title of this movie is ingenious–supposedly named after the city of Gattica, but spelled GATTACA so as to look like a string of DNA. The name actually refers to guanine, cytosine, adenine, and thymine, which are the nucleotide building blocks of DNA. Therefore, the film’s subject matter is known before the movie even starts, and I found that pretty cool.
I also found the subject matter of the movie, genetic discrimination, incredibly relevant. Congress is considering repealing GINA–the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act of 2008–which prevents employers from discriminating against employees, and insurance companies from discriminating against clients, because of one’s genotype. While it is not common for most people to have their genome sequenced or analyzed, it is a fast-growing trend. In my class, Personal Genomics, the Professor made it possible for all 150 of us to have our DNA tested for ancestry. We used a direct-to-consumer genetic test provided by 23andMe, and the group also provides health screening. This means that they can not only trace your DNA back thousands of years across the globe, but they can also tell you whether you are a carrier for genetic diseases (or if you have one). They can even tell you if you have a high chance of getting Alzheimer’s–a disease which currently has no cure. These types of companies will lead to more and more people getting their DNA analyzed for a lower and lower cost, and this is why legislation like GINA is incredibly important.
I’m not saying that if GINA is repealed we will fall into a class system based upon DNA like in Gattaca, but it may well be the first step towards having DNA be an everyday part of the workplace. As for the actual movie, I really enjoyed it. Though it could be argued that Vincent simply aligned with the status quo instead of trying to change the system, I got the sense that the system was so intractable that he would have been unable to do anything. At least he never would have gotten to go into space. And sometimes it’s okay to just focus on fulfilling your dream instead of trying to change the world. I saw how exhausting it was for Vincent to keep up the charade of being a “valid” person, and I think that’s all he had strength for. Changing a set status quo requires a change of public opinion, and that requires numerous people to sacrifice themselves for the goal of making the world better eventually. I’m not saying I wouldn’t have wished for Vincent to somehow tell everyone who he was and still go into space, but I understand why he acted the way he did. All in all, the movie raised important issues that society needs to consider, and the sooner the better.
The Importance of Creativity
Nicholas Carbonaro has a unique take on life–as he discussed with us at his art show. He truly believes in the importance of creativity in everyday life, and that we must all work to feed our creativity. He sees the world in a different way than most–the example of how he draws eyes has the most explanatory power. A student asked him why he seemed to always draw eyes as different sizes/ colors/ styles, and he responded that he draws them that way because that is how they are. Apparently, the human face is quite rarely symmetrical, and the way we appear to others is how we look in that picture that caught us off-guard, rather than the perfect selfie we post on Facebook. Since he is aware of this lack of symmetry, he exaggerates the motif in his artwork to draw attention to it.
I was personally struck by the contrast in his use of color. His work was either black and white, or full of vibrant colors. There was no in-between, no soft, muted pieces with pastel colors. I tried to see the possible reason for his use of color in his colored pieces, but either it just went over my head or there was no reason. I know that I was personally drawn to the vibrant colors more than I was drawn to the black and white pieces, which is probably a common response. Perhaps his reason for using black and white is to subtly put off the viewer. He definitely seems to enjoy making people uncomfortable by portraying something as different from how we would normally imagine it–like the eyes. I really enjoyed this event, because actual artwork is hard to come by on campus without going to the Johnson Museum, and I am especially glad that we got to hear directly from Carbonaro!
Female Revolution
I went to the Vagina Monologues last year, but that did not diminish the fresh, raw nature of the play this year. Once again I was blown away by the number of strong, brave women we have at this school. The subject matter of the play is intense, and often “embarrassing”, sometimes requiring graphic displays and/or sounds. The audience loves it, but the guts it would take to be the one doing it would have to be made of solid steel.
When I think about why I love this play so much, myriad answers come to mind. But the one that stands out the most is that I just love seeing a bunch of women get up on stage and tell the world how proud they are to be women. It’s empowering to see, and I leave each year feeling just a little bit stronger and braver myself. I feel like maybe one day I can be as proud of my body as the women who were interviewed by the play’s creator. Another reason I love the play is that it is brazen–it does not quail from shocking statements or lewd jokes–it is bold, unadorned, and unapologetic. Exactly what women’s empowerment movements are all about. And that may be the true reason why this play always inspires me–because in its core, I sense the history of female revolution. I watch this play and am reminded of the countless women who boldly stood up for their right to exist as equal members of society. I am reminded that there are many more issues to fight for today, and that I too must do my part.
A Troubling Matter
As a Government major, I was really excited to go to this Rose Cafe with Peter Enns, where he would lead a discussion on the current state of American politics. I think that the format of an open discussion encouraged inquiry on topics that Professor Enns might not normally talk about, but that he can respond to based on his wide knowledge of the subject matter. What I found particularly interesting was Professor Enns’ study and knowledge of the Supreme Court, because I find the Supreme Court fascinating. Something that the Professor mentioned was that, because of increased partisan alignment, the public is more and more capable of predicting Supreme Court decisions and votes based on who nominated the individual justices.
I am well aware of the hyper-partisan era we live in today, but observations like this one trouble me. The Supreme Court is an institution designed to be separate from both party and politics. The lifelong nature of the position of Supreme Court Justice was intended to isolate and protect the Justices from remaining dependent on the President who elected them or the party they belong to. Their job is to interpret the law. Not to interpret legality based on politics. If the Court was truly separate from the other branches of government, it would not be possible to predict which way a decision would fall based on party leanings or presidential nomination. Since this is clearly possible, our society is faced with the challenge of further isolating the highest court in the land. They should not be responsive to the President, nor public opinion, as these are subject to change based on a whim. The Court should be subject only to the law and its workings in our society. As such, we must find a way to preserve their independence, lest we risk losing our system of the separation of powers.
An Unending Gratitude
I remember writing a somewhat scathing blog post about the last Rose Cafe of first semester, noting that there had only been one female speaker throughout the entire semester. I was more surprised than actually offended, because I doubted it was an intentional slight, but I am very pleased that the first speaker this year was not only a woman, but a woman who spoke about women’s issues.
Whenever I hear about the injustices women faced in the past just for daring to desire equal rights, I feel blindsided. It’s easy to feel comfortable because of one’s current reality, and in my personal life I have never faced staunch sexism. But hearing the stories of Flora Rose and Martha van Rensselaer reminded me of that not-so-distant past where women were not even allowed to pursue education. Martha’s story in particular moved me, because she was one of the first people to directly appeal to women in the public about their education. Her bulletins “Advice for Farmer’s Wives” contained information and lessons that the women in the area had directly asked to be informed about, and for the first time in many of these women’s lives, they were able to learn information directly relevant to their needs.
These bulletins grew into a few courses on Home Economics, which grew into a department, and eventually a college in the university. This process had been overseen largely by women, notably Martha and Flora Rose. Listening to this story and the vast time span that it encompassed made me wonder how these women had the patience to wait for equality, but I understand that it was necessary. And it’s not like those two women were standing idly by; they were actively pushing back against stereotypes and fighting for women’s education. And it made a huge difference. I am grateful to these women, and all of the women who fought for women’s rights–so that I may now be treated so equally that I occasionally forget that women used to be considered “lesser” human beings.