We all agree that Cornell is extremely stressing with work load and the difficulty of class. Yet, we will also agree on the fact that Cornell is very diverse and this diversity makes its beauty. Unfortunately when talking about diversity in Cornell, I am not talking about the population even though there are students from various countries. I am mostly talking about the environment. Cornell have so much diverse spaces, various building with different stories, and also the waterfalls. In addition of all, we have the diversity of species found in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Even though it is located very far from the campus, this place is worth the trip. They have various type of birds with beautiful plumage. I am not a bird person so I can only comment on how beautiful the plumage is. If when you visit you have the chance on entering one of the room at the back, you should look for the one with dead reptiles. You will see a diverse range of snakes with different size and colors. Don’t worry they are all dead. In addition, they even have skeletons I believe. I did not see as much as I would like to so I will plan to go there again by the end of next year as well as to the museum.
Category Archives: Exploring Cornell & Beyond
Gimme Coffeeeeeeee!
It’s always nice taking a stroll off campus, especially for some coffee. Along with GRFs Sara and Magdala, a group of about 6 of us head off to Ithaca’s well-known Gimme! Coffee, and although the weather was a bit bleak, we warmed up quickly once we arrived. It was my first time trying a cortado, which was a bit too strong for my liking, but at least now I know what to get when I need an extra boost of energy.
Even more delightful than the warm coffee was the conversations we had. It started off with Magdala and Sara sharing a few stories (that had to include something related to coffee) and somehow made its way to Harry Potter and other fictional works and ended with the topic artificial intelligence. Although I have not read the Harry Potter series, it was interesting to hear the discussion and the fervor some people expressed for different interpretations of the book. Hearing them talk so passionately about the book kind of made me want to read the series! Regardless of my lack of familiarity with the fictional works discussed, it was great seeing new faces and hearing different opinions. When you’re so consumed with school work/life, it’s easy to forget how meaningful simple things like getting coffee and having a good conversation can be.
Never get enough of it—-Cornell is truly beautiful
The first time I came in this campus, I was strike by its beauty. Plus, the sun was still out. The buildings were ancient but original. The tour next to Uris library was like a Harry Potter’s movie. In sum I felt in love with the campus. Obviously, I did not yet know what was waiting for me after. One of my plans was to visit the gorges because I heard so much about. I could not for a long time due to the weather and obviously it was colder and not safe there. Then the weather got better, and we had the opportunity to finally visit those gorges.
They are huge and extremely beautiful especially when you stay very close and some of the water falls on you. The gorges are not only located in one place but they are interconnected. I like the one next to Schwartz. There is a place next to the falls where you can sit and takes pictures even though some water can still falls on you. The gorges are great for morning workout or relaxation. The sound of the falls is loud but peaceful, at least for me. I think Rose house should plan another visit to the gorges so that everyone can relax and discuss while visiting. Personally, I will sign up again for it.
Ithaca is Gorges
This hike to the Cascadilla Gorge was very beautiful. Since being at Cornell, I have not gone out to see some of the more scenic spots on campus. It was very interesting to hear about the history and geology of this Gorge. One unique fact about the Cascadilla Gorge is the rock formation. The tour guide told us that it is not common in nature for there to be straight lines at 90 degree angles. This type of formation is usually man made. However, the rocks at Cascadilla are all at 90 degree angles and this is because water likes to follow the path of least resistance so that is why the formation is so straight. Another thing that I found interesting was the cost of the upkeep of the Gorge. I did not even know that so much work went into making sure the gorges are safe for exploration and making sure any issues with flooding is accounted for. The tour guide told us that it cost about 2.9 million dollars to maintain the gorge and this is always a changing process which requires constant repair. Learning this fact made me really appreciate the beautiful landscape that surrounds us here in Ithaca.
Coffee and Conversation
Last week, I, along with a few other rose scholars, went to Gimme Coffee and just… talked. This Rose event was different from most Rose events that I’ve attended in that there wasn’t a planned discussion. We had an organic conversation over a cup of coffee. To my surprise, I enjoyed it very much. During our discussion, we covered a variety of topics, ranging from coffee stories to Harry Potter. I really liked the style of this Rose event because I got to connect with my fellow Rose Scholars directly. I learned new things about my fellow scholars, and was exposed to different points of view on different concepts. A majority of our Rose Events, although informative and interesting, do not really allow for direct interaction with other scholars. As a Rose scholar next near I will personally try to attend more events like this one, because I liked the natural conversation and interation with other Scholars.
Going Beyond Small Talk
How may times have we experienced it? The smile, handshake, talks about majors and career aspirations, and leaving conversations thinking you will try but ultimately, you won’t remember their faces the next day. You leave the conversation learning almost nothing the person you just met, nothing about the world, and nothing new about yourselves.
I am always sad when I think about these conversations, not because they went poorly, or that I felt awkward. I feel sad because I know that I missed the opportunity to get to know a person with a whole different set of ideas, experiences, and stories than me. I know I missed the opportunity to meet a person who can provide their inputs on topics that impact all of us, who can suggest a new way of looking at things.
For some reason, I personally need more “in depth” conversations at least once a week. If I don’t get my fair share, sometimes I dip into feeling loneliness, like my brain is being restricted to my day to day responsibilities, without the ability to think broadly and creatively. Last semester, I got caught up with the grind and often times would not take the time to talk about things that weren’t related to my immediate tasks. What I didn’t realize at the time, was that that was a huge part of why I dipped into the “sophomore slump”.
Last week’s coffee chats weren’t usual meet and greets. We did not merely talk about our career dreams and majors, but we delved into talks about what we believe is literature, what made authors come up with their ideas. I ended up learning a lot about the stories of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and JK Rowling that I have never known before. I also had the opportunity to hear heartfelt stories about peoples lives through a mutual connection of incorporating coffee shops into the story line.
I wish we can have more of these talks with strangers more often. I hope to find those who are like me, who want to talk about subjects more than just what they are going to do tonight, what parties they went to last night. Sure, sometimes reminiscing about good times is needed, but it’s important to give ourselves a dose of these conversations as well.
In the end, I met two new friends, and hopefully we can grab lunch soon.
Coffee moments
I arrived at Gimme! Coffee earlier than the rest of the group that Saturday. I had just gone to the Ithaca Friends of the Library Book Sale [A success; I bought all of the Haruki Murakami books on the shelves], and I sat alone in the coffee shop for a good 15-20 minutes waiting for everyone to arrive by bus.
The moments before they arrived:
- I sat by the window and read my book, a rare and peaceful instant; time was calm, faded.
- Well, now that I remember: I walked in and I saw someone who went to my high school working at the counter. This was not too surprising; I went to high school 45 minutes away from here.
- The little girl next to me asked the man on the other side of me how he was doing, to which he replied, “Alright.” They had a nice conversation which I half listened to. [I tried not to eavesdrop but it was quite hard not to seeing as I was sitting right in between them.]
When everyone finally walked into the coffee shop, we all sat at a long table and wrote down our coffee orders. I ordered a small latte, perfect for a rainy day. We made small talk, but I hate small talk, so I mainly listened to everyone else’s stories and blurbs about themselves.
Coffee deep in the not-Cornell part of Ithaca
The “Leftist” Espresso was on the top of the list. I already liked this place.
The day had been dreary, but the company made up for it. We took a bus from Libe Slope down to the Commons, then proceeded to walk 20 minutes out to Gimme Coffee! This was my first time getting coffee from them, and as a self-pronounced coffee connoisseur, I was quite excited. Since April/May had rolled around, and the mountainous weight of the end of the academic year at Cornell had been pressing upon my shoulders, my coffee intake has skyrocketed. This event was perfectly timed for me.
When we got there, ordered our coffee, and settled in, we all went around in a circle and shared our favorite stories about coffee. I shared mine: when I was out of school and working full time on the comprehensive plan for the City of Laredo, I was tasked with bringing life to our downtown, which was becoming emptier and emptier by the day. We wanted something to appeal to the young college crowd, but not a bar, and a place where people could go to hang out, a place for arts and live music: a coffeeshop! So, for the better part of the year, we worked on getting a coffee shop to open up on our targeted Iturbide street.
The conversation evolved from personal stories to conversations about Artificial Intelligence to the classic Harry Potter vs. Lord of the Rings discussion (Team Tolkien). It was such a great conversation it continued from the coffee shop through the entire walk back and through the bus ride back. This event wasn’t rigorously planned, but it certainly was one of the most fulfilling and memorable.
small americano please
The event last week was a pleasant and brief getaway from doing end-of-the-semester work. The rainy walk over from the bus stop was appropriate for our afternoon coffee. Our group had some nice conversations during our stay at the Gimme! Coffee, but I didn’t participate too much by saying anything, so I’ll write about my small americano.
I understand the appeal of espresso, but I can’t really enjoy one without reminding myself that this is what real connoisseurs do. I think this is where the americano comes in, as it appeals (not only) to people like me (wannabe connoisseurs). I took the top off my coffee, as it came in a disposable cup; I enjoy looking at the small layer of foam from a just-prepared americano. Also, I think the small slit on the plastic top takes away from the experience of enjoying a coffee.
From my initial taste, a nutty flavor stood out most, blanketing my mouth with a creamy texture. Beyond that, I don’t know what else to take away from my drink, other than that I really enjoyed it.
My Coffee Anecdote
At the “Ithaca is for Coffee Lovers” event, the GRF’s asked us each to share an interesting or funny coffee anecdote for our lives. I didn’t end up sharing one, as the conversation got side tracked by a very involved discussion of Harry Potter, so I thought, in fairness to those who did open up, I would share my one coffee anecdote:
I’m not a coffee person. My mother didn’t allow me to drink it growing up. She always said it would stunt my growth (with an average height of five foot even, the Heon women do not have many inches to spare).
I started going to coffee shops only when I started interviewing for colleges, so my experience of Starbucks is tied up with a lot of trauma. I’m going to take a minute here for an unrelated rant about college interviews. Namely, that they are pointless and accomplish nothing. I should mention here that I was waitlisted or rejected by every college that granted me an in-person interview. I probably only made it to Cornell because their interview was by phone, though I somehow managed to direct the conversation to how, specifically, I would build the space elevator (ummm….carbon fiber?? Maybe?)
This particular interview was for Yale. I arrived at our local Starbucks 10 minutes early, as I believed etiquette required, thinking my interviewer would be there too. I looked around for someone of the appropriate age who looked “Yaley”. I finally approached a woman I believed to be my interviewer. After some mumbled introductions, which led me to believe that I had found who I was looking for, we exchanged pleasantries. I thought the interview was going pretty well, until she pulled out and iPad and said something to the effect of “So, about the wedding blog…” At which point it became very apparent that this was not a Yale interview, and I had somehow convinced the woman sitting across from me (apparently also named Elizabeth) that I was the photographer for her wedding blog.
Long story short, I spent my real Yale interview hiding in a corner booth from wedding blog lady, who hopefully did find her photographer.
Cold Coffe, Warm Company
A few days ago, I had an opportunity to go to Gimmie coffee! in Ithaca commons. After a long week of assignments and preparations for final, it was a nice getaway from the campus environment and recharge. Although I wasn’t sure how coffee with strangers will go, I was excited what will happen.
One unique thing about Coffee and I is that I always get the iced coffee. It is not like I hate warm coffee. I think it is because I always thought coffee is simply a provider of caffeine, something I will chug through and get going to do work. In order to be ‘time efficient’, I get iced coffee so that I can easily drink and save time.
However, it was so different when I was at the rose event. Like usual, I got iced coffee and sweet to accompany it. We introduced ourselves, our major, and had some unique conversations. Like, unique coffee story, the reality vs. fantasy, meaning of literature, and many more deep thoughts and conversations.
As the event progressed through, I realized that drinking coffee at the moment was so different. Feelings, flavors, sounds, and all these sensory perceptions I had about coffee, was so so different. I realized at the end of the event that coffee at the moment was beyond a just source of caffeine. It was a moment of memory, warmth of other people, and representation of the moment of peace. The cold coffee wasn’t so cold and bitter. The hour I spent on a cup of coffee meant so much to me, and can never equal all the other cup of coffees I had before. It was so strange to feel this way but now I know is that it is ok to have a break, and enjoy a cup of coffee. There is no need to rush in time. Enjoy given time with peacefulness. And maybe cup of coffe.
A Perfect Sunday Morning
Last Sunday I joined the Rose Scholars on a trip to the Ithaca Farmers Market. I’ve been several times before and could not pass up the opportunity to go again. Along with having an excellent selection of produce stands, there are also craft stands and several food and beverage stands. The breakfast burrito and Cambodian food stalls always have long lines. The maple syrup stand however is one you can’t miss. I’ve often picked up a bag of maple cotton candy there and finished it in the same day.
This particular Sunday, after browsing all the stalls I picked up some corn fritters with spicy mayo from Macro Mama’s and some hot apple cider from the apple donut stall. I sat out on the landing enjoying my finds and watching the lake. It was a little chillier than I would have liked, but it made the hot cider that much sweeter. If you haven’t been to the farmer’s market yet, it’s definitely an Ithaca must. It’s amazing the local treasures that Ithaca provides, and the way the Ithaca community comes together on things like the farmers market to add to its small town flair.
“Try new things” doesn’t apply to juice
Last Saturday afternoon, I was finally able to check off something that’s been on my to-do list since the beginning of last semester: visit the Ithaca Farmer’s Market. I walked in thinking two-hours was more than enough time and I’d be ready to leave much earlier. After a quick stroll around all the booths and making the difficult but blissful decision to get a burrito for lunch, I realized that an hour had already passed!
My good purchases included the chicken lunch burrito, a raspberry scone with berries baked so fresh they easily burst open, and a large, fluffy cinnamon bun. One purchase I won’t be making again? The summer cooler–a juice that had already sold out once which I was told was made with a base of orange juice, hibiscus tea, and hints of peppermint and rose hips. I should have realized from the extensive list of ingredients that it was a bit too hipster and much for me. Roses have hips? I made the mistake of underrating freshly made, simple orange juice, and will be sure not to make the same mistake next time.
If the farmer’s market was enjoyable on a rather gloomy, cold day, I can only imagine how great it would be in nicer weather. Hopefully next semester will be better weather and more trips to the farmers market.
A Different Farmer’s Market
Last Saturday I finally had the opportunity to go to the Ithaca Farmer’s Market for the very first time. I had always heard good things about the Ithaca Farmer’s Market, so I was very excited to finally have the chance to go. I would certainly recommend going, for it was a great experience. There was lots of amazingly delicious food, as well as beautiful crafts. I also found myself wishing that I had a garden, since there were so many wonderful plants. Overall, it was a Saturday well spent, and I shall certainly return.
Being from upstate New York, I have been to plenty of farmer’s markets before, but I found the Ithaca one to be a bit different from the others that I have attended. The most notable difference was the enclosure. The farmer’s markets that I have been to before have all had their booths set up under temporary tent-like structures (much like the farmer’s market at Cornell). At the Ithaca Farmer’s Market, however, everything was set up in a wooden enclosure that appeared to be built for the purpose of housing the farmer’s market. This was also the first farmer’s market that I have attended where there were vendors selling crafts, in addition to the typical vendors selling food and plants. Maybe I just had never noticed them before, but the only place where I have seen a collection of craft vendors is at a crafts fair. I actually thought that their inclusion was nice, since it added in a bit more of a variety to the types of vendors present. I have always liked attending places like this, and the Ithaca Farmer’s Market was set up in a way that I enjoyed.
Bread and Windowsill Plants
According to their advertising, all of the vendors at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market produce their products within 30 miles of the market location. Consequently, I didn’t know what to expect. How many farms are there in the Ithaca area? -a surprising number (at least for me).
At the farmer’s market, I found not only vendors selling produce, but also honey, dairy and meat products, fresh flowers, bread and baked goods, soaps, jewelry, and gifts. There were also several restaurant stalls. The first lesson I learned was that I have been seriously underestimating our agricultural community.
Mine is not a farmer’s market going family. I had always believed they were essentially an outdoor Whole Foods-everything is beautiful, and it’s probably better for you, but who has that kind of money? The prices I saw at the market were surprisingly reasonable. Of course, you also get the benefit of knowing where your food came from, and the opportunity to purchase organic products. I don’t know that most “mid-range” grocery stores stock much organic produce-Wegmans might be an exception. But I do know that, when you can find it, it tends to be considerably more expensive than non-organic alternatives.
I live in a dorm, and my ability to cook is limited right now, but if I ever get an apartment, this is somewhere I can seem myself shopping on a regular basis. Not only is the farmers market a good place to go to get groceries, it’s a great way to get off campus for a while. The pavilion is located right by the lake (inlet?, river? Do they call it something else once it makes its way into Ithaca proper?) and there is a seating area and a dock in back. For my own part, I bought a banana and nutella crepe after I was finished browsing, and enjoyed the water view. I also grabbed a loaf of bread to bring back to my dorm. Cornell’s food is generally pretty good, but I feel like you can’t get good bread here.
One final advertisement: If, like me, you have a windowsill garden that is rapidly getting out of hand, Ithaca Farmer’s Market has something for you. I bought both a succulent and a passion flower, and, if there was more time left in the term, I definitely would have started some dorm-room herbs.
The Best Part of Ithaca’s Farmers Market
The way the overcast daylight seemed to illuminate its crunchy, light brown shell still resonates in my mind. While there is no “perfect falafel” unfortunately, not all falafels are created equal. The particular one that graced my palate today was a fine specimen to behold, the type that gives rise to an internal struggle of emotions. Inside raged the battle between quickly devouring the pure euphoria that is a fried chickpea ball and taking my sweet time so that I might prolong the already fleeting moments we had together.
The gyro stand I got my food from was conveniently situated at the end of the farmers market, next to several places suitable for sitting. And for a place whose main attraction is all the things to purchase and browse, many people were sitting right on its perimeter, enjoying the food/things they had just bought, or doing nothing. Like the part of a pie between the filling and crust that has just the right combination of gooeyness and hardness, the very outside of the perimeter was the best part of the farmers market. There, people took a break from the overly crowded space of all the stands and had a chance to get to talk to their friends and enjoy what they had bought. And a lot of people looked well past enjoying the food they had already devoured, but still looked happy to be sitting by Cayuga Lake in good company. Once I was done making my own purchases, I wanted the event to be over because I realized I had assignments to do. Spending an unnecessary 60 minutes of walking around was nice, though, because it was purely unnecessary and a break from a high pressured schedule.
Heads up, the Farmer’s market circulates different vendors depending on the season, so if you like falafel gyros get there ASAP.
A Bang for Your Buck: The Unexpected Affordability of Farmer’s Markets
As a college student, my life consists of studying, sleeping, and eating. In the few moments I have to spare, I choose to relax and rewind with a TV show, a movie, or even just a nap. Because of my busy schedule, in the nearly nine whole months I have been at Cornell, I have very rarely ventured off campus to experience the local lifestyle and culture of Ithaca. This on-campus isolation has been a regret of mine that I have been wanting to change for a while. This past Saturday, the Ithaca Farmer’s Market finally offered me the opportunity to connect with and explore my surrounding community.
From fragrant flowers and raw honey to handcrafted scones and freshly squeezed juices, the Farmer’s Market showcased the talents, hard work, and passions of local merchants, artisans, and farmers. It is undeniable that locally-produced, fresh food is of a higher quality than supermarket goods. Therefore, you’d expect that farmer’s market goods are more expensive than grocery store merchandise, right? I did, and, in fact, I panicked because I arrived at the Farmer’s Market with only $15 in my pocket…
However, interestingly enough, I left the Farmer’s Market with a full $7 remaining in my wallet. My purchases, consisting of a raspberry almond scone, a cup of natural strawberry lemonade, freshly-fried apple cider donuts, and a burrito, cost me just $8. Shocked at this low cost, I did some researching upon returning to my dorm and discovered that, according to a study, farmer’s market produce is about the same price as supermarket produce. Additionally, organic items actually cost less at local markets than they do at grocery stores (Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/forrest-pritchard/first-time-shopping-at-farmers-market_b_5519524.html).
These unexpected results need to be more heavily advertised to encourage more folks to support their local farmers, get involved in the community, and partake in higher quality, fresher food.
A Geological History of Cascadilla Gorge
The Cascadilla Gorge hike was one of my favorite Rose events this year. I especially enjoyed learning about the history of the gorge and trying to envision the natural forces that shaped the area. One of the cooler aspects of the hike was when our guide pulled a rock from the cliff and it had several shell fossils. It seemed crazy to me that any old rock from the cliff could contain imprints of organisms that lived millions of years ago. I was always curious about why the waterfalls in Cascadilla Gorge, Ithaca Falls, and Fall Creek Gorge have almost perfect stairsteps. The reason is that the waterfalls are actually made up of two (or more) different types of rocks. One rock is softer, so over time, the softer rock is eroded away, leaving behind the harder rocks. This is also the reason why there are large pieces of rocks near the bottom of the waterfalls. Those are the harder rocks, and they aren’t eroded so easily, so when they break off of the main bedrock, they don’t get broken down by the force of the water.
A thorough tour
The three person panel on immigration came at a valuable time for many others and me to comprehend the nuances behind president trump’s executive order. The most illuminating member of the board was longtime professor of law, Steve Millerman. He began by explaining what had actually happened, saying on jan 25 3 there were multiple executive orders. The travel ban exec order, which prohibited people from 7 countries for 90 days from entering the country. A ban on travel from Syria, and a 120 day refugee ban – which is currently on hold. He then asked the question: what does this hold mean? Apparently, he said, it will take a couple of weeks for the federal district court to make a decision. Trump is not so resolute about what he will do with the executive order, whether he will revise the order, or maybe scrap it altogether. Historically, Donald Trump has been known to make a fast decision, and if it doesn’t work out, instead of finessing in order to fix the problem, he is more likely to scrap the idea and start something new. This method has been a large factor in his success as a businessman and entrepreneur.
The ban is a symptom so so-called islamaphobia, which has been developing over the past decade in the United States. Such factors as the ‘united states of jihad’ (which describes American citizens who convert to terrorism) scare Americans into xenophobic practices. But, most often, these fears are quite unfounded. Opponents of refugee bans site may statistics, but one which is especially potent is the fact that no refugees from primarily islamic countries have ever committed acts of terrorism on the U.S. mainland. Trump claims to want to defeat ISIS, however, if trump truly wants to defeat ISIS, then he has to partner with some of the islamic states. The United States cannot defeat an enemy when, in the region in which it is fighting, Americans are viewed as the enemy as well.
On a positive note, however, the robust reaction from the united states civil society and academia is very promising, showing that not all Americans believe in the changes that are happening with these controversial policies.
Fixin’ Cascadilla Was Killa on Ithaca’s Bills
Sorry. I tried to make the title rhyme. A bit forced.
Anyway, the gorge is actually really expensive. First, the donation of it was several million dollars (6, if I remember correctly). Then, after a series of storms in the early 10s (is that what we call 2010-2020?) it cost 2 and a half million to fix. A lot of that was preemptively blowing up the rockside so that it didn’t fall on the visitors at some point (thanks, guys).
It’s beautiful though. Admittedly, I rather enjoy the more natural areas without paved walkways and fences, but there is no doubt that Casc is majestic, and one of the most beautiful areas in Ithaca I’ve ever seen. When you go at the right time, the water in the air catches the golden light of the sun in a way that makes the whole gorge absolutely magical.
A peek into the history of the Earth – Cascadilla Gorge Hike
We walked from Rose into Collegetown, and met with a guide who took us on a hike of the Cascadilla Gorge, a 1/4 mile section that reveals hundreds of millions of years of the Earth’s history. We learnt about the story behind creating a path to walk through the Gorge, and the story of restoring the path to its former status in the last 5 years.
The guide pointed out rock layers of igneous and sedimentary rock, as well as explained how the gorge was carved by a large glacier that covered this part of New York.
We got to experience the waterfalls, and the rushing water in the gorge, and we really got to appreciate how beautiful nature can be.
Above is an example of just how loud it was down in the gorge.
I had never hiked one of the gorges before, and this experience definitely inspires me to hike more around Ithaca.
Cascadilla Gorge: Behind the Scenes
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.
Knowing Your Rights: Immigration
President Donald Trump Recently Proposed a travel ban prohibiting entrance of refugees from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia into the United states in an effort to stop ‘radical Islamic Terrorism’ from entering the United States. This ban also prohibits green card holders and refugees who have already undergone background checks from entering the US. Understandably, this executive order has been met with outrage and concern throughout the nation. Now many immigrants are concerned that the new approach shown by the Trump Administration may end with unjust deportation. I attended the discussion on understanding President Trump’s Executive order, held by Matthew Hall, Professor Steve Yale-Loehr, Brendan O’Brien, and Pakistani Author Raza Rumi, to better learn what changes we could reasonably expect as an effect of this executive order. I was encouraged to learn, form the ensuing discussion that this executive order is being battled in the courts, and that there is legislation that protects students attending Cornell from immigration officers. Although the executive order has adversely affected millions of Americans, including students here at Cornell and around the nation, I hope that this discussion provided some measure of security and a show of solidarity for those affected by this executive order.
Bird, Bird, Bird, Bird is the Word
Before this past weekend, I had no idea bird watching could be so fun and rewarding! Along with GRF, Ty, and a fellow Rose Scholar, I visited Cornell’s renowned Lab of Ornithology. However, to be honest, my favorite part of this event was the bird watching prior to the tour of the lab. I think one of the most valuable lessons gained from the day was to pay attention to your surroundings. I mean, think about. Most of us wake up every morning and walk to class without even knowing what animals, particularly birds, we are surrounded by! Birds are so diverse in sound and personality; they’re definitely more than just a pretty tune in the morning.
So here’s a few things I learned that might help you be a bit more aware of your surroundings. Hopefully this encourages you to stop by the lab or take a walking bird watch tour at some point during your Cornell experience!
As a beginner, you might find it logical to try and memorize different birds by the way they look; however, it would actually be easier to remember the way a bird acts and what they sound like before attempting to remember what different birds look like. The reasons behind this are that birds can be difficult to differentiate. Also, depending on where you are and the weather, you’ll rarely ever get a perfect view of a bird. A lot of the time you won’t even get to see the color on the bird, only shades and shape. Also, if you’re able to identify birds by their sounds, your life becomes a lot easier because once you hear a bird, then you can focus on looking for it (instead of looking for a bird without being able to identify the sound).
What I found most interesting was learning how to identify birds based on their behavior. For example, the American Robin tends to spend its time on ground, with bunny like hops. This is characteristic of many birds in the thrush category. Or take for example, the finch (forgive me I don’t remember exactly what type of finch) tends to hang out in groups high up at the tip of trees. They’re so chatty! They almost sound like they’re gossiping amongst themselves. Chick-a-dees literally make the sound “chick a dee dee dee”. They’re cute little fellows that are always curious and willing to get little closer to see what’s going on, especially when humans walk by. Blue jays are characterized by bully-like behavior and their chirp is a bit harsher than any of the other bird previously mentioned.
I know this sounds like it’s a lot to memorize, but I promise it’s so much fun! Once you see the birds for yourself, you’ll see how unique their personalities can be. It’s also really rewarding once you’re able to remember what a bird sounds/looks like and how it behaves. Now I can show off some of bird identification skills with some of my friends.
Following the walk, we got a tour of the lab. This was my first visit, and I definitely plan on going back to cover the whole lab. The tour offered a more biological and historical perspective of birds and background on the creation of the lab and what it holds. Below I have attached pictures of some pretty fancy birds, however, the lab is not limited to just these figures. I highly recommend stopping by to see the vast amounts of information the lab holds. Bird definitely is the word!
Bird watching: A Great Hobby
I don’t remember when or why I started bird watching. I do know my middle school science fair project was about whether expensive bird seed attracted more birds than the bargain brand, thus justifying the extra expense. Result: Maybe, if you believe a seventh graders science. (I did get to make an awesome stacked bar graph, breaking results down by number and species.) I haven’t been “birding” much recently, and visiting the Cornell lab of ornithology reminded me of why I started birding in the first place. So I’d like to use this blog post as something of a PSA for why everyone should birdwatch.
Firstly, birding is a great way to relieve stress. It gets you out in nature. Also, birds are both cute and charismatic. Our guide at the lab of ornithology talked about the value of anthropomorphizing birds, so that you can recognize and remember them by their personalities, rather than relying on field marks. And, to someone with experiences, birds definitely seem to have unique characters. Blue Jays are loud and abrasive, sort of bullying. Mourning doves have a slightly goofy, pigeonish thing going on. Cardinals move with quick, jerky movements that sometimes seem almost robotic. Getting lost in the world of birds is a good way to distract yourself.
But, you can also get super competitive with your birding. A lot of birders keep “life lists” of all the species they have ever seen. It’s kind of like Pokémon, except that with thousands of species worldwide, it isn’t really feasible to catch them all. Or, you could go with more of a Moby Dick metaphor, chasing down that one bird that alludes you. For me, it’s the Brown Creeper. They smallish, with white bellies and brown wings. They climb trees in a characteristic spiral pattern, using their tails to prop themselves up as they go. And I would very much like to see one. According to the range maps, they are fairly common in Ithaca and its environs, and yet I cannot find them.
Our guide also said that learning about birds helps connect you to the natural world. It provides a sense of constancy when you travel. Ithaca can be very different from where I live, but the birds are see here are all the same ones I observed for my bird seed science fair project. So, I would tell everyone, at least learn a few birds, the ones you most commonly see. Especially during the spring, it’s nice to know which birds you here singing as you walk around campus (a lot of times, it’s robins. They have a nice, musical song).
If I can go further, I would suggest that if you only learn one local bird, make it the Chickadee. They have a sort of cream color on their bellies, grey on their wings, with a black beard a black cap on their heads. They have a roundish body, golf ball size or thereabouts. Birders often use mnemonics to describe bird songs, which for the most part I cannot make heads or tails of, but chickadees honestly do say “Chicka-dee-dee-dee”. They’re probably my favorite backyard bird, because they’re adorable and gregarious, usually the first to discover a newly set up feeder.
I believe the best reason to go birding is expressed by something I learned at the end of my tour. Our tour guide told us that the statue in front of the lab is of a passenger pigeon. I say we should all appreciate nature now, because as the passenger pigeon proves, there is no guarantee that any species will persist forever.
Surrounded by Beautiful Music
Last Sunday I had the opportunity to see the Cornell University Wind Symphony and the Ithaca High School Wind Ensemble perform. The music they performed blew me away, it was a magical experience. During the performance, the composer, David Maslanka, spoke about a few of the pieces and how he wrote these pieces. It was very inspiring. Overall, the piece I enjoyed the most from the Ithaca High School Wind Ensemble was Mother Earth, composed by David Maslanka. I enjoyed this piece greatly because it incorporated so many instruments into a harmonious piece of work. The students at Ithaca High School did a wonderful job on this piece. The piece I enjoyed greatly from the Cornell University Wind Symphony was Symphony No.8 composed by David Maslanka. I would recommend that all Cornell students go see a performance by the Cornell University Wind Symphony as it is a very enjoyable, relaxing, and a fulfilling performance that incorporates emotional feeling and many instruments into its music.
How to Write a Song
Last Sunday, I attended the performance of the CU Wind Symphony and the Ithaca High School Wind Ensemble at Bailey Hall. This was my first time attending a performance by the CU Wind Symphony, and I was shocked at how good they sounded. I have always liked classical music. I used to play violin back in high school, and I am currently in Cornell Chorale. In addition, this semester I am taking Introduction to Western Music Theory, taught by Professor Spinazzola, who is the conductor for CU Wind. A few days before the concert, our class got a chance to meet David Maslanka, the composer of the majority of the pieces performed at the concert. Mr. Maslanka described to us his composition process, which involves a lot of visualization. He also mentioned that walking can help somebody to think better–a fact that I have also found to be true, as I often walk around when trying to come up with something to write for an essay. I was also surprised to learn that Mr. Maslanka often based his musical themes after the melody in other, older works. For instance, during the lecture, Mr. Maslanka handed out to each of us a copy of “Jesu, meine Freude,” an old chorale, and had us sing it. He mentioned that the melody of the chorale was present in his Symphony No. 8, as well as another piece he wrote, titled “Oh Earth, Oh Stars,” which he played a recording of in class. Although I could clearly hear the melody of “Jesu, meine Freude” in the piece that he played for us, I was surprised to so distinctly hear it again several days later when CU Wind performed his Symphony No. 8. By this point I could no longer remember what “Jesu, meine Freude” sounded like, but as soon as the second movement of Symphony No. 8 began, I immediately realized that I had heard that tune before. I was shocked that Mr. Maslanka would so obviously incorporate a different song into his own. I guess I always figured that original music would not include music from outside sources, but I suppose that there is only so much originality that exists in the world. Music can still be original even if it borrows from other songs, as long as it reworks it into something new. Although I could clearly hear the melody of “Jesu, meine Freude” in Maslanka’s Symphony No. 8, I could also tell that it was not the exact same song.
band
I find that it’s always nice to attend a CU Winds performance. I think most people who were in high school band look back on it fondly, so it’s become a nostalgic experience I indulge in once in a while.
Notably, the music department had arranged for a guest composer, David Maslanka, to write an original piece for the CU Winds in memory of a past music professor at Cornell. Mr. Maslanka had apparently been at Cornell for several days leading up to the concert, holding workshops with CU Winds in order to provide feedback on their interpretation of his compositions, as well as to attend the performance. Between two songs, Mr. Maslanka was invited up to the stage to speak.
He struck me as an odd guy. According to Wikipedia, he’s 73 years old, which surprised me right now; I thought he looked to be in his 60’s. Once he was on the stage, he kept his eyes on the ground and spoke quietly about his collaboration with the CU Winds. He then started going into some details behind his thought process and his inspiration for composing lately. He presented the idea that the world is chaos and music is peace, although this is a very rough TL;DR. I think this is almost definitely a cliche, but considering that Mr. Maslanka is pretty old, maybe all the time he’s spent thinking has revealed to him that this cliche actually is the truth. I enjoyed the image he described afterwards, of music being water flowing from the Earth. I think this kind of visualization, especially when it’s provided by the composer of the piece being performed, is nice to have in mind when performing music. Back when I used to (try to) play piano, I found it helped me be more expressive when I read what the composer was thinking or what they were inspired by when they wrote the piece I was playing. It must have been an invaluable experience for everyone in CU Winds to have Mr. Maslanka come work with them.
Peace
I saw the CU Wind Symphony and Ithaca High School Wind Symphony perform last Sunday in Bailey Hall. The music was more beautiful than I imagined. As someone who had little to no exposure to live classical music, I think that this experience broadened my ideas of what classical music entails. Now, when I see the term “symphony,” I have an exact picture in my mind of what that looks like.
Many governmental officials debate taking money away from art and music programs to fund other academic subjects. However, this experience has taught me that these programs are vital to supplement traditional subjects in school. Many children receive necessary emotional support from their participation in programs like orchestra or wind symphonies. At the beginning of the Ithaca High School’s performance, the conductor dedicated the opening song to a girl who had just lost her mother. Having the support and ability to make music with others might be a vital way to cope with such a heartbreaking and difficult loss. Cutting funds for programs like this would take away the benefits that they provide to many students.
On the other hand, such programs also provide a safe, alternative way to destress and unwind from a demanding academic schedule. When the composer spoke to the audience about his inspiration for the collection of songs that were being played, he mentioned the idea of peace as a strong influence. His imagery of water enveloping the earth really helped me to place my mind in a peaceful state as I listened to the songs. I also thought about ways to keep peace on earth and in my life.
I am so glad I took the time to attend the Wind symphony. I feel as if I have grown from the experience. I definitely recommend it to anyone!
“Anyone can cook.”
When I moved away from home to come to college, I was actually kind of excited about learning how to be an adult. Sure, I was also looking forward to not having my parents breathing down my neck about grades and how late I stayed out, but I was eager to prove to myself that I could survive on my own. Part of not being treated like a child anymore is, well, not living like a child anymore, so I was secretly kind of expecting to be able to live what I considered an “adult” life. Learning how to cook was one of the things that I was most looking forward to. I’m capable of making more desserts than any human should consume, but for some reason “real food” has never been on my radar. I can make cheesecake, but not spaghetti. Cooking struck me as something that should be fun, delicious, and a vital part of learning how to keep yourself alive.
Unfortunately, I underestimated the…Cornell-ness of Cornell university as well as perhaps my own immaturity. There is no time here for things like morning trips to the gym. There is no time here for things like maturely sipping tea and reading novels in cafes. There is definitely no time here to go out, buy ingredients, and make yourself a nice homecooked meal every day. No, I do not live like an adult here. I don’t even live like a child. I live like an animal. For dinner today, I sat in the basement of Olin and ate most of a bag of “x-tra cheddar” goldfish. When I do eat “real food”, it’s dining hall food. It’s kind of hard to justify the time and money and effort that goes into making actual meals yourself, when you’ve already paid for a meal plan. Which is not to say that our dining hall food is bad — but I never got around to learning how to cook.
So, with that said, on Saturday I attended a cooking workshop at the Cornell College of Human Ecology’s food labs. The instructional portion of the workshop, though brief, was actually really informative. I am proud to say I knew all the cup/tablespoon/teaspoon conversions, and I knew how to measure flour. However, I honestly did not know what a saucepan was before now. Every single recipe that has instructed to me to use a saucepan? I’ve been using a frying pan, because I guess “pan” sounds like something flat to me. I learned how to chop vegetables (who knew, there’s more than just hacking at it like the killer in a horror film). You should keep vegetable and meat cutting boards separate, different knives are for different purposes, minced is smaller than diced, etc. The actual cooking portion of the workshop was really fun, and I was impressed to find that every one of the foods we made as a group turned out at least decent. We all left with a packet of simple recipes that we could try at home.
Overall, though, I think the biggest takeaway from this workshop is that even if you’re short on time, supplies, and experience, cooking shouldn’t be impossible. As demonstrated by one of the recipes, you can make a whole pasta dish in one pot in about a half hour. Eggs are always a good option, and you can put anything in an omelet to make it a full meal. Once you’re confident in making a few simple foods, there is endless variety. One piece of advice that I particularly liked was the notion that you shouldn’t be afraid of using the microwave. I’ve had it ingrained in me (mostly by my grandmother) that real cooking never uses the microwave. Like the microwave is “cheating” or something. Ovens and stovetops though, are less accessible in a dorm, much slower, and often not a practical option for making quantities of a single serving for a single person. It is possible to find a happy medium between Cup Ramen and a steak dinner, and “good” doesn’t necessarily mean “complicated”.
I wish I had time in my schedule to take an actual food lab class at the College of Human Ecology, but even if I don’t I’ve been encouraged and inspired by this short lesson that I did get to take. So, tonight’s goldfish aside, I’ve decided to attempt to cook myself a meal at least once per week for the rest of the semester. We’ll see how it goes.
Cooking through Consequences of A Sheltered Life
I am nineteen years old, about to turn twenty in two months. I am a varsity student athlete in an Ivy League University. I can speak two languages, write essays, participate in in depth conversation about social constructs and philosophical beliefs with my fellow peers.
Yet the extent of my cooking experience is limited by scrambling and microwaving eggs, making pasta, dumplings, cooking white rice, and boiling veggies. While I can technically survive on my own, my quality of life would significantly change if I did not have Cornell’s luxurious dining halls to rely on.
Why is that? Upon reflection my wonderful loving parents have been making my meals since I was born and as I grew older to the age that I could develop cooking skills, my “valuable time” was better spent swimming, practicing violin, doing homework, or hanging out with friends. My mother was a stay at home mother and while I learned the basics if doing laundry and cooking before collage, my only chore around the house is limited to taking out the trash, mowing the lawn, and washing dishes. I had swimming practice six days a week therefore there was no way in which my parents would allow me to cook, and wait for me to do so that late into the night. Most nights I would arrive home with dinner waiting.
As I entered the cooking event last week I realized that this would be the first time in my life actually cooking a legitimate meal that was slightly more sophisticated. As a consequence of my privileged parental support and their recognition on the importance of academics and extracurricular, I have never really cooked. This made me realize what other skills are people in our generations lacking. Granted, this issue is not a widespread one as there are many families that continue to value traditional skills. However, the current environment I believe are increasing the number of young adults who face the similar situation as me.
Can we fix tires, fix basic electric and household appliances, cook, paint houses? Will we be forced to be increasingly reliant on outside services? Or will must of us face the fact that we have many “firsts” to do in our twenties. While it may be harder to do so without the guidance of parents, it may be an exciting thing. That’s why we have YouTube anyway right?
Irony of the Prison
Heather Ann Thompson is an author, historian, and professor at the University of Michigan. She came to Cornell to speak about her newly published book “Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy” in Golden Smith Hall. I had the pleasure of attending this talk. Although I had no idea what to expect from it, I came out with so much more than I could’ve asked for.
At first, I thought the speaker was going to discuss her journey and specifically how she became interested in the prison system and chose that as her life long research topic. However, Thompson really delved into what Attica is and a very brief oversight of the injustice that occurred. On September 13, 1971, prisoners at Attica Prison had a revolt and held hostages in order to negotiate with the government to improve conditions within the Prison. The police came and surrounded the prison, while a helicopter hovering the prison courtyard sprayed toxic gas onto everyone and began shooting at all prisoners and hostages.
The account we all learn about in the news, online and in books have been heavily twisted to the side of the government Although I hadn’t heard of the story before, I could only imagine what the media said. Thompson told us the barriers she pushed through to listen to the real life accounts from family or persons in Attica Prison at the time. She really opened my eyes not only to what injustices this world has, but also how the media sways the public’s opinion. I have definitely learned that even if every single media outlet is publishing the same story, it may still not be all the truth.
On the Heels of…
It truly amazes me how much we do not know. Dr. Heather Ann Thompson, author of Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and its Legacy, expressed the hidden story of a prison riot in Attica. I was torn between feelings of gratitude and outrage. Its times like these where outrage demands transparency and answers to question. Its times like these gratitude for reporters, journalist and authors to tell stories doesn’t come frequent enough.
Five days into a prison takeover by its 1,300 inmates, Attica Correctional Facility’s prisoners expected to end negotiations with New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller shortly, having made significant gains at the bargaining table. Especially since this prison takeout had captured the attention of news media outlets across the country, prisoners were confident they would begin to receive humane treatment while incarcerated.
When a helicopter flew over the yard at Attica, gases were dropped. The mixture of gases created a thick cloud in the prison compound yard, that it settled in the eyes and throats of the inmates. With oxygenated masked, armed forces executed a military style assault. Under the orders of Gov. Rockefeller, prisoners and prison officers were subjected to death, bloodshed, and torture at the hands of the government. Meanwhile, government spokesperson stood outside the prison lying to the American people and journalist. Still to this today, communities in the US believe that the prisoners were responsible for the deaths that day.
Throughout her presentation, Dr. Thompson kept emphasizing trends and patterns that lead up to a moment like Attica. At the time, there were immense challenge to the criminal justice system, yet a strong push for an increase in the police state.
One possible explanation was a response or backlash to the civil rights era. But for Dr. Thompson, that answer wasn’t enough. She wanted to know: what was stirring inside the hearts and minds of Americans that pushed them to begin a war on crime before there was a need? Why was all this occurring on the heels of protests, policy adjustments, and public debate?
As I start reflecting on the current cultural-political climate, I can’t help but think about how this moment in time is very much “on the heels of” too. Statistics will paint a picture of how black women are graduating at faster rates than any other demographic, unemployment is decreasing. Not to mention, social media is giving rise to new social movements and we have just witnessed the first black president leave office scandal-free. But, for many in the 1960s, they probably felt similarly – filled with hope and promise.
Walking away from this experience has emphasized the importance of pushing back on what the government has to say. But to watch the patterns of society. If history has taught me anything, it is that history repeats itself. I hope that my local and global contributions can shed light on injustice, in its ugliest forms.
Cooking at Cornell
As an engineer, I like cooking. What other activity combines trial and error experimentation and food? But, unfortunately, I have a limited repertoire. I spent a lot of time trying to find the perfect home fry recipe. As it turns out, there really isn’t a trick to it. The secret is butter. Just a huge, very unhealthy amount of butter. I took this cooking class hoping to learn some healthier recipes.
I should mention right off that I chose to make lasagna (baby steps). I liked the recipe I was given, but there are a couple of improvements I’d like to try. Firstly, get rid of the mushrooms. Mushrooms are awful. Secondly, maybe use a sharper cheese to add more flavor to the ricotta mix? You could also probably sneak some spinach in there, to make up for those evicted mushrooms. I’d also like to try my hand at making my own pasta sauce.
I also learned some useful skills. The food lab volunteers showed us the proper way to slice and peel an onion, which I appreciated, because I can never make equally sized pieces. They also talked about selecting pans and other cooking tools, which is useful for me, because I am considering moving off campus, and that means I will need to stock a kitchen. Lastly, it was a chance to practice my skills, which I don’t get to do so often at Cornell. Partly, it’s because I’m so busy. Also, I’d never used an electric stove before coming here (our stove at home is gas) and I’m deeply afraid I will set off the fire alarm and force everyone to go stand out in the cold.
While I enjoyed cooking for myself, the best part was seeing how everyone else did. As a group, I think we did very well. Everything I tried was excellent. I especially want to try making the spinach pasta. I’m looking forward to April break, when I will get a chance to try out some recipes and practice my new skills.
What’s Cooking Today?
Cooking in the Cornell food lab made me think of companies such as Blue Apron and Hello Fresh, which deliver weekly boxes of ingredients with easy-to-follow instructions on how to cook delicious, professional-chef-created, recipes from the comfort of your own home. These companies emphasize organic ingredients and healthy eating, while catering to the convenience today’s consumers are longing for. At only 5 years old, Blue Apron has amassed a net worth of about 50 million dollars, and is good evidence that America is experiencing a transition away from fast food to more healthy, wholesome options. Indeed, a Rose Cafe from last semester examined the food industry and explained this very trend–consumers care more and more about the ingredients of what they’re eating.
The cooking class resulted in a decadent display of dishes I was impressed with. For college students who live off the House meal plan, we outperformed expectations. I think this speaks to how anyone is able to cook up a delicious meal when the the right ingredients, tools, and instructions are provided. And that’s exactly what the success of these food delivery companies shows.
Over February break, I received a trial box from the company Hello Fresh. At the discounted trial box price, it was well worth the well-rounded, tasty meals I cooked. Though I wouldn’t think of purchasing a full price box at $60 for 6 meals right now, I can see how it would be a great option for a busy working couple or family.
Overall, cooking at the food lab made for a great rose scholars event and a thought-provoking few hours. It will be interesting to see how the food industry will change in response to consumers’ new demands of healthy, wholesome eating alongside convenience.
Cornell Culinary Delights
Last Saturday I had the joy of cooking at the Cornell food lab in the Martha Van Rensselaer building. The students there went through a very brief presentation of some basic cooking habits such as what knives to use, then we immediately got cooking. They gave us a packet full of recipes with about a dozen “stations” where one or two of us can cook one of the recipes. It was awesome. I mean, really awesome. Each station had their own stoves, microwaves, cookware, utensils, spices, ingredients, everything.
I chose the chicken and broccoli casserole, and I worked with Helen! For about an hour, we cook brown rice, onions, chicken, and broccoli to make a pretty nice-tasting casserole. Personally, I love cooking, so I was a huge fan of this event. Something about the process of making delicious food is both fun and rewarding. And, as college students, when would be a better time in our lives to learn more cooking tips than now?
We happened to have finished relatively early so we cleaned up our station and hurried back to the presentation area where the food lab volunteers (?) had arranged our dishes as a potluck. Together, we all ate our creations, from omelets to tacos to lasagna to salmon with quinoa, and more. I seriously hope Rose does this again sometime; this was the best event ever!
Let’s Cook!
On Saturday I attended the Rose cooking workshop, and I made cannellini beans with tomatoes and sage. I actually went to the same event last year and made the same dish, but I forgot to blog about it. I went both times because I really enjoy cooking, but with classes and an unlimited meal plan I rarely have the time or the motivation to do so. The cannellini beans turned out pretty well, but unfortunately I was not able to try everyone else’s dishes because the cannellini dish was the only vegan dish. However, the consensus seemed to be that everything turned out really well and everyone had good time. The staff at the event were also really nice and they made me a vegan pasta dish with tomato sauce and walnuts which was delicious. The only suggestion I would have is that maybe next time they could include more plant based dishes. Plant-based cooking can be extremely easy and healthy, and in fact, many of the recipes that we made could have been plant based with just a few small tweaks.
Blood in The Water
Last week, I had the opportunity to hear Heather Ann Thompson speak about her book “Blood in The Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy”. Previously, I had heard the term Attica thrown around occasionally but never actually knew the context, so I was intrigued to learn more.
What I hear in that lecture hall was truly sickening. On September 13, 1971, prisoners at Attica Prison staged a revolt and held hostages in order to negotiate and attain basic human rights that they had been denied, things as simple as sufficient food and water. After a false hope of meeting these demands, state police arrived and killed prisoners and hostages alike. Those left alive were subsequently humiliated and tortured.
This is not the story the public had heard, however. After careful crafting and, how Thompson described, “various meetings in the pool house to get everyone’s stories straight”, the public was informed that the prisoners were responsible for the dead after days of riots in the prison. In the process of writing this book, Thompson described the obstacles she encountered in gathering this information because of how warped the records continue to be and the misinformation that persists about what really happened on that September day. It’s stories like these that have me questioning what other events in our history the government has manipulated in order to save face.
Attica Prison Uprising
I’m from New York, and I had never heard of the Attica prison uprising, a fact which speaks volumes about the whole incident. It seems that there were no bounds to the deviousness of the state government in covering up the fiasco. It took Dr. Thompson 13 years to write the book because it was so difficult for her to find the information from archives about the event. In fact, she had to spend most of her time researching the incident interviewing parties involved, both guards and prisoners. The tale that they told demonstrated the vast dichotomy between what the state told the public about the event. This lack of archives about the event ended up hurting almost all of the parties involved because it was impossible for those hurt to defend themselves in court because the state could deny what happened. There were a number of false witness statements which cluttered the facts.
Dr. Thompson told us that the most important lesson from Attica is that we need to dig and search for both sides of the story, and not just take what the media presents us with as fact. The good in the whole Attica story is that the determination of ordinary people matters, while the bad is that the true history is not always told right away and every day.
An irrepressible demand for justice
Last Tuesday, I attended a talk about the Attica Prison Uprising given by Dr. Heather Ann Thompson. I had no previous knowledge about the specific incident, and learned quickly that I really didn’t know much about the prison system in general. Dr. Thompson started by giving a background, which was much needed in my case, about mass incarceration. According to her, mass incarceration is the civil rights crisis of the late 20th and 21st century, something that I had never really thought about. My exposure to the inside of prisons is limited to what is portrayed on TV and through the news, which is clearly not an accurate representation. Dr. Thompson mentioned that prisons have gotten worse for both corrections officers and people inside in each decade since the 1960s. One thing that really surprised me was the idea of the war on crime, and how it started with Johnson at a point in time when the murder was very low and crime wasn’t that big of a problem. Additionally, prison rates didn’t see as much of an increase until 1972.
She then talked more about the Attica Prison Uprising, which is the focus of her book Blood in the Water. One important thing to note was the lack of available information, as the governor shut down records to the story for 45 years and she had to fight for the freedom of that information. She spent a good amount of time going into the background of Attica and the people involved and told the story of what happened. What was really shocking were the amount and quality images available, despite the record being concealed. Not only was there a chaotic riot and a clear lack of empathy for the prisoners, but the aftermath inside the prison and the actions of those outside to lie about what happened is disturbing. I had no idea that modern prisons in the US could be so bad on the inside, and that was something Dr. Thompson really touched on at the end of her talk. Most of the prisons in the US are public institutions, but their doors are kept closed. The false media message following Attica led to huge consequences, and Dr. Thompson emphasized the importance of getting history right. While there are certain pieces of news that can be easily seen as biased and contradictory to known facts, when there is an overwhelming push to hide the truth and fabricate a story because no one has access to the facts, it’s scary. I am definitely interested in reading up more about Attica and those other state-power events in the time period she mentioned and being open to correcting my own knowledge of recent events that may be exposed to be cover-ups later on.
Clear Eye View
With the recommendation by my sports politics professor, and seeing that it was a rose scholar event, i decided to attend Heather Ann Thompson’s discussion about her book documenting the Attica prison uprising in 1971. While the talk provided great information about the uprising, one of the main lessons learned could be applied to our current day life.
One of the interesting points made by Thompson was about the obstacles she had to overcome in order to start working on the book. She said that a lot of the information regarding the incident was not permissible for the public to see and that she had to get special permission in order to look at it. This leads into the problems with how the information regarding the incident has been blurred. The uprising started because the prisoners were demanding better conditions and the stop to abuse and they took hostages. After negotiations fell through, the state police was then sent to take back the prison. One of the images from the presentation slides that stood out to me was where there was a group of state troopers ready to storm the prison and one of them was looking back towards the camera looking almost afraid and skeptical. Like “something bad is about to happen”- foreshadowing.
In reality, during the uprising many of the prisoners were shot and killed or hit with tear gas (keep in mind that most of them were unarmed). What the public heard through the media was that the prisoners were the ones who escalated the events and caused the killings. On the front page of the NYT, there was a headline and story regarding the uprising that apparently had no corroboration. This informed what i took away most from this talk. The main lesson that i took away from this talk was that you have to read everything with a grain of salt and always be skeptical/questioning- look at all of the facts. There is alot of “fake news” and “alternative facts” swirling around the media nowadays and it is important that we do not rush to conclusions. It is worth it to take the time and find out the truth.
Attica Prison Uprising
On March 7th, Ms. Heather Thompson the author of Blood in the Water – The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and its Legacy lectured on her experiences on research and writing her historic bestseller. Thompson covered
a thorough history and recap of the uprising along with the racial and political tensions of the time, background politics that led up to it, commentary from inmates and corrections officers who witnessed it, negotiations for and thoughts on the hostages, the reasons for the decision to go in with force, and the aftermath and cover up by those involved. She also talked about the difficulties she encountered while researching her book. She signed up for what she thought would be a three-year project, and it stretched to 13 years. Her difficulties uncovering the whole picture through press coverage, interviews, and documents led her on a journey for truth in a world of inaccuracies, exaggerations, and lies.
Ms. Thompson talked about the interviews and reactions from participants from all sides of the event. She thanked them for daring to tell their stories, and recounted how all of them were not only willing, but wanting, to tell it. Her voice is the voice of many that has been silenced for too long. She also pointed out several everyday heroes, like the coroner who refused to alter the cause of death for one inmate, who was beaten and shot to death, and stood firm in the face of the anti-prisoner political climate. Ms. Thompson also expressed her historian’s personal perspective of her research and emphasized that what we often see and hear about an event has so many sources of input, all with their own influences, and the whole picture is never really the whole picture. To fill the gaps, it is always best to get first hand accounts because the details, including the feelings and emotions of all involved, are important in telling the story.
I purchased a copy of Ms. Thompson’s book and am looking forward to reading it.
Healthy Eating in College
This past Saturday I participated in a cooking workshop hosted by the Nutrition Lab. As an experienced cook, I found it to be relatively basic but certainly fun. The workshop had a lot of great tips for people who are new to or would just like to learn more about how to cook for themselves in a college environment. The event was also a really great way to learn about healthy alternatives to other meals students may turn to. Living on campus and eating in dining halls is incredibly convenient, but it often doesn’t offer student the opportunity to learn about cooking, food shopping, and healthy eating habits. At this point in our lives, it can often be hard to find the time to cook for yourself or to eat healthy, but learning skills like these are incredibly valuable in the long term. The habits we form in college will stick with us for years to come, so we might as well take the time to make sure they’re healthy ones.
Some of my favorite recipes were the salmon with quinoa stuffing and the one pot spinach tomato pasta. These basic recipes are great starting points to bounce off of and really experiment with ingredients and seasonings. Overall, the workshop was a great opportunity to get to know fellow Rose Scholars, and sample some tasty snacks! I would definitely attend an event like this again, and highly recommend that others do too.
Truth About Attica
On March 7th, I had the opportunity to hear about the Attica Prison uprising. Prior to the lecture, I had never heard of Attica or the riot. Although I had never known about the situation, at least I was able to learn about the situation with all of its truths. When the uprising occurred, what was told to the public was untrue. The cover-up told to the public back then can still be seen today when we think about the bias news coverage that is presented to us.
Furthermore, how hard it was to uncover what actually occurred at the prison makes me question how much of history are we missing today. Heather Thompson spoke about how back then, the governor made the book and information on Attica closed . So, Heather had to get lots of information directly from the people who lived it instead. Thus, we have to think, for the events that occurred long ago that can’t be traced to directly living individuals anymore, how many of those events are we missing/have been told incorrectly?
Extreme Demands and Retaliation
I had never heard about the Attica Prison uprising — a fact which happened to be significant to Dr. Heather Ann Thompson’s Tuesday Talk. The levels of deception and misdirection employed by the state of New York in order to cover up the fiasco seem limitless. By controlling the media that was present during the uprising, they effectively snubbed the free press, and instead created their own press which would broadcast the message that they wanted the public to know. The already high resentment towards prisoners was used to the advantage of the state, because they knew that they could attract an angry mob of followers who would not only passively go along with the story, but who would also actively participate in the crimes against the prisoners.
The prisoners were surprisingly coordinated in their attempt to bargain with the system. Not many would have guessed that a group of prisoners would be able to work together and achieve a social goal. However, their intentions were muddied by ridiculous request on behalf of some of the prisoners. There were many things wrong with the system that could have been fixed such as better living conditions, food, and resources. These commodities were well within the reasonable range of things to ask for. Unfortunately, some of the incarcerated were requesting things like complete amnesty or passage to another country. These requests undermined the intent of the group of men who were advocating for a better prison system. It would be ridiculous for the state to give a group of prisoners amnesty simply because they managed to overthrow the guards and take them hostage. And even though they couldn’t be sure that the state would actually see all of their demands through, asking for reasonable demands would have been a more effective bargaining method.
Because of the extreme demands of some of the prisoners, the state was able to make a case for ignoring all of their demands. And, given the high racial and social tensions of the time, was able to galvanize a group of angry young men to retake the prison under the banner of justice.
The incident raises good questions about the nature of our justice system. Our current train of thought seems to err on the side of simply locking someone up and not allowing them to come back to society for a long time. While they’re gone, we forget about them, and when they come back, we treat them as if they are tainted with something foul. Dr. Thompson adeptly pointed out that if someone feels like the system is terminally against them, they will be terminally against the system and never will be able to function as a productive member of society.
Cooking Food to Eat
Today’s Rose Scholars event was a cooking workshop. It was fun to be in the kitchen and it was a nice break. With the dining halls on campus, I really have no need to cook during the school year. However, during the summer I will be cooking and eating without a dining hall which means I will need to cook. Last summer I was in the same situation and my cooking left some to be desired. I mostly cooked extremely simple meals. My cooking kept me full, but it could have been tastier.
The cooking session made me realize that cooking is not too hard. The key is planning your shopping to have the needed ingredients.
The session also reminded me of my high school cooking class. My friends and I were usually good at following the recipes and making good tasting food, but occasionally we would mess up. Once we realized we messed up we would all scramble to correct our mistake before the teacher realized. Sometimes this was a difficult task, but it made for some good fun. Unfortunately, sometimes we would mess up a recipe so badly that we did not think we could safely eat the resulting food. However, if we did not eat the food at the end the teacher would know that we did not successfully follow the recipe.
Overall the cooking workshop went by quickly and we were rewarded with a nice lunch afterwards.
The Benefits of Cooking with Mom
Today, I attended a cooking workshop with an empty stomach, but left feeling filled to the brim from all the succulent recipes my peers and I had composed. I signed up for this workshop not only because I am a major foodie and Food Network fan, but also because I realized that, as a college student who might be living off campus at some point in the next few years of school, I would need to know how to cook meals for myself.
At this workshop, my friend and I paired up to make an Asian salmon dish with quinoa stuffing. It turned out very well, if I do say so myself. There are definitely some skills I need to improve on: chopping vegetables is one, as I nicked my finger with a knife whilst dicing an onion. Nonetheless, I realized during this workshop that I actually already do possess some cooking skills that I’ve absorbed from watching and helping my mom cook over the past 19 years of my life. For example, I knew that, even though the written recipe didn’t call for it, it was necessary to add salt to my quinoa to infuse it with adequate flavor. I also didn’t need to use instruments to measure all of the ingredients, because, over the years, I have gained a basic understanding and feel for what a cup, a tablespoon, and a teaspoon look like. It is relieving to know that, if need be, I will be able to cook myself a satisfying meal. Thank you, mom. I hope that when I have children, I can cook just as well as you do and teach these important skills just as effectively as you have to me.
Unsure about the story
Last week, I went to watch a student performance of The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek. While I enjoyed the overall performance, there were some things about it that I may have changed. One thing that was especially bothersome to me was the shadow figures. Maybe it was the limitation of the theater with the lighting, but despite being a notable part of the story, all of the hand shadows were hard to see with just the light of a small candle. Another thing that made it hard to feel completely immersed in the play was the range of actors. While the acting was good, Pace was an especially fitting casting choice, the fact that they were all students made it harder to believe the relationships between parents and teenagers.
One thing that surprised me was the amount of money that goes into these productions. When I saw Eurydice in the fall, the set included pipes that included a working output valve along with a sturdy platform in the middle. In this production, the set was primarily the underside of the trestle and it was on a pretty large scale. Additionally, the play involves breaking plates, which definitely caught me by surprise. Dalton’s mother and father started throwing a plate back and forth, and I was nervously anticipating an accidental drop. When the plate was smashed, it took me a second after one of the broken pieces actually hit my shoe that I realized what had happened and why the mother made it a point to bring in plates.
As for the content of the play, I’m not sure I really liked it. I’m just not satisfied with stories that involve a rebellious female character that changes a boy and dies. Not only that, the last scene before the intermission and one of the final scenes in which Dalton kisses the just deceased body of Pace is disturbing. One other thing that I’ve seen before but still have no personal understanding of is the need to be seen – that if no one sees you do something, that it isn’t real, that somehow you aren’t real. Perhaps this is a reasonably common thought people have, but I have never been able to relate to how the sentiment is presented in various stories. I might have to go back and read the play to get something else out of it, but I just wasn’t excited or intrigued with the plot. Nonetheless, I thought the actors did a good job, especially with some of the more unconventional actions they took.
trestle at pope lick creek
Last Friday, I attended The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek with a group from Flora Rose. The performance was top-notch with superb acting. I had no prior experience with playwright Naomi Wallace or her work and the title sounded off-putting because it didn’t give enough information which made it confusing. That said, from the opening scene, the characters drew the audience in with their riveting performances and honest emotional dialogue. The subject matter is deep—centering primarily on the interrelationship of the characters with each other and also with their circumstances, most importantly with the death of someone who knew them all. You get to know the dead fellow through the survivors’ eyes and their expressions of feelings, much more than through narrative description. The way each character copes with the death is important to how they end up dealing with each other. It was billed as “A play about class, violence, and sex in America,” and included all of these aspects, but ultimately was about people dealing with other people. The show was my first Schwartz Center performance, but it won’t be my last. I thank Ashley for including it on the Rose calendar. I look forward to attending more well-produced shows like this one!
The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek
The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek was my first play in a very long time. It was a great experience as an introduction theatre. That being said, it was a very interesting experience. I was confused at several points during the play and that could have been because I am not very familiar theatrical works. The content of the play was very shocking and there were quite a few parts where I was both blushing and laughing at the actors. The play was very much this coming-of-age story which explored how different kinds of relationships work as well as depicting how life in the 1930’s was like. Although the play did not try to portray how awful the conditions were, the mind-frame and thought process of workers during that time was particularly well illustrated by Dalton’s father. It’s amazing how the use of light during the play echoed the depression and sadness of the father and his crumbling relationship with Gin, Dalton’s mother. The man took it as a personal offense that he was fired from his job and he is unemployed. His relationship with Dalton and Gin becomes weaker and weaker as continues on his trek downwards. Also, his cathartic hobby of breaking plates was something I did not quite understand. There was one point where Gin mentioned she had to dig through the dump for fresh plates for her husband to break and, perhaps, they should should just start eating the plates. At some point in the play, Cindy and I looked at each other and whispered,”there’s plates on the set”. There were, in fact, glass plates stacked to stabilize the set which, in retrospect, could have been symbolic for something. However, it may also be that Cindy and I were overanalyzing the situation. I really enjoyed the play even if I did not quite understand and I hope we have more opportunities to do something like this.
Reflections from watching a PMA production
This past Friday I went to watch Trestle at Pope Lick Creek with SA Ashley. While I’m not really what you would consider a theatre enthusiast, but in high school I did enjoy the drama productions that the drama department puts up. I think the Cornell PMA production of Trestle at Pope Lick Creek is very high quality, and it was really amazing to sit through the play and see the amount of work put into everything, from the set, to the acting, to the lights and artistry all around.
There are several things in the play that stood out to me. The first is how much drama and “extra” substance the actors had put into their acting. Everything is exaggerated, and though initially it was a little bit jarring (for example, did they really have to speak that loudly?), I think it’s very conventional for the actors to exaggerate their voices, expressions, and actions, especially in a play, and especially in a room of the size at Schwartz. I will say that it added to the drama, and it’s admirable how that level of energy and drama was sustained throughout the two hour long play.
Another thing that really stood out to me was the set. I thought it was really beautifully designed. The set consisted of four large wooden panels, two in the middle, one on the far left, and one one the far right. In addition, there were two large railroad trestle beams framing the two middle wooden panels. Each panel also has the trestle pattern painted on, and instead of it all standing completely upright, each panel was actually slanted a little bit–though each panel is perfectly rectangular, one edge of it would be balanced on a stack of plates. I think a lot of thought was put into the set design, and I think the addition of the stack of plates is indicative of that. For one, it adds detail, and for another, it could symbolize the uncertainty of the time period the play was set in, and it could symbolize instability that the characters felt.
The final thing that really stood out to me was the plot. I think for the most part, it felt incomplete. The ending didn’t feel abrupt by any means, but at the same time, it leaves the audience with a little bit of a question mark at the end. This makes me wonder whether or not that was exactly the playwright’s intention–perhaps that’s the message she wanted to portray about that time in history, or about life.
Overall, though, it was a very enjoyable play and I think it’s amazing how much work and effort was put into a production like this.
Empowerment
I had never been to a production of the Vagina Monologues before. I jumped on the opportunity to go to this event as I had heard numerous good things about the production from those who had seen it in the past. I did not really know what to expect but I was excited to see the topics that this production would cover. I have to say that I was not disappointed by this production. I thought it was very well done and I have to commend those that had the bravery and courage to perform. After the production I was talking to Sara and we both questioned if we would ever be able to go on stage and talk about topics that are seen as very taboo by society.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this production, I think there were still groups that were underrepresented within it. For example, a lot of the monologues were based on a gender binary. The addition of the monologue written by Cornell students did increase the groups discussed, however I wish more than just this one monologue did so. This production also did seem to have a political agenda, especially noticeable during the final scene. I enjoyed this part. It felt very empowering. Overall I am very glad that I attended this event and was able to have this experience.
No Way Out
I am currently enrolled in PMA 2800: Introduction to Acting. And while I enjoyed the play for what it was, the things I have been learning in the course allowed me to view the events from an alternate perspective. One of the things we learned recently is considering all of the things that motivate a character, his wants and needs. Unlike real life, things that occur in a play do not just happen, nor are any of them disconnected. Anything that happens is specific and advances the plot in some way. We refer to these as triggers, intrusions in the stasis of the character(s). Considering the circumstances in which the character finds him/herself, and how the character goes about achieving the goal(s) is necessary to understanding the play as a whole. In this case, perhaps the greatest motivator for the characters is the Great Depression. With that said, no one in the play comes out and says, “Gee, this sucks. We’re in the Great Depression”. It’s simply the reality of their circumstance, and they must all deal with it in their respective ways.
The characters all find themselves in different “pits”, with seemingly no way out. For the mother, the pit is her deteriorating marriage and her inability to provide a better future for her son. For the father, it is his inability to find a job, as very few people are being hired. For the children, the prospect of going to college or making something more of themselves is a distant possibility. No one expects anything from them; they’re effectively dead in the water with no future ahead of them. It is only by playing with death (literally playing chicken with the giant train that comes through) that they can feel alive. The sense of hopelessness and the desperate struggle to survive came across through the actors’ performances. Like the line from Bob Dylan (perhaps more popularized by Jimi Hendrix), there is a pervading sentiment that there must be some way out of here. And all of the characters are trying to find it.
Vagina =/= Woman
Last Saturday night I joined a group of other Rose Scholars to go view the heavily advertised “Vagina Monologues”. From the name of the show, I was already pretty off-put. I didn’t have any interest in watching a trans-exclusionary radical feminist skit show on a weekend, but due to a busy week I wasn’t left with another choice but to crowd into Bailey with all the other patrons. Maybe I would be pleasantly surprised after all.
After about the third sketch about vaginal orgasms and various exclamations about pussy power, I was really glad I hadn’t coughed up 10 dollars for this show. Prior to the viewing, our GRF Sarah informed us that the show was based off the 1990’s original, and it was quite obvious. I can see a time when these sketches might have been groundbreaking or taboo, but in this day and age the message is outdated and a little ignorant. The majority of the sketches reinforced the idea that having a vagina and knowing your way around it is essential to being a woman, which completely excludes the transgendered community and other groups that identify as female without the reproductive genitalia. Other issues I had with the production were the seemly random interjections of woman’s issues in between sketches. What’s the point of bringing up the struggles of homeless females in the United States if you aren’t going to elaborate or shed more light on the topic? Overall, with the huge platform they are given, the show would do better to update their sketches to better reflect current woman’s issues and not cater specifically to the cis-gendered.
With all that said, the performers themselves were great and committed completely to the roles they played. The show itself, however, was just not my cup of tea.
A Saturday with August and Diapers
Last Saturday morning I had the pleasure of volunteering at the Catholic Charities Diaper Drive with Magdala and Angela. I truly hadn’t planned on attending until the extra email advertising the event was sent (my excuse was that I had too much homework to work on that weekend, but I thought I’d go anyway). I’m glad I did end up going, because not only was I able to meet another fellow Rose scholar, but I was also able to offer a hand for a few hours.
Our job was to basically unpack diaper boxes, remove them of their plastic coverings, and place a certain amount of diapers in separate bags, categorized by age. The last time I remember even smelling a diaper was maybe 12 years ago when my little brother was born, so the task did come with some welcome nostalgia. I honestly couldn’t tell you exactly how many boxes we unpacked in total, but according to Liddy, the woman running the event, we were able to package around 4,000 diapers in less than 3 hours! However, as Magdala and Angela informed me, babies can go through a lot of diapers in a day (shows you how much I know about kids). Regardless of the amount of diapers, I know a lot of families in Ithaca and the surrounding area benefit from this help. Even more exciting, I got to meet sweet little August (Liddy’s daughter). I have to admit, seeing August smile and giggle and packaging the diapers gave me somewhat of a “baby fever”, but I can assure you this won’t be happening for at least another decade and a half!
Overall, it was a rewarding experience, and I am definitely more willing to sign up for the volunteer events coming up. There are more or less 3,000 hours in a semester (forgive my math), and dedicating at least 4 hours toward helping someone can have a much greater impact than you think.
A show that is unfortunately exactly what it says on the tin
Watching the Vagina Monologues was overall an experience that I’m glad I’ve had. Many of the stories were extremely valuable stories to hear. The two that I found the most powerful were the story of a Bosnian woman who was raped over and over to the point of physical mutilation during the war in Yugoslavia, and the story of an old woman who was mocked by her first date for getting aroused at a kiss and then lived the rest of her life as a virgin out of shame. There were funny moments, touching moments, and plenty of the “scandalous” discussion of sexuality that the title promises.
The first time I watched a girl have a fake screaming orgasm on stage, I was taken-aback and impressed at the audacity in exactly the same way that the very title “Vagina Monologues” is intended to take-aback and impress. However, the eighth time I watched a girl have a fake screaming orgasm on stage, I was beginning to be less impressed.
I was disappointed with the lack of variety in the messages of the stories that were told. I was also disappointed in the failure of the show to address some very important modern issues related to sexuality and sexual health. Not including the intro and conclusion, on the program I count 4 acts that covered: genital mutilation, rape in war-torn areas, childbirth, and violence against transgender women (I suppose was a nice gesture, but it came across as a sorry attempt to gloss over the fact that the very premise of the rest of the show seems to define womanhood as having a vagina, which is inherently exclusionary to transgender women). These acts were rather smothered among the remaining 13 acts that ALL conveyed the general message that “Your vagina is yours, unique, and natural. You should not be ashamed of it or of sex.” Which is not to say that that’s a bad message. It’s true, and it’s something that should be known.
However, as Sara pointed out beforehand, the Vagina Monologues was written out of a 90’s movement — and that was very evident. I can only assume that dispelling the shame and mystery about sex for women was a huge, huge deal at the time. This is 2017 though. I was born just after the Vagina Monologues premiered, and I’ve been hearing things like this my entire life, I suspect due to a mass movement to normalize comfort with your body and your relationship with sex. Your body is yours, sex should be fun, etc. Maybe there are other countries, or other places in this country, where this message is still new and risqué. Maybe I speak from a limited perspective as someone who grew up in a non-religious household in a liberal city. Ultimately though, I don’t think that sex and orgasms are the mystery that they might have been to women who grew up 40 years ago. A 3 second google search returns 27.5 million results about “how to have an orgasm”. Everything from Cosmo articles to Web.md to a Columbia University advice column. Any porn site (or for that matter any general media site like tumblr or reddit) can instantly show you people having sex any way you could possibly want to see it. BDSM, gay/lesbian, group sex. Advice and communities and information and straight up porn about anything you could possibly be into. I assure you, to those of us living in the modern world, sex and sexual organs are not a mystery.
For instance, one section of the show was introduced as the story of a homeless woman who was interviewed in a shelter. The section then went on to mention absolutely nothing about homelessness. Or homelessness and sexual assault, dealing with periods as a homeless woman, or homelessness and its prevalence among the LGBT community. Now, the story that was told instead was in itself a powerful one to tell: a young girl is taught that her vagina is something to be hidden and ashamed of and then raped at the age of 10. However, save for the sentence or two about the rape itself, the vast majority of this story continued into a long, detailed account of the woman’s one-night stand with a female neighbor, through which she learned to love sex. Then, this story was sandwiched in among a dozen other stories of very similar focus. A woman goes to a workshop and finally finds her clitoris. A woman has sex with a partner who thinks her vagina is beautiful. A woman finds that she likes being a professional dominatrix more than being a lawyer. Etc. Etc.
And yet, for a play that is so heavily and even exclusionarily centered on the literal, physical vagina, it included absolutely nothing about abortion rights. Nothing about birth control. I suppose many of the stories could be interpreted as sort of oblique references to the importance of sexual knowledge, but there was absolutely no advocacy for effective sex education. Planned Parenthood was not mentioned once. There was a brief section on how short skirts aren’t invitations, but the discussion of campus rape that followed took the general attitude that, “You can get raped even if you do everything right.” Which is true. It is not, however, the strong stance on combating rape and sexual harassment that I wanted to hear. There was no discussion about protecting your friends and helping strangers out of bad situations, no mention of the decision to press charges or not, no hotlines or ways to get support mentioned, and not even any general discussion about the meaning and importance of consent. Despite the pages in the program about the “V-day” movement, as far as I remember domestic violence was mentioned only in a 10 second remark expressing pity towards a girl who didn’t think her abusive relationship was a problem.
With the massive recent changes to our idea of what gender is, being a woman isn’t about having a vagina anymore. This production, in the modern times, could have been a great platform to talk about what exactly femininity is and the roles that it plays in our lives. Even aside from more discussion of sexual harassment, consent, and domestic violence, there are so many topics that could have been interesting, inclusive, and relevant. Why are things like sports and computers considered inherently unfeminine? Why are so many things largely enjoyed by women considered infantile and stupid? What about the pressure to have children and “settle down”? What about rights for parental leave? Women in STEM? What about body image? Makeup and clothing? What about the idea that both being “too feminine” and being “not feminine enough” seem to attract scorn? What about media and self esteem? I understand that no singular show could address all of these issues to any reasonable depth, but to address none of them? This production was not about femininity, about being a woman, or about women’s issues. Instead this was, as I suppose the title promised, a play that was very literally about vaginas, complete with vagina pictures, vagina stories, vagina descriptions, and vagina metaphors.
I suppose this was simply not intended to be the show that I wanted it to be. Maybe it was just a bit outdated and really didn’t aspire to do anything but raise awareness for female genitals. Maybe it was intended to be very sensitive to the opinions of anti-abortion/anti-birth control portions of the population, and therefore not bring up those issues. However. HOWEVER. The ending was particularly baffling. To conclude this show in which just about no controversial issues were addressed, the performers all gathered on stage and shouted, “This is what democracy looks like!”, as though they’d just rallied us all with a defiant and poignant political statement. I did not feel particularly rallied. Or perhaps I did, but more by what the production failed to say rather than by what it said. The Vagina Monologues is a show that leaves all the worms safe and cozy in their cans.
A productive Saturday morning
Last Saturday, I helped out with a diaper drive at Catholic Charities. Despite the push by Dr. Hill to get more people to sign up, it ended up being just me, GRF Magdala, and one other Rose resident who went. Nevertheless, we had a good time doing what we could. Liddy, from Catholic Charities, was kind enough to let us in and meet her daughter August. We made our way into the basement, which was surprisingly big, and filled with lots of clothes and other donated items. While comfortable, the low exposed ceiling along with some small strange noises from time to time were a little creepy.
For the diaper drive, we divided up donated diapers into bags that would be handed out to low income parents once every two months. The number of diapers given out were based on the size, but even with the largest number of 52 size 1 diapers, we realized that this isn’t enough to keep up with an infant’s needs. Liddy mentioned that they also help low income parents by informing them of where else they could get free diapers.
Despite the fact that we only had three people, we got through over 4,000 diapers and pull-ups within 3 hours. Honestly, it was one of the most productive Saturday mornings I’ve had in a while, and it really was to help benefit those who need some support. While I think people may not have signed up to help because it was a Saturday morning and was supposed to be a relatively long event, I do think that people missed out. I would definitely do it again or even help out with other activities they need volunteers for. I really encourage other Rose Scholars to be more open minded about even rarely spending a chunk of their weekends to dedicate to some service activity. Who knows, you might learn somethings about diapers you never knew that might come up sometime later in your life.
Not what I expected
This was the second performance of The Vagina Monologues I’ve seen. The first time was 2 years ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed it to the point that I thought about auditioning for it. After watching this year’s performance, however, I was glad I didn’t – more on this later. One thing I noted was that they never said that pictures and videos of the performance not be taken, unlike their request in the previous performance I had seen. Especially with the increased amount of skin and cast members just in their underwear, I felt uncomfortable seeing others take pictures and videos which could end up floating around without the cast’s permission.
Before leaving Rose House, GRF Sara asked a couple of questions about the relevancy of the language and conversation in a play written in the 90s and if staging such a play has political motive. I understand the concern that the play may be outdated in a sense. Heck, my first exposure to The Vagina Monologues was from a Mad TV sketch on youtube several years ago. But I never really felt it was too outdated. From my point of view, the play isn’t on the cutting edge of gender and sexuality issues, but I don’t think it ever was supposed to be. They add in stories and statistics from more recent years, but I’m not convinced that it means the play is trying to represent all gender and sexuality issues.
For me, the play is should be looked as a play about what the title tells you – vaginas. I think that the scenes are still relevant to many today, though they might be seen as too outdated my very progressive people. I wasn’t raised to think liberally about my body and sexuality or to embrace all things associated with having a vagina, and I think things like this play really help start a conversation for those not accustomed to those ideas. Like someone mentioned afterwards, it was surprising and empowering to see a crowd applauding talking about vaginas, and I don’t think it’s necessary to try and make it wholly comprehensive.
Once criticism of the play I can definitely agree with is the skewed negativity towards men. There were a lot of stories about negative sexual experiences with men, and the one scene that wasn’t was clearly introduced with the tone that this was an uncommon event. On the topic of how they introduced scenes, this production was pretty different from the last one I had seen, despite the fact that they included many of the same scenes. The staging was dynamic and unique enough and the cast was great at portraying exaggerated characters to get an audience reaction. One production choice that struck me as even more interesting was the scene about transgender experiences. The last production, if I’m remembering correctly, did not attach bodies or even faces to the stories, but the staging choice here was quite clearly representing transgender issues stepping out from behind shadows to be seen. This is the kind of change I can more easily understand, as in the past two years, there has been a lot more progress in public awareness of transgender issues.
The inclusion of the Cornell student-written segment was definitely a better reflection of the current conversation of body acceptance, what makes a woman a woman, and experiences that align more with the time period we grew up in. This, however, marked the beginning of the end of my enjoyment of the production. While I can’t remember exactly how the play ended the last time I saw it, I was disappointed by the ending this year. When Sara asked the question about the play being a political act, I thought that was baseless because from my previous experiences with it, it was more of a social movement to get people more comfortable talking about sex. The ending of this production, however, was clearly politically motivated.
There were certain things I could understand – the pink pussyhats for example. Other things seemed unnecessary for this performance. I get that current political situation in America is not ideal, and I too am frustrated when I see the same face dominating the news. But I don’t think that the production over-politicized the play. Sure, calling out a comment about grabbing someone by the pussy is relevant, but protesting the wall and the ‘this is what democracy looks like’ chant don’t fit with the intent of the play. While I agree with many of the issues they threw in in the closing scene, this was one time I felt extremely distant from the sentiment of social justice warriors and a liberal college campus. It seemed like most of the play was negated by the ending – that the message they wanted to get across was not about female empowerment, but about their dissent against the president. The ending left me with such a bad feeling that I didn’t feel motivated to applaud the cast on an otherwise good performance, but felt like if I didn’t, people would judge me for not supporting the cause. I don’t know how this post will be received, but all I wanted to say was that while I generally agree and support the want voice opinions, I feel like there’s a right place and time and that the ending to this performance muddled the original intent.
Two and a Half Hours of Runtime Divided for Five People
“Trestle at Pope Lick Creek” is a play with a cast of only five onstage members. I don’t watch or read that many plays but those which I have read, like “Death of a Salesman” or “Hamlet” have had a much larger cast. It was refreshing to see the same faces undergo many different scenarios. While all five characters were quite different from each other, their long run time gave them all a chance to experience and express feelings from many corners of the emotional spectrum. Overall I liked the acting. The majority of the character’s reactions were intense throughout the play. The story is set around the Great Depression Era and seeing consistently high energy acting sometimes made me feel like it was a bit much and like I was worn down. That kind of allowed me to see and also feel the stress and conviction the characters had. There were some more subtle expressions, and a lot of them I found humorous. Other reoccurring gags seemed flat out strange, such as a prison guard constantly doing charade-type motions and asking a prisoner to guess what he was supposed to be acting out. Even a more unconventional action like the one described contributed to the overall story. The Depression brings with it uncertainty and instability for the characters, and they are forced to try to identify what kind of state financially and emotionally they are in, states that themselves change with every failed job opportunity or every missed action of affection. The very ending, which I refuse to spoil, was weird and definitely made me think.
I Love Vaginas
And you should too, because we all came from one. I enjoyed the Monologues- it was humorous and reminded us of a lot of societal and human rights issues that still, sadly, plague this world. Admittedly, I found the play to be a little over-the-top when it came to trying to make you laugh; for example, the moaning scene that felt like it lasted a wee bit too long, or the cunt scene which was gratuitously theatrical.
I was the only male that went with the Rose Scholars group because my friend ditched me (ugh… men, am I right?), but I wasn’t the least bit lonely. There were men in the audience, sure, but through chatting with the people around me and watching the play, I felt that the Monologues created a sense of acceptance, especially since it also highlighted the concerns of the LGBT community, whose members at times may have felt alone in ways I cannot imagine. And some of the horrifying stories told on stage made even me wince and clench my legs together.
So even though the play would be sexual for the sake of being sexual (and sometimes egregiously so), I would definitely recommend this play to any feminist, of any sexuality, of any gender. I would recommend this play to anyone who wants to smile (and cringe a little). I gotta say, it was really, really weird to see a school play where they talk about sex so openly and so… vulgarly. But hey, they say a man thinks about sex every 7 seconds right? Might as well be productive and cultured when I do.
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.
Immigration Policy vs. International Cooperation at Cornell
Last Wednesday, I attended a panel discussion held by a law professor, the director of the International Students and Scholars Office, and a Pakistani journalist. They discussed Trump’s recent changes to immigration policy, as well as specifically what actions Cornell has taken and what resources are available at the school to students who may need them. The beginning of the panel largely focused on reviewing exactly what has happened. There have been three executive orders which have imposed a 90 day ban on nationals of 7 Muslim-majority countries, a 120 day ban on all refugees, and an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees. There are plans for a border wall with Mexico, and more aggressive immigration enforcement policies have been put in place. Advice for international travel was discussed as well as the role of the ISSO at Cornell. Raza Ahmad Rumi, who fled Pakistan after an assasination attempt by Sunni extremists, expressed concern at growing Islamophobia and its adverse affects on international cooperation and “homegrown” radicalization.
When the floor was opened for discussion, one of the first questions asked was one that I’ve been wondering about for months now — How on earth is one supposed to keep on top such rapid developments? Trump has only been president for a month, and every single day brings new controversy, new changes, and new outrageous statements by his administration. The proliferation of sensationalist and sometimes outright false news stories only compounds this issue — as does the counterpart claims that any and all news by any news outlet is “fake news”. The panel recommended the New York Times and the Washington Post as reliable sources, as well as Global Cornell. I had no idea Global Cornell even existed, and I was quite pleased to find that the website keeps a succinct but updated summary of the course of Trump’s immigration actions, including the full text of the initial order itself and the decision of the Ninth Circuit Court. Global Cornell also provides an extensive list of resources for legal assistance, counseling, events, etc.
As for what Cornell itself has been doing, the university has filed an amicus brief arguing against the executive order, along with 16 other universities. In November, Cornell declared itself a “Sanctuary Campus”. In letters from interim president Hunter Rawlings, Cornell has repeatedly asserted its commitment to all of its student regardless of immigration status or nationality. However, the panel briefly discussed the practical limitations to what Cornell can do to protect its students. One DACA student asked, quite simply, “How easy would it be for Cornell to be forced to give out my information?” The answer to this question was rather unsatisfying, and seemed to rely largely on the fact that we’re an isolated campus far from any immigration office, and the fact that our campus has apparently not seen an immigration enforcement officer in recent memory. Unfortunately, we’re living in times when the precedent of “recent memory” doesn’t appear to be reliable. DACA is untouched…for now. The courts have put a stay on the travel ban…for now. Reportedly, Trump will unveil a new draft of the order sometime within the week.
I’m left with a sort of itchy feeling that I really ought to be doing more than refreshing news sites and muttering about the inscription on the Statue of Liberty. Doing what? I don’t know. Neither I nor my family is directly affected by immigration policy. I’m a 19 year old student. I’m not even a law or politics student — I’m a prospective chemist taking 21 credits. I feel like I have no time, money, knowledge, or services to contribute. BUT, I suspect I could find some if I were given a specific goal to contribute to. So, if there is someone out there who is more actively involved in protecting our community’s (and our country’s) spirit of international and inter-religious cooperation, then please let people know how to get involved! I suspect there are many like me on campus and in the wider community who would love to be doing more than grumbling if presented with the opportunity.
Eye Opening Discussion
Last week, I attended the Immigration Policy panel discussing President Trump’s executive order. I have to say, this was one of the most eye opening lectures/talks i have ever been in attendance for. As Atticus Finch once said (paraphrasing), “you have to walk a mile in another person’s shoes in order to truly understand what they have to go through in life”. I went to this panel just as a casual learner trying to get a better grasp on what the executive order would entail. I had seen it on the news, but I did not have a strong understanding of what the outcomes of the order would be. While I was casual, others were attentive. For a majority of the people in the room, this executive order would have a direct impact on their lives. Before the discussion started, a sheet of paper was distributed to everyone in the audience. On this sheet was a list of personal rights and various questions in which officers are/ are not allowed to ask when travelling. It blew my mind, all of the things that people from outside the country would have to deal with when travelling or even just at their house. On set of bullet points listed what to do if some officer comes to your house. When Trump won the election, there were the various “cry-ins” and the beginning of an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear and I never really understood why. After the panel discussion, I found out why. I am very fortunate to not have to worry about many of the things listed on the hand-out. While I have not yet exactly walked in another person’s shoes, I have at least put the shoes on and got a feeling for what some of the international members of the Cornell community are going through and experiencing.
Trump’s Travel Ban
Last week I heard a panel on President Trump’s recent travel ban, which banned people from 7 countries from immigrating to the United States. Currently, the ban is being blocked by federal judges, until they make a decision on the action. One symptom of the ban is that it enables people to be targeted for eviction from the country, based on any kind of crime that a person may have committed. The panel suggested that the ban is a result of a symptom known as ‘islamaphobia’, which has been developing over the past decade.
The major issue that I have with the ban is that it prevents ALL people from leaving and going to/from these countries, whereas those who are militant, or terrorists are only a tiny tiny fraction of the total number of people. People from these countries have very important impacts in the United States, and some are citizens of the United States who would be trapped from seeing their families because they still live back in those countries. If these people go back to one of those seven countries, they may be unable to get back to the United States, where they work or go to school.
The panel then went on to discuss what Cornell is doing and has done to protect and educate students that are impacted by this ban. Cornell has filed an AMICAS brief saying the order is unconstitutional, and has worked directly with those students to educate them in the proper manner.
The main observations I had from this discussion were that executive orders can carry a lot of weight, yet the judiciary system can quickly activate its checks and balances to block an executive order. It is good to see the countries checks and balances working as they were intended.
Not The Man I Voted For, But My President
Last week, Esmeralda, a Graduate Student heavily involved with the Rose community and Rose scholars program, took a group of Rose scholars to an event happening on campus. This event was called Understanding President Trump’s Executive Order and focused mainly on the three immigration policies that Trump has created and presented to Congress during his first 100 days as President of the United States. Now, I had no idea of how bad the situation with this so called “Travel Ban” had gotten, not because it has been accepted and enforced by Congress and the Senate, but because of the confusion in the information being presented about it. My understanding of the “Travel Ban”, or known in social media as the “Muslim Ban”, was that all immigrants would be targeted for not having papers, but technically they could not all be immediately deported because that is feasibly impossible. It took me to attend this panel and have three of Cornell’s renowned faculty to explain what is actually going on in our government and who is being affected currently.
Right now, the travel ban that everyone is so worried about is not even being enforced and has been been passed by Congress or the Supreme Court. The other two bans pose a much greater concern because they have the potential to be long lasting if accepted. One relates to border security, the other talks about building a wall along the Texas and Mexico border. The one relating to border security states that everyone who have committed any kind of crime in the US is a target for law enforcement. There were raids that occurred last weekend around the country picking people up and detaining them based on this order. A little over a week ago, a student in Washington that was studying under DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – was picked up and detained.
What is scary it the amount of hatred and fear that has grown from these new orders. Basically, for citizens who generalize people of the same appearance and do not educate themselves on the facts of different cultures, any human that appears to be middle eastern and brown is considered Muslim and thus a terrorist. The amount of damage done to mosques, workplaces, and private properties belonging to these so called “Muslim” people has increased tenfold since the beginning of Trump’s presidential election. It is scary to think that anyone could get harmed simply because of the way they look, and rounded up and detained if they have even the smallest misconduct on their personal record.
It makes me proud to say that I attend a school where the needs of all students are being met to the best of the faculties abilities. In order to keep up with information being presented on these matters, the Global Cornell website has a website has detailed articles that explain what is happening in the government every day. Cornell’s law school offers initial consultations for free for students concerned about their ability to continue studying at this institution. Cornell and 15 other institutions filed a statement saying the travel ban is unconstitutional based on the fifth fifteenth and fourteenth amendment. This is a school that takes any student in any study, and it plans to stand by their motto no matter what might happen.
I hope that the amount of separation that is occurring in the United States, and in some cases around the world, lessens over time. Although I can admit that Trump was not my candidate of choice for President, he is my President and there is a level of respect that is associated with such a title. I feel as though many of these policies seem ridiculous and far fetched, but most importantly Congress and the Senate and the Supreme Court all feel the same way for the most part. There needs to be some faith placed in the system, a political system that this country was founded upon so long ago, for everyone to find some hope moving forward. Donald Trump is the President of the United States, and we must stand united in taking care of each other and being the nation that everyone has always admired and looked up to.
Trump’s Executive Orders: How Do They Affect You?
Last Wednesday, I attended a panel on President Trump’s recent executive orders regarding immigration. I found the panel, and the subsequent question-and-answer session, to be very interesting and informative. Given how much is going on in the world right now, it can be hard to sort through all of the information to find the information that is most relevant to us–that is, the information that has the most direct impact on our lives. Although I personally am unaffected by the recent executive orders, I know that there are many Cornellians that are affected, at least in some way. I felt like that was one of the most beneficial parts of the panel. It provided the information to us from the viewpoint of how it would affect us students.
One of the audience members asked a question about where we should look to learn about how these current events will affect us students–since this is an ongoing issue, it was not possible to give many definitive answers at the panel, and so information updates are necessary. While the news sources that the panelist listed off were not surprising, I was unaware that there is apparently a website that is run by people at Cornell that provides an updated list of all of the relevant information to students. Until learning this, I had believed that the primary way that Cornell was providing information to the students was through the emails sent by President Rawlings, which, while useful, can be fairly vague. I am glad to learn that there is another–an almost certainly more informative–method for students affected by these executive orders to get the information they need.
Modern Immigration Policy and Abrahamic Religions
I greatly admire Cornell’s faculty for putting together this panel in order to educate international students on their rights and the current issues facing immigrants in the United States. With President Trump’s recent executive orders targeting American immigration policies, many have been worried about their situation and in America. Of the many topics addressed in the panel, the one that stuck out to me was the ideological effect of these policies on immigrants and religious minorities.
One panelist mentioned that the increasingly Islamophobic atmosphere in the United States since 9/11 has actually encouraged terrorism. Young Muslims in America feel unwanted, hated, and alienated. Policies that prevent Muslim refugees escaping countries torn apart by American wars from entering the United States have only increased anti-American sentiments.
Interestingly enough, this has also had the effect of creating a growing sense of Jewish-Muslim fellowship. Someone on the panel mentioned that there has been increased anxiety among the American Jewish population in the past year, and there have been more and more occurrences of anti-Semitic verbal attacks. The growing prevalence of anti-Semitic ideologies is likely due in part to the legitimizing of these beliefs though the promotion of known anti-Semites such as Steve Bannon and Richard Spencer. As these two religions, Judaism and Islam, have been increasingly persecuted under this administration, it is only natural that they have developed some form of fellowship.
Something I find particularly fascinating about this development is how it relates to the controversy over the term “Judeo-Christian.” So often Judaism and Christianity have been seen as sister religions, with similar “Judeo-Christian values” and similar histories. However, many Jewish people are uncomfortable with the term, as it erases the years of oppression Jews have experienced at the hands of Christians. Today, Muslims are undergoing discrimination at the hands of majority Christian nations as well, making these two religions more closely linked by their own conflicts with the third Abrahamic religion. I wonder if, as this regime’s openly discriminatory policies continue, the trend towards Jewish-Muslim fellowship will continue as well, and one day “Judeo-Islamic” will become a more relevant term for discussing religion in the United States.
The Power of Reusing
I have always taken an interest in sewing, knitting and crocheting but have always been afraid to walk into the little shops that seem to pop up in little towns. Going on the tour at Sew Green made me realize that these are the places that I should be going to, not the giant stores like Michael’s. The idea of collecting fabric scraps or yards of fabric that were once forgotten sounds rather simple. After the tour, I realized there was so much work that went into this practice, from collecting the fabrics to sorting and cleaning them, it was clear that those who are involved at Sew Green have a passion for what they do. The idea of all the beautiful fabrics just being thrown to the dumpster is disheartening, not only because it is going to waste but also because many fabrics are not made under sustainable practices and throwing out what was unused means more is being made in its place.
I love the idea of this non-profit and it is definitely the type of thing that I would expect to find in Ithaca. The idea of sewing classes for all ages, with the first being free was one of the things that I found to be a great opportunity. Most of what I know about sewing or knitting or crocheting I learned by myself from YouTube videos or books. Now that I know of this amazing place, I may just take advantage of all they have to offer.
Fashion With A Cause
Ithaca prides itself in being a small town and supporting its local businesses. Every time I go to the commons, I am constantly attracted to the small stores that sell antiques, jewelry, paintings, and crafts. These stores have their own unique charm that makes you feel that you are looking at genuine and creative pieces of art rather than manufactured commercial products. SewGreen is a great example of Ithaca’s local treasure as it not only sells beautiful fabrics and clothes, it’s also a successful non-profit that caters to environmental initiatives. Walking into SewGreen, I was surrounded by a myriad of colored fabrics, cushions, sweaters, and tablecloths that were displayed so nicely around the store. The atmosphere was inviting as were the stores’ founders who gave us a tour of the the entire property.
After walking through the store, Wendy Skinner, the director SewGreen, took us to the storage room where she showed us the boxes of clothes and fabric that were accumulated throughout the week. Wendy described how people began donating their sewed products and extra fabric to the store, so that they could be reused. I found this initiative very environmentally friendly as I was aware that popular retail stores engage in unethical practices while making and recycling their clothes. Clothing brands such as H&M and Forever 21 use cheap fabric in order to produce thousands of clothes every year, and they end up throwing away clothes once they are out of season. Therefore, it was refreshing to see a non-profit like SewGreen producing high quality clothes and fabrics that can be reused and worn for several years before being completely worn out. Wendy described how she turned her passion for clothing and environmental protection into a full time job, and encouraged us to take up causes that were close to our hearts. I hope to come back to SewGreen very soon, and maybe even participate in one of the sewing classes that are offered in the store.
Sew Green and Personal Contributions to Sustainability
As someone with a mild hoarding problem, I have found that throwing anything out becomes paradoxically more difficult with more stuff. The philosophy is that with more stuff, even the things you don’t use could be used in conjunction with something else you don’t use to suddenly make it more useful. The scrapbook paper you never used can be made into an actual photobook with that twine you also never used. However, some others, are apparently, much better at ridding their houses of extras. In fact, apparently 85% of textiles are thrown out, including old clothing pieces, and fabric scraps from sewers of all kinds of fields.
A local Ithaca non-profit organization, Sew Green, collects donated textiles, knitting materials, and quality clothing to resell. Additionally, it teaches sewing classes to tweens, teens, and adults alike. Serving about an approximate 100 mile radius, the organization serves a twofold purpose — giving new life to potential waste, and providing a cheap source of quality material for interested consumers. For hoarders who can’t bear to offer unneeded items to the landfill find Sew Green the perfect home for their fabric leftovers. And for those who love sewing, the shops perfectly folded and categorized cloths offer high-quality materials for further usage.
Some of the most interesting takeaways, however, were provided by Wendy Skinner, founder of Sew Green, whose perspective on sustainability was both admirable and practical. Ms. Skinner explained that she found her place in this non-profit, by taking her various backgrounds in journalism, business, managing, science, and art and found a niche to inhabit. Importantly, she found a niche that responded to something that was important to her — sustainability. Every person has their own ability to impact sustainability, be it through engineering, repurposing fashion, encouraging a healthy diet, or more. In this way, she showed us how important it is to understand your strengths and utilize them for a purpose you believe in. Whether this is in a field that already exists, or in an area that requires you to create, what is important is that you pursue it. By using this philosophy, Sew Green is nearly entirely self-sustainable through its profits. And most importantly, it provides an area for the community to share what they once had for someone else to create something new, and benefit from learning a handicraft that gives oneself independence and freedom to create. All while helping to decrease waste in the environment.
Anyone Can Help the Environment
Last Saturday, we took a tour to the nonprofit organization SewGreen in downtown Ithaca. I have not been to many nonprofit organizations, so that aspect was very interesting. Firstly, the store itself was very nicely laid out, and all of the fabrics and materials looked as if they were brand new even though they were recycled. One of the motivations for the store was the realization that so many tend to just discard their sewing materials, because they don’t know what else to do with them. Creating SewGreen allowed those materials to be put to good use while in turn helping the environment.
The director of SewGreen, Ms. Wendy Skinner, was very enthusiastic and gave a great discussion of what motivated her to help start SewGreen. She was interested in helping the environment, but she wanted to do it in a way that was original. That’s how she got the idea to combine her interest in sewing with the helping the environment. I really liked how she pointed out that anyone with any major can play a role in supporting our planet. This was significant to me in particular since I am very interested in getting involved with renewable energy research, as I am majoring in engineering physics.
Making Sense
I attended the Immigration Policy Panel Discussion: Understanding President Trump’s Executive Order. The panel consisted of Steve Yale-Loehr (adjunct professor at the Cornell Law School), Brendan O’Brien (director of Cornell’s International Student and Scholars Office), and Raza Rumi (a Pakistani author and visiting lecturer at CIPA). The panelists discussed the Executive Orders issued by President Trump, and what they could mean for members of the Cornell community, and the nation as a whole.
It was a very interesting and compelling experience to learn about the Executive Orders and hear the panel give their professional and personal opinions regarding them. The media has and will continue to play a large role in how we receive our information, and as the panelists told the audience, it is so important to separate the rumors from the facts. While it was clear where the panelists stood in regards to the Executive Orders, it appeared to me that the panelists’ goal was more about presenting the facts and informing the audience about the implications and addressing the what-ifs rather than addressing the politics. Which is not to say that politics did and does not play a role, but today’s discussion was about the people, both those who are directly affected and those who are determined to stand with them.
The panelists themselves mentioned multiple times that they could not give definitive answers to some of the questions (which they noted is why there is so much concern and confusion). Ultimately, the “take-home message” was about remembering that we all have rights, and understanding what they are (and frankly, remembering the fact that we have them). Perhaps the most impactful part of the discussion for me was hearing the fellow members of the Cornell community ask questions and voice their concerns. Seeing how the people of Cornell rally and support each other was a very heartening experience, one that I hope to continue to have throughout my time here at the university.
Consequences that Transcend Borders
The experts on the Immigration Policy Panel Discussion provided profound insights about the effects the recent executive orders have had and continue to have on countless individuals both within the United States’ borders and beyond them. Raza Rumi put forth particularly a powerful assessment of the message that Trump’s Executive Orders send to the people of Iraq. He explained how the United States has infiltrated Iraqi soil, formed a partnership with its country and its people to fight terrorism, and altered the lives of Iraqi citizens and Iraq’s history. Then, with these Executive Orders, the United States has denied assistance, refuge, and acceptance of the people they have been promising to help. America has involved itself in Iraq’s fate, and in denying Iraqi people the ability to enter the country, the United States sends an emotionally damaging and disheartening message to them. This message unjustly suggests that people who have fought terrorism alongside the United States are dangerous, untrustworthy, and unwelcome. Additionally, the panelists discussed how one consequence of the recent orders is that non-citizens of the United States can be detained and, in some cases, deported if they commit or have committed a crime. Hearing about this consequence, I began to think not only of the effect it could have on countless hard-working individuals and their families but also about what precedence this sets for defining what it means to be an upstanding American. Human beings err, and to suggest that an individual is unworthy of living, working, and raising a family in the United States because of one mistake is to deny the the principles of liberty and continual improvement that America champions. A mother with three children and two jobs, for example, should not lose the right to stay in the United States because she wavered for one moment from the inner strength and discipline constantly required to live her life. Also, seeing the Cornell community rally around this cause and its international students was an empowering experience. I am glad to be at an institution for “any person, any study…from any country.”
Sewing Sustainably
This past Saturday I had the opportunity to go to the non-profit Sew Green in downtown Ithaca for the first time. When we arrived, the director of the non-profit, Wendy Skinner, greeted us and gave us a tour of the building while telling us some of the history of the organization. She explained that the idea for the non-profit came to her after reading a book on sustainability that suggested that anyone can practice their career in a sustainable manner. She then decided to take her passion for sewing and open an organization where people could donate their left-over sewing materials to be resold at a fraction of their original price. While walking through the store, I was struck by the wide variety of sewing and knitting materials for sale in such a small place and the really artistic ways in which they were displayed. In addition to this store, Sew Green now also offers classes teaching beginners how to make their own articles of clothing with a sewing machine.
Later we sat down with Wendy in the sewing classroom and she shared some more thoughts with us on the importance of sustainability. I was shocked when she told us that up to 85% of cloth in the United States is currently thrown out rather than reused. She further explained that the concept of “fast fashion” promoted by malls and cheap chain clothing stores is a huge component of this wasted material. The trip to Sew Green definitely inspired me to be more conscious of what clothing I’m buying and to look into maybe taking a sewing class myself sometime in the future.
Towards a Greener Future
On Feb. 11th, I had the opportunity to attend a tour of SewGreen, located in the Commons. This store is especially interesting to me, as I plan on combining my major in AEM with my minor in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences. The founder spoke to us about how the store was created based on need. With her environmentally conscious mindset, she fulfilled the need of people wanting to learn to sew by starting a store that allowed individuals to donate their sewing materials for others to use instead of disposing of it. The store then sells the materials at a discounted rate in order to promote the use of recycled materials.
During part of the conversation, the owner asked all of us what we are studying and how we can use our interests and knowledge to contribute to a more sustainable world. With a broad range of majors represented from CS to chemistry, it was really awesome to hear everyone talk about how they can help move us towards a greener future. Additionally, we spoke about fast fashion vs. sustainable clothing brands, which was a good reminder for me to be more conscious of where I buy my clothes from considering how easy it is to forget about where clothes come from. Overall, the trip to SewGreen reminded me of how excited I am to combine my academic interests.