Author Archives: mf653

Beyond the Classroom and the Court

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It’s not very often I get the opportunity to hear from a Division I coach. That’s why I found our discussion with head tennis coach Silviu Tanasoiu both interesting and inspiring. Throughout the talk, it was fascinating to hear about the recruiting process, and how much hard work and dedication it takes to win, and to win the Ivy League title. However, the part of the discussion that I found most interesting was the progression of a former tennis player who Coach Tanasoiu calls Bernie.

When Coach Tanasoiu began to speak about Bernie, he described him as a talented and hardworking individual. It was amazing to hear how Bernie’s family urged him not to attend Cornell because they felt Bernie could not handle the work, but even through these doubts, he chose to attend Cornell anyway. At Cornell, Bernie initially struggled balancing the difficult civil engineering courses. According to Coach Tanasoiu, Bernie wanted to quit tennis in order to focus on school. However, Coach Tanasoiu and Bernie eventually were able to work through these issues and Bernie remained on the team. I found it very inspirational that Bernie persevered through these difficult circumstances in the classroom and on the tennis court, as many would have quit.

During Bernie’s senior year, he decided to take about 20 credits, some consisting of graduate courses, along with his other outside commitments, all while playing tennis. I found this remarkable, since not many people could handle such a busy schedule, including myself. Further, I found it incredible that Bernie wanted to attend Stanford after graduation in order to pursue a master’s degree and a PhD, considering his family doubted him originally when he said he wanted to attend Cornell.

According to Coach Tanasoiu, Bernie’s passion and hardworking mentality allowed him to get through even the most difficult times during his time in college. I learned from Bernie’s story to believe in myself, even when others doubt my abilities. I also learned to work hard and never quit when I am going through challenging times. Thus, Bernie’s story was not just a story, it was a lesson for how to approach life.

Environmental Dangers

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Environmental conservation has always been an interest of mine, which is why I found Andy Zepp’s discussion on his work at the Finger Lakes Land Trust both fascinating and valuable. Throughout our talk, I was amazed by the impact of Mr. Zepp’s efforts in preserving tens of thousands of acres of land for not only ecological value, but also for recreational and economic importance as well. However, the part of our discussion that was most intriguing to me was our talk on harmful algal blooms that are becoming increasingly common in the Finger Lakes, as this is a topic I have prior exposure to.

Before our discussion with Mr. Zepp, I did not comprehend the large scale impact of harmful algal blooms on the Finger Lakes. According to Mr. Zepp, and confirmed by my prior coursework on the topic, these algal blooms are a result of the runoff of phosphorus and other nutrients into the lakes caused by rainfall. Particularly, Mr. Zepp stated, these nutrients, such as phosphorus, that are credited with causing the algal blooms stem mostly from agricultural runoff from rural areas. In my previous environmental science courses, I learned about the impact of phosphorus on natural water areas, and when phosphorus and other nutrients are in high abundance, this can cause eutrophication, or too many nutrients in the body of water, resulting in these harmful algal blooms. However, my environmental science courses mainly focused on the ecological impacts of algal blooms, such as killing marine organisms due to the water’s toxicity. But in our discussion, Mr. Zepp mentioned not only the ecological impacts, but also the economical and recreational impacts of algal blooms on the Finger Lakes. For instance, during one algal bloom period, people were banned from entering the water due to its toxicity. This ban not only hurt the people looking to use the lake for recreational purposes, but it also negatively impacted the nearby businesses who rely on users of the lake for income. Therefore, it was astonishing to see not only the ecological impacts of the algal blooms on the Finger Lakes, but also the recreational and economic impacts as well.

After listening to Mr. Zepp’s talk, I am more intrigued to get involved in local conservation and preservation efforts not only here in New York, but also in my hometown. Hearing not only about the ecological impacts, but also about the recreational and economic impacts of human activities such as farming motivates me to want to understand the issue more and try to take necessary action to conserve and protect our ecosystem. Thus, after our discussion with Mr. Zepp, I am not only more informed, but also more inspired to take action, such as through possible volunteer work, to protect our valuable environment.

Important Vaccines

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Although I am a non-biology major, I still found great value in, and was quite intrigued by, Ty Moeller’s talk on vaccines. Coming into the discussion, I had little idea on how vaccines actually worked, let alone the science or methodology behind their effectiveness. Therefore, it was very interesting to learn how an integral and vital part of us as humans operates both in our bodies, as well as in our society.

One of the most interesting facts about vaccines, to me, was how there are three different kinds of vaccines that can be put in our bodies: live, attenuated, and one from cell parts. I didn’t know there were any direct differences between vaccines, or that some actually place a living virus inside our bodies. I also found it fascinating how vaccines can contain cell parts, such as parts of some toxins, which are harmless to our bodies, but are used so our bodies could recognize the toxins and develop an immunity.

As interesting as it was to hear about how vaccines operate, it was also fascinating to hear about Ty’s research with an agent that is categorized as a bioterrorist threat, francisella tularensis. In the media, we typically hear about threats such as mass shootings and bombings. However, bioterrorism is still a present threat to society, which is why I find it interesting that Ty and other researchers are attempting to come up with a vaccine in order to save people in the event that bioterrorism and francisella tularensis is used for conflict or war. It was also fascinating to hear that Ty’s research was partly funded by the United States Government, as the government wants to be able to have a vaccine for certain bioterrorist agents like francisella tularensis in case they are used in possible conflict.

Although I still do not completely understand the biology around vaccines, I am now more informed about an integral part of our survival as humans. Without people like Ty doing research and developing vaccines, we as humans would be susceptible to many dangerous and deadly viruses and diseases. Now, next time I get a vaccine, I will appreciate the biology, as well as the research and development, that went into making an effective vaccination.

Ready for Relaxation

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There is no question that prelim season is in full swing, bringing with it unwanted tension and stress. That is why I feel fortunate enough to take a step back from studying for prelims and writing papers and receive a relaxing massage. The massage came at the perfect time as well: the weekend before two prelims and some additional assignments due. As a result of my constant studying and sitting at a computer all day, my shoulder muscles were tight, and my back was aching pretty badly. However, when I got onto the massage chair, I could feel almost instantly my muscles loosening up and much of my built up tension disappearing.

Being very active throughout high school, I am used to muscle cramps and aches. I used to participate in a sport during almost every season, which took an eventual toll on my body. Typically, I would remedy my aches through additional stretching. Though, particularly following sports seasons, when my muscles would be especially overworked and strained, my remedy of stretching would be insufficient in reducing my pain. After looking for ways to relieve this issue, I decided to get a massage in an effort to help heal my body. My very first massage brought great benefits to my body, as my muscles would feel less tight, and I was almost instantly prepared for another sports season.

Just like after the massages I received in high school following sports seasons, I felt great relief following the massage I received this past weekend. In fact, the effects lasted days following the massage. I hope to receive another massage soon so I can continue to gain its full benefits to both my body and mind.

Design of Ithaca

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Architecture and design are important aspects of our lives. We spend much of our time indoors, so it was both relatable and interesting to hear from Noah Demarest, an architecture professional, about recent local projects that will impact us as students. Some of Noah’s projects have large implications impacting the quality of housing for Cornell students, since he has designed many of the new apartment complexes in Collegetown that me and many other students will most likely be looking into for future housing opportunities. However, the most fascinating portions of Noah’s talk, in my opinion, were rooted in the discussion of building and landscape design, as well as the conversation on ordinance laws that impact the generation of a successful project for the client.

As a student currently taking a Design and Environmental Analysis course, the process of designing a building or a landscape has become much more applicable. For instance, I would formerly never analyze the exterior or interior of a building and its salient features until I started to learn the background and methods of effective design throughout my DEA course. Noah’s discussion about how he goes about successful design, therefore, was very intriguing. For instance, Noah’s company was recently tasked with redesigning the entrance of the Reis Tennis Center, where Cornell plays their tennis matches. As he discussed the before and after photos of the center, I was captivated by the level of detail of the project and how, through his design, many of the building’s issues were solved. One such issue, where the team shop was located in a closet down a hallway, was fixed through the design of display cases at the front desk, making it easier for guests looking to purchase equipment to find what they need. I appreciated hearing about Noah’s experience in generating solutions to architectural design issues, such as the team shop dilemma, primarily because my DEA course is centered around formulating effective and functional solutions to common design problems.

Another aspect of our conversation I found interesting was the discussion of ordinances and their impact on how Noah and his team approach projects. For example, in one Collegetown apartment complex Noah designed, his team was able to find a loophole in the ordinance law regarding maximum building height. By instituting lofts, where people are able to sleep, in the apartments located in the top three floors of the apartment complex, his team was able to efficiently maximize the use of space within the building. Further, it was also fascinating, and also a bit troubling, to hear how, when constructing condos, there are no strict laws requiring accessibility for physically disabled residents like there are in apartment complexes. Thus, it’s interesting how ordinance laws vary depending on the exact use of the building. Overall, however, I enjoyed hearing about architecture and design and Noah’s work in the field. After taking my DEA course, and after finding Noah’s discussion very fascinating, I would like to possibly learn more about design, as it is a field that impacts us all every day.

Hidden Journey

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West Campus is larger than it appears. This week, I had the pleasure of exploring different parts of West Campus as I continue to learn more about the place I call home. Before we departed for our journey, however, Professor Blalock gave us an interesting overview of the history of West Campus. For instance, I had no idea that Rose House was the last house on West Campus to be built, or that West Campus was tremendously expensive, since it was rushed to be constructed in order to avoid the increasing costs of building supplies, only for the recession to hit and for the construction costs to decrease dramatically the year following its completion. But to me, the most eye-opening part of our event was the actual exploration of Becker and Rose Houses.

We began our journey at Becker House, traveling through the underground tunnels that I had no idea even existed. Among the first attractions we saw was the kitchen, followed by the food storage area. This part was really captivating for me since I never saw the kitchen and the dining hall with this back-room perspective. It was also interesting to see all the different food stored away to be used in future meals. The next fascinating portion of our tour was the facilities’ offices, which is the center of building care and where staff meet in the morning to discuss daily objectives. This was particularly interesting to me, since I had no idea where facilities personnel operated from.

Following our tour of Becker House, we entered Rose House through a connecting tunnel. For me, the most fascinating part of Rose House we explored was the tunnel underneath Professor Blalock’s apartment. I found it very interesting that, according to Professor Blalock, although it appears that the tunnel absorbs all sounds, every conversation in the tunnel travels to his apartment and he and his family can hear every word spoken. I was shocked by this fact, since the tunnel looked as if no sound can escape, but as I’ve learned, looks can be deceiving, and in this case, they were.

Overall, our discussion and tour was both informative and captivating, as I got to learn more about West Campus and had the opportunity to explore parts I had no idea existed. Because we as residents have access to the newly discovered tunnels, I would definitely like to go down again and explore further. I thought I knew everything about Rose House, but I was wrong. Everything is a learning opportunity, and I am hopeful to be able to learn even more about our dorm.

Building Care Cares

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There aren’t many opportunities to have a conversation with building care staff. That’s why I was grateful for our comprehensive and informative discussion with building care staff member Andrew McCabe. There were many different points of discussion, ranging from poor past experiences, to compliments of building care’s hard work. The points that struck me in particular throughout our conversation, however, were the issues of privacy, as well as building care’s commitment to not only maintaining our dorm, but to promoting the health of the people occupying it.

Living in a dorm can be challenging regarding privacy. With constant cleaning and maintenance work, it can be difficult to ensure this right. However, I was comforted to learn the different procedures staff members take in order to preserve residents’ privacy, such as knocking and announcing themselves before entering a student’s room. It was also interesting to hear the restrictions on who may enter our rooms, like the example of Professor Blalock being unable to enter a colleague’s son’s room since it was against the law without written consent. I now better understand the policies regarding resident privacy, and appreciate the steps building care takes in ensuring this right for all students living on campus.

I also found comfort in learning that building care staff not only work hard to preserve the maintenance of the building, but also work hard to serve the wellbeing of the residents. For instance, Mr. McCabe discussed an occasion where he received a phone call from a colleague describing a distressed student in the hallway, and how this colleague did not know how to act in such a situation. Within about a week, according to Mr. McCabe, his staff underwent training to learn how to handle situations when encountering students in distress. This story was powerful to me, as now I appreciate the comprehensive support system we have here in our residential community, ranging from SA’s and GRF’s, to the Assistant Dean and House Professor, to now building care staff. I truly value the fact that building care staff are not only looking after the building, but also for its residents.

Justice with Judge Miller

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Judge Scott Miller led both an informative and stimulating conversation on justice and what it is like being a judge in the city of Ithaca. As a future lawyer, I took away many lessons from Judge Miller, such as the idea of not labeling all people who commit crimes as criminals, but as people who made a mistake, since wrong actions do not always define a person. However, as interesting as the discussion was, it was Judge Miller’s point about healthcare and education that resonated with me the most.

According to Judge Miller, the United States has two main issues: lack of access to universal healthcare and lack of quality universal education. Once these problems are addressed, Judge Miller stated, the country can begin to repair other issues within our society, such as racism. I agree with Judge Miller’s assessment that universal healthcare and education are some of the largest hurdles our country faces. I also agree with Judge Miller that we as an American society need to put more value on healthcare and education, rather than spending money on expensive wars and incarcerating people. To me, healthcare and education are human rights. Unfortunately, the United States has a great imbalance when it comes to valuing and funding such vital programs, which has created a significant amount of inequality and has negatively impacted the most vulnerable people like minorities and the poor. Judge Miller made a profound point when he stated that many citizens do not argue about spending money on wars and incarcerating people who commit crimes, but get upset when the government wants to fund healthcare or education. I firmly believe that we need to put more money and value into our broken healthcare and educational systems if the United States wants to continue to be a global role model.

Just like Judge Miller, I do not have a solution to fixing our healthcare and educational systems. However, it is up to me and every other person to stand up for these issues, and many more, by pressuring lawmakers to prioritize and act on these important problems. Recognizing a problem is the first step in finding a solution, so it is up to us as humans to create a culture that values healthcare and education, not wars and incarceration.