Arts & Culture
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SCHWARZ | U.S. Universities in Crisis: The Implicit and Explicit Threat of Nationalization
Using the threat of withholding research funds and taxing endowments, Trump and his acolytes are trying to nationalize universities. Under the guise of fighting antisemitism, they want to put universities under the auspices of various kinds of monitors, perhaps in some cases judges, who will control what universities do. Disregarding democracy, autocrats are bullies who stifle dissent and debate to impose their worldview. The Trump administration lives by intimidation, whether it be directed at the press, the legal establishment, cultural resources or the media. Defending the right to express fact-based opinions and different interpretations of the same facts, universities must resist intimidation by an authoritarian regime that seeks compliant silence…
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SUNBURSTS | Flinging Into Spring
From Last Lecture to lacrosse records, campus has been abuzz in the last few weeks until Summer recess. SLOPE STUDIES | Students study, nap and relax on Libe Slope ahead of a long week of prelims and finals preparation. (Sophia Romanov Imber/Sun Staff Photographer) SENIOR SEASON | With spring finally in the air, graduating seniors took time to get grad photos in their caps and gowns, snapping a few selfies along the way. (Aerien Huang/Sun Staff Photographer) FIRST (LAST) LECTURE | Outgoing men’s hockey coach Mike Schafer ’86 gave his “Last Lecture” to Cornellians on Wednesday evening. (Stephan Menasche/Sun Assistant Photography Editor) CAPACITY | Schafer’s highly anticipated lecture filled a…
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Revolutionizing the Future of Travel: Max Owens Pursues His Passion for Innovation as the CEO and Founder of MAVRIK
Starting his own self-flying passenger vehicle company at just 15 years old, Max Owens has fully devoted himself to building his business in Long Beach, California. What started out as a passion project quickly transformed into a fully functioning aircraft when his original prototype successfully took flight right before leaving for his freshman year at Cornell in 2022. After receiving an offer of $1.4 million at the start of his junior year in the College of Engineering, Owens realized that keeping up with the pace meant leaving Cornell to pursue MAVRIK. Taking Flight From turning his own room into a maker space to learning how to program at 11 years…
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Softball Takes on Tough Stretch After Undergoing Coaching Change
As former assistant coach Tara Tembley makes the transition to head coach of softball, she hopes to end the season on a high note and keep the team grounded. “I’m excited for the opportunity,” Tembley said. “We’ve got three games in front of us, and it’s just making sure we’re where our feet are and taking every game one pitch at a time.” Cornell (16-19, 6-12 Ivy) underwent a stretch of five away games against tough opponents beginning with a Wednesday doubleheader at Binghamton University (26-12, 14-2 America East), followed by a three-game series at Columbia University (20-16, 12-6 Ivy). The Red went 1-4 over the course of the week,…
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Christian Flournoy ’27 Plans to Maximize Student Voices as Executive Vice President of the Student Assembly
Heading into his second year of being on the Student Assembly executive board, Christian Flournoy ’27 said that there are two ideals he envisions for his term as executive vice president: “[maximizing] the student voice” and “ensuring community representation.” Flournoy was announced as the next executive vice president for the Assembly on Wednesday, April 25, beating out three competitors in a narrow race. He currently serves as the vice president for diversity and inclusion for the Assembly, sitting on its executive board. Flournoy is pursuing the pre-medical path and noted a passion for promoting student health and well-being. Amid a string of campus tragedies in the Fall 2024 semester, Flournoy…
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GUEST ROOM | Neurodiversity in the Trump Era
April is Autism Acceptance month, a time to intentionally include, faithfully affirm and openly embrace autistic people, who make up around 3% of the population. While the Biden administration formally recognized Autism Acceptance month, President Trump has proclaimed it Autism Awareness month, reverting to the outdated and harmful terminology which emphasizes alertness to a threat rather than welcoming of differences. “Awareness” campaigns serve only to perpetuate stigmas and medicalized attitudes rather than promote belonging and inclusion while acknowledging both our humanity and our uniqueness. Acceptance month centers on an act you take through purposeful learning, reflection and practice. Accepting someone requires educating yourself about their life; unfamiliarity breeds misunderstanding, disdain…
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Support, Resilience, and Community at Cornell
To the Editor, On behalf of the Mu Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity at Cornell University, I write to express our deepest gratitude to the Cornell community for its extraordinary support during a challenging chapter in our history. Following the discovery of mold damage in the fall, our undergraduate brothers were displaced from our chapter house as critical repairs and renovations were undertaken. In the midst of uncertainty, it was the strength of our partnership with Cornell that made all the difference. We are especially grateful to Jenny Loeffelman from Student and Campus Life for her guidance and support in coordinating temporary housing and food service for our brothers. We…
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Women’s Rowing Topples Dartmouth in Clash for the Parents Cup
Created in 2000 in honor of parents’ support, The Parents Cup has been historically awarded to the winner of the 1V8 race in the Dartmouth-Cornell regatta. Last Saturday, women’s rowing headed up to Vermont to compete against the Big Green for possession of the coveted cup in the Lake Morey Regatta. The winner of the cup was decided during the 1V8 race between the Red and the Big Green in the morning session of the regatta. The Red went up against the Northeastern University Huskies for a few additional races in the afternoon. Ultimately, the Big Green retained the Parents Cup this year, winning the 1V8 race with a time…
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Celebrating Poetry Month with Cornell’s Creative Communities
April is recognized as National Poetry Month, a time dedicated to celebrating poetry and its impact on culture, communication and communities. At Cornell, this month is marked by a wide range of events focused on poetry and creative writing, all with the shared goal of sparking creativity. This article will highlight the campus groups and activities that contribute to the growth of poetry and support student expression throughout the month. Marginalia: The Cornell Undergraduate Poetry Review, founded in 2015, is an undergraduate run poetry magazine and society. Created to foster a poetic community among students from all majors and colleges at Cornell, Marginalia publishes student poetry and hosts workshops and…
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GUEST ROOM | The Sound of Silence: On Music, Politics and Belonging at Cornell
In his Wednesday morning email announcing his cancellation of Kehlani’s Slope Day performance, University President Michael Kotlikoff reminded us that “Cornell is an institution… where every person should feel included.” Kotlikoff’s words echo familiar campus slogans, ranging from large-scale projects like “Belonging at Cornell” to the untiring rehearsal of the founder’s motto, “any person, any study.” This week, we are once again reminded that at Cornell, difference is to be seen and not heard; to be visually included in the university’s strategic self-image but quickly silenced when it challenges the status quo. Before cancelling Kehlani’s performance altogether, Kotlikoff bragged about modifying her contract so as to ensure an event “without…