The Cornell Daily Sun - News

Skorton Meets With Iranian Official in Science Exchange

Emily Cohn and Molly OToole — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Correction appended.

While in Iran from Nov. 14 to Nov. 20, President David Skorton met with Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi, despite reports that the president would not be meeting with Iranian government officials.

According to Skorton, who traveled to Tehran last month for six days with a delegation of six university presidents on a trip coordinated by the Association of American Universities, the group did not meet with any other government officials. However, they met with Zahedi on the basis that the trip’s purpose was to promote “interactions of science faculties.”

Edwin Salpeter, Transformative Leader in Astrophysics, Dies

Emily Cohn — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

One of Cornell’s most renowned astrophysicists, Edwin Salpeter, died of leukemia last Tuesday at his home in Ithaca. The 83-year old professor leaves a long legacy at Cornell and was a revolutionary figure in the world of science.

“More than any other individual, Ed put the physics into astrophysics,” Prof. Ira Wasserman, astronomy, told the University. “Ed transformed our field forever.”

Salpeter was born in Austria and received his Ph.D. from Birmingham University in 1947. He fled the country as the Nazi party gained momentum in the 1930s. He came to Cornell in 1949 as a postdoctoral student and at the time of his death was the J.G. White Distinguished Professor of Physical Sciences Emeritus.

Wal-Mart Remodeling Moves Forward

Sam Cross — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Upon garnering preliminary approval from the City of Ithaca Planning and Development Board on Nov. 18, Wal-Mart’s plans to expand are moving closer to becoming a reality. Not only will also Wal-Mart be increasing in size, but will feature an improved exterior with a new façade and vestibules.

According to the modified site plan resolution passed by the board, Wal-Mart’s construction will include two new front vestibules, a drive through pharmacy on the north side, additional parking and a public park in the area between Wal-Mart and neighboring Bed Bath and Beyond. The front of the Super-Center will also receive a face-lift. It is one of the first Wal-Marts in country to feature the corporation’s new look.

Commissioner of Corrections Expounds on America’s Prisons

Brendan Doyle — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

As students filed into Goldwin Smith Lewis Auditorium last Tuesday for GOVT 3141: Prisons, a different face than Prof. Mary Katzenstein, government, greeted them at the front of the room. Brian Fischer, commissioner of corrections for New York State, was brought in to talk about the Prison system in America.

“We talk about the structure of society that often ends up directing people to the prison system,” Katzenstein said of the class.

Study: People Use Face-to-Face Cues Online

Ben Eisen — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

All that time you spent on Facebook when you should have been studying may not be a waste after all. In a recent study, Prof. Jeff Hancock, communication, found that use of information on Facebook can be harnessed to gain influence and popularity amongst peers.

Hancock’s study paired participants who had not met each other over instant messenger. Some were asked to look at the opposite person’s Facebook profile before the conversation.

Those who looked at their partner’s Facebook beforehand were able to use the information obtained to ask questions and make themselves seem more similar to their partners. Hancock found that the more people used the information found out beforehand through Facebook, the higher likelihood that their partner would like them.

Programming Board Faces Financial Strain

Sun Staff — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Last October, when the Cornell University Programming Board brought Steven Colbert to Cornell, his entrance was anything but subtle. First he roused thousands of students at 9 a.m. to buy tickets online. Then he sold 3,000 tickets in 15 minutes, selling out his scheduled performance in record time. To top it off, he performed an additional show to quell the desire of eager Cornell audience members. Attracting a crowd of about 10,000 over 2007’s First Year Family Weekend, CUPB, to say the least, started the year with a bang.

C.U. Campus Life Strives to Increase Sustainability

Elizabeth Krevsky — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

This is the first article in a series analyzing how various aspects of campus life impact Cornell’s collective commitment to sustainability.

Have you ever opened your window in the winter time to cool down an overheated dorm room, or left the lights turned on even though you left your room for several hours?

These types of environmentally unsustainable decisions “have both economic and environmental impacts,” according to Student Trustee Mike Walsh grad, a member of the President’s Climate Commitment Implementation Committee.

Anshul Kumar ’09, a Jameson R.A., considers himself “fairly conscientious” about energy consumption; he turns off lights when not using them, turns the heater down when leaving for breaks and does not use full pressure in the shower.

Ithaca Chooses New Police Chief

Venus Wu — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Edward Vallely was officially named the new police chief of the Ithaca Police Department last night after the Common Council’s unanimous vote confirmed the mayor’s appointment. Vallely, who is the current acting police chief, will oversee a $10 million budget and more than 100 employees, according to the Ithaca Journal.

The selection process began last October after Police Chief Lauren Signer unexpectedly announced her retirement. A search committee — which included Common Council members and representatives from the Community Police Board — then submitted a list of finalists to Mayor Carolyn Peterson. The two finalists for the job, Vallely and Deputy Police Chief John Barber, were internal candidates.

Cornell Seeks Ideas in Move Towards Campus Carbon Neutrality

Emily Cohn — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Moving ahead in its endeavor to achieve climate neutrality, Cornell is taking initial steps towards developing its Climate Action Plan. The Idea Exchange is soliciting all members of the community to speak their mind and contribute ideas about what it will take to make Cornell climate neutral through Monday.

To date, 567 ideas have been submitted on the Idea Exchange website. According to the Climate Action Plan staff, ideas are grouped into “major themes” that include green development, energy conservation, biofuels and renewable energy, carbon offsets and policy. According to the staff, “No idea is too big or small” to be submitted on the site.

Ithaca Looks to Update Infrastructure on the Commons

Venus Wu — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

While the jagged sidewalks and century-old pipeline add to the historic charm of the Commons, these outdated facilities are also a major area of concern. Last night, the Ithaca Common Council held a special meeting to discuss a $250,000 Commons Upgrade Project, which would appoint a professional design company to plan an overhaul for the Commons’s infrastructure.

The plan will be comprehensive, targeting a wide range of problem areas in the Commons including broken sidewalks, old public utilities and outdated fire facilities.

Joann Cornish, acting planning director, stressed that the project will only remain in the scope of planning and investigation.

“We are not committed to build anything,” Cornish said.

MGLC Elects New Executive Board

Michelle Honor — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Yesterday, the Multicultural Greek Letter Council held elections for the council’s executive vice president and vice president of finance. Although the MGLC had its first election of officers last Wednesday, yesterday’s election was meant to fill the council’s empty slates. President-elect Nicholas Diaz ’10 stated that the council “wanted to have the entire executive board elected before Thanksgiving break.”

Higher Education Responds to Waning Economic Climate

Nikhita Parandekar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

In the past few weeks, members of the Cornell community have received a plethora of information about how Cornell is dealing with the current economic crisis. Like Cornell, many institutions of higher education have created innovative plans to support their missions while managing their budgets.

There were two resounding facts that echoed through all of the statements and press releases of the Ivy League schools. First, all have stated that upholding a strong academic reputation is a main priority. Second, all have stressed that they are committed to maintaining financial aid programs throughout the economic crisis to ensure that economic hardships do not cause any student to withdraw from school.