March 2007

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GARNER, CHAIRS NATIONAL BOARD
President Les Garner was named in February to a one-year term as chair of the board of directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the leading national association representing private higher education. NAICU member institutions enroll nine of every 10 students attending a private college or university in the United States. Director of College Communications Dee Ann Rexroat ’82 was chosen to serve on the public relations committee of The Annapolis Group, an organization of 115 leading liberal arts colleges.

RESIDENCE HALL CHANGES
Cornell’s newest residence hall, opening in August 2007 near Pauley-Rorem, will be named Clock Tower Hall, with the notion that the name could change at the behest of significant donor support. It will house 96 upperclass students in four-person, air-conditioned suites. Rood House and Eighth Avenue Apartments will close in June. Rood is being assessed for non-residential uses and Eighth Avenue is being assessed to determine if it should be renovated and reopened. Tarr will become a first-year-only hall. View Clock Tower Hall construction photos...

CORNELL WEATHERS ICE, WIND
What happens when a residential college responsible for housing and feeding about 1,000 students loses electricity for most of a weekend? Students managed to survive without lights and e-mail – and they pitched in to keep the community safe – after a winter storm with ice and strong winds left Mount Vernon without electricity Feb. 24-25. Classes were held on schedule Monday, Feb. 26.

HEARD ON CAMPUS
Dean Hamer, author of The God Gene, drew a capacity crowd for the annual lecture sponsored by Dimensions: The Center for the Science and Culture of Healthcare. He gave a second talk on his current research into other areas of behavioral genetics, and he spoke to students in a genetics course.

The history department’s Kollman Lecture featured Timothy Naftali, director-designate of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum and a renowned scholar on the Cold War and espionage.

2 WRESTLERS EARN ALL-AMERICAN
Chris Heilman (125 pounds) and Pat McAuley (157) reached All-American status at the NCAA Division III National Championship. Heilman earned the honor for a second consecutive year. Cornell also sent Nick Nothern (133) to nationals and the Rams placed 12th in the nation, their best finish since 1988.

WINTER ALL-IOWA CONFERENCE ATHLETES
All-Iowa Conference honors for the winter sports went to men’s basketball player Griffin LaDew (second team), men’s indoor track and field athletes James Klobucar (first place, 55-meter hurdles) and Jason Williams (second, shot put), and women’s indoor track and field athlete Rachelle Hawkins (second, 1,000 meters).

CROSS COUNTRY EXCELS IN CLASS
The men’s and women’s cross country teams were recognized for academic excellence by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for the 2006 season.The Cornell women had a team grade-point average of 3.47 and the Ram men had a GPA of 3.27. There were 86 men’s teams and 112 women’s teams recognized.

CASE AWARDS FOR ALUMNI, ADVANCEMENT WORK
Enjoy what you’re reading? So does the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, which has honored the quarterly Alumni e-News with a Bronze Award for “Excellence in Electronic Publications for Alumni.” A Gold Award in “Excellence in Educational Fundraising” was claimed by the 2006 Senior Challenge and coordinator Marie Schutte ’06. Cornell’s Office of Alumni and College Advancement directs these award-winning projects.

BRINGING IN THE BEST
“Hidden-gem colleges” like Cornell are drawing closer looks from the nation’s best students, who are “marching to a different drummer and choosing colleges with different profiles,” reports National Public Radio.

CORNELL WRESTLING AMONG 'PRIDE OF IOWA’
Cornell’s national wrestling title – earned in 1947 by the team that also claimed the national AAU title – is noted in a Sports Illustrated article on Iowa’s history of success in the sport, including 30 national titles by the state’s college teams.

RECENT GRADS FIND SUCCESS
The Class of 2006 is employed, pursuing graduate studies, or engaged in once-in-a-lifetime opportunities such as international travel and grants to study abroad, according to a Cornell survey that drew responses from more than three-quarters of the class. Read more...

ONLINE COMMUNITY UPDATE
In a move to enhance the security of personal information, all passwords into the Cornell alumni online community have been reissued. Cornell does not have access to these passwords or usernames. The online community offers an electronic alumni directory, plus much more.

C’MON YOUNG ALUMS, BEAT COE!
Cornell alumni in class years 1997 to 2006 are needed to help the Rams surpass the Kohawks in the 2nd Annual Coe-Cornell Young Alumni Challenge to see which school’s young alumni show the most school spirit by giving back to their college. This competition is based on participation, not the amount given. The Rams won last year and we need your help to BEAT COE AGAIN! Take a minute to make your online gift today. Go Rams!

‘ADOPT’ A STUDENT THROUGH CORNELL SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Motivated young people with rich academic credentials fill the Hilltop. But many of these scholars lack the resources to finance a college education. At Cornell, 98 percent of students rely on some form of financial aid, and Cornell awards more than $15 million in aid annually. With an annual gift of at least $2,500, you can “adopt” a Cornell scholar and honor your Cornell experience or that of someone close to you with a named scholarship.

SPRING BREAK TRIP TO GUATEMALA
20 students, faculty, and staff depart for Antigua, Guatemala, later this month on the first venture abroad for Alternative Spring Break, now in its sixth year. The volunteers will spend time with schoolchildren and working on home construction. During their 10-day trip they also will tour a Mayan village, hike through a volcano, and learn about the Guatemalan culture while staying with local host families.

STUDENT SYMPOSIUM
More than 100 students are scheduled to give presentations at the 11th annual Student Symposium on April 14 in The Commons. The symposium, which originated as a way to spark intellectual conversation and growth on campus, is one of the premier events at Cornell.

BERRY CENTER SYMPOSIUM
“The Economics of HIV/AIDS in Africa” and “The Economics of News Media Content” are the timely topics of two speakers for a May 17 symposium sponsored by the Berry Center for Economics, Business, and Public Policy. Speakers Emily Oster and Jesse Shapiro were both recently described by The New York Times as among a handful of young economists who hold “the future of economics” by doing research that is respected and relevant.

… AND MORE SPEAKERS
Stephen Grummon ’69  of the U.S. State Department and Jan Thomas ’80, Kenyon College sociology professor, visit next week for the Beta Omicron Distinguished Alumni Visitors Program. Conservative author Dinesh D’Souza lectures May 11.