September 2005
Cornell eNews, a quarterly update for alumni and friends of Cornell College, brings you news of the campus as we open the 153rd academic year on the Hilltop.
The Cornell Alumni Association is dedicated to fostering a mutually beneficial and enduring relationship between Cornell College and all of its 11,000 alumni. Your comments and suggestions are welcome at enews@cornellcollege.edu. To unsubscribe, click the link at the end of this e-newsletter.
For a complete listing of Cornell news and events visit our News Center.
KATRINA OUTREACH
Despite a record opening enrollment of 1,184, Cornell plans to accommodate up to 20 displaced students from Gulf Coast colleges and universities. Faculty and staff have offered temporary housing to their colleagues from Gulf Coast institutions and to Cornell alumni. If you know of someone in need of housing, contact the Alumni Office at 1-(877) MVERNON (683-7666).
NEW CLASS
Nearly 350 volunteers contributed 1,400 hours during New Student Orientation Service Day, a tradition at Cornell for 11 years. Among their duties were sorting donations at Goodwill and cleaning apartments to accommodate Hurricane Katrina evacuees.
NEW HALL & NEW RATT
“It’s really exciting to be the first to live in the new building!” says Holly Davis ’06, one of 46 upperclass students in New Hall, the first new Cornell residence hall in nearly 40 years. “I have private space, yet live with seven of my close friends and share a common space and kitchen.” She and her classmates are also enjoying the renovated Rathskeller and Orange Carpet. “The Ratt is more relaxing now,” she says. “I think it’s going to be used so much more.”
NEW FACES
Brenda Tooley began her first academic year as dean of the college by delivering the Opening Convocation speech last Thursday. Also new in academics are two tenure-track faculty: Emily Walsh in geology and Erin Calhoun Davis in sociology and anthropology. Emily holds a PhD from the University of California-Santa Barbara and taught at Union College. Erin comes from Antioch College and holds a PhD in sociology from the University of Virginia.
NEW PROFESSORSHIP
A $1.5 million gift from Jerry Ringer ’59 and honorary alumna Carole Ringer has enabled Cornell to establish the Ringer Distinguished Professorship. This rotating five-year appointment honors a faculty member for exemplary teaching and scholarship, and for deep commitment to college and community service. Jerry Ringer was chair of the Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2002.
COMMONS EXPANSION
A $3 million matching grant from the Hall-Perrine Foundation of Cedar Rapids will help expand and remodel The Commons, which opened in 1966. The $19 million project will put a three-level addition on the building’s east side, toward Bowman-Carter Hall, for dining, fitness, a multipurpose auditorium, and classrooms.
CLASS TRAVELS TO LOUISIANA
In Thursday's Des Moines Register: French professor Jan Boney and seven students travel to Louisiana to take in the Cajun music and food at Festivals Acadiens, and leave behind donations for residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina - socks, toiletries, backpacks for elementary school students, duffle bags and soft-sided luggage.
BEST COLLEGE
Cornell is featured in the latest edition of “The Best 361 Colleges” from the Princeton Review. About 15 percent of America’s four-year colleges are featured in the book, based on feedback from 110,000 college students.
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
Kimberly Elder Neessen ’89 writes in Today’s Christian Woman about the circle journal she and three Cornell classmates circulate to stay close over the years and miles that separate them. “Whereas e-mail is the fast food of communication, the circle journal is our four-course meal,” she writes.
PURPLE REIGN
The Rev. Michael J. Graham ’75, Dr. Sharon Goodwin Fogleman ’75, and Tim Devine ’92 will receive awards at Homecoming 2005 on Oct. 15-16. Special festivities are planned for the reunion classes of '50, '55, '60, '65, '70, '75, '80, '85, '90, '95, and '00. Register online!
THE RIVALRY CONTINUES
Help Cornell BEAT COE! The Coe-Cornell Young Alumni Challenge is your chance to keep Cornell on top of the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi. The Rams and the Kohawks have faced off to see whose young alumni (class years 1996-2005) have the highest participation rate and most school spirit by contributing to their college. GO RAMS!
NOMINATE AN ALUM
The Alumni Board will consider alumni award nominations at its October meeting. Criteria for the awards—Distinguished Achievement Award, Leadership and Service Award, and Young Alumni Achievement Award—are outlined online. Take a moment to fill out an online recommendation form!
2nd ANNUAL C'YA HAPPY HOURS
Nearly 200 Cornell young alumni got together last month for this summer's C'YA Happy Hour Week. Eleven cities from Portland to Boston took part on Aug. 18 and 19. For those young alums who missed the fun, we hope to C'YA next time! Check out some of the event photos.
ANNOUNCING A NEW ALUMNI ONLINE COMMUNITY
You spoke and we listened. In response to the needs of our alumni, Cornell will launch an exciting, free, and easy-to-use online alumni community beginning this fall. Look for your class year in the launch schedule so you know when to expect your registration materials in the mail.
SCREENSAVER
Make a virtual trip to the Hilltop every time you use your computer by installing our new screensaver with wonderful revolving images of campus and campus life.
CHOOSE CORNELL ... AGAIN
Cornell students will be calling soon to update you on campus news and ask for your support. Gifts to the Annual Fund directly benefit students by helping Cornell retain top-notch faculty, improve library resources, make technology upgrades, and provide hundreds of scholarships. If you prefer, you can make an online gift at our quick and easy secure site.
DO YOU "CARE?"
Join the growing number of OCAAT alumni who help the Cornell Admission Office by representing the college at events around the country. CARE (Cornell Admission Recruiting Experience) alumni assist with college fairs, greet families during hotel interviews, serve as panelists, make referrals, and more. Fill out the online form if you are interested.
YOU TOLD US
Our previous “Tell Us” brought responses about seeing King Chapel rise on the horizon when returning to
NOW TELL US MORE
For the next issue of the Cornell Report magazine, we’d love to hear your answer to the question: What’s the one (or five or 10) thing(s) every Cornell student should do in the Mount Vernon area before graduating? Let us know.
DELT LECTURE
Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International, will deliver the next Delta Phi Rho Lecture at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, in King Chapel. He will speak on the topic of his latest book, “The Future of Freedom.” His column appears in Newsweek, Newsweek International, and often The Washington Post, making it one of the most widely circulated columns in the world.
