Mathematics professor’s article featured in distinguished blog
An article published by David Brown, professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics, was recently cited by the American Mathematical Society Blog, “What is an Experimental Math Course and Why Should We Care?”
Brown’s article, titled “Experimental Mathematics for the First Year Student,” is included in the American Mathematical Society blog and lists Ithaca College, along with Dartmouth University and Grinnell College, in a growing group of colleges that offer experimental math courses.
“Courses in experimental mathematics allow students to experience the joy of discovering mathematical ideas for themselves by experimenting, conjecturing, and reasoning,” Brown stated in the article. “Experimentation emphasizes the process of exploration in search of new ideas and exposes students to mathematics beyond textbook exercises.”
LGBT Center to host celebration of new all-gender restrooms
The Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Education, Outreach and Services will be hosting an event to celebrate the new single-occupancy all-gender restrooms in the building. On Feb. 21, the center will offer food and beverages in the office, located on the lower level of the Hammond Health Center.
There will be two time slots for campus community members to come by: 9–11 a.m. for breakfast with breakfast treats and coffee, tea and other assorted beverages, or 3–5 p.m. for cake, punch and other assorted beverages.
The celebration will feature tours of the new all-gender restroom near the LGBT Resource Room. There are also four new all-gender restrooms near the Health Center waiting room.
Information will also be available about where to find all-gender restrooms on campus, the importance of restrooms like these for those of many different experiences and identities, and the upcoming Gavin Grimm U.S. Supreme Court case that will be heard in March. The case focuses on whether transgender public school students can use the restroom appropriate to their gender identity.
US Office for Civil Rights to visit Cornell for Title IX investigation
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights investigators will visit Cornell University next week in the midst of its sixth open Title IX violation investigation — the most of any university in the nation.
Sarah Affel, Cornell’s Title IX coordinator, stated that the OCR is reviewing Cornell’s compliance with Title IX, which prohibits gender-based discrimination by educational institutions that receive federal financial assistance. OCR representatives will be on the Cornell campus Feb. 28 to March 1 to conduct focus groups and hold office hours.
According to public records archived by the Chronicle of Higher Education and obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, the most recent case was filed Jan. 25 against the university, marking the sixth open case since May 2015. Investigations against Cornell include complaints that the university ignored key evidence in cases, failed to respond promptly and fairly to a reported sexual assault and discriminated against a student based on race, color or national origin by not correctly investigating a sexual assault complaint, according to data from the Chronicle.
Open cases do not mean that a university has violated Title IX, only that the OCR needs to further investigate.
Women’s swimming and diving wins UNYSCSA Championship
For the fourth straight year, the Ithaca College women’s swimming and diving team emerged victorious at the UNYSCSA Championships on Feb. 15–18 in the Athletics and
Events Center.
The women’s team finished the event with 1,488.5 points, ahead of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which finished second with 1,063.5 points. The Bombers also swept the individual awards, as senior Grace Ayer was named Co-Women’s Swimmer of the Meet, while senior Nickie Griesemer was named the Women’s Diver of the Meet, head coach Paula Miller was named Women’s Swimming Coach of the Meet and Chris Griffin was named Women’s Diving Coach of the Meet.
Number of positive flu tests up according to IC Health Center
The Hammond Health Center has confirmed that 51 students have tested positively for the influenza virus. This is up from 21 positive tests last week.
According to a message from the Health Center on Intercom, the flu virus can be detected year-round, but flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter. The exact timing and duration of flu seasons can vary, but influenza activity often begins to increase in October. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although activity can last as late as May. The message stated that flu season is at its peak this month and urged campus community members to take precautions.
