The Ithacan

Editorial: Media literacy initiatives are essential campus resources

By The Ithacan • December 4, 2024

The concept of media literacy has been rising in both journalistic circles and common discussions across campus — accusations of being “media illiterate” or assumptions that media literacy is solely an issue for those interested in communications have become a common refrain. But the concept of media literacy is not a new force, and efforts to expand the course offerings throughout the college reflect a growing interest in the field.

Commentary: Election fears highlight need for working class unity

By Giovanni Machado • December 4, 2024

Lately, I’ve heard all kinds of responses when talking to people before and after the election. I’ve heard people afraid of the current state of the world, I’ve heard people afraid of deportation, environmental catastrophe, economic downturn, discrimination and the decline of democracy. I’ve heard that people are afraid.

Commentary: Gen Z must speak up amid U.S. political turmoil

By Chloe Johnston, Opinion Editor • December 4, 2024

Gen Z needs to get to work. But Gen Z is not your savior.

Editorial: Caution must be exercised in potential financial cuts

By The Ithacan • December 4, 2024

Ithaca College has a history of staff and program cuts that have created a feeling of unrest both in the student body and staff. The return of Huron Consulting Group on campus is not an immediate cause for concern from an academic standpoint, as it may lead to the strengthening of the institution as a whole. But for employees of the college, patterns of academic prioritization due to COVID-19 have raised warning signs.

Editorial: Election Day does not decide our success or downfall

By The Ithacan • November 13, 2024

No politician, party or policy can save or condemn us. In the wake of election results that may put many of Ithaca College’s community members at risk, we need a reminder that our civic duty does not end or begin with Election Day.

Letter to the Editor: A eulogy for Professor George Schuler

By Asma Barlas • November 13, 2024

I write this note of gratitude in memory of Professor George Schuler (1935–2024) who passed away on September 7. I suspect his former colleagues and students have plenty of stories to share about his warm humanity, open-mindedness and caring nature, and this is mine.

Commentary: Buffalo Street Books needs community support

By John Jacobson • November 13, 2024

Independent bookstores are the heart of any community, and in Ithaca, Buffalo Street Books proudly fulfills that role for locals, students and visitors alike. As an Ithaca College alumni who has made their home in Ithaca, Buffalo Street Books has been a shining beacon of what it means for a local organization to serve its community above all. That’s why, in a time of crisis for the store, it is imperative that the college’s community stand behind this iconic Ithaca institution.

Commentary: Readers must be critical in their news consumption

By Will Regalado Succop • November 13, 2024

Following escalations in Gaza in the past year, significant media attention has been paid to the ongoing conflict and its expansion throughout the Middle East. Commentators sympathetic to both Palestinian and Israeli experiences have raised charges of bias against mainstream Western publications.

Commentary: LGBTQ+ youth can find community in online spaces

By Jade Ferrante, Contributing Writer • October 30, 2024

The first time I came out, it was online. I was scrolling through comments on a Youtube video when I stumbled across one that mentioned being gay. Without much thought, I replied, “me too.” It was the first time I engaged with other LGBTQ+ people online, but it was far from the last.

Editorial: Ithaca’s unhoused population requires communal assistance

By The Ithacan • October 30, 2024

Many Ithacans have been left with uncertain housing futures after the collective loss of government funding for local transitional housing initiatives — the Village and Sunflower House — and the imminent closure of St. John’s Community Center. The Village House is a program run by The Village at Ithaca, which is an educational organization that serves young people. Sunflower House provides transitional housing for formerly incarcerated men.

Commentary: Campus community must support all BIPOC students

By Olivia Celenza • October 30, 2024

Ithaca College was supposed to be the love letter the little mixed girl never got when she was growing up, when she was too hard on herself, tired of hiding who she was, and desperately wanted to find her fit in a world that never seemed to truly have a place for her. And in some ways, that was the case, but not in the way I expected. I believed the MLK Scholarship program was a start. This was the first time I truly felt seen as someone worthy of membership in the BIPOC community. A person who learned to advocate for herself and others struggling to find their voice. And yet, something was missing.

Dorm room cleanliness is a collective responsibility

By The Ithacan • October 30, 2024

College campuses are often known to be dirty. Mold is only one of the various health concerns that can arise in college residential living. In a 2023 investigative report, The Nation reported that over 180 cases of mold in college dorms have been reported since 2023. This fall, at least two of the reports of mold made by Ithaca College students were attended to by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.