The Ithacan

Editorial: Supporting free speech is essential in higher education

By The Ithacan • May 2, 2024

Throughout history, college students have been at the heart of social movements. From nationwide sit-ins during the Civil Rights Movement to more local movements, like protests advocating for the removal of former Ithaca College president Tom Rochon, students’ voices have consistently been a catalyst for change. Today, students’ right to free speech is being threatened nationwide.

Editorial: The college must value and invest in faculty

By The Ithacan • May 2, 2024

No matter the school, educators are the foundation of students’ learning. Excellent educators help cultivate excellent students. However, when educators are not properly supported or appreciated, their ability to educate students dwindles. Undervaluing educators leads to high turnover rates, which can create an unstable and inconsistent environment for students. At Ithaca College, this problem is especially evident.

Commentary: Community-driven initiatives can cultivate positive change

By Syd Pierre, Editor-in-chief • May 2, 2024

College is supposed to be a time of change and an opportunity to forge new connections. During these four years, it’s felt like the latter has suffered because of the sheer amount of high-level institutional changes the campus community has undergone.

Commentary: Creative projects must be grounded in authenticity and care

By Grace Azaula, Opinion Editor • April 30, 2024

To create is one of the most beautiful things a human can do. The ability to translate feelings into poems, opinions into films, sorrow into songs — it’s what makes humanity so special. Creative projects and creative people alike have always entranced me, especially when they are able to use creativity as a force for change. However, as much as creating is a gift, it is a challenge that requires intention and care.

Editorial: Campus climate survey results must be followed by community engagement

By The Ithacan • April 28, 2024

The environment in which people live and work can be one of the most critical factors in determining both success and fulfillment. Who wants to work, study or live in a place where they do not feel comfortable? To gauge the comfort of students, staff and faculty, Ithaca College released a campus climate survey this fall after the last survey was done in 2016. The willingness to engage in conversations regarding campus climate is a good first step on behalf of the college, but it must be followed by engagement from all members of the campus community.

Commentary: NCAA Board of governors must protect transgender women athlete inclusion in college sport

By Ellen J. Staurowsky, Nathan Cooperman, Luisangel Del Tor, Gavin Hyland, Abigail Jones, and Lily Seyfert • April 26, 2024

As the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Board of Governors convenes its quarterly meeting, there is a question in the air as to whether the NCAA will follow a path paved recently by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), when they adopted a policy to prevent transgender women from participating on teams that align with their gender identities.

Commentary: Fostering community among students of color is necessary

By Nathalie Molina • April 24, 2024

Growing up right next to Washington, D.C., I was integrated into diverse classrooms and communities through my extracurriculars and homelife. I wanted to continue being involved with extracurriculars when I began college, and I am forever grateful for that decision. Immediately after entering Ithaca College’s campus, I was met with culture shock and imposter syndrome.

Commentary: Beauty does not outweigh the risks of the Callery pear tree

By Johannes Berghahn • April 23, 2024

The Callery pear tree, Pyrus calleryana, also known as the Bradford pear is a cultivated species of pear tree native to eastern China. It was brought to the United States as an ornamental landscape tree in the early 1900s and its widespread planting began in the post-World War boom in the 1960s. The tree has been prized for its showy white early-spring flowers. But do not get too close, as the flower's smell is unpleasant and is often cited as smelling like rotting fish or semen.

Editorial: New billing system harms students and increases inequity

By The Ithacan • April 18, 2024

The price of higher education is a cost heavy on many students' minds. At Ithaca College, the cost of tuition, room and board and other fees totals $75,013. Because of this price, a majority of students rely on financial aid in pursuit of their degree. However, recent changes to the billing system makes the college even more financially inaccessible to students.

Editorial: Housing decisions must account for student needs

By The Ithacan • April 17, 2024

Ithaca College prides itself on being a residential college. However, this translates to students being required to live on campus for at least three years before moving off campus. While in an ideal world, this may result in fostering community, the realities of on-campus housing are less than ideal.

Pencils Down: Academic validation can create excessive stress in students

By Gabe Hendershot • April 17, 2024

College is an advantageous time for many young adults because there are so many academic, social and career opportunities available to them. This is a sentiment echoed constantly by parents and, for the most part, it is true. It’s the messaging hidden behind statements like this that causes a problem.

Commentary: Cinemapolis is a space for community

By Matt Minton • April 17, 2024

When I first stepped foot into Cinemapolis as an introverted first-year student struggling to find my place, I immediately felt a sense of belonging within Ithaca’s independent film scene. From greeting the smiling, dedicated faces at the box office to deciding what seasoning I wanted on my popcorn, I knew it would be just the first trip of many throughout my college years.