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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
On one Friday every month, I host late-night programming with my student organization, IC After Dark. ICAD was formed in 2001 to create late-night events on Ithaca College’s campus. It has since stayed true to that original mission and continues to be one of a few main student organizations that function to serve the need of large-scale programming for all students.
Since I started using a camera and editing videos in high school, I realized that I wanted to work in film and photography. The joy I find in being able to express myself visually and working through an artistic process has become a key part of my life. However, as I learned more about the structure of classes at Ithaca College, I often felt as though I wasn't truly learning anything and questioned if I had made the right decision with what I wanted to do.
Climate change poses a severe threat to the planet, evident in unpredictable weather patterns during seasonal transitions. As awareness of these changes grows, so does the realization of the need for action to reduce our impact on the environment. One prominent discussion revolves around reducing vehicle emissions, which not only contribute to atmospheric risks like ozone, methane and carbon monoxide, but also raise broader public health concerns related to air and noise pollution.
I recently walked into a cell phone store, and my experience was appalling. I wanted an upgrade but could not receive it because the employee suspected “suspicious activity.” The employee would not give me any information about my account or the “suspicious activity” because they did not trust me. I was told I needed to call my parents, and have them deal with this situation and resolve it. I checked my shirt — it did not say “clueless young adult,” and neither did my facial nor body expressions.
When Ithaca College students think of the Office of Public Safety, words like “reliable,” “helpful” and “safe” come to mind. However, this response is not the case for every student, and I am one of those students who have experienced a lack of support from our school’s public safety office.