THE ITHACAN

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.

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.

Commentary: Extracurricular programming is vital to the college experience

By Camille Brock • April 15, 2024

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.

Commentary: Hands-on film courses are essential to promoting learning and inclusion

By Malik Clement • April 11, 2024

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.

Commentary: A new mascot is essential to promoting unity across campus

By Nathan Zakim • April 10, 2024

A common gripe with Ithaca College's prospective, current and former students is in our name: the Ithaca Bombers.

Commentary: Accessible public transportation is key to addressing environmental issues

By Caitlyn O'Dell • April 3, 2024

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.

Commentary: Young people must be respected to address the generational divide

By Louis Pratt • April 2, 2024

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.

Commentary: Student safety must always be a priority

By Eliza Walther • March 28, 2024

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.

Commentary: Diversity is essential to an effective music history curriculum

By Trevor Griffiths • March 27, 2024

I am writing in response to the recent commentary discussing changes to the music history curriculum in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. It appears to be the consensus of many students that the curriculum is beginning to stray too far from the “Western musical canon,” however, I come to offer a different perspective.

Commentary: A student’s perspective on navigating the digital deluge

By Abdullah Farooq • March 21, 2024

As I sit in my dorm room, surrounded by the glow of multiple screens, it's hard to escape the reality that technology has become an integral part of our college experience.