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.
A common gripe with Ithaca College's prospective, current and former students is in our name: the Ithaca Bombers.
Two apparently unrelated items spark this commentary. First was the headline in The Ithacan, March 28, 2024 editorial: “The College Must Support Student-Driven Advocacy.” Second was my finishing Doris Kearns Goodwin’s biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt—in which she spends considerable space explaining FDR’s decision-making: how he brought the fiercely isolationist American public along to support America’s role in World War Two.
When some think of art, they may think of big, prestigious museums or theaters with expensive entry fees and Eurocentric works. While those spaces may serve a purpose in the art world, local artistic spaces are just as, if not more, important, especially when it comes to promoting accessibility in the arts.
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.
In an ideal world, a college campus is an environment that signifies progress and change. It is a space where like-minded young people are able to learn, grow and express what they believe. At Ithaca College, advocacy has always been a vital part of the campus community. However, it is not solely up to students to push for change. It is also the administration's responsibility to hear students' demands and respond with effective action.
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.
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