Editorial misrepresents purpose of Israel Independence Day event

By Michael Faber, Hillel DIrector and Jewish Chaplain • February 23, 2012

Regarding some of the information in the “We Are Here, We Are Here!” editorial — The Ithacan’s words characterized the celebration of Israel Independence Day as a response to student conflict on campus when it is anything but. Why is an event that occurs nearly every spring to which anyone and everyone is invited suddenly…

Syria proposals face roadblock

By Shaza Elsheshtawy • February 23, 2012

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s crackdowns on local protestors are attracting attention worldwide. The United Nations and the Arab League have drawn up proposals to address the issue, but have been met with resistance from the Syrian government as well as China and Russia, who vetoed a resolution condemning the Assad regime earlier this month.

Commentary: Chemical warfare legacy lingers abroad and at home

By Maura Stephens • February 23, 2012

Thirty-seven years after the end of U.S. military engagement there, so much dioxin residue remains that some 500,000 children suffer from the effects of chemical warfare, a result of their own or their grandparents’ and parents’ exposure.

Commentary: Legislation threatens public transportation

By Joe Turcotte • February 23, 2012

Recently, we learned about the proposed American Energy Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012 (H.R. 7). This legislation would eliminate dedicated federal fuels taxes for public transit for the first time in 30 years. Since 1983, nearly half of all public transportation funding has come from the federal motor fuels taxes. This funding structure has provided…

Editorial: Be part of it all

By The Ithacan • February 23, 2012

As the 2012 presidential race heats up, being part of the democratic process becomes all the more important. It can be easy to take a cynical view of government as a college student, but being politically engaged can still effect change, even if participation is small. For example, the Susan G. Komen Foundation recently announced…

Editorial: The missing link in IC 20/20

By The Ithacan • February 23, 2012

The Feb. 8 Student Government Association meeting made it clear that students still feel the Ithaca College administration is not listening closely enough to student voices regarding IC 20/20. SGA invited President Tom Rochon to attend the meeting, which centered on worry that student opinion has been relatively missing from the strategic plan’s implementation. After…

Orientation, behavior and identity can intersect multi-dimensionally

By Lis Maurer, Program Director of the Center for LGBT Education, Outreach and Services • February 16, 2012

Thank you to The Ithacan for your interest and coverage of important sexual health information and your inclusion of LGBT people in your article in the Feb. 9 issue. I am writing to offer a little clarification and a citation as one example about how some LGBT people’s lives may be impacted by alcohol and…

Editorial: Reckless

By The Ithacan • February 16, 2012

Last week, students in the Natural Resources and Ecology: Farming the Forest class found their maple syrup production tools destroyed. The damage, which cost more than $300, resulted in loss of students’ time and called into question student morals. Vandalism isn’t new at Ithaca College. From destroyed pianos in the Whalen Center for Music and…

Editorial: We are here, we are here!

By The Ithacan • February 16, 2012

Typically, Ithaca College students lean toward liberal ideology. In addition, students might hear more pro-Israel voices regarding the Israel-Palestinian conflict. These views are the majority, but quantity doesn’t denote inevitable validity. Every voice deserves a platform, and members from the IC Republicans and soon-to-be college chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine are proclaiming theirs.…

Small screen, smart outcome

By TJ Gunther • February 16, 2012

Tech news consumers have been hearing about the post-PC era for a while now — a world where phones and tablets will handle the majority of our computing needs. For the first time ever, smart phone sales exceeded PCs this past holiday quarter, and tablets like the iPad and Kindle Fire have been growing in…

Commentary: Young music teachers find struggle pays off in first year

By Beth Peterson • February 16, 2012

I recently wrote a book based on the stories of several first-year teachers — many of whom are graduates of our Ithaca College Department of Music Education. The book is called “The Music Teacher’s First Year: Tales of Challenge, Joy and Triumph.” The idea behind the book came from my dissertation research, which was a…

Commentary: Students should bring critical eye to ‘diversity’

By Cedrick, Michael Simmons • February 16, 2012

When the audience walked into Emerson Suites for the “Engaging Communities” speaker on “Reel Diversity,” they smelled the aroma that only Southern fried chicken can produce, bit into vegetable egg rolls and ate off of Ithaca’s best plates. There seemed to be an undeniable impression left by the quality of the event — Ithaca College…