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I ENJOYED YOUR COVER PHOTO OF
President David Skorton at his inauguration
(November/December 2006), as
much for its focus on his academic hood
as for its perspective of his looking toward
Cornell's future. On the occasion of my
October 27, 2006, remarks to the joint
annual meeting of the members of the
Board of Trustees and the University
Council, I commented that David's hood
of purple, yellow, green, and black over
that red gown "represents, in a sense, the
fabric of David's new campus, a ‘rich tapestry'--
to borrow from the poet Maya
Angelou--that is more diverse today than
even a handful of years ago." Your photo
of David's colorful hood, an apt symbol of
the richness and diversity of today's Cornell,
serves as a poignant reminder of the
need for all alumni to broaden our outreach
efforts in pursuing younger alumni,
alumni of color, and international alumni
to participate in leadership roles, as well as
the importance of diversifying further the
membership of the University Council.
Jay Waks '68, JD '71
Chair, Cornell University Council
New York, New York
Ed. Note: The cover photo was taken by
Jason Koski of University Photography.
PRESIDENT SKORTON'S INAUGURAL
address ["Dance," included in our inaugural coverage] is one
of the most brilliant,
thoughtful, gracious, and innovative
addresses I have ever read.
The Very Rev. John Bartholomew '53
Lake City, Minnesota
Arecibo Alert
CORNELL BUILT ARECIBO OBSERvatory
in the early 1960s and has
operated it ever since--but this
tenure may be coming to an end. The
National Science Foundation's
astronomy division commissioned a
"Senior Review" of their facilities,
with the goal of freeing $30 million
(from a facilities budget of roughly
$130 million) for the operation of a
new millimeter-wave telescope. This
review has resulted in cuts to the
observatory's budget of 25 percent
until 2011, after which Cornell will
have to obtain operating funds from
new sources or perhaps close the facility.
Added to this is the requirement that Cornell
strip the lead-based paint from the triangular
platform suspended above the
dish, which holds the receiving antennas,
and repaint the platform; the cost is estimated
at $5 million.
Arecibo Observatory is the largest and
most sensitive radio telescope in the
world; no other facility is expected to
exceed even one-tenth of its sensitivity
until at least 2020. It is a discovery instrument that has led science
in areas such as
tests of general relativity, measuring the
structure and evolution of the universe,
accurate measurements of Earth-bound
asteroid trajectories, the understanding of
the ionosphere and plasmas, and many
others. In addition, Arecibo's Visitor and
Education Facility is the most frequented
of its type at any NSF-funded location. It
serves Puerto Rican education at all levels,
from elementary school through graduate
school, and is part of the reason so many Puerto Ricans choose Cornell
for their
university education.
I have been a member of the scientific
staff at Arecibo since 1992. More than
150 Cornell employees work for Arecibo,
mostly in Puerto Rico but also in Ithaca.
The Ithaca and Arecibo staffs have
already suffered layoffs, with thirty positions
eliminated.
It is in the best interest of Cornell,
Puerto Rico, and the world that Arecibo
Observatory continue to lead research in
astronomical, planetary, and ionospheric
sciences, as well as in education and public
outreach. I hope that my fellow Cornell
alumni will join us in the effort to preserve
this unique facility.
Jonathan Friedman '84
Senior Research Associate
Arecibo Observatory
Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Architectural Credits
IT WAS ILLUMINATING TO SEE REM
Koolhaas's design for Milstein Hall, the
proposed building for the College of
Architecture (From the Hill, November/
December 2006). I hope that further
details, including the building's relationship
to the entire Arts Quad, will be presented.
It was, however, disturbing to note
that the articles about the renovations of
Lynah Rink and Bailey Hall had no architectural
credits. I am sure this was an oversight--
please enlighten us.
Judith York Newman, BArch '57
New York, New York
Ed. Note: We apologize for the omissions.
The design for the Bailey Hall project was
done by Mitchell/Giurgola Architects, and
the Lynah Rink renovation was the work of
Rossetti Architects. |
