The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/2002/07/18/hail-all-hail-cornell/)
Hail, All Hail Cornell
By wpengine | July 18, 2002
Welcome Class of 2006 to Cornell University, one of the eight prestigious Ivy League schools. All through high school you had your eyes set on one or many of the Ivies. And why shouldn't you? The Ivy League represents some of the most academically challenging, selective, and respected colleges and universities in the United States if not the world.
Ironic isn't it that the Ivy League began as an athletic conference.
Yes, it only by coincidence that those eight schools: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton and Yale represent the most elite schools in the country.
However, few know that these world-class institutions are accompanied by world-class athletics departments, and Cornell is no exception. That is why when U.S. News and World Report named the top-20 sports programs last year it was no surprise that Cornell was on the list, joining Harvard, Brown, Princeton and Dartmouth.
Cornell offers the second-most varsity sports, 36, of Division I schools, all of which are covered in The Sun. Some athletes have competed at the highest levels of athletics whether you consider those to be the Olympics, World Cup, NHL or NFL.
Travis Mayer and Hannah Hardaway, two freestyle skiers at the Salt Lake Olympics, are Cornell products, although they probably didn't perfect their moves at Greek Peak. Mayer, a sophmore, won the silver medal, while Hardaway finished just out of medal contention in fifth place.
Meanwhile Cornellians also found success at the E Center. Joe Nieuwendyk and Dana Antal both won gold medals for the men's and women's Canadian hockey teams.
Things back in Ithaca also went well this past year. The men's hockey and lacrosse teams both announced their returns to national prominence. Both teams fought their way to quarterfinal appearances in the NCAA tournaments.
The women's volleyball, lacrosse, and basketball teams had their best seasons in school history with the lacrosse team reaching the Final Four.
The women's track team swept through the Ivies in all three of its seasons. And the women's polo team three-peated as national champions.
Yes, it is a good time to be a Big Red fan. But to share a secret, it has always been a good time to be a Big Red fan.
Pop Warner 1894, Dick Schaap '55, Ed Marinaro '72, and Ken Dryden '69 all grace the walls of the Hall of Fame room in Schoellkopf Hall. The national championship trophy from the first NCAA tournament in men's lacrosse is hidden in the lax office. The banner from the only undefeated-untied season ever in NCAA hockey history hangs from the rafters in Lynah Rink.
Cornell is the only school to have winning records against Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State (of course none of those teams will ever be able to exact revenge since Cornell is safely in the ranks of D I-AA football).
Or more recently, Tony Kornheiser, anchor of the ESPN show Pardon the Interruption, decorated the set with a Cornell football helmet.
Nothing infuses the campus with school pride such as a routing of No. 1 Syracuse on the lacrosse field or welcoming the Crimson hockey team with a shower of fish and a good harassing
Going to a game, whether it is for football, soccer, volleyball or hockey allows the student body to partake in Cornell school spirit. These teams unite the campus as we cheer on our classmates, acquaintances and friends as they lead our alma mater into friendly tilts against Dartmouth and Columbia or not-so-friendly battles against Harvard or Penn.
Skeptics have sounded the death toll of the student-athlete, but he or she is alive and well at Cornell. When you watch a match, meet, or game on the Hill you will see your peers engaged in the purest form of sport in one of the few forums unblemished by corruption, scandal, and commercialization.
No where is passion for sport as prevalent as in the Ivy League and Cornell. It oozes from the players and the fans alike. So attend a football or hockey game. Stop by Oxley Equestrian Center for a chukker of a polo game. If Cornell wins, celebrate. If not, we'll get them next time. But for the time being enjoy the solidarity of cheering together for our school.
Lift the chorus
Speed it onward
Loud our praises tell
Hail to the our alma mater
Hail, all hail, Cornell.
Archived article by Amanda Angel
A Short History of Slope Day
By wpengine July 19, 2002
Slope Day is an event which brings the Cornell community together in a celebration of the last day of classes. Its name comes from its location: Libe Slope. According to Stephen Ryan '03, "It's the best day of the year." The origins of Slope Day date back to the 1970's when all students could partake in a feast that was prepared by Cornell Dining. Since then this tradition has grown into a campus-wide party, although classes and–for some students, exams–still take place on Slope Day. Reaction Many students are not so enthusiastic about this University policy. "It's pointless to have class because no one goes. That's the whole point of Slope Day," said Courtney Glasgow '04. Last May, hard liquor along with any open or glass containers was banned from the Slope for the first time. Alcohol that was not prohibited was limited to six cans per person. Only people carrying a Cornell ID were permitted onto the slope. Students were informed of the changes by flyers that were posted all over campus. As in past years, students in possession of alcohol had to present proof that they were over 21 years of age. Most students did not believe that the new rules changed how most students celebrated Slope Day. "I think people were maybe a little more cautious about how they brought alcohol in," said Jennifer Su '04. Each year students hold their breaths on the morning of Slope Day to see what the weather will be like. In 2001 the weather was hot and humid, most people were dressed in shorts and bikinis, and some "streakers" were seen running across the slope. This year, however, the picture was different. The weather was in the low 50s and most students held their fleeces close around them or huddled next to each other for warmth. However, the festivities did not slow down because of this less-than-perfect weather. "We all needed a break from classes, and we are used to the cold in Ithaca, so we just put on sweater and drank liquids to keep us warm," said Erin McClure '04. An alcohol-free alternative to the intemperate masses on the slope is Slope Fest that takes place on West Campus below Libe Slope. Free food and non-alcoholic drinks are provided to the students as well as free activities and live music. Performers In 2002, Poetic Alchemy, Nada Surf, Oculus and the Cornell Steel Band were some of the performers. The fun options available to students included laser tag, bouncy boxing, and giveaways of free instant cameras, caricatures, and henna tattoos.Archived article by Liz Novak
Campus Construction Will Increase in Coming Years
By the time members of the Class of 2006 toss their caps in their air, Cornell construction projects will have transformed the campus landscape drastically. The most visible project on campus is Duffield Hall, an addition to the engineering quad that will house research and teaching facilities for nanotechnology. Construction began last summer, and by the time the fall semester starts, the internal structure of the building will be complete. The goal is to have the second phase of the project, the construction of an atrium connecting Phillips, Duffield and Upson Halls, finished by Commencement 2004, according to Stundtner. "Only extraordinary good luck and efforts of the contractors will meet that goal," he said. Since last fall, pedestrian traffic on the engineering quad has been restricted. The area will not be fully accessible until late 2003 at the earliest, Stundtner said. According to Stundtner, pedestrian and vehicular traffic will likely be impeded for short durations during the semester due to the construction. "We try to be sensitive to the issue, because we're already having such a big impact with the quad fenced off," he said. Besides Duffield Hall, many other projects are being planned. The Cornell University Board of Trustees decided last semester to locate the new Life Sciences building on the west end of Alumni Fields, behind Bartels Hall. The $110 million, 240,000 square-foot facility will be physically connected to Corson-Mudd Hall and the Biotechnology Building. Richard Meier '56 has been selected to design the building, though no architectural plans exist yet. Meier has designed such buildings as the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the High Museum in Atlanta. "[Meier] is quite famous and quite innovative," Kresovich said. Since construction of the Life Sciences Technology building will destroy fields that the men's and women's varsity soccer teams, the women's lacrosse team and the football and sprint football teams use, two replacement athletic fields will be built. The location of these fields has not yet been decided. New facilities are not reserved for the sciences. The College of Architecture, Art and Planning will also receive a new building, with Milstein Hall scheduled to replace Rand Hall. In April 2001, an independent jury of six internationally renowned architects selected Steven Holl as the architect of Milstein Hall from a group of four finalists. Many alumni objected to Holl's design, concerned that it would clash with existing architecture on the Arts Quad. They formed a committee dedicated to changing the building's design. According Project Director John McKeown '73, University officials decided this summer to replace Steven Holl as the architect of Milstein Hall. Construction on Milstein will ideally begin next summer and be completed two years later, McKeown said. Due to the magnitude of the change in plans, the exact location of the building is unknown. According to McKeown, Milstein Hall may be located on the site where Rand Hall currently exists or it may be built behind Sibley Hall.Archived article by Stephanie Hankin