Weekly highlights
Oct. 21, 2016

Provost launches initiatives supporting 'radical collaboration'

In the Blog: • The mystery of the disappearing orange peels • Marilyn Migiel salutes Italian PM at D.C. luncheon • We Are Weill Cornell Medicine: Dr. Phyllis August On CornellCast: • College of Veterinary Medicine helps Parsa walk again • Glee Club performs at Homecoming 2016 • Caroline Levine speaks at Books Sandwiched In Upcoming Events: • Insectapalooza explores wild world of bugs Oct. 22 • Lecture to probe emotions of humans, animals Oct. 24 • Things to Do, Oct. 21-28 Cornell Big Red: • Men's hockey to host two exhibition games • Women's tennis taking six to USTA/ITA Regionals • World champion David Palmer to lead squash team

CORNELLIANS IN THE NEWS


"Social media affords users the unique ability to send hateful speech that both targets a specific individual, intimidating them, and reaches a broad audience of like-minded individuals - the user's followers. It's like being able to shout obscenities at a ballplayer at the stadium where only he and your friends hear you." Drew Margolin, assistant professor of communication, on the rise of anti-Semitism toward journalists on Twitter. The Christian Science Monitor - Oct. 19

"It's often said that misogyny is a manifestation of shame, most obviously when perpetrated by individual men, but perhaps even going beyond that. And that could theoretically make for a basis for empathy or solidarity between the perpetrators and the victims. Misogynistic attacks have made me feel ashamed, to the point of wanting to disappear, sometimes. I know a lot of women feel similarly. Even though it ought not be the case, it is. Nor is it irrational: shaming has social meaning." Kate Manne, assistant professor of philosophy, on toxic masculinity. The Huffington Post - Oct. 18

"The paper is like a little sponge wandering around and can serve as a bit of an echo of the bacteria and the people which it has encountered over time." Christopher Mason, assistant professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine, on U.S. currency, which is extremely absorbent and picks up many kinds of bacteria. Business Insider - Oct. 18

"There is, however, one way in which the United States is like Rome and that is, we are a country in translation. Immigration has changed who Americans are. Digitalization has changed how we communicate. Robots will soon change how we work. In short we are living through a series of revolutions that will transform America no less thoroughly than Greek intellectuals and German warriors transformed ancient Rome." Historian Barry Strauss, in an opinion piece, on parallels between the U.S. and the Roman Empire. Fox News - Oct. 18

"His death means that the Thai political system must find an alternative focal point around which to unite the country's factionalized population." Tom Pepinsky, associate professor of government, on the political fallout in the wake of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's death. The New York Times - Oct. 15

"We're at the cusp of potentially electing the first woman president of the United States, so we know that there's a shift going on in terms of gender norms. We know that there's been an increased awareness of queer and trans people in our popular consciousness. It makes sense that in all aspects of American life, including the consumer realm, including cosmetics, we would see those shifts." Oneka LaBennett, associate professor of Africana studies, on CoverGirl's announcement of CoverBoy makeup for men. The Christian Science Monitor - Oct. 13