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c1-c4CAMjf11 12/16/10 10:18 AM Page c1 January | February 2011 $6.00 Alumni Corne Magazine Ghost World Photos Bridge Ithaca’s Past and Present cornellalumnimagazine.com c1-c4CAMjf11 12/16/10 10:18 AM Page c2 001-001CAMjf11toc 12/17/10 10:35 AM Page 1 January / February 2011 Volume 113 Number 4 In This Issue Corne Alumni Magazine 4 2 From David Skorton Money matters 4 The Big Picture A big blow-up 6 Correspondence Suicide prevention 9 Letter from Ithaca Shirt off their backs 10 From the Hill Oh, the humanities! 14 Sports Wrestle mania 17 Authors It’s all right 24 Summer Programs and Sports Camps 20 40 Wines of the Finger Lakes Swedish Hill Cynthia Marie Port 54 Classifieds & Cornellians in Business 55 Alma Matters 58 Class Notes 95 Alumni Deaths 48 96 Cornelliana 42 Through a Glass, Darkly Conserving a conservatory? FRANKLIN CRAWFORD Urban renewal was kinder to Ithaca than to some Upstate cities, but over the past cen- Currents tury many stately buildings have still been lost—from Ezra Cornell’s Free Circulating Library to Alonzo Cornell’s mansion to the grand old Strand Theatre. In a series of photos recently exhibited at the History Center of Tompkins County, former visiting professor Mark Iwinski captures the ghostly images of bygone structures superimposed 20 Flour Power over what stands in their place. Often, it isn’t pretty. Milling the old-fashioned way Starry Nights 48 Vegging In Cosmic storyteller BETH SAULNIER Eat Different Promoting a plant-based diet When the Moosewood Restaurant served its first meal thirty-eight years ago this month, the owners were still trying to figure out how to run the steam table (and the entrée Learning Curve was two hours late). But with a menu of tasty vegetarian cuisine, plus the success of A prof’s cultural tasting menu the Moosewood Cookbook, the humble Ithaca eatery has grown to be one of the Scoop Dreams world’s most famous natural-foods restaurants. Now, Cornell’s Rare and Manuscript Sweetest job ever? Collections is home to Moosewood’s historical archives—a trove of photos, business California Greening papers, fan mail, and much more. Farmers’ market maven Plus | Tweet Music Visit CAM Online A bountiful bird book cornellalumnimagazine.com Cover photograph by Mark Iwinski Cornell Alumni Magazine (ISSN 1548-8810; USPS 006-902) is published six times a year, in January, March, May, July, September, and November, by the Cornell Alumni Federation, 401 East State Street, Suite 301, Ithaca, NY 14850. Subscriptions cost $30 a year. Periodical postage paid at Ithaca, NY, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cornell Alumni Magazine, c/o Public Affairs Records, 130 East Seneca St., Suite 400, Ithaca, NY 14850-4353. January | February 2011 1 002-003CAMjf11skorton 12/16/10 10:21 AM Page 2 From David Skorton Why Support Higher Education in Tight Financial Times? mong the many things that make serv- ing Cornell such a joy is the enormous A support—unrivaled in my thirty years’ experience in higher education—that Cornellians offer. Those of you engaged with the University devote thou- sands of hours each year to advisory councils, boards, alumni mentoring, admissions interviews, guest lec- tures on and off campus, reunions, class and club pro- grams, and myriad other volunteer activities. And Cor- nell alumni, parents, and friends have been remarkably generous with financial support, even in these difficult financial times. Of the top 400 charitable causes com- piled yearly by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Cornell consistently ranks in the top 10 percent, and in the most recent tally—based on fiscal year 2009 data—we ranked twenty-seventh overall and third among higher education institutions. In a period of uncertainty and austerity, and with ROBERT BARKER / UP so many opportunities to help lift the world’s burdens or improve lives in a tangible way through philanthropy, why do Much more important than the sheer size of the monetary so many people—including Cornellians—choose to support contribution to higher education is what the generosity makes higher education? possible. Private philanthropy is a critical piece of the funding Certainly, many alumni feel great pride in their alma mater, mix at most colleges and universities. At Cornell, for example, and their desire to preserve and promote its distinction is a wor- in FY 2010, payout from the endowment accounted for 10 per- thy reason for philanthropy. Alumni pride, expressed through cent of our $3 billion operating budget. This included a $35 mil- philanthropy, has strengthened Cornell in countless ways. lion endowment payout for financial aid, which helps us ensure Another reason, in my view, is that contributions to higher edu- that academically talented undergraduates from families of lim- cation represent faith in the future: a belief that we have ited means will not incur a crushing burden of debt. In addition, advanced as a civilization through the discovery, acquisition, dis- gifts to be used in the current year accounted for an additional semination, and application of knowledge, and that we need to 5 percent of the operating budget. In sum, nearly one dollar in pass on that opportunity to succeeding generations. At a time six contributing to Cornell’s operation comes from philanthropy. when nearly half of all Americans polled in a recent telephone Equally important, philanthropy provides the edge for excel- survey feared that the nation’s best days are behind us, invest- lence at even our best universities. At Cornell, our greatly ment in higher education is a singularly optimistic act. enhanced need-based student financial aid, the new faculty Thanks to the leadership of our trustees, overseers, and many renewal initiative, the many professorships that will follow, and other alumni, parents, and friends, Cornell ended the 2010 fis- funding for critical, carefully selected capital projects all depend cal year with new gifts and commitments up 77 percent over the on robust fundraising, combined with our continued progress recession-driven declines of the previous year, for a total of $466 toward a balanced budget that includes judicious growth. million. Last year, in fact, Cornell had the top results in the Ivy I am grateful for the many ways—financial and otherwise— League for new gifts and commitments. Last year, too, the Cor- so many of you have chosen to support Cornell. I do not take nell Annual Fund recorded its eighth consecutive year of growth, your phenomenal generosity for granted. I invite you to continue up 12 percent, with $27.3 million given by more than 32,000 your involvement in the years ahead to ensure that our univer- donors. And while large, transformational gifts make news and sity realizes the aspiration we set for ourselves in the strategic are deeply appreciated, all gifts—regardless of size—matter. plan: to be widely recognized as a top-ten research university in As we announced at an alumni event in Boston last Novem- the world, and a model university for the interweaving of liberal ber, Cornell recently reached the $3 billion mark in the $4 bil- education and fundamental knowledge with practical education lion Far Above campaign, launched in 2006. Very few universi- and impact on societal and world problems. That is the prom- ties have ever raised that amount in a campaign. This support is ise and the opportunity of our Cornell. a testament to the loyalty and commitment of those engaged with — President David Skorton Cornell. [email protected] 2 Cornell Alumni Magazine | cornellalumnimagazine.com 002-003CAMjf11skorton 12/16/10 10:21 AM Page 3 004-005CAMjf11bigpic 12/16/10 10:25 AM Page 4 The Big Picture 4 Cornell Alumni Magazine | cornellalumnimagazine.com 004-005CAMjf11bigpic 12/16/10 10:25 AM Page 5 Gas Bag On December 10, a balloon twenty-five feet in diameter was inflated at the Johnson Museum to herald the upcoming “Unpacking the Nano” exhibit. The balloon represents one year of emissions from the Tata Nano, the celebrated “people’s car” that is the brainchild of Indian industrialist and Cornell trustee Ratan Tata ’59, BArch ’62. The exhibit runs from January 15 to March 27. JASON KOSKI / UP January | February 2011 5 006-008CAMjf11corresp 12/16/10 10:26 AM Page 6 Correspondence Means & Ends Alumni express support for the efforts to prevent suicides I am writing in praise of Beth out. Life is miserable and hopeless. I can’t Saulnier’s “Barrier Method” (Cur- handle it here. Cornell is too competitive. rents, September/October 2010). Everyone else here is much smarter than This extremely informative piece me. I am worthless. Why bother anymore. artfully explored the many aspects Should I jump? of Cornell’s bridge dilemma in Dazed and confused, I wandered light of the recent suicides, from away and headed toward Collegetown. the difficulty in designing a Fortunately, I collected myself and some- barrier that delivers both func- how put my test result into perspective. tionality and aesthetic appeal to a The negative images that had consumed discussion of the true ability of my brain began to be replaced by positive fencing to prevent bridge-based and optimistic thoughts. Jumping was a suicides based on psychological stupid idea. How could I even think that? studies and statistics on suicidal I realized that I was still just a teenager, individuals. with much to contribute to the world Cornell could have chosen to ahead of me. Plus, I reminded myself, keep a lid on publicity following there are worse things in life than a bad the unfortunate rash of suicides in test grade—so get over it. 2009–10, but it has elected to pur- Although the thought of suicide had sue a much higher path and bring flashed through my brain just a few min- this issue to the forefront so the utes prior, my mind was far removed from University can publicly acknowl- the act of jumping by the time I calmly edge this distressing problem and strolled across the College Avenue bridge.