You Said: Summer 2021

By Cornell Report staff

Said on campus

Neese headshot“Your success in the block plan shows the strongest of work ethics and a mindset of persistence. These are the unmeasurable outcomes of your time here that matter most for workplace success, graduate training success, medical school success, and quite simply, life success, that put you ahead of anyone. You can do anything in 18 days. You did. You are ready.”

Steven Neese
Associate Professor of Psychology
Class of 2021 faculty speaker

Women’s history appreciated

I want to express my appreciation for your recent article about the history of
women at Cornell. Although one is pleased to note that this is a big topic, the article happily combined many insights heretofore little known, as well as succinctness.  

Hugh Lifson
Professor emeritus of art, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Pioneering women—in 1978

Members of the 1902 Cornell women’s basketball team, which beat Coe in the first women’s intercollegiate game. The women are wearing bloomers.
Members of the 1902 Cornell women’s basketball team, which beat Coe in the first women’s intercollegiate game. The women are wearing bloomers.

Thanks for the great article on pioneering women at Cornell! I learned things about the history of women at Cornell that I didn’t know before. It was also great to see Diane Crowder featured. She really made a difference. I remember back when she was the advisor to the Women’s Action Group (WAG), a group of budding Cornell feminists. 

I’d like to add just one small thing about women’s history at Cornell, which is that when I was a first-year in 1978-79, one of the new coaches started the first women’s track team. For some wacky reason, I decided to join. We were terrible, and I was truly awful. But every time we ran, we set school records! I ended up with really painful shin splints from running in inadequate shoes, later traded in for neon banana colored Nikes with a bright blue swoosh (which, if I still possessed, would probably be valuable “vintage” shoes!). I almost quit, but stuck out the season, and women’s track continued at Cornell the next year without me. 

Mel Wensel ’82
Port Orchard, Washington 

Female firsts distinguish Cornell

Thank you for the article in the
Cornell Report about Pioneering Women. As always, it was beautifully written and a wonderful tribute to the many women who paved the way for us at Cornell. The many fascinating “female firsts” really serve to distinguish Cornell College as a progressive and inclusive leader in higher education.

Ann Parker Foote ’79
Naples, Florida

Reflecting on climate change

I want to convey how well the fall 2020 Cornell Report article on climate change reflected on the college, its faculty, its alumni, and, as well, on those of your staff who pulled together a story certainly worth telling. The comments excerpted from Stephen Chu’s Delt Lecture appearance at Cornell really served to punctuate the story just as the very fact of his appearance served to underscore the school’s progressive position on climate change. 

Bob Bowman ’62
Glenview, Illinois

Be part of the conversation

We invite respectful and courageous letters and social media mentions in response to this special issue. Tag @cornellcollege to be considered on social media. Send letters to ISeeYou@cornellcollege.edu or Cornell Report, Box 1648, 600 First St. SW, Mount Vernon, IA 52314-1098. Submissions are edited for style, length, and clarity.