Things we didn’t know we didn’t know

When a student heads off to college for the first time, there is a litany of things they expect to learn: how to meet deadlines, balance work and fun, understand jargon and theories of their chosen major, and apply for internships and jobs.

Going to college, however, is about a lot more than just facts and skills. It’s also about community, adventures, and exploration. In the spirit of that unexpected exploration and discovery, the graduating class of 2025 took a few moments to fill out a survey, sharing about their life on the Hilltop and fun facts they learned as students.

What is a random fact you learned while here at Cornell?

1. “Water might not actually be wet.” ~

1. 2. “Mosquitoes are responsible for up to a million human deaths per year.” ~Gracie Erickson, English creative writing major, with a secondary education certification.

1. 3. “I have learned that going up the hill to Pauley-Rorem Hall does not get any easier, even after 4 years.” ~Clare Green, finance and Spanish double major, with a minor in applied statistics.

1. 4. “I recently learned that a Cornell graduate, Leo Beranek '36, was an important figure in 20th-century acoustical engineering. That's a really interesting subject that I would love to learn more about.” ~Simon Downs, engineering major, with a minor in applied math.
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3. 5. “Squirrels nest in tree branches (like birds do) and their nests are called dreys.” ~Laura McLees, biochemistry and molecular biology major. 

1. 6. “That the squirrels here are the biggest ones I have seen living in Iowa.” ~Lilly Dierkes, biochemistry and molecular biology major, with minors in psychology and kinesiology.

1. 7. “We have a very extensive collection of Native American artifacts that were donated by a collector in the late 1800s. Extremely rare artifacts included!” ~Natalie Zenk, archaeology and art history double major.

1. 8. “We were also called the Hilltoppers back in the day!” ~Amelia Anderson, gender, sexuality, and women’s studies major.

1. 9. “Leaf-mining flies make unique mine patterns in the mesophyll of leaves.” ~Landon Card, religion and biochemistry and molecular biology double major.

1. 10. “Squirrels like cookies.” ~Josalin McKeever, biochemistry and molecular biology major.

1. 11. “McWethy Hall used to be a gymnasium.” ~Aina Phelps, applied psychology and studio art double major.

1. 12. “Bowman is haunted ... but I don't believe it.” ~Emma Slaymaker, English creative writing and environmental justice and sustainability double major and a minor in politics.

1. 13. “I learned that the school colors weren’t always purple and white.” ~Jada Sabir, biochemistry and molecular biology major, with a minor in Spanish.

1. 14. “There used to be a swim team here. I used to swim. That would've been amazing.” ~Elin Kairies, biochemistry and molecular biology major, with a minor in studio art.

1. 15. “I have learned that Cornell has these things called the cages underneath Thomas Commons, where all of the student organizations and groups that are active on campus house their materials.” ~Abby Burns, psychological sciences major.

1. 16. “MLK has been here; his speech was incredible.” ~Razan Hamza, international and multicultural studies and psychology double major.

1. 17. “The elevator in the Norton Geology Center is one of the oldest in the state. (If you read the little paper for when it got put in, it'll tell you which one it was; I think it's #7).” ~Raissa Jacobs, German studies and ecology and evolutionary biology double major.