by Isabelle Pappas
The method of college reopenings around the globe has been under public scrutiny during these initial weeks of the fall semester. Admins and students alike are being assessed on their ability to resume in-person instruction safely when very limited physical interaction is even deemed safe. Education systems are being tested, and the whole world is watching.
One particular point of contention has been the freshmen class’ ability to comply with Cornell’s behavioral compact and CDC health guidelines. This assumption of irresponsible behavior dominating North Campus, perhaps premature, may be rooted less in the truth of the matter at Cornell but rather in media representations of other universities’ reopening experiences. In most recent news, Syracuse students held a party with hundreds of freshmen only days after move-in, resulting in 23 interim suspensions from the University.
A similar issue was brought closer to home at Cornell and even closer to its North Campus when news spread of a not-so-socially distant party from freshman TikTok star, Jessica Zhang.