Our House (continued from cover)
there…this is important because it is a big adjustment for international students…in the block system.” Fadzai Fungura (Zimbabwe) agrees that Stoner House “has that homey feeling which helps a lot of foreign students.” Nakyda Dean likes the fact that students are encouraged to stop by informally just to “see what’s new.” For Nakyda, Heather Roberts and Janah Cook, Stoner House is a place to get away and talk comfortably with other people. As Nakyda puts it, “Stoner House is exactly that: a house. (It) offers the same comforts and enjoyment as your own home, in a college setting.”
With so much to recommend it, Stoner House is indeed like home.
Smith Visit No “Problem” for Cornell Students
By Samantha Golden
On Wednesday, October 4, BACO and Intercultural Life sponsored the return of speaker Bryant K. Smith. This year’s program, “99 Problems,” explored the history and perceptions of hip hop. As usual, Bryant’s energetic and interactive program got people up and moving to the musical examples he used. Bryant said he began work in the lecture and program field by attending conferences and workshops that inspired him and made him realize he could do the same thing other speakers were doing. He also joked that a major asset of being an entrepreneur is being self-employed. Bryant can choose his own hours and schedule, but more important, he is able to speak about issues that are meaningful to him. Since the time he was a student he has been active in the Black Student Union and has used his experiences to make his presentations proactive, engaging and influential to his audience.
Bryant K. Smith with members of his appreciative audience October 4
Alumni Profile
What Ever Happened to . . . Claude Howard, Jr.?
Graduated: 1997
Major: Sociology
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Current address: Iowa
Career update: Member of the Marion Police Department for the past 8 years; certified as an Arson Investigator and Hazardous Devices Technician; also a member of the Midwest Gang Investigator’s Association and Iowa Narcotics Officers Association. For the past
four years Claude has been assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force in Cedar Rapids. Claude also enjoys coaching club volleyball for Marion H.S. and is Club Director. “Cornell gave me the opportunity to experience a different side of life. The environment I was raised in was socially, economically and demographically very different from Mt. Vernon, Iowa. I gained an appreciation for the slower pace…in an environment that not only taught me some things about myself but allowed me to affect the lives of others by teaching about my own life and culture. Cornell also provided me with five great friends who remain family to me and one awesome assistant director whom I love dearly.” Claude is married to Tiel Howard and has a daughter named Nia.
Student Spotlight
Name: Caroline Sang
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
Major: Sociology/Women’s Studies
Year: Junior
Hobbies/interests: Civil rights activism, knitting, fencing
What she likes about Cornell: OCAAT – “because it is very accommodating for people who come from various learning backgrounds” and the small size of the campus and classes.
Future plans: Grad school, where she will pursue a PhD in Sociology. Caroline hopes to become a professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies.
Interview by Stephanie Lampkin
Student Spotlight
Name: Hassaan Malik
Hometown: Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Major: Computer Science and Economics and Business
Year: Senior
Hobbies/interests: “Messing with computers and people” and table tennis
What he likes about Cornell: Rood House, the faculty, and how “the majority of the people I’ve met have no idea how they got here.”
Future Plans: Find a job requiring a degree in Economics and Business
Interview by Stephanie Lampkin
Culture Clip: Encuentro de Culturas
October 12 celebrates the “Encounter of Cultures” to remember the day in 1492 when two different worlds collided to change the history of humankind. From this time on, the cultural exchange between the two continents affected people in both positive and negative ways. For this reason, in Costa Rica it is not called Columbus Day or Race Day (Dia de la Raza) as in other Latin American countries. It is up to each of us to reflect on what we have achieved and what we have lost after this “encounter of cultures.”
Yeison Lara Fonseca
P.A.L.S. People Picnicking!
P.A.L.S. kicked off the year with a picnic at the BACO House on September 17. P.A.L.S. is a mentoring program promoting friendships between new and returning students, and hosts events throughout the year.
Next event: Cornell-Coe Tailgating Party November 11 at Stoner House.
What’s Up??
October 18: “Incognegro” 7:30 p.m. Kimmel Black Box
October 20: Alumni Social 5:00 p.m. BACO House
October 20: Hillel Shabbat Dinner 6:00 p.m. Stoner House
October 23-24: Stoner House Study Table 8:00 p.m.
October 29: EOTW Halloween Party 6:00 p.m. Stoner House
November 2: Dia de los Muertos (display on the OC)
November 3: Student Leaders meeting 11:30 a.m. Stoner House
November 3: EOTW Culture Show 6:00 p.m. on the OC
November 10: Council on Multiculturalism 11:45 a.m. Harlan DR
November 11: PALS event: Cornell/Coe Tailgating Party
November 16: BACO Date Auction 7:00 p.m. on the OC
November 18: Multicultural Conference (Commons)
November 19: Thanksgiving Dinner 5:30 p.m. BACO House
November 19: Thanksgiving Dinner 6:00 p.m. Harlan House
November 20: Transgendered Day of Remembrance
November 20-21: Stoner House Study Table 8:00 p.m.
Fun facts we bet you didn’t know!
Occasions observed in October…
· Auto Battery Safety Month
· Pasta Month
· Sarcastic Awareness Month (oh really??)
· Vegetarian Month
· Pet Peeve Week
· Wolf Awareness Week
· World Egg Day
…and in November
· Apple Month
· Bladder Health Week
· Drum Month
· Plan Your Epitaph Day
· Sandwich Day
· Dunce Day
· Buy Nothing Day
Cultural Connection is a monthly newsletter focusing on students, programs and services supported by the Office of Intercultural Life.
Questions, comments or guest columns may be submitted to Box 2604.
You may also contact the office if you wish to be added or dropped from the mailing list.
CulturalConnection
September 2006
Our House is a Very, Very, Very Fine House
By Daki Moore
Stoner House, prior to serving as the facility it does today, used to be a successful coffee shop, known for its triangular cream-filled donuts. Cornell College purchased the building in 1974 and in 1994 it became the home of the Office of Intercultural Life. Stoner House continues to be enjoyed by many people in the campus community including the 14 groups served by ICL, faculty members and their classes, and other student organizations. Unlike many small colleges, Cornell provides both a full-time professional staff and an entire building devoted to supporting students of color, international students and diversity programming. Many students say that without Stoner House, they would feel lonely and isolated; this house provides a quiet place to study, seek advice, and come together, creating a sense of unity. Stoner House also allows students to host events, meetings, and celebrate religious holidays and cultural observances. On October 9 the Organization for Latino Awareness hosted a potluck dinner for Hispanic Heritage Month drawing a record number of students and faculty to this annual event. ICL student leaders began holding their regular meetings at Stoner House this year to encourage their members to support one another’s events.
Stoner House is truly a symbol of diversity and is a visible commitment to Cornell’s mission of encouraging and enhancing an appreciation for diversity on campus.
For many students, Stoner House is a home away from home. Yeison Lara (Costa Rica), says Stoner House is one place where he always feels welcome because the ICL staff are always there to offer advice and support and understand the issues they face. “Ken and Crystal are always
Students relax on the porch of Stoner House, home to the Office of Intercultural Life