Mr. Skorton goes to Washington
By Lauren Gold
Cornell President David Skorton met with legislators on Capitol Hill July 18 in a marathon day of introductions and discussions aimed at forging strong connections with Congressional representatives.
His agenda for the day included sessions with New York's U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, U.S. representatives including Randy Kuhl, Sherwood Boehlert, James Walsh, Nita Lowey, Carolyn Maloney, Maurice Hinchey, Lamar Smith, Bob Filner '63 and Mark Kirk '81; and staff from New York Gov. George Pataki's office. The meetings were the first in what will be a vital relationship between Cornell's 12th president and government representatives, said Stephen Philip Johnson, interim vice president for government and community relations.
"The purpose was to meet key Washington contacts to build relationships," said Johnson. Skorton also met with Cornell alumni working on Capitol Hill and with students spending the summer as congressional interns through the Cornell in Washington Program.
Funding for the sciences and humanities was a major topic of discussion, Johnson said, noting that Skorton stressed the importance to Weill Cornell Medical College and the Ithaca campus of student financial aid programs, agricultural research, the National Institutes of Health and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
It was a busy day, said Johnson, and a hot one (97 degrees and 85 percent humidity, according to one weather report). But, he added, the day was productive, setting the tone for a solid working relationship in the future.
"David Skorton has a very good communications style," Johnson said. "He's very direct, and he was very well received."
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