NOTE: During this time of social distancing and university life interrupted by the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Chronicle’s virtual Things to Do provides a variety of opportunities to engage with Cornell resources and programming. See the University Events Calendar for updates.

 

‘Democracy 20/20’ panel

Three experts on American politics will analyze recent protests against police violence and racial inequality and their implications for democracy in the United States in a virtual panel discussion, “The Protests and U.S. Democracy,” June 26 at 1 p.m. Register online for the Zoom event.

Kenneth Roberts, professor of government, will moderate the panel discussion, featuring political scientists Megan Ming Francis of the University of Washington and Daniel Gillion of the University of Pennsylvania, and historian Lara Putnam of the University of Pittsburgh.

The event kicks off the “Democracy 20/20” webinar series, with critical conversations on political issues and the stakes for American democracy. The series is sponsored by the American Democracy Collaborative, the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies and the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs at Cornell.

Encore performances

WVBR’s “Bound for Glory” is continuing a series of rebroadcasts of the program’s past performances on campus, with Kenny White as the featured performer June 28 at 8 p.m.

A New York City-based pianist, singer-songwriter, producer and arranger, White performed in the Anabel Taylor Café on June 25, 2017.

Upcoming broadcasts this summer will feature shows by Louise Mosrie and Cliff Eberhardt (from October 2018), July 5; Andy Cohen and Alan Kaufman (from April 2018), July 12; James Gordon (from May 2017), July 19; Andrew Van Norstrand and friends (from February 2019), July 26; and John Roberts (from September 2018), Aug. 2.

Now in its 53rd year and hosted by Phil Shapiro, M.A. ’69, since its inception in 1967, “Bound for Glory” is North America’s longest-running live folk radio concert series and airs Sunday evenings on WVBR-FM, 93.5 and 105.5 and streaming online. The concert broadcasts feature three sets of live music.

Staff forums

The Employee Assembly is hosting a summer series of Staff Feedback Forums through Aug. 18, as opportunities for staff to provide input on matters central to Cornell’s workplace environment. Employees are invited to submit responses to a brief questionnaire in advance.

The first forum, “Workforce Equity and Anti-Racism at Cornell,” is June 29 from 9:15-9:45 a.m. The conversation on cultural competency and how staff can support one another will feature Mary Opperman, vice president and chief human resources officer; Angela Winfield, associate vice president for inclusion and workforce diversity; and Avery August, vice provost for academic affairs.

“Returning to Campus,” July 2 from 12:15-12:45 p.m., addresses employees’ current health and safety concerns regarding reactivation of the campus, and features Opperman; John Clarke, physician at Cornell Health; and Gary Koretzky, vice provost for academic integration.

Upcoming topics for the focused 30-minute sessions include “Professional Growth,” July 15; “Virtual Community,” July 22; “Campus Gatherings,” Aug. 5; “Working Remotely,” Aug. 12; and “Services on Campus,” Aug. 18.

President Martha E. Pollack will participate in a one-hour Open Forum, July 9 at noon, with Opperman; Joanne DeStefano, executive vice president and chief financial officer; and Joel Malina, vice president for university relations. The conversation will be moderated by the Employee Assembly Executive Committee. A second Open Forum with administrators is scheduled for July 28.

Email assembly@cornell.edu for more information.

Conversation on conspiracies

The global spread of COVID-19 has been accompanied by an equally far-reaching and wide-ranging array of conspiracy theories and hoaxes.

The Cornell Alliance for Science hosts a conversation June 30 at 11:30 a.m. about the origins, impacts and appeal of conspiracy theories – and what, if anything, can be done about them.

“Contagious Conspiracies in the Age of COVID” can be seen via Zoom on the Alliance website and streamed live on Facebook.

From fake claims about cures and causes to dubious connections with technology and philanthropists, the theories about COVID-19 have been disseminated with such virulence that the World Health Organization has termed them an “infodemic.”

The conversation will be moderated by Alliance for Science associate Mark Lynas, visiting fellow in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Office of International Programs.

The Alliance for Science also presents an interview with Lynas about his new book, “Our Final Warning: Six Degrees of Climate Emergency,” July 9 at 10 a.m. on the Alliance website and Facebook. His daughter, youth climate activist Rosa Lynas, will conduct the interview and lead a discussion on how today’s response to climate change will impact her generation.

Virtual thesis gallery

The Cornell Council for the Arts (CCA) has created a virtual gallery for Bachelor of Fine Arts students in the College of Architecture, Art and Planning to show their senior thesis projects in lieu of on-campus exhibitions.

Tim Murray, CCA director, and Erin Emerson, program coordinator, collaborated with Renate Ferro, director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Art, to organize the virtual thesis exhibition for seniors who were away from their studios and working off campus to complete and document their thesis projects.

The 2020 Cornell BFA Thesis Gallery features projects by 25 student artists including work in photography, video, drawing, painting, sculpture, sound art and digital media, with a selection of work by each and links to the artists’ websites.

The future of hospitality

Hospitality industry leaders will discuss challenges, plans for recovery, preparing for new ways of doing business and the future of travel and hotel stays in “Leading Our Industry Forward,” July 2 at 10:30 a.m.

Presented by the School of Hotel Administration, the online conversation features InterContinental Hotels Group CEO Keith Barr ’92; Anthony Capuano ’87, Marriott International group president for global development, design and operations services; and Kate Walsh, M.P.S. ’90, E.M. Statler Professor and Dean of the School of Hotel Administration.

Garden, gorge tours

Cornell Botanic Gardens is offering new virtual tours for nature lovers, including a narrated tour of the gardens around the Nevin Welcome Center and an informative tour of the Fall Creek waterfalls, emphasizing the natural history of the gorge.

The 18-minute gardens tour features narration highlighting the history, ecological value and plants of some of Cornell Botanic Gardens’ most beloved landscapes.

“The Waterfalls of Fall Creek,” narrated by gorge historian Dan McClure, includes areas of the Fall Creek gorge that are inaccessible to the public, and information on the history of the waterfalls from Ithaca Falls up to Flume Falls on the Cornell campus.

Cornell CUBS Camp

The Cornell CUBS Camp summer program for children ages 4-14 begins July 13. Register in advance.

CUBS Pre-K program for ages 4-5 is tailored to younger kids and will be led by a certified pre-K teacher. Programs for ages 6-10 and 11-14 will have their own sports-based curriculum.

All campers will spend as much of the day outdoors as weather permits. The size of the camp has been reduced to 50% of its previous capacity, so space is limited. Cornell working families will be given priority.

Anti-racism library guide

Cornell University Library has prepared a comprehensive online guide to anti-racism resources. The Black Lives Matter Library Guide gathers books, videos, podcasts and other resources for understanding the injustices that have given rise to movements such as Black Lives Matter and Say Her Name.

Topics include Education; Intersectional Approaches; the Prison Industrial Complex; Policing; and White Privilege and Racism.

The guide was created by Camille Andrews, user engagement librarian at Mann Library; and Eric Acree, director of the John Henrik Clarke Africana Library.