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Local News: November 20, 2023

– Smoke from Virginia wildfires reached Ithaca Southern Tier – Smoke from Virginia wildfires could be smelled in Ithaca and nearby communities on Friday. The Ithaca Voice reported the air quality was considered hazardous to people. But it wasn’t nearly as harmful as the Canadian wildfires earlier this year. Monday morning the National Weather Service reported air quality was good for the Southern Tier region. – Cornell subject to federal Education Department discrimination investigation – Cornell is one of six colleges or universities the U.S. Department of Education has started investigating since the start of the Hamas-Israel war in October. The schools are facing allegations of discrimination based on race, color, national origin,…

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Tune in, Turn on, and Take Part! Join Us for WRFI’s Spring “Fun” Drive and Be Part of this Community-Powered Radio Revolution!

By Felix Teitelbaum

What does community radio mean to you? We think this commercial-free, free-form, independent station helps make our listeners lives-and life in our communities-just a little better. We strive to make programing that opens ears, opens hearts, and leads us to ask important questions about our world. Even if it’s just to ask yourself, “What in…

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LISTEN: Freedom of Expression at Cornell – Academic freedom

By Celia Clarke

This is the last of my three stories about freedom of expression at Cornell University this year. Here are links to the first and second stories. The academic theme at Cornell this year is “Freedom of Expression.”  In earlier stories, we reported about the general mood at Cornell around free speech, and students’ opinions about…

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CREATIVES: Frank London of the Klezmatics

By Felix Teitelbaum

Photo: Adrian Buckmaster for the Klezmatics Frank London of the Klezmatics talks with Felix Teitelbaum and Aron Gutman ahead of their show at Cornell, Saturday April 13, 2024. He discussed the cultural significance of klezmer music and Yiddish culture with its roots in Ashkenazi Jewish traditions and influences from Eastern Europe. He reflected on the…

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LISTEN: Freedom of Expression at Cornell – Student views

By Celia Clarke

The academic theme at Cornell this year is “Freedom of Expression.” A few weeks ago we reported on the general mood around free speech at Cornell. Today, we’re sharing students’ opinions about their free speech rights. WRFI asked to speak to someone in Cornell’s administration about free speech on campus. The request was denied. The…

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Local News: April 19, 2024

By Felix Teitelbaum | April 19, 2024 |

Case Against Day Hall Protestors Conditionally Dismissed A case against Cornell student and staff protestors will likely be dismissed. Twenty-four members of the Coalition for Mutual Liberation who staged a sit in at Day Hall in March appeared before Judge Seth Peacock Wednesday. The charges will be dropped  provided the defendants don’t commit further violations…

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Local News: April 17, 2024

By Felix Teitelbaum | April 17, 2024 | Comments Off on Local News: April 17, 2024

ICSD Board Cuts Proposed Budget Ahead of May 21 Vote The Ithaca City School Board has made cuts to their proposed budget. According to the Ithaca Times, the adjustment was made after a 5-hour meeting with the public. Board members heard from a range of homeowners who spoke to the effect of rising taxes on…

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Local News: April 16, 2024

By Felix Teitelbaum | April 16, 2024 | Comments Off on Local News: April 16, 2024

Graduate students at Cornell are pushing the administration to act more quickly in negotiations with their union. According to the Ithaca Voice, last week about 200 graduate students rallied at Day Hall. Organizer Sadie Seddon-Stettler said that the university isn’t making contract negotiation a priority. The union maintains a dashboard showing the status of various…

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Local News April 15, 2024

By Felix Teitelbaum | April 15, 2024 | Comments Off on Local News April 15, 2024

Competing rallies were held at Cornell Sunday. One was billed as a “Jewish Unity” rally and featured speakers who decried what they say is a rise in antisemitism at Cornell and across the country. The other was organized by the Coalition for Mutual Liberation whose demands include that Cornell divest from what they call genocide…

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