Via the Daily Sun

The meeting was convened in the wake of Douglas Lowe ’11’s drowning in the Fall Creek gorge. Presumably, the University Council Office is the Cornell University Council, “an organization of selected alumni and friends who are leaders in service to the University,” but it could also be “university council” a la Big Red Lawyers. And the two individuals who presided over the meeting were “Executive Vice President” (Stephen T. Golding, the Samuel W. Bodman Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration) and a “member of University Council.” Whenever there is a student death at Cornell since 2001, the source said, a meeting of this nature not as a witchhunt but as a way to seek preventative measures. In this case, it seems that an ugly fence was the preventative measure decided upon, at least for the time being. Some of the attendees (rightly) predicted that students would find ways around the fence, like the gaping holes that have popped up in recent days.

Whether or not the decision to put up the fence was truly unanimous is hard to tell. Considering that attendees predicted people would cut holes in the fence, it’s almost certain that there was at least some concern and perhaps some opposition. So at the end of the day, an angry mob of pasty Cornellians might have to ask for the heads of Stephen T. Golding and that random University Council member.

That angry mob might have more than just the fence to complain about: the University has shown an utter lack of transparency about the decision.  One admin at Environmental Health & Safety said that he was not involved but, sounding a little annoyed, that he also was “not authorized to talk to the press about any topic.” The Press Relations Office, however, has not released an official press release as they have for past gorge path closings. In fact, the only on-the-record comments from admins on the fence (from Press Relations Director Simeon Moss ‘73) exist on MetaEzra and the Daily Sun.

And the statements he has made are of a strange flavor. Consider his ultimatum on taking the fence down: “Fall Creek Gorge will be reopened when the community realizes the dangers of the gorge.” He demands of us, like a schoolmarm taking away our cigarettes, that we naughty college kids come to terms with the hazards of our extracurricular activities. If Cornell controlled the supply of alcohol in Ithaca, would they cut us off after a binge drinker alcohol poisoned him or herself?

It might be the administration itself that needs to realize the dangers of setting a precedent with their prohibitive, reactionary response to Doug Lowe’s death. There is certainly a possibility that his family pressured the University with legal action unless something was done, as was suggested to me by three officers on guard at the fence (who also told me inaccurately that two people had died swimming in the gorge this summer). Yet it’s in these highly charged situations where the University has the most stake and the best opportunity to hold true to their principles: as MetaEzra has pointed out, the principle that “Cornell never has been an institution of in loco parentis.”**

At the end of the day, will the “community” be required to take a GorgeEdu online course in order to matriculate? How will our level of “realization of danger” be quantified in any meaningful way? And how do we deal with the fact that college kids have always and will always take risks and do stupid shit?***

Maybe the fence is a way for the University to exhibit its sympathy to Doug’s death, or maybe just to show his family and friends that they’re listening. One poster, Elgguj, suggested on College Confidential that the University would need to do something only a week after his death:

“i think dragging out the issue is the only way to make sense of doug’s death. i wasnt as close to doug as [other College Confidential user] laurstar was, but the three of us all talked to each other and knew each other before we even got to campus our first day. we were all so dedicated to cornell. and to see cornell let down a great kid like doug is reason to drag the issue out for as long as it takes for someone to listen. cornell needs to get the message that gorge jumping/swimming needs to be made into a huge issue on campus. and students need to get the message that they should never chance their life to the gorges, no matter how skeptical they may be of the risks. and until that message is made crystal clear, i hope all of doug’s friends will keep talking about it.”

If this is the way the University wants to get the message about gorge safety out, they’re sending mixed signals; perhaps they’re–so to speak–on the fence. A fence is much too easily climbed over or cut through or toppled over. Something more permanent must be instituted, but the best idea is probably not, as elgguj suggested, education. It’s no secret that the gorges are potentially dangerous; but there are ways to mitigate that danger and people will always take risks.

The best solution will probably be lifeguards and student attendants at the Fall Creek gorge, along with proper signage that has a daily indicator of the water flow level. What better way to temper the danger of the gorge with prudence and to enjoy its natural beauty?

In any case, please don’t mistake my criticism of the University’s response as a criticism of Doug Lowe’s family. A memorial service for Doug Lowe is being held this Monday Sept. 1 at 6pm at a location to be announced. (Um, get on this Cornell?) To his family and friends, CornellWatch sends our condolences. We lost not a member of our community but also a fantastic dancer.

*The source said that in order to quote him/her on the record, we would have to conduct a separate “formal” interview. So know that these statements are pure business casual.

**If you doubt this, consider the fact that Cornell did not originally offer housing to male students, which is the reason nearly a third of the population is affiliated with Greek life. Or just picture Collegetown on Orientation Weekend.

***The source said that kids used to climb UNDER the old Thurston Ave. Bridge. Srsly!