They are not hippie communes. They are not even about “living off the grid.” Largely unknown and misinterpreted, ecovillages are communities striving to “integrate a supportive social environment with a low impact way of life” according to the Global Ecovillage Network.

Last week, the Asian/Asian American Center (A3C) Committee held the first of several information sessions in order to update and inform students of A3C’s progress. However, many students were angry to hear that proceedings were slower than had been anticipated.

At the information session, the students on the A3C committee presented on the importance of the center and answered students’ questions. Clara Ng-Quinn ’10, a member of the committee, gave a PowerPoint presentation to inform students of the purpose of A3C — that it would serve as a central hub for the Asian community at Cornell and in Ithaca and as an institutionalized resource not already available to Asian students.

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The 31st-Annual Ithaca Festival took place June 20th through the 22nd.

Our University is entering its 145th year. Our traditions are well-established; our missions and aspirations well understood. Yet, each year, as students graduate and others enter Cornell — as first-year or transfer students or as graduate/professional students — an important turnover occurs that makes Cornell a slightly different place than the year before or any other year. How much different depends on the attributes and dreams of the entering students and how much they want to become involved in the Cornell beyond the classroom, lab and studio. My early experience with the Class of 2013 and this year’s other new students suggests to me that we have an activist and engaged group on the Hill. Let me share some observations and a call to conversation and action.