The Ganędagǫ: Hall kitchen, where two students skinned and processed a bear, was reopened on Sept. 9 after sanitization, according to an email sent to Ganędagǫ: Hall residents on Thursday.
“We have worked with Cornell University Building Care to ensure that the space was completely sanitized as of Monday, September 8, and as of Tuesday, September 9, the space was reopened for residents to use,” wrote Cornell Housing and Residential Life in the Thursday email sent nine days after the kitchen reopened.
Cornell indefinitely shut down the kitchen on Sept. 7 following a police report and inspection that confirmed that the two students processed a legally hunted bear in the dorm’s communal kitchen the day prior.
“We recognize that this has impacted the community and the individuals who live here,” the email to Ganędagǫ: residents read. “This concern was documented and is being managed through the appropriate procedures and all proper safety protocols have been followed.”
The email follows a week of online backlash regarding a lack of communication about the sanitation steps the University took to disinfect it. Before this statement, no email or direct statement was sent by the University to Ganędagǫ: residents.
“I’d be concerned about food safety if other people use that space for preparing food,” one Reddit user commented on a post calling for the students who killed the bear to be expelled.
Though a police report was made, a University spokesperson previously told the Sun that no criminal charges were filed.
According to NBC News, a Department of Environmental Conservation investigator visited Cornell on Sunday and found that the students committed “no code violations.” The article reported that the DEC determined the bear was not killed in Tompkins County, whose season opens to bowhunting on Oct. 1. Rather, the hunting occurred in DEC’s Region 4, where early firearms are permitted after Sept. 6.
DEC Region 4 includes Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Schoharie counties.
HRL advised that continued concerns should be addressed through the Ganędagǫ: Hall Residence Hall Director.
Anjelina Gonzalez is a member of the Class of 2026 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She is a senior writer for the News department and can be reached at agonzalez@cornellsun.com.
