In a seemingly innocuous op-ed in Wednesday’s edition of the Cornell Daily Sun, Daniel Eichberg writes about the differences between the Hotelie and ILRie mindset.

But apparently, Eichberg knows something none of us do:

Of critical importance to both Hotel and ILR is President Obama’s recent signing of the Employee Free Choice Act. This legislation aims to make it easier for unions to enlist workers because it would let them join unions by openly singing cards rather than through the traditional secret-ballot election system in which companies can campaign against the union. Needless to say, the Hotelies are pissed, while most ILRies need a change of pants due to happiness.

Perhaps that’s true in Eichberg’s world. But in America, EFCA has only been introduced in the House and Senate, not signed into law.

Although I don’t agree with the Sun’s decision to run an op-ed with such a glaring error, I do support their call for a “public editor” for obvious reasons. Giving its readers a public forum will make the readership more aware of the frequency of these errors. As the newspaper of record at Cornell, the Sun‘s fact-checkers [if they exist] should have the wherewithal to at least do a serviceable job.

The Office of the Assemblies have announced ‘ that Rammy Salem ’10 and Ola Williams ’10 have won the positions of President and Executive Vice President of the Student Assembly, respectively.

Salem and Williams ran on a platform of lifting the moratorium on the creation of new student groups and increased participatory democracy.

Current Executive Vice President Chris Basil ’10 and S.A. member Nikki Junewicz ’10 retained at-large seats.

Other current S.A. members who lost their seats are Andrew Brokman ’11, Rebecca Stein ’10, Tony Miller ’10, and Emily Cusick ’12.

What do you think of the winners? Do you think they will be successful? Look for more coverage in the Review in our upcoming issue.

Former CRs President and Cornell Review staffer Paul Ibrahim ’06 had an excellent letter to the editor published in today’s Cornell Daily Sun, deriding the choice of David Plouffe as convocation speaker.

He says:

Plouffe’s significance revolves around one and only one activity: the election of left-leaning politicians to public office. That’s it. Plouffe’s job is to make America more politically liberal. Was there really no one else around the globe more notable or better suited to speak words of encouragement to Ivy League students?

Why should Cornell’s graduating moderates and conservatives be subjected to the whims of an incompetent and inconsiderate Convocation Committee? Did they not work as hard as their liberal counterparts? Do they not deserve as much delight from their graduation celebrations? I never thought I’d say it, but this absurd selection makes me embarrassed to be a Cornellian.

Ibrahim hits the nail on the head, in the grand scheme of things, Plouffe is just a partisan hack (who did not gradute from college).

At this point, staging a boycott/walkout/alternative convocation speech for those outraged by the selection of Plouffe could offer a better alternative for those wanting to commemorate their graduation without the din of campaign slogans and blind partisanship Plouffe spouts off on a day to day basis.

The S.A. Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidate Forum on WVBR is happening right now in Willard Straight Hall’s Browsing library. Right now VP of University of Communications Tommy Bruce is interviewing the candidates. I’ll be live-blogging until the beginning of the panel segment (which I will be participating in). I’m picking out the tragicomic moments since the forum is generally dry.

6:11pm- Presidential Candidate Tony Miller says he wants to serve as President because he likes leadership. VP counterpart Emily Cusick agrees she likes to be in charge of things too.

6:13 – Apparently, Cusick is a opera singer, but she will not grace the crowd with her lovely voice.

6:18 -VP Candidate Jon Dobrin (Manzur/Dobrin) is asked about his slate’s push for 2-ply toilet paper in the dorms. He replies “I spend a lot of time in the bathroom. I eat a lot of red meat.”

I heard foot-in-mouth disease causes frequent bowel movements.

6:22 – Murtza Manzur is asked why he wants to be president. He says “he likes helping people” nine times. We get it.

6:30 – Emyln Diakow (Purdy/Diakow) says that inefficiency bugs her. WVBR GM Kara Capelli fires back, “welcome to the SA!”

6:32 – Presidential candidate Jeff Rehberger’s running mate Ruslan Godnny doesn’t show. Doesn’t explain absence.

6:33 – Rehberger says he “didn’t really do much in high school.” He just likes to “get out there and help the fraternity” now.

6:40 – Niki Junewicz (Basil/Junewicz) informs the crowd she was the “last kid picked” in gym so she joined student government. She also spent “wholesome time” away from her friends, making sure to stay away from the city (Chicago) at all costs.

Gotta make good by Uncle Tommy (Bruce).

6:44 – Capelli makes fun of Brokman and Gindy for looking alike. They both take their thick-rimmed glasses off.

6:45 – Brokman says he wants to be prez because he likes to “argue with people” from his time on mock trial.

6:47 – Tommy Bruce asks again ” I just want to know who you are..” waving his finger at Brokman and Gindy… I expected him to shine a flashlight in their eyes.

6:48 – Capelli points out that Rammy Salem and Ola Williams are conspicuously absent. The studio plays a pre-recorded interview with the duo… Bodes well for them. Can’t hear their interview in the audience. Sorry everyone!

6:56 -Capelli asks Cusick, “Coffee or tea to stay up late to study? Don’t say adderall.”

6:59 – Jordan assumes role as moderator.  Past Review contributor Ross Freilich will handle the blogging from here on out.

7:08 – Opening statements begin.  Moderator Mike Beyman and SA President Ryan Lavin promise to interrupt if there are any “bold-faced lies or baseless accusations” made

7:11 – Fire Manzur is “an average Cornell student” with “access to horrible toilet paper and no wireless internet.”

7:14 – Emlyn Diakow (Purdy/Diakow) promises to put students first.

I want to meet the ticket that promises otherwise.

7:19 – Brokman/Gindy – running on a ticket of rational thought & fiscal responsibility.

7:20 – Tony Miller – No one up here but the Basil/Junewicz ticket besides me is qualified to lead the SA.  He continues, “There is a reason that the past VP Internals [of the SA] have told me I have done a much better job than them.”

7:21 – Salem/Williams – Beyman reads their opening statement…Promise to take less power than past presidents, and put power back in hands of students.  If students attend three consecutive meetings, students will have full voting rights at SA meetings.

That’s a much easier way to be able to vote without having to run for election.  Fascinating.

7:24 – The panel questioning begins.  First question addresses where there is waste and asks candidates to identify specific examples.  What aspects of byline funding can be restructured?

Miller – The SA wastes money too and would look to streamline.

Brokman – Cornell Cinema has been a source of waste, but it’s not all cutting.  We would like to sit with every group and do the best we can.  Promises to sit down with all 400 groups that get funding.

I hope he has a lot of free time.

Purdy -We will cut costs and provide money to the right groups.

Rehberger – It is not right to cut funding from groups, as relative to tuition, the Student Activity Fee is low.  We will try to cut costs and prevent waste.

Manzur – Take money away from wasteful groups and give money to organizations that use it well, like Hillel. [Hillel does not receive any byline funding.]

Basil – Wants to make sure that all groups are fiscally responsible and encourages all groups to cut “fluff” from their budgets.

7:30 – Ben Eisen asks whether the university initiative to increase faculty retirement is a good program.

Basil – Every constituency has a right to address their own interests, which is the purpose of the Faculty Senate, UA, etc.  We will let them address their own issues.

Dobrin – (Manzur/Dobrin) – Doesn’t see if as a terrible thing if faculty retire earlier than they otherwise would.  It is their own personal decision.

VP Tommy Bruce clarifies that this policy only affects staff, not faculty.

Purdy – Feels that it is not the univeristy’s place to tell staff when they retire.  Diakow adds that Cornell staff are essential to the Ithaca community, so although they understand it, they do not agree with it.

Gindy – (Brokman/Gindy) – This is unacceptable.

Miller – “I have more experience in this than other people here.”  Spoke with the Dean of Engineering the other day who promised that this will not be visible to students at the university, but promised to stand up for students.

7:35 – Jordan Fabian asks what is your position on the university funding the controversial displays on the Arts Quad regarding Gaza and Israel over the past few weeks.

Miller – This should be dealt with in a civil manner.

Brokman – Does not approve of university sponsoring a back and forth between the opposing sides.  It should not endorse political messages.

Purdy – Not all right to find political discussions.

Murtza – I would promote diversity on campus.

Basil – [My apologies, but I was not paying attention.  I will clarify after the debate.]

7:42 – Arjun asks the Miller slate: You are running on an experience ticket.  What are your thoughts of the lack of parity with the GPSA funding for Slope Day, relative to what the SA funds?  What are you going to do, and what have you done in the past year?

Miller – GPSA wanted hard facts from us.  They were willing to work with us, but they did not have the funds.  Next year in the funding cycle, now that we have statistics, the grad students will pay their fair amount.

7:44 – Ben Eisen asks Brokman/Gindy: You mentioned in your opening statement that you are against the Student Assembly Endowment?

Gindy responds – Saving thirty, fourty years down the line does not affect students now.

7:45 – Jordan Fabian asks Brokman/Gindy: You have pinned your message on basic services.  How can you address these issues given the budget deficit.

Brokman responds – My question is, “How do all the other schools pull it off?”  We’re only talking about the basics.

7:46 – Bilmes asks the Manzur/Dobran ticket: Have you been to SA meetings, given that you are outsiders?

Manzur – I am the president of a student organization and know how hard funding a group is.

Dobran – Everything is different.  We can’t look to the past we have to look to the future.

Second round questioning begins…

7:48 – Arjun asks the Manzur campaign whether or not legacy students (parents who attended Cornell) be granted a higher acceptance rate? Should Cornell be legacy blind?

Dobran – There are a lot of factors to look at.  Promises to not “make general sweeping opinions of things the community is divided on.  We want to address topics that everyone agrees on.”

7:49 – Ben Eisen asks Basil/Juniwiecz how to approach repealing the moratorium on student groups.

Basil – The SA sometimes regrets things immediately.  This is one. Students need and deserve their funding.

7:51 – Elie Bilmes asks Purdy/Diakow: Is there a good example of the university not putting students first?

Purdy – Slope Day is a perfect example, and the SA rectified the situation by filling in the budget gap.

7:52 – Jordan Fabian asks the final question to Purdy/Diakow.  Why do you feel that your clean campaign pledge was not signed by all slates?

Purdy – Believes that not signing it was more of a campaign move that not everyone signed it.

7:53 – Beyman asks Rehberger if he is qualified to lead having not been here for an entire year?

Rehberger – I have an outside perspective, making me more qualified.

7:55 – Audience questioning begins.  I will warn all the readers that Jordan Fabian’s battery is dangerously low.  So this blog may be ending before the debate

It’s Jordan again. Ladies and gents that does it for tonight’s event, I hope you had more run than Ross and I. Be sure to vote in the Student Assembly elections from March 3rd through 5th if you don’t accidentally delete the e-mail link to the ballot in a drunken stupor.

According to C.J. Slicklen, the 2009 Convocation Chair, the speaker for the Class of 2009 will be announced at the S.A. meeting today at 4:45pm.

More to come when the news breaks.

Here is a link to my column that appeared in the Cornell Daily Sun today about the inappropriate role many campus organizations played in last week’s “Gaza in Crisis” panel.

Hope you enjoy and I’d love to hear feedback.

SA and UA candidates have been announced by elections director Mike McDermott. Usually, this wouldn’t be exciting news, but this year, students will have the chance to directly elect the president and executive vice president of the Student Assembly for the first time in the organization’s history.

In a release, McDermott said the decision has “created the foundation for an exciting Spring Election that will give voters more democratic power than ever before in student government decisions.”

Twenty candidates will be running for four at-large seats on the SA including president and executive vice president, an all time high.

Here are the prez/evp slates:

• Scott Purdy and Emlyn Diakow

• Jeff Rehberger and Ruslan Godnyy

• Murtza Fire Manzur and Jon Dobrin

• Rammy Salem and Ola Williams

• Andrew Brokman and Andy G[i]ndy

• Tony Miller and Emily Cusick

• Chris Basil and Niki Junewicz

More information about the elections can be found here.