http://www.thecornellian.comThe latest news, opinions, features, arts/entertainment, and sports from the The Cornellian.http://www.thecornellian.com/archives/viewarticle.php?viewID=1142The month of April can be an exhilarating time in the life of a college student as graduate school acceptance letters filter in and the end of another year begins to approach. For Cornell students, April also means the Student Symposium is at hand, and despite a rather chilly and un-spring-like day, this year's 13th annual symposium was bustling with student presenters and their advisers, parents and friends. Seventy students spanning from freshmen to seniors converged in the Commons to give both oral and poster presentations, as well as performances. Eighteen of Cornell's academic departments were represented, with 33 faculty members lending their expertise to their students' work. Danielle Green2009-04-27http://www.thecornellian.com/archives/viewarticle.php?viewID=1143Dr. Attila E. Pavlath, the invited guest of the Iowa section of the American Chemical Society (ACS), spoke before invited ACS members and members of the Cornell community on Monday, April 13. His speech entitled "Alternate Energy Resources: Moderation and Common Sense," illustrated the danger of our current energy resources running out and the possible alternatives. Dr. Pavlath, along with being active in ACS activities, is currently a Physical Science Collaborator for the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service.George Ellerbach2009-04-27http://www.thecornellian.com/archives/viewarticle.php?viewID=1144Returning students received some surprising information when they opened an email from Judy Goetschius, Housing Facilities Coordinator. The purpose of her message was to inform students about available rooms for the 2009-2010 school year. Because Cornell is a primarily residential campus with over 90 percent of students living in a residence hall, room selection can be a time of anxiety and speculation as people find roommates, draw lottery numbers and search for a new dwelling. Ariel Glasman2009-04-27http://www.thecornellian.com/archives/viewarticle.php?viewID=1145A common perception today seems to be that print media are dying, as we have seen through recent questions about our publication on campus. While it is true that many large, daily newspapers such as The Baltimore Examiner and The Rocky Mountain Press have gone out of business in recent months, the perception that print media are going extinct is false. In actuality, small newspapers that cover local news, like The Cornellian or The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun, are thriving because they provide news and information that their readers cannot get from any other source. Papers that cover local news are rediscovering their niche in the media industry. The Cornellian Editorial Board2009-04-27http://www.thecornellian.com/archives/viewarticle.php?viewID=1146Wednesday, April 15, enraged Americans, members of the so-called "silent majority" (which is, apparently, silent no more) held nationwide tax day "tea party" protests, billing this as part of a "patriotic" duty. Participants claimed to be tired of taxation enacted by Washington politicians (comparing their rage to the rage of anti-British protestors of the Boston Tea Party in 1773). Here is what some of these self-labeled patriots said: "The American txpayers are the Jews for Obama's ovens." "Obama, What you talkin' 'bout Willis! Spend my money?" "Barack Hussein Obama: The new face of Hitler." "Obama was NOT bowing. He was SUCKING Saudi jewels!" "Stand back while some Kenyan tries to destroy America? Wap! I don't think so!! Homey don't play dat!!" "Republicans free slaves. Democrats free terrorists." "Obama Osama a.k.a. Hussein." Finally, don't forget the numerous signs referring to President Obama as a socialist or a fascist or even depicting the President as a shoeshine boy.George Ellerbach2009-04-27http://www.thecornellian.com/archives/viewarticle.php?viewID=1147Most students at Cornell don't realize that the music department is more than just your typical choir and band. Cornell College's music department has a vast amount of monthly offerings, including Music Mondays, in which featured artists are invited to perform at Cornell, free of charge to students. Wind Ensemble and Orchestra have semesterly concerts, whereas the Jazz Combo and Jazz Ensemble have two performances this semester alone. Elizabeth Von2009-04-27http://www.thecornellian.com/archives/viewarticle.php?viewID=1148As one of the most widely recognized groups of writers and artists in American history, the Beat generation has over time undergone a high degree of mythic canonization; indeed for many they serve as the archetypes for creative and social rebelliousness. It's all too easy to lose the human side of their stories amidst the sex, drugs and jazz (their primary musical motivator) for which they are famous. Fortunately, Harvey Pekar and Paul Buhle's new book "The Beats: A Graphic History" does an excellent job of bringing these countercultural idols back down into the realm of flesh and blood.Jeremy Frank2009-04-27http://www.thecornellian.com/archives/viewarticle.php?viewID=1149After a six-game stretch in which women's softball was potent offensively, the Rams found themselves with crucial upcoming conference games.  Three conference opponents were heading to Mount Vernon to test the Rams, and it was a tough round for Cornell as they only took one out of six games.  The Rams' one win, however, was enough to keep them in the conference tournament race, a race that will be heating up in the coming weeks.Jeff Boyle2009-04-27http://www.thecornellian.com/archives/viewarticle.php?viewID=1138Students were invited March 24 to take part in a set up known as the Purple Bike Program. According to an email sent to the student body by John Harp,Vice President of Student Affairs, the Purple Bike Program was coordinated and funded by Student Senate. The intent is to encourage students to have fun and perhaps save on fuel by using these distinctly colored bikes to ride around on campus and into Mount Vernon. According to Harp's email, "Feel free to ride one if you see it; then return it to a Cornell bike rack so someone else can use it." Along with this came a list of six expectations that included asking students always to return the bikes to a rack and to treat the bikes with respect. However, beginning April 6, the purple bikes have been recalled pending repairs.Ariel Glasman2009-04-13http://www.thecornellian.com/archives/viewarticle.php?viewID=1139If you dine in Sodexo on Monday evenings, you are almost certainly aware of the presence of boffering at Cornell. You just may not know its name.Elizabeth Brown2009-04-13