When is a cross not a Christian symbol?

Issac Kramnick, the Richard J.Schwartz Professor of Government Emeritus, and R. Laurence Moore, the Howard A.

'Ten Caesars' offers lessons from history's great leaders

Stepping into the shoes of a god isn’t easy, as historian Barry Strauss makes clear in a new book that traces the biographies of 10 of the men who succeeded Julius Caesar.

Women in Ancient Rome Didn’t Have Equal Rights. They Still Changed History

Barry Strauss, the Bryce and Edith M. Bowmar Professor in Humanistic Studies, wrote in this op-ed in Time that ancient Rome was a macho society, often misogynistic, where women did not enjoy equal citizen rights. But, he says, if we look hard at history, we discover some women who made their mark. 

Seymour lecture focuses on women's soccer protests

In 2016, the majority of women's soccer teams in Latin America were designated "inactive" by FIFA. Women players launched protests, still ongoing, for better conditions in the sport. Historian Brenda Elsey of Hofstra University will explore the implications of these protests in this year's Harold Seymour Lecture in Sports History.

Policing black Americans is a long-standing, and ugly, American tradition

Edward E.

Einaudi Center funds Cornell dissertations with global impact

Twelve graduate students will spend this year refining their dissertation plans and testing the waters of global research, with help from faculty mentors and intensive workshops, in the Einaudi-SSRC Dissertation Proposal Development Program.

New play addresses activism, intent and justice

The events of August 2017 brought worldwide attention to the issue of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar, who had long been persecuted and oppressed by the Burmese government and military. Despite the initial reaction to the violent displacement of over a million men, women, and children—as well as the deaths of thousands—global media outlets were slow to follow up on their first reports. With information about the genocide scarce and the call to action not nearly loud enough, it was cle

College Scholar named Carnegie Endowment junior fellow

Samuel Barnett ’19 has been named one of 11 junior fellows by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.Barnett, a College Scholar whose studies focus on national security and geopolitics, will spend his fellowship year working with Carnegie’s executive office on issues of U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy.

Eight grants focus on innovation in China

The Cornell China Center has announced eight China Innovation Awards to interdisciplinary teams of Cornell faculty.The winning projects were selected from among 34 proposals submitted by faculty leaders across 47 departments, centers and programs in Cornell’s colleges and schools.

Julius Caesar’s campaign book

Barry Strauss, the Bryce and Edith M. Bowmar Professor in Humanistic Studies, writes in this Wall Street Journal essay, about the penchant for presidential hopefuls to pen the stories of their lives during election seasons.

Historian Michael Kazin to discuss Democratic party history

The Democratic Party began in the 1820s as an organization of and for white men who opposed a strong federal government. The party gradually wooed a more inclusive constituency, and its partisans built a national state that sought to advance the common welfare.

‘Historian of water’ looks at Southeast Asia in podcast

“Water Connections,” a new episode of the “What Makes Us Human” podcast series, explores the critical role the oceans have played in Southeast Asia.

PMA presents theatrical re-imagining of ‘American Dream’ debate

In 1965, the Cambridge Union Society invited African-American novelist James Baldwin and William F. Buckley, then-editor of the National Review, to debate the question, “Has the American Dream been achieved at the expense of the American Negro?”

New York Times columnist to speak on meritocracy

Our contemporary power structure claims to be based on merit and aims for diversity, but it has lost a sense of duty and responsibility that the traditional aristocracy represented, says author and political essayist Ross Douthat. In “Meritocracy and the Public Good:  Who Wins?  Who Loses?” Douthat will explore what the costs of this structure are to the common good. Sponsored by the program on Freedom and Free Societies, the talk will be held Thursday, April 25, at 5:30 p.m.

Africana hosts talk on climate change and its impact in Africa

While future effects of climate change are often in the news, an April 30 event will discuss how the problem is already affecting communities around the world, particularly in Africa.The Africana Studies and Research Center is hosting, “Disaster: Cyclone Idai, Climate Change & Climate Migration,” a talk that will discuss impacts of climate change, climate migration and food scarcity and takes place at 4:30 pm in Lewis Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall.

Keyra Navas: ‘Volunteering in prisons allows me to devote my time to making prisoners feel heard, respected and seen’

Keyra Navas

History 

Bronx, NY

Akihito bows out, ushering in era for Japan’s post-war generation

Kristin Roebuck, assistant professor and Howard Milstein Faculty Fellow in the Department of History, talks about the decision of the Japanese emperor to abdicate the throne in this opinion piece in The Hill. 

Nadia Bon: ‘The tougher, less-familiar subjects helped me realize that I am capable of learning anything’

Nadia Bon

History

Brooklyn, NY

Sarah Meidl: ‘The most significant part of who I am is not tied to nationality but is defined by the relationships I form with others’

Sarah Meidl

History

Hannibal, MO

Provost’s seminar celebrates innovation in teaching

The Provost’s Seminar on Teaching and Learning brought nearly 75 faculty and instructors together to share and celebrate innovations in teaching at Cornell.

History prof plays role in new Statue of Liberty Museum

As a child, Maria Cristina Garcia’s family left Cuba for the United States to enjoy new freedoms that were lacking there. One of her first road trips as a new American was to see the Statue of Liberty and many of her photos from that trip show the statue in the background.

Undergrad humanities scholars present their research

Meredith Chagares ’19 began her senior thesis in history, literally, with a footnote – one that led her to do investigative work for “Anatomy of a Cover-Up: How and Why the United States Covered Up Japanese World War II Biological Warfare Experiments.”“I discovered about Japan’s experiments via a footnote while researching Nazi experiments,” she said.

Reunion 2019: a time to treasure Cornell

Just two weeks after classes end and students disperse for the summer, alumni and their families will return to campus for Reunion 2019. This year’s event – from Thursday, June 6, through Sunday, June 9 – is on track to set a new record for attendance, with more than 7,000 alumni and their guests registered.

Alum who sounded climate change alarm featured at Reunion

As an environmental activist and lobbyist, Rafe Pomerance ’68 played an early, pivotal role in raising awareness about the threat of climate change in the late 1970s. He connected scientists with government policymakers and the media, efforts that led to congressional hearings.

U.S. must get its house in order, Hadley says in Olin Lecture

Former national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley ’69, right, in conversation with former Rep. Steve Israel, left, director of Cornell’s Institute of Politics and Global Affairs, at the Olin Lecture June 7 in Bailey Hall.