Jane Lynch urges Cornell seniors to shed fear, be kind
Ithaca, N.Y. — Jane Lynch, MFA ’84, delivered the Senior Convocation address at Barton Hall on May 21, telling #Cornell2026 to overcome their fears, avoid subscribing to cultural memes, and to be kind and generous.
“I have found, as an adult standing here before you,” she said, “that if you can get fear off your back, if you can just get out from underneath it, you unleash some awesome power, and you can live such a satisfying life.”
Lynch’s speech was the main event in a high-energy Convocation program that featured several student performance groups, including Taiko drum ensemble Yamatai and a cappella group The Hangovers; remarks from class members and Cornell administrators; a video featuring seniors looking back on their four years; and a rousing rendition of the alma mater to close.
Read more: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/05/jane-lynch-mfa-84-class-2026-shed-your-fear
| May 22, 2026 at 4:15 PM | College |
Cornell Class of 2026 Graduates Aim to Advance Democracy
Ithaca, N.Y.—Cornell University conferred more than 8,000 degrees to its Class of 2026 during two rainy commencement ceremonies at Schoellkopf Field, as President Michael I. Kotlikoff urged graduates to advance the unfinished work of American democracy.
| May 23, 2026 at 7:46 PM | College |
Ithaca offices closed for Memorial Day; trash pickup delayed
Ithaca city offices will be closed Monday, May 25, 2026, for Memorial Day and reopen Tuesday, May 26, with trash collection delayed by one day for the rest of the week, meaning Monday’s pickup moves to Tuesday and Tuesday’s to Wednesday.
| May 21, 2026 at 4:34 PM | Gov |
Cornell's McGraw Hall rebuild yields classroom reuse
Cornell University's McGraw Hall is being rebuilt from the inside out as workers uncover discoveries and faculty reuse and study building materials in the classroom.
| May 15, 2026 at 8:30 AM | College |
Cornell invites well-wishes for finals
ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell University invites the public to wish Cornellians luck on their final exams.
| May 9, 2026 at 8:30 AM | College |
Ithaca invites public to zoning code update meeting
Ithaca is updating its Zoning Code and invites the public to attend the first public meeting on May 19, 2026, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center, 116 E. Green St., with families welcome and more information available from the city and Zone Ithaca; the project is partially funded by the NYS Department of State Environmental Protection Fund.
| May 8, 2026 at 12:32 PM | Gov |
Cornell study identifies protein that clears manganese from brain
ITHACA, N.Y. — A Cornell University study identifies a protein that helps flush excess manganese from the brain, a finding that could aid workers exposed to the metal and people with rare genetic mutations affecting manganese handling.
| May 7, 2026 at 8:30 AM | College |
Casey Jones Lauds Big Red After First Season as Coach
ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) — Casey Jones, in his first season as the Big Red men's ice hockey coach, says the team made good strides with a young roster, noting Ivy League titles in 2012 and 2020 and NCAA appearances in 2003 and 2012.
| May 6, 2026 at 8:30 AM | College |
New York Times Reporter, Cornell Dean Discuss Presidents, Journalism
New York Times White House correspondent Zolan Kanno-Youngs discusses covering multiple U.S. administrations, the craft of journalism and his reporting on immigration, homeland security, criminal justice and inequality with Cornell College of Arts and Sciences Dean Peter John Loewen in a piece from Ithaca Reports.
| May 1, 2026 at 2:31 PM | College |
Ithaca seeks members for Landmarks Preservation Commission
The City of Ithaca is inviting residents to apply to join the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission to help create a livable, healthy and equitable city, with applications submitted through the ViewPoint Cloud portal and more information on the city's website.
| May 1, 2026 at 10:55 AM | Gov |