Hopefully nobody will burn copies on account of this article: Furthermore, Nagowski asserts, Cornell is by no means the only university situated in or near a potentially dangerous environment. He likens the sealing off of the gorge “to Northwestern building a cement wall blocking access to the Lake Michigan shore, or Columbia prohibiting students from going out into New York City at night, for fear of being mugged.” The possibility of harm exists in one form or another on virtually every campus, and the gorges should remain open as a testament to “Cornell’s rugged and free-spirited nature,” of which the gorges are an “iconic symbol.” Among the most vocal critics of the fencing off of the Fall Creek Gorge is Matthew Nagowski ‘05, editor of the MetaEzra.com alumni blog. In addition to keeping a running counter of how long the fence has been in place at the top of the MetaEzra homepage, Nagowski has written continuous rebuttals to each of CUPD’s points in a personal crusade of sorts. Commenting to The Review, Nagowski made clear his feelings regarding Zoner’s claim that the trail “served no purpose”, declaring that “the fence prohibits the safe and legal use of one of the University's most treasured natural places, a place that has enduring educational and spiritual value.” Whether as a spot for quiet rumination, as a means of getting a little exercise through hiking, or as a place to study nature up close, the gorges have some kind of meaning for every student. Removing access to certain paths, according to Nagowski, amounts to deprivation of what is a simple, safe joy in which all students should be able to share.
Coincidentally, this might be the first time I have ever agreed with the Review. Funny, that.
