Walking up this slope every day (sometimes twice) is pretty awful. No matter how cold it is, you still sweat, and no matter what shape you're in, you still huff and puff by the time you get to the top.
Yet, the slope is one of the places Cornell students brag about when talking about our campus. Sure, it sucks to walk up, but have you ever sled down it (without getting caught)? Have you ever sat at the top and watched the sun setting over Ithaca? Have you seen all of the squirrels that frequent the Shagbark Hickory trees?
Whether people are conscious of it or not, the slope is a place where we have nature in our own backyards. Sledding, watching sunsets, and chasing squirrels, all get us involved with the outdoors. By recognizing the slope as the natural area that it is, rather than just an obstacle to get to class, students can connect with nature every day on their commutes. The slope shows that "nature" isn't something we have to travel off-campus to see--it is all around us! William Cronon would have to agree.
It is my opinion that people at Cornell, as much as they hate walking up it, love the slope very much. We even dedicate an entire day--appropriately named "Slope Day"--to skipping class and running around on it, we love it so much!
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| I followed this little guy last semester :) |
Whether people are conscious of it or not, the slope is a place where we have nature in our own backyards. Sledding, watching sunsets, and chasing squirrels, all get us involved with the outdoors. By recognizing the slope as the natural area that it is, rather than just an obstacle to get to class, students can connect with nature every day on their commutes. The slope shows that "nature" isn't something we have to travel off-campus to see--it is all around us! William Cronon would have to agree.
It is my opinion that people at Cornell, as much as they hate walking up it, love the slope very much. We even dedicate an entire day--appropriately named "Slope Day"--to skipping class and running around on it, we love it so much!
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| It's a pretty wild sight, actually |
Although it sucks a lot of the time, the slope is definitely a very special place to me, and to most people at Cornell. I start each day with the slope at the crack of 8:45, and my daily descent usually signals the end of a long day. The slope is a great way for all of us to spend some time outside, enjoying the beauty that is Ithaca, and nature in general. Nature is all around us, and the slope definitely demonstrates that!
Also: I once posted a picture of the slope on the internet, and one of my friends who is going to school in D.C. said, "What's all of that grass doing on your campus?" Point and case. :)
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