Joe Wilensky

Senior editor, writer, photographer at Cornellians: Cornell University’s digital-first alumni publication

[Cornell University @Cornell]

#CornellReunion traditions—from dancing in the Arts Quad tents to family boating on Beebe Lake—have endured through the decades, as alumni flock to the Hill each June to reconnect with old friends.

But alumni of all eras will recognize many of the locations, activities, and gatherings that Cornellians will enjoy at Reunion ’25 and beyond.

Do you recognize someone—or yourself!—in these pre-Instagram photographs courtesy of @WeCornellians?

See more at https://t.co/By1LrsVejq.

[Cornell University @Cornell]

It’s a Thursday in mid-April, and a resident of New York’s Westchester County is giving a tour of his home—one he has occupied for the past 73 years. “When you enter a Frank Lloyd Wright building, without exception, it is through a compressed entryway, with a low ceiling,” explains Roland Reisley ’46, BA ’45, walking from the hallway toward the living room at the house’s center.

“And when you emerge from the corridor, that compression is released and the expansion occurs in each of the rooms, giving you a greater sense of each of those spaces.”

At the age of nearly 101 (his birthday is this month), Reisley is the last original client of Frank Lloyd Wright who’s still living in the home that the legendary architect designed.

Read more at https://t.co/H1oQrjLDjX.

[Cornell University @Cornell]

Ah, winter on the Hill! Whatever decade you graduated from Cornell, the cold and snowy season is a quintessential Big Red experience shared across generations.

Our latest showcase of vintage photographs leans hard into winter—in both its stunning beauty and its logistical challenges.

Most of these scenes of winter in Ithaca don’t look much different than they would today. Only the occasional Velcro sneakers, big hair, and other fashions of yesteryear—as well as the notable absence of smartphones—hints at the era in which these moments were captured.

See more at https://t.co/7Mygz874zI.

[Cornell University @Cornell]

“Good health, tempered courage, and sound common sense.” Those are the gifts that fate gave Ezra Cornell, per Carl Becker, distinguished University Historian.

Born on this day in 1807, we take a look at the life of Ezra Cornell — from humble beginnings to co-founding our university.
https://t.co/N5ubNPGrNW

[Cornell University @Cornell]

'tis the season for building gingerbread houses—but why not show your Cornell pride by making one in the shape of McGraw Tower?

To check out the recipe, visit https://t.co/dlIt6SHr3x.

[Cornell University @Cornell]

A new course taught by Georg Hoffstaetter de Torquat, a physics professor in @CornellCAS, sets sail on understanding physics — by boat.
https://t.co/jgTr5OX40q

[Cornell University @Cornell]

In the University Archives, @WeCornellians found a little-seen trove of images from the 1960s–80s.

Many of the brilliantly colored slides were taken for campus publications, viewbooks, Cornell Chronicle news releases and various presentations.
https://t.co/coKmcLnrSA

[Cornell University @Cornell]

Alumni were recently asked to share their memories of living in the U-Halls over the decades — and the dozens of submissions received brought the narrow, bygone, dimly lit hallways of those spartan structures to brilliant life.
https://t.co/yYRoTiMl3B

[The Washington Post @washingtonpost]

Frontier myth vilified the California grizzly. Science tells a new story.

“Pretty much everything that I thought I knew about these animals turned out to be wrong,” one scientist said after studying California grizzly bears. https://t.co/1TAwP7jP12

[Corey Ryan Earle @CREarle]

Voting for Week 2 of the "Iconic Cornell Traditions" March Madness bracket is now available. Still a little stunned that Touchdown the Bear didn't make it past the first round... Go vote! https://t.co/bodkxOcnsI

[John Morales @JohnMoralesTV]

From the article: “I realized I had these young people looking up to me—many who were immigrants or who grew up in a household where they spoke Spanish. (Several of those teenage fans went on to earn degrees in meteorology and work in the field.)" 👇🏼

https://t.co/QVYqy9d6yT

[Cornell University @Cornell]

Alison Minton ’88 serves as the guide and personal assistant to her feathered friend (and avian celebrity), Chris the cockatoo. With appearances on television and in editorial ads, Chris boasts an impressive resume!
https://t.co/U1UrLEsA6u

[Governor Kathy Hochul @GovKathyHochul]

Inspired by the students I met with at @Cornell who are showing incredible strength and unity in response to vile antisemitic threats.

We have no tolerance for hate or violence, and I have directed @nyspolice to increase security on college campuses and across New York.

[Cornell University @Cornell]

Amidst the buzz of construction, the McGraw Tower stands tall. 🕰️🍂

Learn about the project's timeline and maintenance details:
https://t.co/n4dpOAtG5T

📸: @WilenskyJoe

[Cornell University @Cornell]

Celebrating the enduring legacy of The Cornell School of Nursing! 🏥🌟

Alumni bonds remain unbreakable even after nearly half a century since its closure.
https://t.co/acUL6mdTZv

[Cornell University @Cornell]

Painter Kirsten Kurtz, MS ’21, manages @CornellCALS's soil health lab—and turns leftover samples into works of art.

“So often, people see my pieces and they’re like, ‘I didn’t know soil came in all these different colors,’” says Kurtz.
https://t.co/XPyl2Gcz8k

[Cornell University @Cornell]

As the summer heat increases, here are a few tips from @cornellvet alum Michelle Moyal, DVM '07, for monitoring your pets safety during hot temperatures. 🐶☀️🐱

Learn more:
https://t.co/CBuvmHNcaZ

[Corey Ryan Earle @CREarle]

Some more great Cornelliana from @WilenskyJoe at @WeCornellians. Today's story is about the days when dogs freely roamed Cornell's campus. https://t.co/SKQ09tfwf0

[Cornellians @WeCornellians]

Slope Day is set to mark the end of classes and continue a long-standing tradition—one that has evolved over more than a century, but has always had a joyous air. https://t.co/XslNrSacXx

[Cornell Tech @cornell_tech]

Cornell Tech's main thoroughfare will soon be named "Feeney Way" in honor of the university’s most generous donor, Charles F. “Chuck” Feeney ’56: https://t.co/mFLEukz8as

#CornellTech @Cornell @CornellNews @CornellAlumni