Toggle Background Video Playback Campus & Beyond Uphill Both Ways? Stories You May Like Online Archive Showcases Work of AAP Alumni In a Posthumous Memoir, Famed Prof Recalls a Turbulent Childhood ‘Social Justice Comedian’ Mines Jokes both Highbrow and Low Climbing the Slope is a shared Big Red memory By Joe Wilensky When biomedical engineering major Cali Brady ’24 was on her first visit to campus as a gymnastics recruit, she watched her future teammates sprint up the Slope—12 times in a row. “That was very intimidating, because I was out of breath just walking up it for the first time; being from Illinois where it’s very flat, I was not prepared for that,” she recalls. “Once I made it on the team, they told me how hard it actually was for them, which made me feel better.” Cornell’s landmark hill—officially called Library Slope, more often shortened to Libe Slope or just “the Slope”—has been one of the University’s defining physical features for more than a century and a half, marking the geographic and altitudinal transition between West Campus and the Arts Quad. For generations of Cornellians, trekking up the Slope to class from West Campus (be it the U-Halls, Greek houses, co-ops, apartments, or living-learning residential houses) is a shared experience. Student and alumni memories of the Slope and its place in campus culture are often weather-related—from bracingly cold, icy, or snowy winter mornings to wind and rain to gorgeous fall evenings, languid late-spring afternoons, and postcard-perfect sunsets. One of the most direct paths up the Slope begins just outside Mennen Hall and ascends to the edge of the Arts Quad just south of Morrill Hall. (Graphic by Cornell University) Over the decades, the Slope has been the site of outdoor Commencements, official physical education activities like skiing—and, of course, Slope Day. Today, it also reflects the times by hosting swaths of grass left unmowed in an effort toward better sustainability, and the Sesquicentennial Grove (dedicated in 2015) is perched at the top edge for Cornellians to celebrate and ponder more than 150 years of University history and its promise for the future. Ezra’s ‘childhood delight’ The Slope itself, and the land comprising central campus, is part of a 300-acre swath of farmland between Fall Creek and Cascadilla gorges that Ezra Cornell purchased in 1857 and operated as a farm before donating to the University. (As the University has acknowledged with a formal declaration, the parcel is located on the traditional homeland of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫɁ, or Cayuga Nation.) According to A History of Cornell by Morris Bishop 1913, PhD 1926, Ezra’s first memories of the region date to boyhood, when he stopped in the area on his way to visit an uncle near Geneva. “He remembered his childhood delight with the view from East Hill,” Bishop writes. “Cayuga Lake had thrilled him, since he had never seen any water larger than a millpond.” Decades later—in 1865, shortly after the University’s charter had been adopted—Ezra brought a few trustees to visit the site to decide where to break ground. Despite the logistical challenges, he wanted to build the first “stone row” of buildings (Morrill, McGraw, and White halls) on the upper site of his farmland rather than the lower, as the top edge of the ridgeline offered the best view of Cayuga Lake and the valley below. And the founder got his way. As Bishop writes: They drove to the hilltop, the present site of Morrill Hall. Ezra Cornell’s three companions agreed that the shelf below them would be the ideal situation. ‘Young gentlemen,’ said Cornell, ‘you appear to be considering the location of half a dozen buildings, whereas some of you will live to see our campus occupied by fifty buildings and swarming with thousands of students.’ ‘Well, where would you build?’ Cornell turned to the east, swung his arms north and south, and said: ‘Here, on this line extending from Cascadilla to Fall Creek.’ The three demurred and argued—Mr. Cornell’s solution was not practical. The site, beautiful indeed, was inaccessible, far from the village, rough, gullied, roadless. But Cornell wore them down, and at his direction they drove stakes to mark Building No.1. How steep is it, really? So do Cornellians’ tales and memories of trekking the Slope as students in all kinds of weather stand the test of measurement? While Cornellians may not be able to convince future generations that it was “uphill in both directions,” is it exceptionally steep, or does the difficulty of trekking to and from class become exaggerated over time and tinted by nostalgia? According to University landscape architect David Cutter ’84, BS ’85, the Slope—measured from West Avenue to Central Avenue—covers about 90 feet of vertical grade. The most direct path from bottom to top, beginning from just outside Mennen Hall to Central Avenue just south of Morrill Hall (the southwestern edge of the Arts Quad) takes that rise over about 500 horizontal feet, for a grade of about 18%. That’s pretty steep: a 6% grade is the maximum incline allowed on U.S. federal highways; the city of San Francisco, which is no stranger to hills, allows a maximum 23.1% street grade for bus operations. And as far as hoofing it, the Slope beats out a well-known movie climb: according to Strava (a popular running and cycling app), the 72 “Rocky steps” outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, made famous in the 1976 Sylvester Stallone movie and its sequels, average about a 13% grade over 26 feet of elevation. Stories You May Like Online Archive Showcases Work of AAP Alumni In a Posthumous Memoir, Famed Prof Recalls a Turbulent Childhood (Graphic by Cornell University) Across Cornell’s campus, of course, there is no shortage of steep terrain. Cutter says that for students living on North Campus, a climb similar to Libe Slope would be the path from the Triphammer Dam Footbridge (at the western end of Beebe Lake, near Tang Welcome Center) to Forest Home Drive and up to Reservoir Avenue in front of Martha Van Rensselaer Hall. That’s a vertical rise of 86 feet (although over 760 feet horizontally), for a grade of a little over 11%—“still pretty steep,” he says. In Collegetown, the notoriously steep block of Buffalo Street between Stewart Avenue and Eddy Street also rises 90 feet vertically over about 600 feet horizontally, for a slope of 15%. A recent test with a fitness watch of two brisk walks up the Slope (by a volunteer who stands 5 feet, 10.5 inches tall) measured two of the most direct routes up the Slope, both starting at the War Memorial archway just west of the Baker Flagpole. The walk up the Slope to the edge of the Arts Quad between Morrill Hall and Uris Library measured 266 steps over 0.16 miles and 95 feet of elevation gain; the other path, from the archway curving to the right of McGraw Tower between the tower and Willard Straight Hall, coming up to the edge of Ho Plaza, measured a slightly more direct 237 steps over 0.14 miles—with an elevation gain of only 79 feet, since Ho Plaza is slightly downhill from the Arts Quad. This is actually the steepest sustained climb near campus.Kurt Huebner ’21 The Slope as workout challenge Kurt Huebner ’21, an instructor with Cornell Outdoor Education, points out that the Slope shows up as a workout on Strava and similar apps. While the statistics vary slightly (Strava lists the straightest path up the Slope as 0.1 miles and 83 feet of elevation gain for a 15.7% average grade), the fastest posted time on Strava’s leaderboard for sprinting that course is 18 seconds for men and 31 seconds for women. “I always take those times with a grain of salt, as many of the varsity runners are not on Strava and the data is just from one platform, so there is no way of knowing what the actual fastest time ever done is,” Huebner cautions. But, he adds, “this is actually the steepest sustained climb near campus”: many of the climbs famous in local biking and running circles are longer but have a lower grade, with both Cascadilla Gorge and Buffalo Street coming in at about 11%. Students watch a sunset from a prime Libe Slope viewing spot. (Cornell University) Memories run the gamut On a beautiful July afternoon, Harry Fuller ’21, a master’s student in environmental and resource systems engineering, stands near West Campus and the Baker Flagpole and chats with a Cornellians writer about the Slope. Although he never lived on West Campus, he frequently went there to eat during his freshman year—“because the food’s so much better down here,” he says—and therefore often walked the Slope. A student begins the long ascent up Libe Slope after a fresh snowfall. (Cornell University) A right midfielder on the Big Red men’s soccer team, Fuller also recalls—not so fondly—the sprints his team would do there. And just during the regular commute up the Slope on some warmer mornings, “you’re drenched by the time you’re in a classroom,” he says—and of course, “in the winter, walking up, no matter which way you’re going, the wind is somehow always in your face.” Cornell’s Commencement ceremonies, like this one in 1912, were often held outdoors on Libe Slope. (Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library) For CALS alum Jackie Sepulveda ’17, one of her most vivid Slope memories is the time she raced uphill to get to a chemistry prelim—at night, in the snow. “It felt like 20-below with the wind chill, and I was literally sliding back down the icy Slope as I walked up it,” she says. “Making it to the Physical Sciences Building at all that night was my victory; I barely remember the exam.” Overall, though, Sepulveda recalls happy times in good weather. “Mostly I just remember chilling on the grass, or trying to study on a blanket,” she says. “I always ended up daydreaming or falling asleep.” In the winter, walking up, no matter which way you’re going, the wind is somehow always in your face.Harry Fuller ’21 Engineering alum Daniel Mansoor ’79, MBA 80, spent four years traversing the Slope, first as a freshman housed in U-Hall 4 and then as a brother living in Sigma Phi fraternity. “I loved the challenge of the daily hike,” he recalls. “Reaching the end of the climb near the entrance to Willard Straight Hall, I’d take a deep breath; the rest of the day would be easier.” Scott Pesner ’87, who majored in communication in CALS, lived on West Campus his freshman and sophomore years. “Libe Slope was a big part of my Cornell experience,” he says, “at least at the start of the day, when you’re very tired and look up and ask yourself: ‘Can I go back to bed?’” Published October 5, 2021 Do you have a memory of the Slope you’d like to share? Please do so below! Comments Don Shardlow, Class of 1958 5 Oct, 2021 A vivid memory is leaving Algonquin Lodge on Stewart Ave and arriving at the top of the slope at 7:50 AM on my way to my to my 8 o’clock class just as the Carillon began to play. As much as I love the music of Cornell, I often longed for earplugs at the time. Reply Gay Eng, Class of 1972 5 Oct, 2021 I also lived in Algonquin and trudged up the hill every morning. I remember the vivid sunsets with the lake in the distance. Reply Gina Strauch, Class of 1980 23 Oct, 2023 I love that two people in this thread mentioned living in Algonquin Lodge. A number of us who lived there in the late 70s and early 80s just had a reunion a few months ago. When I lived there my work study job was at the Temple of Zeus, and I was hiking up the slope at 6:30am so others could have hot coffee and bagels ready. Reply Kiki Simspon, Class of 1984 5 Oct, 2021 I remember “borrowing” trays from the dining hall and using them as sleds to go careening down Libe Slope. Sort of tricky if cars were at the bottom, given that there was absolutely no way to turn or stop! So many good memories! Reply James A Beemer, Class of 1984 5 Oct, 2021 I lived in Mennen Hall 3 years. Knew the slope well. Reply Brian Duffy, Class of 1989 5 Oct, 2021 Borrowing trays for a ride down the slope certainly was a blast. But for a real adventure, try Libe Slope at night on a 5 person wood tabogaon. Had to ask for one after my first semester freshman year! Truly surprised that none of my friends were ever seriously injured during those days. Reply John Mangan, Class of 1970 20 Oct, 2021 Freshman year 1966. I too borrowed a tray to take home to my parents’ brand new home over winter break with every intention to return it. One of the then new white fiberglass trays that slid well. That tray was not returned because my parents, who never broke rules, kept it. And for 55 years it transported casual family food and beverage from their kitchen to their screened porch/deck or family room. They’re both gone now and as the family works to convert their home into just a house for someone else to remake into their home, “The Tray” has moved west to my home in Washington State. It still works well between our kitchen and deck. Reply Barbara Hankins, Class of 1954 1 Nov, 2021 Yes! One of my best memories of my time at Cornell! Barbara Hankins ’54 Reply Mjb Fresh, Class of 1982 3 Nov, 2021 …I’ll just let the shrooms tell the anecdote(s)… Reply Linda Adams Chateauneuf, Class of 1977 5 Oct, 2021 Memory – class of ’77 – freshman lived in UHall 3 – sitting in the laundry in UHall 2 on a Friday afternoon – pouring rain – the door swings open and the whole place stops and looks as a Hotelie, who shall remain nameless, enters in his suit – that is COVERED in mud from head to toe. What happened, someone asked? The reply? He slipped in some mud at the top of Libe Slope and slid pretty much all the way down. Ohhhh – I called my mom that afternoon and asked her to ship extra towels. Reply Wendy Marx, Class of 1987 5 Oct, 2021 I have fond memories of making a “train” with my friends from U-Hall 3 to the top of the Slope. Everyone would get a turn at the front to be pushed up the hill until they had to go to the back of the line to be the “caboose”. Whatever it takes ;). Reply Lisa Adelman Taylor, Class of 2002 5 Oct, 2021 I remember being dressed up in a skirt suit for “Donuts with Dittman” in the Hotel School and sliding down The Slope one icy morning since I mistakenly wore heels instead of snow boots. A fellow Hotelie helped me up. Lesson learned: dress for the weather! Slope Days we’re the best though! I loved running into people from various parts of my Cornell experience. It was like an episode from “This Is Your Life.” Reply Harry Buck, Class of 1954 5 Oct, 2021 I lived in Hillside Co-op on University Ave as a freshman. Recall that winter coming down a snow packed path, sliding and hitting the back of my head and seeing stars. No effort in those days to clear the path. Was an invigorating walk to the AG campus for an 8 o’clock class. Reply Allan Griff, Class of 1954 5 Oct, 2021 Also 54, see my post below, telling that I slipped and broke an ankle. General lesson: it could be worse. We were tougher then. As for 8-o’clocks, I don’t have a BA in addition to my B Chem Eng because I wouldn’t do 8s every day to qualify in German. I admire your get-up-and-go, for which I compensated by my stay-up-and-cram. Reply Thomas Melendy, Class of 1983 5 Oct, 2021 You can’t talk about Libe Slope without talking about those who snagged a dining tray from the Straight and attempted a slide down the Slope on snow-covered days. Reply Jeanie Kim Carpenter, Class of 1985 5 Oct, 2021 I still have one of those trays, next to my kitchen sink used for drying dishes. Somehow I missed all the “Amnesty Days” to return them (I think I may have two)… (U Hall 4 Freshman Year) Reply Michael Singer, Class of 1968 8 Oct, 2021 And the University wisely placed bales of hay in front of the trees so we wouldn’t kill ourselves. Reply Bob Everson, Class of 1961 14 Oct, 2021 Yes, but they froze Reply Robert Ferrante, Class of 1977 2 Nov, 2021 Did the cafeteria trays as well, during winter 73-74. I spent a while learning to do it standing on the tray with both or one of my heels hung over the back. Weight shifting made steering possible. Reply Charles DeGeorge, Class of 1970 5 Oct, 2021 Cavorting on Libe Slope as a freshman in March 1967 with most of the west campus dormitory students after listening to the radio broadcast of Cornell’s NCAA hockey victory. The weather was unseasonably warm, and the Aurora Borealis made a rare appearance to add to the celebration. Reply Derek, Class of 1993 5 Oct, 2021 Class of 93. Coming out of the Straight, left to go down the slope in winter I slipped and landed on my butt so hard and slid. I had to lay there a few minutes. Good times Reply James H Kaye 5 Oct, 2021 Not exactly on point, but when my parents took me to Cornell (Univ. Halls 4) in 1969, my father, a heavy smoker, was 48. He smoked despite being in a bad summer camp fire in his teens. I do not remember the exact route to a bank in Collegetown so I could open a checking account, but he had difficulty with the hill. As soon as he returned home he signed up for a program to stop smoking. He succeeded and volunteered to help out. He still had bad COPD in his final years and died from complications of pneumonia. But he lived to 73. Probably longer than he would have if I did not choose to go to Cornell – ILR 73. Reply Don Danila, Class of 1969 5 Oct, 2021 One wintry day in early 1966 I trudged up a very, very slippery walkway from the U Halls behind a fellow freshman. Finally reaching nearly the crest he suddenly slipped and fell with the notebook and books he was carrying sliding all the way down the walk to the bottom. He picked himself up, brushing away the snow and ice, shrugged his shoulders, told me “Not coming up again”, and began walking back down the hill. He no doubt spent the rest of the morning in his cozy dorm bed. Another freshman memory is after a big snow with many of us “borrowing” cafeteria trays from the Straight for sliding was seeing two classmates from California wearing shorts and T-shirts while surfing down the slope as they stood upright on the trays. Reply Herbert Berkwits, Class of 1964 20 Oct, 2021 I’m a few years ahead of you and I watched almost the exact same thing when I was trudging to class from the Freshman dorms in 1960. In my case, the victim slipped and dropped a book which slid all the way to the bottom of the hill. He watched it until it stopped, then sat down and slid after it shouting, “Not today!” Reply Allan Griff, Class of 1954 5 Oct, 2021 My climb remembered brings tears of fury, tears of joy (from one of my poems, signalling Balance, my life-word). In 1950 I took the overnight bus to Ithaca from NYC, and remember Home Dairy near the downtown bus station. Then I walked UP the Big Hill to 514 E Buffalo where a room awaited me. The Dunlops. Every class day that year I walked up that last “notorious” stretch of Buffalo (15%) even with crutches in a walking cast in winter after I slipped on the ice and broke an ankle. Fifty-four years later, to celebrate my reunion, I walked DOWN the same hill from Olin to the Bus Station. I’m still here 17 years later at 88, walking with a cane and proudly vaxxed and masked. And still writing about Balance, the fear of truth, and the childhood-learned need to believe in the impossible. Reply Joanne Wietgrefe 1 Nov, 2021 Good for you, Allan. Living in Dickson and Balch I never experienced that Libe Slope. But we survived sans buses to take us to class all the way up Tower Road. Reply Bob Cohen, Class of 1977 5 Oct, 2021 First week at Cornell as a freshman, playing fetch with a random Labrador retriever on Libe Slope. Saw a girl walking down the hill and threw a stick so that the dog would cross her path. (Although she still insists that she made the first move when she asked if it was my dog…). Next summer, our labradors will help us celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. 😉 Reply Mary, Class of 1999 5 Oct, 2021 I’m a little embarrassed to admit that in all these years, I never realized Libe was short for Library. Reply Mary, Class of 1989 5 Oct, 2021 You are not alone. Reply Shelley, Class of 1976 14 Oct, 2021 I am so relieved to see this. I learned it wasn’t named after “Mr. Libe” ( almost everything was named after a Mr. back then….) when I overheard a student giving their parents a tour about 15 years ago, decades after my ’76 graduation. I have always thought I was the only one! Thank you thank you. Reply Melissa Yorks, Class of 1975 5 Oct, 2021 I liked to study in the stacks in Uris, looking over the Slope. In December looking out I saw what had to be an engineering major (who else walked around with a slide rule attached to their belt- this was before everyone had pocket calculators for you younguns out there) slip and fall at the top of the Slope. He slid all the way down to the bottom (he was ok) but the funny thing was watching his slide rule hit the bottom before he did. Checking dates it could even have been Bill Nye as a freshman. Reply Alan Goldman, Class of 1958 5 Oct, 2021 I had a fraternity brother named Artie Goldwater from Rochester, NY and thus no stranger to snow and ice. He was often late to our morning American History lecture class and, when asked by the instructor who took attendance (we had seats assigned alphabetically),he explained, honestly I believe, that he kept sliding back down the Libe Slope toward the West Campus dorms as he struggled on the snow and ice. Maybe he had shoes with no treads, but I never asked him or maybe he just thought it was a credible excuse. We can’t ask him because he is long deceased. Reply Nancy Toth Gamelin, Class of 1985 7 Nov, 2021 I lived in UHall 4 freshman year (Class of 81) and I remember leaving one winter morning for a calculus class. The two gals across the floor were also in the class and I said I’d hold two seats for them; they never showed. In the few minutes between my leaving and theirs, the Slope iced up and they never made it to class! Reply Eric Key, Class of 1977 5 Oct, 2021 As a Math major living in Founders as a junior and senior, my fondest memories are of skiing down from White Hall to my dorm on my boots. Never trayed it though. Reply John Speese III, Class of 1977 5 Oct, 2021 I never lived on West Campus (I was in Clara Dickson all 4 years) and therefore never had the Libe Slope experience (can’t say I’m sorry, those winter days walking to class were brutal enough anywhere you had to go!). I am Class of 77 so 18 was the legal drinking age. I thought the Noyes Center Pub (my Friday night hangout) was vastly superior to the Thirsty Bear in North Campus, but rather than tackle Libe Slope I walked whatever road that was that led past the Johnson Museum down to West Campus. It too had a grade but in my opinion nowhere near as bad as Libe Slope. Reply Janny Kim, Class of 1999 5 Oct, 2021 Besides Libe slope,the climb up the Baker Lab steps from North campus was pretty brutal, especially for an 8AM Friday Chem lab freshman year. Reply Martin Root, Class of 1973 5 Oct, 2021 I lived in Mennen 70-71. On warm fall nights when I had studied too late, I would leave my window open so that the carillon would wake me at 7:45. I would dash up the slope to get to calculus on time at 8:00. Also, one winter morning we had a snow storm. I dutifully trudged up the slope in mid-calf deep snow for my 8:00 organic lab, having no idea where the path was. An hour later classes were cancelled and I walked down in knee-deep snow. Reply David Bilmes, Class of 1978 5 Oct, 2021 I lived on West Campus in North Baker my first two years, so I had plenty of practice walking up Libe Slope. We were told that if you slipped and fell on the ice three times trying to go up it in the winter, you could turn around and go back to bed! The worst winter experience I had on it was coming down it once when it was so icy that the only safe way to get to the bottom was to sit down and just slide down the entire way (without a tray to slide on). My calf muscles were in good shape, though! Reply Richard Foxall, Class of 1984 5 Oct, 2021 A sophomore transfer, I never lived on campus, living first on the lower half of Buffalo Street and later downtown. Since I had already climbed quite a bit farther by the time I got to Libe Slope, it was just the home stretch to the Arts Quad and less daunting. Still, you felt the additional steepness when you started that leg. Reply Jim Parry, Class of 1972 5 Oct, 2021 It was really fun to read so many memories about Libe Slope. The one about reaching the summit, looking back, and feeling good about having made it really resonated. Thanks Reply Frann Shore, Class of 1979 5 Oct, 2021 As a freshman living in U-Hall 6. Sperry Hall, I had an 8 am class in the Physics building. This was my introduction to life at Cornell. Reply Cindy Fuller, Class of 1978 5 Oct, 2021 I was doing laundry in U Hall 1 freshman year in the middle of a snowfall. An enterprising classmate thought cafeteria trays were too small, so he appropriated an ironing board and used that as a toboggan. Reply David Reynolds, Class of 1971 5 Oct, 2021 In January, 1968, I trudged up the hill from University Halls to Roosevelt in windy, below zero conditions to take my Physics final at 8 o’clock. I remember wasting 10 minutes while my fingers warmed up enough to write. In those days, students returned to campus after New Year’s to take Fall semester finals. Fun times. Reply John Conwell, Class of 1971 12 Oct, 2021 I too remember the January 1968 exams. I lived in U Hall 6 and had an Engineering Physics final in Rockfeller Hall. I remember the temperatre overnight was -25. On the way to the final the next morning, it was very windy and I had to stop halfway in Morril Hall to warm up for the final trek. Also, back then, we freshman were allowed to bring cars to the finals week and every single one had a desd battery. We pushed the manual transmission cars down the hills to bump start them and then used jumper cables to start the automatics. It was, to this day, the coldest temperatures I have ever experienced. Reply Bruce RICH, Class of 1965 6 Oct, 2021 Freshman year lived in U.H.#2-following 3 years lived at 660 Stewart Ave. Climbed the “slope” many times altho some of the members in my fraternity (Zeta Psi) had cars so I could “bum” a ride to my 8:00 or lab after lunch. After graduating I worked part time for Cornell Police and helped chase winter time students off the slope with their “borrowed” Straight food trays. Reply John A.D. Sabelli, Class of 1978 6 Oct, 2021 My wife and I had an apartment on E Seneca St, about halfway between downtown and campus. I usually walked to class, but my wife and I drove around town in our 40 horsepower ’64 VW Beetle. If we had to stop at the bottom of Buffalo street, we never worried about getting a speeding ticket going up the hill! Reply Andy O'Neill, Class of 1976 6 Oct, 2021 I was in Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at the corner of Stewart and University, so we had to gain some elevation just to get to West Campus. Three of us engineers walked up together for an 8:00 AM class on the E Quad in the middle of winter, and so religiously followed the “Slide Rule” – if any one of the three of us slipped and fell on the ice on Libe Slope – all three of us had to turn around and go back to bed. Reply Lei Liu, Class of 2013 7 Oct, 2021 I remember watching the sunset at the libe slope. It was one of my favorite spot on campus. Looking at the sunset and the Cayuga lake makes you feel transcendental. Reply Augustus (Gus) Uht, Class of 1973 7 Oct, 2021 Once, walking up the Slope from U Hall 4 at top speed, as I passed a group of several fellow students I found myself suddenly slowing down. Turning around, I discovered that the lead student had put her finger through one of my belt loops to help herself up the hill! She yelled “keep going!” but then released me, we smiled, and I was gone…. Reply Michael Singer, Class of 1968 8 Oct, 2021 I may be the first person to attempt skateboarding down libe slope. This was early fall, 1964. I quickly realized it was a dumb idea because I was gaining too much speed, had no brakes (homemade skateboard), and couldn’t turn because the paved path was too narrow. I jumped off onto the grass and slid a long distance before finally coming to a stop. I was totally unhurt and laughed my head off. Reply Tom Soriano, Class of 1982 9 Oct, 2021 Lived at 110 Queen Street on the flat below the Ithaca Gun factory and walked up and down to the Ag Quad each and every day. Was never in better shape! Reply Jon Shields, Class of 1980 9 Oct, 2021 Early in my Cornell life there was a freak cold front that blew down from Canada. Having grown up in Queens, “below freezing” was “cold”, below 20°F was “bracingly cold”, and below 0°F was practically unheard of. On this fine winter day, the forecast was for -30°F, with a wind-chill expected to be in the ballpark of -60°F. Realizing that this was a rare opportunity indeed to experience what that might feel like, I bundled up extra-warm, in down jacket and hiking boots with Vibram soles (relatively newfangled items in those days), two pairs of ragg wool socks, wool scarf, etc. to make the trek up Libe Slope to the Arts Quad. By the time I reached the top there were icicles from condensed breath hanging from my mustache and beard, and I could scarcely breathe. Needless to say, all classes were canceled (not at all unexpected). When later asked by less-insane students what it had felt like, I recall saying, “When I tried to breathe, it felt like there were gremlins inside my lungs trying chip their way out with ice picks…!” I have never experienced anything like that, before or since! Reply Stuart Baron, Class of 1982 10 Oct, 2021 I lived for two years in Sperry Hall (we sucked best!), one in Theta Chi fraternity at 519 Stewart Ave., and one in McFaddin Tower. Since the incline from West Avenue near Sperry to the back of the Straight is quite gradual, I found it easy to go that way before climbing the steps to the lobby. As for traying in winter, the best ride was down from the slightly steeper area at the top, where the Uris Library underground annex was later built around the time we graduated. Reply Sharon Key Beals, Class of 1980 1 Nov, 2021 Glad to know that Sperry was still sucking best two years after leaving U Hall 3 Reply Tracey Austin, Class of 1985 12 Oct, 2021 I lived on Stewart Ave my Freshman year and had an 8am class in the greenhouses past the Vet school. I remember trudging up the hill by 7:15am before the sidewalks had been plowed. I was usually soaking wet up to my hips(I’m 5’1″) and freezing all day long because I had pushed through snow almost as high as me!! But I was in the best shape of my life! Reply Edward Pilat, Class of 1959 17 Oct, 2021 As an engineering physics major I lived in various West Campus dorms for 5* years, so I had considerable experience with the Slope in winter. Several times as my on-the-ground foot started to slip, I restored my equilibrium by viciously kicking out my off-the-ground foot. Can’t imagine what I would have broken had this been unsuccessful. Nor do I know what instinct made me do that. And, yes, I carried a slide rule on my belt. Luckily I had a metal rule so it never broke in all the times I actually fell. *Realizing how much new scientific information was available after WWII, the authorities thought to help us by requiring a fifth undergrad year so we could lap it all up. Little did they anticipate that we’d all go on to grad school! Reply Javier G. P. Gamarra, Postdoc 2003-2005 1 Nov, 2021 My first morning going to work, unaware of the paths upward from Ithaca, I decided to climb the snowy January hill in a straight line from East Yates St. to the Baker flagpole and then Libe Slope to McGraw tower. Exhausted after climbing the initial forest, the view of Cornell and Libe slope was exhilarating…I will always have it in my memory! Reply Jane Peng, Class of 2009 1 Nov, 2021 We had a snow day in my sophomore year – which meant lots of us were out on Libe Slope to take advantage of the nice thick layer of snow. Most of us were there with borrowed trays but I remember there was one unforgettable sighting of a group of 5 going down Libe on a mattress. They weren’t going especially fast, a mattress being a mattress, but they were certainly moving! Reply Carolyn Hill Rogers, Class of 1959 1 Nov, 2021 Back in the day, coeds weren’t allowed to wear slacks on campus, and there were no buses there for anyone. Walking everywhere was the travel mode. Coeds were reputed to have large calf muscles–no mini-skirts then, either–so who knew? I also remember short cut up to the Ag quad from Risley was no picnic–took stairs across from Beebe. Those were the days! Reply Emily Carr, Class of 2021 1 Nov, 2021 I was also a member of the gymnastics team. I remember doing slope sprints the day Cali visited campus, nervous they would scare the recruits away, but excited to bring athletes onto the team who would take on the challenge. My best memories of the slope are with my teammates – sledding down it during intercession, lounging before practice, and hiking down to West Campus for dinner after practice – sore muscles, ice bags, and all – to a picture perfect sunset. Reply Ted Copland, Class of 1965 1 Nov, 2021 As a Chimemaster who lived at Von Cramm, getting to the top of the slope was just the beginning. Reply Sharon Key Beals, Class of 1980 1 Nov, 2021 Two things. Smuggling a tray out of the Straight to ride down Libe slope. passing a fallen classmate who when I went over to help was talking to herself saying she was just going to lay there until Spring. Reply Anne Paulin, Class of 1987 1 Nov, 2021 I was walking up Libe Slope one freezing cold night. Behind me was a fraternity pledge line of about 6 young men, dressed alike and walking single file, very close together. Suddenly I started to slide backwards on the icy walk, flailing my arms wildly to keep from falling. I remained on my feet, but continued sliding backwards until I took out the entire pledge line like so many bowling pins. Strike! Reply Douglas Johnson, Class of 1978 2 Nov, 2021 Every damn day for 4 years. Freshman year at U-Hall 4, and then 3 years living at Phi Sig, at the corner of Stewart and University. And that’s another approx. 60 feet of vertical rise just to get to the bottom of Libe, according to this topographical. https://cugir.library.cornell.edu/catalog/cugir-008148 I’m convinced at least 50% of the wear and tear on my knees is from those 4 years. But loved it. Reply Laura Weiss, Class of 1986 2 Nov, 2021 For three years I lived in a single dorm room at the top of Baker tower facing the lake – so I had a daily workout comprised of walking down the stairs of Baker and up Libe Slope to Rand Hall where I was an architecture student, and at some point late at night walking back down Libe and back up Baker. My “freshman 15” were long gone by the time I graduated! Reply Don Staffin, Class of 1985 2 Nov, 2021 The one time my freshman year fall semester I wore a nice pair of shoes up the hill, it started to snow/sleet during the day. By the time I came down the hill, I took one step onto the path and became an involuntary skier on REALLY short skis. Not sure how far down the slope I went before getting onto the grass to stop – felt like forever. But I’m proud to say I didn’t wipe out! Reply Jeffrey T Eldredge, Class of 1983 2 Nov, 2021 Freshman year — I scored a single room on the entry level in McFadden Hall with a Libe Slope view (elevated window due to slope along the building). An upper classman tried to broker a trade for his back room and my mother said “don’t do it.” Wise Mom. Back rooms were treated to regular chants of “Sperry sucks!” Slope Day was the rainy Pretenders debacle of 1980. Had to be cancelled, but hopeful attendees showed up, turned it into a mud bath and slid the slope on their bodies and on trays. Although our entrance was locked, the human mud statues found their way in to use our showers and proceeded to clog all of our drains and flooded the hallway. Our building custodian was not happy. I had a cool room and really cool hallmates. And I loved doing that Slope walk. It prepared me for bicycling up Buffalo Street from many subsequent apartments. We visit Ithaca regularly, and still walk and climb all over the place. Reply Gary Bullis, Class of 1983 3 Nov, 2021 Sorry if I may have clogged any drains. But thank you for the use of the showers! Our U-Haul 1 was just a tad farther, so … McFadden wqs just right. I was one of the “Mud Sliders”. Gotta admit, it was a great day and still holds great memories for more than just us “Sliders”. Cheers!! Reply Jeffrey T Eldredge, Class of 1983 4 Nov, 2021 I totally get it! Hey, it’s all a part of a funny and funky Slope memory. Glad to reconnect with a mud slider! (I opted for dryness.) Cheers to the virtual concert of ’80! Those were great years. Reply Mjb Fresh, Class of 1982 3 Nov, 2021 …that’s a fine memory… Reply Joe Sarachek, Class of 1983 3 Nov, 2021 My favorite lib slope memory dates back to Cornell Summer School in 1978 and kissing my girlfriend on the hill while overlooking Cayuga Lake. Wow, was that amazing. Reply Mari Noyes, Class of 1986 3 Nov, 2021 Slightly different memory as I lived on north campus all four years (NC1 and KD) but worked at the copy center at Willard Straight Hall (Daily Sun personal ad drop off spot, typing term papers for others) after classes several days a week through the dinner rush. Many nights the trek up to Balch and beyond was a challenge but two nights in particular remain most vivid. The daytime melt had iced over after sunset and as much as I tried I could not make forward progress…one step forward and three slides back. A fine young gentleman appeared, slung my backpack over his shoulder, lifted me carefully like carrying a bride over the threshold style and carried me up to the arch. When I regained my footing and turned to thank my chivalrous angel, he was gone. Poof! Disappeared into thin air…not once but twice in my four years. I did not imagine this. Several KD sisters had the same experience. I’d love to thank my mystery man someday! Reply Lucrezia Herman, Class of 1976 7 Nov, 2021 Orientation Week, August 1972 – temps in the 90s. As I did every day of high school, I carefully applied my “absolutely necessary” Maybelline mascara. By the time I got from UHall 3 to Uris, I had black streaks running down my cheeks. (Barring a couple of Halloween parties, it was the last time I ever wore make-up, so I owe Libe Slope thanks for breaking my dependency and saving me a substantial amount of time and money over the last 49 years!) Reply Linda Walz Riggi, Class of 1975 8 Nov, 2021 Freshman year in Baker Dorms, 8am in Martha Van, English back down in Noyes Center (shortage of classroom space), next to Arts Quad, back down for lunch, back up to Martha Van, finally back after a late afternoon gym class- three round trips twice a week, plus the other days. Still have the calf muscles to show for it. Reply Jonathan Rudolph, Class of 1988 12 Nov, 2021 I remember with fond vividness the sight of students making it three quarters of the way up the left side of the slope in icy conditions only to slip and wind up sliding a third of the way down on their behinds, clutching desperately onto their backpacks. Then they’d brush off the snow and give it another shot. Reply Will Emmons, Class of 1969 23 Nov, 2021 I was another of the hundreds of freshmen housed (stuffed?) in west campus in 1965. I remember well the winter-long fear of breaking something after careening down libe slope. I usually walked up to the Straight’s back door and switched to stair-climbing instead of slope-climbing. I didn’t learn either and lived at 14 South Ave (KA house) sophomore year; still the same climb, just from a slightly different angle. Reply Tariq Rashid Quraishi, Class of 1985 14 Dec, 2021 I was a foreigner in a new land. Lived in Sperry and the slope was a daily ritual. I both hated it and loved it. The amazing thing is the stories I have to tell about it to my students. Once you have climbed the slope daily for an year, you can pretty much do just about anything in life and succeed. Reply Gil Riley, Class of 1957 26 Apr, 2022 To celebrate the end of the Spring semester in 1957 two of my fraternity (AXP at 726 University Ave,) brothers and I borrowed our fraternity house lawn mower and mowed a four letter word on Libe slope late one Friday night. Admittedly, we had had a couple of beers at Jim’s Place earlier. Reply Hedy Z Rashba, Class of 1987 5 Feb, 2023 Not that 8 am classes were any fun, but is there anyone ever who resided in a UHALL who could forget the Slope?! It’s the origin of my love of UP hill! Before anyone was doing step machines, we were proudly tuning our “Cornell calves”! Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Cornelliana ‘March Madness’ Contest Will Crown the Top Fictional Alum Alumni Pitch Perfect Author’s Latest Is a ‘Really Dark Comedy’ Alumni Between Two Slices of Bread, an Enduring Big Red Bond