"Cornell remains remarkably true to its founders' vision of what a university in Ithaca should be. What has been constant at Cornell is its democracy, its orientation toward the future, its commitment to a balance between research and teaching, the individual responsibility of its faculty and students, and its freedom of inquiry. Its faculty still considers itself underpaid, the landscape remains thrilling, the weather- rain, snow, sun, cold, heat, wind- is still known as "ithacation" and always unpredictable. A university is a living entity. "One cannot be precise about Cornell," Dale Corson observed wryly, for it is an institution that "refuses to hold still." So true."I believe that we have made the beginning of an Institution which will prove highly beneficial," said Ezra Cornell. He understood that the institution he and Andrew Dickson White created would always be in the process of becoming. As long as this university remains a work in progress, it will be doing its job. It is this tradition of independence, egalitarian creativity, and personal responsibility that has shaped Cornell and will guide it forward."