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Cornell Policy Review

The Cornell Policy Review is the official policy journal of Cornell University, published by the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

The Cornell Policy Review is the official public policy journal of the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy. Originally founded in the spring of 1996 as The Current, The Cornell Policy Review is published annually by Brook's MPA students who serve as both editors and contributors for the Policy Review, drawing upon their own research and professional experience. The editorial board also solicits

book reviews, interviews, and scholarly contributions from public policy students and alumni from other programs across the country. Working on The Cornell Policy Review offers Fellows a valuable foundation in research and writing, as well as first-hand experience with the rigors of scholarship at the professional level. Disclaimer: This blog constitutes a personal perspective. Neither the content of this blog, nor the links to other web sites, are screened, approved, reviewed or endorsed by Cornell University, the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy, or any Cornell-affiliated entity. The text and other material contained in this blog is the opinion of the specific author and does not convey any statements of advice, opinion, or information on behalf of Cornell, Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy, or the Cornell Policy Review editorial board.

11/19/2025

Taxes on tampons highlight how American fiscal policy has historically undervalued menstrual health.

In examining the resistance to repealing these taxes, Ashlyn Saltzburg argues that taxing menstrual products constitutes gender discrimination and provides recommendations to promote menstrual equity.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/ensuring-equitable-access-to-menstrual-products-and-repealing-the-tampon-tax/

11/10/2025

Homelessness is a complex social, economic, and moral issue with varying definitions, but the lack of rigorous evaluation causes cities to spend without solving the problem.

Citing cases from Indian and South African cities, Victoria Chasi emphasizes the need to develop a culture of impact evaluation to navigate resource and policy challenges.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/a-need-for-impact-evaluation-of-homelessness-interventions-in-developing-cities/

11/05/2025

We are excited to introduce our 2025-2026 team of associates, who will be critical in supporting our mission to spread innovative, non-partisan policy insights.

Behind every piece, every podcast episode, every social media platform, and the operations of our publication is the exceptional work of these talented individuals who ensure our work runs smoothly. Please join us in welcoming them to the Cornell Policy Review.

Visit cornellpolicyreview.com to learn more about them.

11/03/2025

U.S. student loan crisis exposes the moral and institutional failures of an extractive education system, but also raises the question of whether access to knowledge should be commodified.

By connecting cultural and economic dimensions of student debt, Shavonne Hedgepeth argues that true upward mobility requires not just financial reform but a reimagining of education as a public good rooted in justice, equality, and democratic access.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/american-requiem-student-loan-forgiveness-and-the-decline-of-upward-mobility/

10/31/2025

Annaliese Santana (MPA’27) and Yusuf Khaled (MPA'26) sat down with Robert Cantelmo, the Mayor of Ithaca, to discuss how the City is addressing critical issues such as housing, climate change, and government accountability, while managing relations with the federal government.

Facing increasing fiscal constraints and community expectations, Mayor Cantelmo explained how his administration plans to navigate limited resources and the practical challenges of turning policy goals into measurable results.

Thank you to the Cornell Public Affairs Society for coordinating to make this a reality.

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5kLXFjvlqtI3Q63m3qYqV6?si=j62d4A1TRBK4_nnTtcFmVw

10/30/2025

Local Governance and Leadership against Challenges with Mayor Cantelmo. Out tomorrow.

10/27/2025

Modern education systems focus on mastering subjects, not relationships, which used to boost efficiency but now lead to fragmentation.

To reconnect learning with life and improve social cohesion through education, Saumyasri Katuri argues for a globally connected, harmony-focused education system that leverages systems thinking and interconnected learning.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/beyond-silos-and-isolation-education-for-our-global-system/

10/20/2025

AI and data-driven tech expansion depend on large data centers, but further growth faces energy, environmental, and public support challenges.

For U.S.’s global competitiveness in AI, Rayhan Sarwar suggests expanding data centers in space using solar-powered satellites to ensure a consistent power supply and avoid environmental disruptions and water-cooling systems.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/maintaining-u-s-competitiveness-in-the-global-ai-race-data-centers-in-space/

10/13/2025

Following COVID-19, the pandemic-era waiver enabling free school meal enrollment was reformed, affecting access to student nutrition.

Highlighting challenges in maintaining equitable programs due to policy disparities and rising administrative burdens, Angel Puder explores the crucial role of public institutions in securing children's food amidst changing priorities and systemic inequities.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/post-covid-19-administrative-reform-with-universal-school-meal-programs/

10/06/2025

In rural America, declining trust in institutions and sources endangers the community health and safety of rural communities and all Americans.

Through the Cooperative Extension Approach, Adam Howell emphasizes strengthening informal communication channels, such as local messengers, and extension education to enhance information delivery and public engagement.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/7xdmb7dw

09/29/2025

Despite progress over time, women still face discrimination in receiving treatments.

As systemic disparities continue in how women's pain is assessed, treated, and understood, Nicole Schanker emphasizes addressing intersectional disparities, gender data gaps, and the role of medical students in reducing biases and inequalities in IUD and pain management.

Read more: https://www.cornellpolicyreview.com/gender-disparities-in-pain-management-and-differential-treatment/

09/04/2025

The Cornell Policy Review’s 2025-2026 Application is now open.

We are accepting applications for contributing writers and associate positions within our team. Join the Brooks School's official student-run policy journal to help promote the Brooks community's voices in policy. Whether you're passionate about writing, editing, public relations, podcasting, or simply policy, we encourage you to apply.

The application opens until Monday, September 15th, at 11:59 p.m. Visit the application form for more information about open positions. We look forward to you joining our team!

Link to application: https://forms.gle/azYm4zfu1juLd1cz6

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