Rebecca Saber: 'I researched the impact of politically-charged theater on audiences'

Rebecca Saber

Government

New York, NY

What is your main extracurricular activity--why is it important to you?

I spend most of my spare time directing musicals and plays through Cornell’s student-run theater groups. I love politics and theater, and think that theater has the profound ability to foster dialogue within communities. Being able to work on shows I find meaningful with students from Cornell, Ithaca College and the broader Ithaca community has been extremely rewarding and exciting.

What accomplishments/activities are you most proud of while at Cornell?

There are two activities that stand out to me when I think of my time at Cornell. When Hillary Clinton announced her candidacy for president, I formed the Hillary for America group at Cornell with a peer. We campaigned for about two years in Ithaca, galvanizing voters and garnering support for Hillary. I learned so much about campaigning and strategy during this time. Because my semester in D.C. took place during the fall of 2016, I continued working for Hillary for America there. I even drove in Hillary’s motorcade, which was perhaps the most exhilarating moment of my entire life. I also have spent many years working on theatrical productions, and during my last semester at Cornell, I directed the Melodramatics Theatre Company's production of "Rent," one of my favorite musicals, at the Hangar Theatre. It was the perfect way to end my time at Cornell.

What, if any, research projects did you participate in at Cornell?

During my semester in the Cornell in Washington program, I researched the impact of politically-charged theater on audiences and its ability to activate audiences to engage with political issues facing their communities. I also wrote a government honors thesis on the correlation between the percentage of female legislators in each U.S. state and the wage gap. Essentially, when there is a smaller wage gap in a state, there are more female legislators in that respective state legislative body.