At Cornell Hay's thesis was supervised by J Barkley Rosser. However, being out of step with her husband, after she had studied for two years at Cornell, her husband had completed his Ph.D. and took up a teaching position in Oberlin. Being apart again did not really seem an option to Hay who terminated her studies at Cornell early, writing up what she had at that point for a Master's Degree. However, she did not do this grudgingly:
Sa Cornell Hay's sanaysay ay supervised by J Barkley Rosser. Gayunman, ang pagiging out ng mga hakbang sa kanyang asawa, matapos na siya ay may-aral para sa dalawang taon, at Cornell, ang kanyang asawa ay natapos na ang kanyang Ph.D. at kinuha up ng isang posisyon sa pagtuturo Oberlin. Hiwalay na muli ay hindi talagang mukhang ng isang opsyon sa Hay na itinigil ang kanyang pag-aaral sa Cornell maaga, pagsulat up kung ano siya had sa point na para sa isang Master's Degree. Gayunman, siya ay hindi gawin ito laban sa kalooban: