Now I remember you from another thread asking about your Russian interests. What I honestly think is that you are becoming overly concerned with presenting the “perfect” impression on your applications, and not concentrating enough on the substance. The most important thing you can demonstrate on applications to competitive schools is your aptitude in your academics. Since you intend to cover both physics and Russian, that means that you must really cover your bases in science, math and humanities. You already have your work cut out for you.
I am more familiar with the German department at Cornell, which has a strong tradition, than Russian studies. I think it was covered in your Russian thread that Russian as a department wasn’t eliminated at Cornell; even if it was shifted, I don’t think there would be any problem at a major institution like Cornell – it said (a few years ago) there were thoughts that some Russian may be housed in Comparative Literature eventually, which is also strong. In any case, no: it won’t be lost on Cornell. Rather than trying to persuade the committee via departmental proposals, I think you should simply state what your primary interests are, and have your recommenders back those up.
I think you may be trying to second-guess and outmaneuver the admissions committee at Cornell. If so, bad move. I suggest as above: be sincere about your passions, intellectual strengths and curiosities. Once you matriculate at an institution, you will take appropriate courses in whatever department they are housed in. If you feel you have a shot at ED Cornell, and go with that, you could perhaps mention a faculty member or two who are working in areas that speak to your interests – that would take precedence over a potentially confusing departmental proposal. But this would need be sincere and concrete; don’t just pick people or study areas out of thin air to impress the adcom. It won’t work.