Dear Uncle Ezra - Latest Questions

Question #1 11/24/2009

Uncle Ezra — 2009-11-24T06:00:00+01:00

Dear Uncle Ezra,

I have always wondered who Ho Plazas Ho is referring to. Do you know if theyre the family who donated the Ho Plaza?

Thanks, Curious student

Dear Curious,

The Ho family have had four Cornell graduates since 1955. Hau Wong Ho
received a bachelor's of engineering physics degree in 1955; his wife
Christine received a bachelor's in chemistry in 1961; and their son,
Jet King Shing Ho '91, has a bachelor's in physics. Mui Ho, Hau Wong's
sister, has bachelor's degrees from Cornell's College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences (1962) and the College of Architecture, Art, and
Planning (1966). (See Cornell Chronicle article at
http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/97/3.13.97/Asian_alumni.html.)

Ho Plaza, a gift of the Ho family, was dedicated during Reunion 1995.
It is a wonderful gathering space for the community to table
information, to chalk event notices, to dance, have a marching band
concert, or to enjoy the sun on one's face and the wind in one's hair.
Thank you very much, Ho family, for your kind generosity.

Uncle Ezra

Question #2 11/24/2009

Uncle Ezra — 2009-11-24T06:00:00+01:00

Dear Uncle Ezra,

Why are there no libraries open on Friday and Saturday nights? Why does Cornell have to only have extended hours during exam periods? I can name quite a lot of schools that do have 247 libraries.

Dear Night Owl,

This is Cornell's attempt to encourage students to have a life outside of academics. Finding a balance between work, leisure, charity and sleep is very important. Research finds that those who get a good night's rest do much better on exams and papers than those who burn the candle at both ends.

Uncle Ezra

Question #3 11/24/2009

Uncle Ezra — 2009-11-24T06:00:00+01:00

Dear Uncle Ezra,

Our lives were recently revolutionized by a monumentous event for all students: the release of Microsoft Office 2007, and the choice of Calibri as the default font. Most academic papers up to this point have required Times New Roman font, size 12, as standard, in order to fairly judge the length of a paper. Is Calibri size 11 now an equally acceptable font choice, or should we continue to use TNR size 12?

Sincerely, Hell-Bent for Helvetica

Dear Helvetica-Bent,

Here’s what Kara, the CIT HelpDesk supervisor, recommends:

“If the user would like to move away from Calibri and size 11 to another font/size for their personal satisfaction, this can be done by creating a template, or changing the defaults in Word. Simply click the arrow in the bottom right of the "font" box of the Ribbon, and set defaults there.”

For that matter, you could make Helvetica your default font for almost everything you write. (At Cornell, only graduate theses have font / type requirements for student papers.) Surely by now you have seen the 2007 documentary, “Helvetica,” about that elegantly readable type face.

Uncle Ezra

Question #4 11/24/2009

Uncle Ezra — 2009-11-24T06:00:00+01:00

Dear Uncle Ezra,

Im in my fifth year (masters student now) at Cornell and I have always enjoyed playing pick up basketball on campus. Basically there are only two indoor places to play (Noyes and Hellen Newman) and once it gets dark out these can get very crowded.

On North Campus there are 6 pretty nice outdoor courts but they have no lights! Last weekend when a group of my friends wanted to play after classes on Friday we essentially only had 1 hour from 4:30-5:30pm before it got too dark. We werent the only ones using the courts either.

So, whats the reason for choosing not to light the basketball courts? I cant imagine that it would be that expensive to have timed lights from 5pm to say 11pm. Is it because of the winter and they think people wont use them? Whats the deal?

Thanks.

Dear Hoops,

Andrea Dutcher, our all around helper for questions about athletics gives this sad, but true info:

"Unfortunately zoning laws in the areas where the outdoor basketball courts on North prevent us from installing lighting systems. When the whole North Campus Residential Initiative was being planned, we fought long and hard for "city court lighting" for those courts. This is low impact flood lighting typically used to light outdoor courts in urban areas so that the lights do not disturb the surrounding areas. They are also on a timer so they shut off after a certain period of time. It was a huge issue for the Town of Ithaca and Cayuga Heights Planning Boards so we dropped that aspect of the plans."

Uncle Ezra

Question #5 11/24/2009

Uncle Ezra — 2009-11-24T06:00:00+01:00

Dear Uncle Ezra,

My freshman son is not in the Cornell medical plan but rather is covered by my plan. He recently incurred about $500 of medical services (doctors, x-ray, and drugs, which are on our Cornell bill) at Gannett and was told they dont give out receipts. How does he get a detailed bill from Gannett so I can provide to my insurance plan for reimbursement?

Thanks for your help on this.

Dear Parent,

Have your son request the detailed bill. Since health services at Cornell are confidential, only your son can get the information that you are looking for. Here is the complete information on billing for health care services at Gannett, http://www.gannett.cornell.edu/accesstocare/fees-insurance/fees/paying.html.

Uncle Ezra

Question #6 11/24/2009

Uncle Ezra — 2009-11-24T06:00:00+01:00

Dear Uncle Ezra,

I am staff at cornell with insurance benefits. I am permanent resident of US, and my mother and father in law are permanent residents also; they live with us and are dependent on us; however, they do not have insurance. Is there any way i can get insurance for them by claiming them as dependent.

Dear Staff Member,

Cornell Health Insurance is only for eligible dependents who are children. I suggest that you contact the Tompkins County Office for the Aging for inforamtion about health coverage for seniors, http://www.tompkins-co.org/cofa/ or call them at 274-5482.

Uncle Ezra

Question #7 11/24/2009

Uncle Ezra — 2009-11-24T06:00:00+01:00

Dear Uncle Ezra,

Can students who have a parking permit for campus pay for covered parking (like the garage near the football stadium) during winter break? I think I have to leave my car up here over break and I really dont want it exposed to all the snow. Thanks!

Dear Winter Breaker,

Checking with the University’s transportation department, it seems that students are not eligible for that kind of parking in the garage at Schoellkopf. If you already have a valid parking permit, there are designated Winter Break parking areas where you can leave your car — although they are not covered from the elements. To find out about that option, contact the parking folks (255-4600, transportation@cornell.edu). You might also be able to buy extended parking at one of the Ithaca City-run garages, such as Dryden Road in C’town, or the three garages downtown. Here’s hoping that your break is enjoyable and carefree, whatever your plans, and that there aren’t too many feet of snow when you get back.

Uncle Ezra

Question #8 11/24/2009

Uncle Ezra — 2009-11-24T06:00:00+01:00

Dear Uncle Ezra,

I am in a group project and we are trying to determine the percentage of ROTC students scholarships that is paid by the school compared with how much of the scholarship is paid by the government. We are trying to determine this for many ROTC programs across the country so we would like to know if there is some list out there that could provide us with the percentages of ROTC scholarships paid by different schools and how much is paid by the government. Any information on this would be helpful!

Thanks, (Hopefully) Productive Group Member

Dear Productive,

For the latest information go straight to the source. Contact Captain Lisa Dwyer, US Army Scholarship and Enrollment Officer at 5-5663 or lisa7dwyer@yahoo.com.

Uncle Ezra

Question #9 11/24/2009

Uncle Ezra — 2009-11-24T06:00:00+01:00

Dear Uncle Ezra, I recently bought a outerwear jacket and it got a tear the first day i wore it.

I want to get that tear repairedmended before the tear gets bigger. Can you tell me please good clothes repair shops in Ithaca.

Thanks for your help

Dear Student,

One option is to check out tailors in the local yellow pages, http://ithaca.areaconnect.com/, to find a place nearby to fix your jacket. Most Cornell residence service centers offer the service of sending out dry cleaning for students. Some of these dry cleaners have clothing repair options. They will pick up your jacket at the Service Center and return it to you when it is fixed, for a price, that is.

Uncle Ezra

Question #10 11/24/2009

Uncle Ezra — 2009-11-24T06:00:00+01:00

Dear Uncle Ezra,

I heard a rumor going around campus that the university was offering a Gaelic class next semester. Is this true?

Sincerely,

Dear C,

Yes, that nasty rumor is true!

Here are the details:
LING 2236 - Introduction to Gaelic 4CR
Stdnt Opt 25360
LEC 001
MWF 01:25PM - 02:15PM
GSH G24
Harbert,W (weh2)

Uncle Ezra