Dear Weathered,

The meteorological winter of 2001-02 (winter is defined meteorologically as Dec. 1 through Feb. 28 or Feb. 29.) has been our warmest on record, with an average temperature above freezing for the first time in 107 years of official record-keeping.  The Northeast's previous warmest winter was recorded 70 years ago in 1931-32 with an average 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Keith Eggleston, senior climatologist at the Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC) at Cornell, isn't worried about global warming though. He says that "while temperatures have been warmer than normal, this is not necessarily part of a larger, global-warming trend. Similar warm winters also occurred in the Northeast in the 1930s. The jet stream has been farther to the north than normal. Usually it is a little farther to the south. This pattern has been fairly consistent all winter long. The jet stream has been surprisingly stable, surprisingly consistent. So we're not getting the Canadian air or the severe cold outbreaks that we would normally see."

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Fan,

Yes, it is very uncomfortable and disconcerting when volume is beyond acceptable ranges.  Sometimes we use our technology without consciousness of its effects on others. Another example is the high volume of previews in movie theatres. Although we can shield our eyes from visual pollution, it's harder to protect ourselves from noise pollution because we can't anticipate it, and it causes a physical pain. It sounds like your Dad knows how to protect himself.

I'm sorry that the volume was so loud at the Harlem Globetrotters event.  The Globetrotters are really so exciting,  its a shame that the volume of the music detracted from the experience for you.  I contacted Bob Chaddock, Associate Director of Athletics with your comments.  He said ''we appreciate hearing these concerns and learn a great deal about how to improve when people take the time to write." He explained that the staff from the Globetrotters control the volume for their events, but he felt that they would appreciate your concerns.  He also forwarded your comments to his managers for the event.  If you have additional questions or comments, you may email him at rgc8@cornell.edu.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Senior,

I contacted Tracey Thomson, Assistant University Registrar, about CoursEnroll and your question.  He responded, "during the fall semester pre-enrollment period (for spring semester courses), seniors pre-enroll alone in the first enrollment period.  The reason for this is to help ensure that seniors are able to get into courses they need to graduate. During the spring semester pre-enrollment period (for the following fall semester courses) seniors and juniors are grouped together in the first period.  The reason for this is that there is a much smaller number of seniors that continue from spring to fall (most graduate in May).  Combining the seniors and juniors helps to distribute the load on the system more evenly throughout the pre-enrollment period."  If you have additional questions about the CoursEnroll process, you can email the Office of the University Registrar at univreg-mailbox@cornell.edu, or contact your college registrar.  I hope your fall pre-enrollment process is successful, and that you are able to find some interesting courses to register for!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Listening,

The music played during the credits is an excerpt from Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi's Violin Concerto Il Cimento Dell'armonia e Dell'inventione: The Four Seasons, op. 8, no. 1-4. It is played by Rudolph Bochco, a concert violinist and father of the show's creator, Steven Bochco.

I hope you can find the whole piece to listen to -- it is lovely!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear motivated with a passion,

It sounds like you're in a difficult place, but I don't believe it's for long.  I'm glad you've written to me and that you are ready to do something to help yourself work through this situation. Because you were motivated and had passion and dedication when you came to Cornell, I believe you have a lot to work with.  Being at Cornell,  a new place with new people from all over the world, you have had to make many adjustments to your ways of thinking and being.  That is good; better that than that you are bored and stagnating.  Coming through the transition, you are finding that what once was clear to you is no longer so obvious.  That means life is not so simple.  And that means you've become more realistic and wiser.  Perhaps what once was important no longer is top priority.  You mention confusion over decisions about majors and career goals, and even summer jobs. All of this comes of your new, or rather emerging self with greater consciousness of the ways of the world. If it were easy, the world wouldn't be in the mess it's in!

If "Cornell" is to blame, it is for providing a relevant education, and for helping you to continue to grow up and broaden your perspectives. Do you remember those times in class or when reading a book that you would feel the "aha" of seeing an issue in a different light, and then seeing other things fall into place in a more meaningful way? Yes, the education is hard, does take a lot of work, and unfortunately, grades do not always reflect how much you've worked and learned, but rather how well you do in relation to other *Cornell* students. Those grades can be discouraging, and the tests on which they are based can come to be associated with that let down feeling. The panic that you feel is the anticipation of getting that negative feedback. Panicky feelings can also be performance anxiety as you prepare to perform and feel necessary anxiety about doing your best, in addition to anxiety about repeating poor performance.

Fortunately, there are many proven ways to manage anxiety and get through this transition with newfound meaning for your life.  I encourage you to take some steps to develop some new skills in managing anxiety and in goal-setting. The Learning Strategies Center (5-6310) is open daytime, evenings and weekends to give you tutoring in specific courses or general help such as how to take a test, deal with test anxiety, or read for comprehension and other study skills. You also can talk to someone at EARS (5-3277) or CAPS (5-5208) to help you deal with the panic you are feeling and to make plans to ensure a more confident approach to the next two years.

Your passion is still there and it is what will help you push through this and other difficulties.  It is because this is important to you that you are willing to be worried about what and how you are doing. Your motivation will return as you clarify your goals and spell out some specific objectives to meet them.  When you experience success your panic will get under control and you will start to smile again. Meanwhile, don't forget to breathe, exercise, eat well and get support from friends and family who care about you. I care!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear liberal,

Thank you for sharing your experiences.  College is a special time to explore our beliefs and attitudes and to define and refine our thinking in light of all that we learn. We learn how to think critically and analyze the wealth of information at our disposal. Hopefully, class discussion helps to generate many thoughts and ideas in addition to the professor's, and writing assignments help one to express one's own approach to an issue.  If a student didn't come away from the college experience with some changes, it would be a shame.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear freshly,

Gone are the days with the kindly dorm mother sitting in the room just off the lounge, able to hand over the keys to a handful of students who live in that dorm.  Bigger numbers and more complex job descriptions have led to this feeling of impersonal and sometimes unfair service response. I'm sorry to hear about your unfortunate incident at a service center.  The residence hall lock out charge is indeed $5 for a voucher, per occurrence.  Each student should have received a "free lock out" voucher at the beginning of the year at their floor meeting in the residence hall as well as notification on the opening notice that the lock out fee had increased.  This increase was approved by the Student Assembly as well as the Campus Life student subcommittee.

The director of housing did make a decision, at the time of the increase of fees, to not have the forms reprinted with the changed lock-out rate on them, until the current supply was depleted, since the service centers had several hundred of the bursar forms in stock. We can be happy to put up with the sting of awareness of the change in fees in order to save a forest of trees and encourage fiscal responsibility.  I encourage you to speak to two Campus Life staff members regarding your concerns.  Martha Benninger can be reached at 4-2913 or mjb16 regarding the service that you received at the service center and Dale Walter can be reached at 5-0328 or cgw3 regarding your housekeeping concerns.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear student,

We use Kabel Medium or Helvetica Medium -- do you like it?

Uncle Ezra   

Dear land steward,

According to Paul Gates' book, "The Wisconsin Pine Lands of Cornell University," by 1867, Ezra Cornell had acquired 499,126 acres of pine and farming land in Wisconsin.  It's a very complicated story -- all about the Morrill Land Grant Act --  I'd encourage you to read the book :-)

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Found,

Sometimes getting lost can be the best way to find yourself!  I would love to buy you the book, but I must maintain professional boundaries. Do yourself a favor -- give yourself a reward for the hard work you've done this semester and buy it for yourself. Cornell's history is absolutely fascinating!

We've come a long way, baby, in using non-violent techniques to assert various causes, so we don't risk lives with the temptation of a short, sharp shot.  Education and communication have helped to clarify issues and allow communities of people to work together for common causes. On April 20, 1999, the University featured a program commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the Straight take over.  For some interesting quotes during that program regarding the climate of the University 30 years later, check out: http://www.news.cornell.edu//Chronicle/99/5.6.99/Cornell69_quotes.html

As for bringing one of these people to campus to speak, there are many different lecture programs offered on campus.  Virtually every academic department sponsors at least one lecture per year. Departments will also co-sponsor programs, combining resources to bring in bigger names.  Some of the larger lecture series' on campus include the Bartels Lectures, the University Lecture Series, and programs by the A.D. White Professors-At-Large.  Each year the senior class selects a speaker for Convocation after soliciting suggestions from the seniors.  Look for fliers around campus, or check the Daybook section of the Cornell Daily Sun, or the back page of the Cornell Chronicle to learn about these and other upcoming programs.

As a student, the best way to get involved in bringing one of these speakers (or others) to campus is to become part of the Cornell University Program Board (CUPB).  The CUPB is a student organization, that "strives to enlighten and entertain the Cornell community with a diverse range of individuals who share their experiences and talents." Past speakers have ranged from Elie Wiesel to Adam Sandler, F.W. de Klerk to Magic Johnson.  For information on becoming part of the program board, making suggestions, upcoming events, etc. check out the CUPB website at http://www.rso.cornell.edu/cupb/.

I hope that by now you've gotten your book, and that you continue to "get lost" in bookstores and libraries, --it's a great way to uncover a world of exciting material.

Uncle Ezra