Dear Cornell parent,

Congratulations on your son's acceptance to Cornell!  I hope that as you and your son sit down together to fill out the many new-student forms, the excitement continues to build!  The Cornell ID number is a six-digit unique identifier which will be distributed to all new students when they arrive on campus in August.  That number is not directly distributed to students prior to arrival, but will serve students in many capacities when are a fully matriculated student. 

The Cornell Installment Plan is a way to disburse your educational expenses interest-free over a twelve, ten, or five-month period.  Many families find this service very useful.  The plan is administered by Academic Management Services (AMS), an outside entity that has a direct working relationship with the Cornell University Office of the Bursar.

When completing the CIP enrollment form, you stumbled upon a problem that was brought to the Bursar's attention last week as a result of changes that were not reflected on every version of the application form (paper, phone, and web). 

So, what should you do when you need these forms that ask for the Cornell ID number and you do not have it?  Don't worry about it, leave that field blank.  Cornell University is working directly with AMS to insure that new students DO NOT need the 6-digit Cornell ID number.  Your son can include his social security number where specified on a particular form by AMS, if he feels okay doing so, but again this is not a requirement.  Cornell will instead provide the pertinent information directly to AMS.

Thank you for your diligence.  I look forward to seeing you and your son during Orientation in August. 

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Dad,

I asked an Information Systems faculty member at the Hotel School to respond to you.  He offers his congratulations to the incoming Freshman and  looks forward to meeting him this Fall!

"As both a Mac user and PC user myself, I can respect the reluctance to want to switch platforms. However, since the majority of the Hospitality Industry relies on Windows based computing, the Hotel School strongly recommends using a PC instead of a Mac.  Hence, our technology courses rely heavily on understanding and taking advantage of the Windows environment. You can refer to the Hotel School's website: http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/prospective/en rolling/prepare/recommendations.html where our current recommendations are noted.

"Though a highly skilled Mac user can 'survive' using a Mac, he would quickly discover the additional pressures of making sure he is always compatible with fellow students and faculty. Sometimes, this is not an easy task even with PC emulators. On a brighter note, a student who is well versed in using a Mac will only benefit from learning the Windows environment as it will broaden his ability even more to address the vast technology demands existing now and in the future of the industry - a definite skill advantage in our fast-paced society!"

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Proud CU Parent,

Congraulations on your child'sacceptance to Cornell! (It must be Early Decision!)   You will receive complete details in the mail about Opening Day and residence hall move-in, First-Year Family Weekend, and four-years from now, Commencement, beginning this summer.  But for planning purposes here you go:

-This year residence hall move in and New Student Registration will be Friday, August 22.  Students will be given a specific time window on that day to help control lines at move in.  No students may move in on Thursday or before their alotted time.  Most parents leave Saturday afternoon after the President's Convocation.

-First-Year Family Weekend will be Friday, October 31-Sunday, November 2 this year, with activities beginning late Friday afternoon.

Ithaca is most lovely in the summer, so plan on a very enjoyable trip.  We look forward to seeing you briefly as you see your son off to Cornell in August!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear new student,

Congratulations on your acceptance and welcome to Cornell!  As you may have begun to discover as you decided what college to apply to, Cornell is a diverse and multifaceted place.  We are many colleges and departments that together make one university.

The result is that the answer to your question depends on many factors.  Whether you need to take a math placement exam and why depends on what college or major you are in, whether you're looking to place completely out of a requirement or just place into a higher level class, etc.  Math placement exams are required in the colleges of Ag and Life Science, Engineering, and Industrial and Labor Relations.  Students may take placement exams in other colleges too for various reasons.

At the end of June you will receive your Orientation guide.  This booklet is filled with information about all of the academic (and social) opportunities and requirements for you to complete during orientation week.  This includes an extensive section on placement exams.  If, after reading that, you still have questions, the guide will provide you with contact numbers for your college's advising office.  Some colleges within Cornell will send students additional materials in early August as well.  When you arrive at Cornell, you will receive the 2003-04 Courses of Study catalog listing all of the courses offered for the academic year, as well as detailed information about placement exams, advanced standing and more.

See you in August!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear stats,

Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, the campus rabbi was only able to share numbers for students here at Cornell.  But the campus Jewish faith community does include many faculty and staff members as well.  There are between 3000 and 3500 Jewish students at Cornell which comprises somewhere between 15 and 20% of the total student body (undergraduate, graduate, and professional students). 

They are reached in many different ways via the Cornell Hillel Jewish Student Union (comprised of 24 different Jewish student organizations), Fraternities and Sororities, and a wide variety of courses offered by the university in Judaic, Hebrew and Near Eastern Studies. 

Cornell University was founded as a non-sectarian institution, but that does not mean that the campus is not religious.  Only that it embraces people of all faiths and religions.  Cornell United Religious Work, housed in Anabel Taylor Hall, is comprised of 25 affiliated communities, offering programs of worship, study, and social life, as well as opportunities for students to engage in interfaith dialogue.   

Rabbi Ed Rosenthal wishes to assure you that "Jewish student life is very vibrant and positive here at Cornell!"  These sentiments, I am sure, are shared by many of the chaplains affiliated with CURW.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear SAT Stats,

Admissions folks say "We really don't have an average score." Go figure. Or go to the office of Institutional Research and Planning web page at http://dpb.cornell.edu/irp/ (also linked from Stats & Facts on the undergraduate admissions page), and click on Fact Book >> Admission >> Undergraduate >> Profile of the Class of 2006, you can view a pdf document with various admissions statistics including SAT scores, class rank, ethnicity and background.

In the class of 2006, approx. 45% of those who scored more than 700 on their verbal SATs were accepted, 24% of those who scored 600-699 were accepted, and 15.7% of those with 500-599.  Of those who scored more than 700 on their math SATs, 38% were accepted, 21% for those who scored 600-699, and 15.7% for those who scored 500-599.  For more details, visit the link above.

Always remember that any stat, be it SAT scores, GPA, class rank, etc. is one of many factors weighed in each admissions decision.  For more information, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office or visit their website at http://www.admissions.cornell.edu. 

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Searching,

Unfortunately finding one comprehensive listing for every CU event, activity, and tradition is not a simple task, because the events are not all listed in one comprehensive, easily searchable calendar. 

The first place to start is the Cornell Events Calendar: http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Calendar/  (linked from the external CU page and from CU Info under News and Events >> Events Calendar).  This university listing is by far the most comprehensive, and includes a wide variety of events for next week as well as next year.  The challenge is that there is no "at a glance" feature that allows you to scan for a particular event well in advance when you aren't sure exactly when it is going to be.  There are also links to other more specific calendars such as arts, music, and athletic schedules from this page.

The CU Academic Calendar published by the Dean of Faculty's office is another useful resource for looking at academic schedules over the next several years, although the most recent version has not been put online yet.  Other sources for finding CU events are CU Tonight, the Cornell student nightlife events calendar for students, at http://www.cu2nite.cornell.edu or the Alumni Affairs events calendar (with upcoming dates for Homecoming, Reunion, and Commencement for the next few years) at http://www.alumni.cornell.edu >> News and Events.  The undergraduate admissions website: http://www.admissions.cornell.edu also provides a list of relevant admissions dates.

If you're looking for non-electronic options, see the inside front cover of the big Courses of Study book for academic calendars, the CU Academic Planner, a date planner given to undergraduates and sold at the Cornell Store, or the Cornell events wall calendar produced by the Office of the Dean of Students and also sold at the Cornell Store for a variety of Cornell events occurring over the next year.

As for some of the specific events that you requested, here are a few university-wide events coming up over the next few months: May 17-24 Senior Week, May 25 Commencement, June 5-8 Reunions, June 23-August 5 6-week Summer Sessions, August 22 Residence Halls open, new student registration, orientation begins, August 28 classes begin, October 11-14 Fall Break, October 25 Homecoming, October 31-November 2 First-Year Family Weekend, December 19 final exams end, January 26 spring semester classes begin. 

I hope this helps!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear listener,

You might try WEOS out of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva. WCNY may also have a schedule that fits better for you. The stations may divide up their audience base in this way, with EOS orienting itself to students.

For a history of public radio take a look at http://www.wsvh.org/pubradiohist.htm. You might try another letter and ask for a response.  As for your moral dilemma, how important is it to you to know that the information is there when you need it, even if it isn't the most convenient? How much do you want to help keep others informed in this way?

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Living in a “Room for Squares",

It is not difficult to empathize with the many issues with which you are struggling. You are at a turning point in your life and you have important decisions to make that will impact your future happiness.

There are a few issues I would like to emphasize because most of which you shared is subsumed under these. Growing up overweight, a very special circumstance with numerous consequences (e.g., compromised self-esteem because of peer teasing and ridicule), has significantly shaped your self-concept and self-esteem. These internal constructs do not, however, change as rapidly as one’s external body is transformed during weight loss. Thus, it is not surprising that you continue to feel like an overweight kid  even if your present body suggests otherwise. It often takes years for our subjective self-concept to become consonant with objective reality and, in the mean time, insecurities abound. One way to speed the process is to engage in psychotherapy/counseling. A benefit of working on your self-esteem with a trained professional is that you can gain additional insight as to the importance of food in your life, the reasons you seek it for comfort, as well as ways to help yourself feel better through means other than eating.

Your low self-esteem is also likely impacting your ability to find a romantic partner. For example, you seem to be sabotaging the possibility of finding a partner by telling yourself that everyone around you is too young or too old, or by being exceptionally “picky” with a long list of requirements. If, however, you are committed to finding a partner, you will increase the odds by being more out and actively pursuing opportunities to socialize with gay and bisexual men. One place to locate a similarly aged man is at “Out in the World” social events that are primarily for same-sex attracted graduate students. This, of course, is frightening when one is fearful of being stigmatized and suffering other potentially negative consequences. Until you find peace with your sexuality, it will be difficult to find and keep the type of relationship you need. A good counselor can work with you toward this goal.

Coming out to family members can be one of the most difficult challenges  one that usually occurs after many others have been told. Fearing their reactions is normal, even if you know that they won’t likely reject you outright. One of the biggest pieces of internal work that needs to occur is clarifying exactly what you fear from your parents (e.g., disappointment, lost respect, emotional distancing, disdain, discomfort, shame, sadness, anger, etc), examining the true probability of those responses occurring, detailing exactly how you would tell them, and preparing for how you would cope if they responded even minimally negatively. Through this process of self-examination, fear can be reduced and a specific plan laid out. Indeed, there are a few good books that can lead you step-by-step through the process (e.g., B.K. Johnson, 1997, “Coming out every day: A gay, bisexual, or questioning man’s guide”). When you express concern that your father’s business will be negatively impacted or that your parents’ marriage won’t be able to survive the impact of your coming out, I suspect that what you are implying is that you fear some disasters will ensue for which you will be blamed or that you are emotionally incapable of coping with the consequences. Telling yourself that it is now too late and that you “missed” an earlier opportunity to tell them is another expression of normal apprehension, but one that should not bog you down. For, in fact, there is never one perfect time to come out and to suggest otherwise is to fool oneself.

I recommend that you find a counselor in the Ithaca community or at Gannett’s Counseling & Psychological Services (255-5208) to help you work through these issues. You will find it useful exploring issues of self-esteem, body-image, family relationships, and sexuality and perhaps become clearer about whether you want to come out to your parents in the near future. Support can also be obtained at Cornell’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center (341 Caldwell Hall, 254-4987; Web site: lgbtrc.cornell.edu) and from one of several weekly social groups offered through HAVEN.

Happy (belated) birthday - may it be a good year for you!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear PO,

You are in good company of fellow humans asking that question.  Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" to explore the issues. There is no reason that we can point to, like a germ that causes a disease, to explain such outcomes.  Our lives are complex, and many of the events we experience are more like a rolling of the dice. This doesn't give one much of a sense of control, yet it is closer to a sense of reality.

There are many things over which we do have control, and that is where to focus our attention.  Our attitudes about what happens can be tweaked to help us feel more positively about ourselves and our chances in life.  We can take the "try again" or the "try harder" or the "try something different" stance.  History is full of stories of just those approaches which led to sigificant outcomes. 

Even in the founding of Cornell, I had to negotiate with several other interests in the Land Grant, and I had to keep believing in my own vision to stay positive and let things work out in time.  It was not easy, but perseverence paid off. (!)

The Buddhist philosophy of "letting go" can help you manage feelings around disappointment and failure.  The idea is to let go of the attachment to the outcome you had desired, letting go of that which causes the anger and suffering.  By focusing on what you can do with what you have before you, you can be happy and channel your energies into productive pursuits.

I hope that you will continue to believe in yourself and work from where you are now to enjoy your life and receive the blessings that come your way, by chance and hard work.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear keyboard artist,

The State Labor Department in Center Ithaca, second floor, offers typing tests, and the private job placement agencies in town will test you if you are applying to be a temp for them.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Jon,

Olin and Uris Libraries tell me that they have digital camcorders in all of the CreationStation labs. The list of labs is available at:
http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/creationstation/facilities.htm
I don't know if any of the labs have shotgun mics or not. The loan period is usually 24 hours. Your might also want to talk to the Film people in Theatre Arts.

Good luck.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear niece or nephew,

Although my corporal body lies in the crypt in Sage Chapel, my spirit lives among the many bodies here who carry on this important work. I still enjoy virtually interacting with all of my nieces and nephews, with any question on any subject, in keeping with the founding goals of open inquiry at this institution.  

I was born on January 11, 1807 in Westchester Landing, NY.  At the age of 12 my family relocated to DeRuyter (about 40 minutes North of here up rte. 13).  I have remained in the Central New York area essentially my entire life.  Sadly, I died on December 9, 1874 at the young age of 67.  At the time of my passing I left a fledgling university trying to deal with growth during financially unstable times.  So it is quite a joy to see that my vision continues to develop and grow even today!

A. D. White, who was a few years younger than I, (born November 4, 1832) died on his 86th birthday.  White was a man of great morals and convictions and the World War concerned him deeply; it is ironic that he passed away just days before the armistice. 

My remains lie with those of my wife Mary Ann Wood, and several other immortal Cornell spirits.  The crypt is a serene room off the back of the chapel, near the choir loft and organ.  When the late afternoon sun streams through the stained glass windows, it's quite beautiful.  When you're looking for a quiet moment, come walk through some time, and spend some time soaking up the history and beauty of the entire chapel as well.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear tra-la,

Ithaca is a very musical place!  Call the Community School of Music and Arts, 272-1474, http://www.csma-ithaca.org, and see who is on their faculty for the summer, or who they might recommend.  You can also call the Music department here or at Ithaca College, where there may be teachers or students offering private lessons.  You may also want to look into the Community Chorus or a church choir.  The advantage of these groups is that you get to meet some wonderful friends, and they often sing at events like the Ithaca Festival.  Sing out!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear pp,

It's good that you are concerned about your friendships and that you want to work on ways to improve them.  As you get to know someone better, you each begin to take liberties with one another, taking little inroads to further intimacy.  Can I be more myself?  Can I indulge this confidence safely?  Can I show stronger feeling?  Can I be silly, wild, spontaneous?

What sort of things might someone say or do to hurt your feelings?  Are they voicing an opinion or attitude that is not in agreement with your own?  Are they, rather, being loud or disrespectful or insensitive to a particular soft spot of yours?  How do you ask them to stop? Perhaps they need your request made in a stronger voice, more assertively.  You can insert words like "really" or add a sentence to restate your request.  Do you use "I" statements to tell them how you feel, and then ask respectfully that they not continue?  E.g. "I feel sickened when you talk about entrails scattered on the floor. It really bothers me. Would you please spare me the graphic details? I'd appreciate it a lot." 

Then, you need to be patient and flexible and forgiving for those friends with imperfect memories, complex lives, or long learning curves. Did your mom ever say, "If I've told you once, I've told you a hundred times..." ?

The ideal world would have perfect reciprocity in friendships, but it doesn't happen on our time table. You may have a friend who leans on your for years, then things flip and they become your strongest source of support.  What if you had given up during the maturing process?  You can grow a garden of friends that includes those who lean on you and those on whom you lean, those you can call late at night, and those who just want to do a movie and call it a night. Don't expect all things from one person, as you don't want them to expect such things from you.

You may find that as you allow your friendships to seek their own level of comfort, they develop a stability, and as time goes by, you and your friends develop a history with one another that gives your relationship strong roots from which new things blossom and bear fruit.  Let go of your perfectionist desires and let your friendships happen. There is perfection in imperfection, that is the secret of life. You may find, that as you go easy on yourself, you can go easier on your friends, too.

"Only the unrealized parts of our lives seem perfect.  That's what keeps Paris green for us ... something we are sure is there only we ourselves never fully realized it."  William Faulkner

Uncle Ezra   

Dear eco-friendly niee,

I'd like to commend you on the fact that you're conscientious regarding a very important safety feature for cyclists who choose to bike at night or during dusk and other times with low light. Crashes involving cyclists who bike at night with no lights are 1) too frequent and 2) preventable. We cyclists need to do all we can to be visible, especially to motorists. Wear bright, or retro-reflective gear; be sure your bike has reflectors, and use lights at night.

Next, however, I'd like to caution you on the limitations of the lights generated by tire power. One of the big problems with them (when they do work) is that they do not provide light when the bike is not moving (unless this system is different than what I am presuming). Not having a light on one's bike when one is stopped can be problematic. Consider being stopped at an intersection with no lights on your bike at night.

On a related note, there's a local effort designed to bring more attention to the more environmentally friendly ways of getting around our community. The Curb Your Car Coalition has a web site:
http://www.tompkins-co.org/itctc/cyc/
trying to get locals to bike, walk, bus, or get involved in a number of activities pertaining to lowering car usage.

Glen Swan is a local cyclist extraodinaire, and a bike shop owner. He says "one of the major drawbacks to tire-driven dynamo systems around here is that the 'dark season' when you are most likely to use it, is also the salty-slush season which will corrode and destroy the device quickly. Peter White Cycles (www.peterwhitecycles.com) imports Schmidt Dyno-Hubs and light systems, a compact and effective dynamo that is built into the front hub where it is shielded from most road salt. These lights are used by a majority of the ultramarathon bike racers who are required to have lights during the nighttime hours. Also the new generation of lights using LED's instead of light bulbs require so little current and run for so long, that they may soon make other lighting systems obsolete for cycling."

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Experienced Attorney,

The first paragraph of that response was from the Campus Police, advising of the hearing and warning of the suspension. The advice to get a lawyer to help with that process is important. I'm sorry it was left out. The legal system needs interpretation and the defendant needs a guide and advocate.

The second paragraph of the response is intended to address the underlying problems which cause infractions to occur. If one does not look at root causes, problems may continue to occur, or escalate. The law is there to provide a wake-up alarm for those who have let things slip to this potentially damaging level.  Anyone who finds themselves drifting on the road should pull over and wake up to the fact that they are behind the wheel of a two ton lethal weapon. It's not about getting caught and getting punished, its about lives.

Uncle Ezra   

Uncle Ezra   

Dear hard-earned degree,

No, Cornell does not award any honorary degrees, and they are distinctive in their policy not to.  Faculty legislation dated June 6, 1902 stated, "no honorary degree may be granted by Cornell University."  This was reaffirmed on June 5, 1916, "that it would be unwise to depart from its fixed policy of not conferring honorary degrees".

The Faculty Handbook states, "By tradition, Cornell University does not award honorary degrees.  Only two departures have been made from this practice and those occurred in the early days of the university.  Honorary degrees were awarded to Andrew Dickson White, the university's first president and to David Starr Jordan, a member of the first class and the first president of Stanford University."

Incidentally Cornell President Emeritus, Frank H. T. Rhodes, will be speaking at the University of North Carolina-Ashville's commencement ceremony on May 17.  Rhodes will also be awarded the honorary degree of doctor of humane letters. 

To all of those who are graduating, kudos to you for your academic efforts.  May you take great pride in receiving your hard-earned degree.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear 9,

Nine is a great age to be --next year you'll be into the double digits.  It's a good age to think about where you will be in 10 years, and even where you will be in 20 years when you have your education finished. Of course, each of those is a lifetime to you.  To me it goes by so fast.

The best thing you can do is keep yourself happy and healthy.  Eat well, sleep well, and exercise.  Develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Learn some hobbies -- music, crafts, sports.  These will help you balance your life between work and play.  And Cornell likes to see a well-rounded student -- that means someone who has a few different interests and abilities.

At school, learn how you learn best. Learn how to ask questions when you don't understand something, and work at it until you get it.  Find out who can help you and get the help when you need it. Offer help to those who need something you can give. Cornell doesn't expect you to know everything - but we do expect you to know how to find out what you need to know, and to have good work and study habits.

Let yourself get really interested in something that attracts you.  It might be how ants organize their groups, or what makes clean water, or who designed the Eiffel Tower. Read about your subject, write letters to adults who are experts in that subject, explore it in museums or on trips and "follow your passion."  Cornell likes to see students who can focus on an interest and learn a lot about one thing.

Talk to your parents about saving money for college.  You and they can put a little bit away each month so that paying for college will be easier when the time comes. If you get a big gift for a holiday you can put it in the account, too.

Always challenge yourself to be the best you can be.  Be a good friend and a good student.  If you are, you will be a good bet for Cornell.  Have a good summer!

Uncle Ezra