Dear Values-stories-in-history,

Our commencement office says "this is absolutely true" and laments that the incident bent the tiny oar that the bear on top of the globe is holding.  It was not able to be completely straightened by the silversmith in England. "So a moment in CU's history will always remain with us!!" 

However, I asked Dave Burak himself, who offers this view: "In short, he got someone else, & for years, I've heard the misapprehension that he hit me stated as if it was gospel. The fellow who did, in fact, get bopped on the noggin by good ol Morris was Melvin Morgulies, an activist who had, only a short time before, moved to the Ithaca area from NYC. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Prof. Bishop moving toward Melvin as the latter walked across the stage about ten yards behind me. Melvin had long thick hair & it served to cushion the blow to the degree that the hit barely fazed him. Meanwhile, I was being bear-hugged from behind by Safety Division officer Tom Turner, who stood over six feet tall and weighed around 220 pounds. Tom lifted me up in the air, and, since I hadn't let go of the podium, it also became airborne for a few moments. Hence the sound system was temporarily disconnected. Being somewhat naive about matters of this nature, I  found the situation quite disconcerting. After all, while standing at that same (or a quite similar) podium I had received a standing ovation from (most of) a student/faculty crowd of about ten thousand just a year or so before. Hence, I had thought that, since the ceremony had been billed as an alternative commencement, I would not be begrudged a two minute statement. Naturally, hindsight being 20/20, I realize I should've known better. A few years later, at another commencement, I apologized to CU President Dale Corson for the disruption described above. He put his arm around my shoulder in an avuncular manner, then smiled and told me that there was no need to offer an apology. You made things interesting, he said."
 

David Burak is a poet & freelance writer who teaches literature, composition, & creative writing at Santa Monica College.  He has been involved in such projects as sending books to Afghanistan (http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/02/10.31.02/books-Afghanist an.html), and many others.  He worked closely with Vice-Provost for Diversity and Africana Studies Professor Bob Harris in putting together a program here featuring Selma Alabama Mayor James Perkins, Jr.and Ithaca Mayor Alan Cohen, entitled "Governing Divided Communities."  He writes: "I had suggested inviting Mayor Perkins to Bob & James Turner after I read an LA Times article re: Klan-type activities taking place in Selma shortly after Perkins took office.  As you can imagine, the fact that James Perkins was Cornell's president during the turbulent period of the 60s, & given his dedication to the idea of providing access to a Cornell education for more African Americans,  it struck me as particularly fitting to have CU invite Mayor Perkins to speak." 

Dave was also the primary catalyst & coordinator of four panels which took place during CU Alumni Weekends from 1997 to 2002. The first panel focused on Vietnam where he taught at the College of Social Sciences & Humanities in Saigon, a.k.a. Ho Chi  Minh City. He has also set up speaking engagements for the Vietnamese Ambassador, Le Van Bang, at both Cornell and at the RAND Corp. compound in Santa Monica, in an effort to develop better relations between the US & Vietnam.

He writes "A touching moment took place while I was meeting with the Ambassador & his counselor at their embassy in Washington. I gave Le Van Bang a copy of a book on English Lit, from Shakespeare to Shaw. Ambassador Bang sent his counselor into the inner office, & Mr. Khanh came back with an decorative Vietnamese calendar, which he presented to me. After I expressed my appreciation, the Ambassador said, yesterday we give same gift to JFK Junior."

He coordinated an Alumni Reunion panel in 2002 (his 35th) featuring former CU Arts College Dean Alfred Kahn, Zachary Carter '72, and Anke Wessels, who is currently the executive director of CUs CRESP (Center for Religion, Ethics, & Social Policy). Kahn left Cornell to become an advisor to President Jimmy Carter. Zach Carter was the US Attorney who successfully represented Abner Louima in the case against the NYPD and is now a judge. Anke Wessels is the primary coordinator of a celebration of peace activism which took place at Cornell during the weekend of Sept. 19-21.  Fr. Dan Berrigan was the featured speaker. "So, as you can readily deduce, the associations & activities I've been involved in over the previous decade have had a way of re-connecting the past with the present in a rather positive manner" he suggests.  

 He reports that "Also, I'm currently involved with several Cornell faculty members in the editing of a volume of essays, &, perhaps, poems, in honor of my former mentor & friend, Archie Ammons. I've had three chapbooks of poetry published, as well as an assortment of articles in papers ranging from the LA TIMES to the ITHACA JOURNAL & the SYRACUSE POST STANDARD. Finally, for now, last Spring I was able to participate in the organizing of three panels on affirmative action, one at Syracuse U., one at Cornell, & one at SMC." 

Never a dull moment.

 

            
      &nbs p;                         ;                           

Uncle Ezra   

Dear New Resident,

Welcome.  The mechanic you choose depends on the make of your car.  Some specialize in VWs, some in Hondas, or foreign cars (i.e. Volvos) and others are generalists.  So, find someone with a car like yours and ask.  As for vets, there are many good ones.  The closer to your home, the more convenient you will find it to take Mittens or Millie after school or on Saturday morning.   The Vet School here has a small animal clinic where supervised Vet students give your animal extra TLC (tender loving care).

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Current,

Our memories have a mind of their own.  Sometimes we remember the most recent things and forget the older ones (recency effect) and other times we remember the first things we've experienced in a category and the more recent things are harder to pull out of our head (primacy effect). Many a son or daughter has been called by all her or his siblings names before mom comes to the right one.  It doesn't mean she loves the one she wants to say any less.  It's just a matter of our brain not sorting through all the information in a category quickly and selectively enough.  Don't worry.  Just keep on being the sweet loveable and loving guy you are and that x will fade further away.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Shine,

The Office of the University Registrar handles these kinds of requests.  If you send the form to them, along with a request for a transcript (your official coursework record here at Cornell) they will send both to the school that you are applying to.  Along with the form, please include the following information in your transcript request: full name while attending Cornell, Social Security Number, dates of attendance, your return address so we can send you a receipt, complete destination address for each transcript, daytime telephone number, and signature (Cornell cannot release your transcript without your signature). Send the request and form to: Office of the University Registrar, Attn: Transcript Department, B07 Day Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853-2801.  Good luck with your application.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Balch Mom,

Lucky daughter- that's a beautiful dorm!  Did you know Janet Reno lived there? The Tatkon Center has been quite successful, so your daughter has the best "family room" on campus. According to our statistics, on average, approximately 1/3 of the women living in Balch requested an all female residence hall.  The remaining 2/3 were placed there as part of the room assignment process, and as you've seen, the majority of the women who are placed there end up very satisfied with the living situation.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear humbled,

But you are spending time with him.  Albeit, not face-to-face, but it is not an ideal world, as Josh knows quite well, and you, as a law student, will continue to know in a million different ways.  You met him, you liked him, you enjoy him is what I hear. If at some time you feel the stress is more than you can handle, or if the relationship isn't giving you what you need to move on with your life, you can renegotioate.  But this isn't law school, so negotiating in relationships is merely communicating well. 

Yes, you probably will get hurt many times over.  He will, to be sure.  Who doesn't?  Are you willing to work through the difficulty to hold onto what is good for you?  Try to work from what is real and let go of expectations based on another person's experience, another generation, a movie or a well-meaning friend or family member.  When you stand alone after a hard day's work, what gives you what you need to replenish?  You have yourself to answer to.  Wishing you the best.

Uncle Ezra   

 Dear chat,

Dr. Bob Hsiung from the University of Chicago visited Cornell last year to talk about his site and his book, "E-Therapy: Case Studies, Guiding Principles, and the Clinical Potential of the Internet." Turn your speakers on and go to http://www.dr-bob.org/.

Please be careful in chat rooms, where anyone can say anything, true or not. Chatting can offer support and feedback, but you don't know who from, and is not professional counseling. There are times when working with a counselor face-to-face can help you more effectively. Good luck.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Sleepyhead,

The student Chimesmasters who play the bells are sorry that you find the 7:45 am morning concert to be so early.  As students themselves, who must wake up early and climb 161 steps to play those concerts, they can appreciate that it's a bit early for some people's schedules.  However, it is long standing tradition that the Chimes ring three times during the day, and they must ring at those specified times (7:45 am, 1:10 pm, 6:00 pm) so as not to interfere with classes.  They explain that actually the schedule has gotten more humane with time -in the early days they used to begin at 6:00 am with a reveille call! 

For those students who have 8:00 classes and the many CU staff members who also start work at this time, the morning concert is a treat to get them on their way.  I hope that you can learn to appreciate their morning presence and adjust your schedule accordingly.  Thank you for your understanding. 

Uncle Ezra   

Dear biking,

The rails-to-trails program has provided us with some lovely traffic-less recreation ways across the country.  Another one goes from the side of the Dryden Agway on Route 13  two miles to Dryden Lake, hike, bike or cross-country ski. There is hope and work trying to open one from Taughanock Falls to Cass Park, which now has a bit along the canal.

The East Ithaca Line, the recreationway which continues behind East Hill P&C then parallels Varna Rt. 366 and veers toward Fall Creek to Route 13,  was originally part of the Elmira, Cortland, and Northern rails, and later on the Lehigh Valley R.R.  It was one of two lines that gave Caroline Depot its name.  It was the line that ran over the long-gone high trestle in Brooktondale, and had a station in Besemer on route 79.  The base of an old water tank, to provide water for steam engines, remains in Besemer.  It ran through Freeville to Cortland. Imageine:  Freeville had 3 rail lines, two of which were still running in the 1960s. Guess how many there are now?

The line was originally a through route, and the Cornell heating (not power) plant was built on the rail line, rather than vice versa, for easy delivery of coal.  The line south of the High Voltage lab on Mitchell Street was abandoned by the late '60s, but the line still had service to that point from Cortland.  The south line was abandoned the second time the Brooktondale trestle either washed out or burned, maybe in the 1940's?  The line suffered major washouts and destruction of bridges in Hurricane Agnes, 1972, and was never rebuilt.  A little bit of it is still in use in Cortland.

The Coal Office was indeed just what it says it was.  Coal came into Ithaca on the train.  Cars were pushed up a ramp just beyond the building, and the coal was dumped through the track into big bins on the ground.  Some people still heated with coal here in the 1970's.  It was all torn down after it became clear that the rail line would not be re-opened. Coyote Loco was indeed the East Ithaca railroad station.  It was located on the north side of Maple Avenue across from the coal office, and moved maybe in the 1980's amid controversy.

The DeWitt Historical Society at the base of State Street just before the Commons, (http://www.tompkinscountyhistory.org/index.html) is a great place to research this history.  The library there serves casual readers and scholars, school children, local historians, genealogists, and professional researchers. Staff and volunteer Research Assistants facilitate research on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or by special appointment

There are many favorite railroad songs, as the railroads captured the hearts of many a young and old person standing by the tracks.  Here's one by Utah Phillips, "Daddy, What's A Train?" (http://www.utahphillips.org/songbook/daddywhatsatrain.html):

(sung to chorus tune)
When I was just a boy living by the track
Us kids'd gather up the coal in a great big gunny sack,
And then we'd hear the warning sound as the train pulled into view
And the engineer would smile and wave as she went rolling through;

(spoken)
She blew so loud and clear
That we covered up our ears
And counted cars as high as we could go.
I can almost hear the steam
And the big old drivers scream
With a sound my little boy will never know.

I guess the times have changed and kids are different now;
Some don't even seem to know that milk comes from a cow.
My little boy can tell the names of all the baseball stars
And I remember how we memorized the names on railroad cars -

The Wabash and TP
Lackawanna and IC
Nickel Plate and the good old Santa Fe;
Names out of the past
And I know they're fading fast
Every time I hear my little boy say.

Well, we climbed into the car and drove down into town
Right up to the depot house but no one was around.
We searched the yard together for something I could show
But I knew there hadn't been a train for a dozen years or so.

All the things I did
When I was just a kid-
How far away the memories appear,
And it's plain enough to see
They mean a lot to me
'Cause my ambition was to be an engineer

Uncle Ezra   

Dear runner,

Surprsingly, the staff in Athletics don't know exactly how many steps there are in Schoellkopf Stadium, but perhaps you've found a way to pass the time while running them!  Be careful though, especially as you get tired, sometimes the height changes, so it is important to watch your step.

If you're looking to vary your running routine, the men's and women's track teams have some recommended runs, including mileage distances, on their website visit http://www.cornellbigred.com > Sports >Cross Country.  Enjoy. 

Uncle Ezra   

Dear SI reader,

I'm afraid that in this case, the Lynah Faithful who participated in the ticket lottery, are sigh, lost on the cutting room floor.  Sports Illustrated did send a photographer to take pictures of the hockey ticket sales for use in their On Campus issue.  Perhaps you've seen it with the Thursday edition of the Cornell Daily Sun this fall?  But in the end, they decided not to use any of the images.  Do keep your eyes open in SI for details about those amazing fish that seem to fly every time Harvud is in town... 

Uncle Ezra   

Dear frustrated fan,

I am sorry that you are frustrated with Harvard's decision to sell certain home hockey tickets as part of a 4-game package instead of selling them as singles.  I am sure that your are not alone, with many Cornellians in the greater-Boston area who are always eager to see Harvard hockey when the Big Red comes to town.  As for Harvard's decision to do this, some consider it scandal while others consider it smart business.  By selling Cornell tickets, a high-demand game, as part of a 4-ticket package, they will hopefully increase their ticket sales and ultimately, their turnout, for the less popular games in the package.

Regardless of your point of view, I hope that you and other Cornellians who wish to see Cornell play the Crimson at Harvard are able to find the tickets and the means to do so.  Good luck.  

Uncle Ezra   

Dear cheap thrills,

Since I only post answers on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and you didn't send me your email address, I will now say I hope you found what you were looking for. 

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Shadow,
Neither was our ancestor and founder, Ezra Cornell, Jewish, nor were many others whose names gave honor to the purported scribe of the Old Testament. 
 
I am very sorry to hear that you feel that you got food poisoning with respect to a kosher dairy meal you ate recently. It would be important to share that information with the folks at Gannett and if at a "public" facility with the facility people. Despite all of our efforts, unfortunate incidences can happen with any food at any time.  Many foods are potentially a source of food poisoning, and kosher is not a guarantee against it. The method of preparation and storage, independent of kashrut, is the determining factor. You don't mention where you ate, what you ate, and whether your illness could truly be ascribed to the food.

Professor Joe Regenstein, who teaches a course on kosher and halal food regulations (FS250), says that "Meatless diets have been shown to be quite healthy -- and the laws focus on avoiding mixing of milk and meat -- so at other times one can eat meat.  The major contribution of milk is, of course, easily digestible calcium.  So I'm having a problem understanding your point with respect to kosher.

"There are laws to insure the integrity of milk. The same in principle as with seafood and birds -- determining what is allowed under the kosher laws and also making sure that the integrity of the products is maintained through the marketing system."

You are right about the history of cheese, but, Professor Regenstein says, "the cows were kosher slaughtered and inspected cows.  That is certainly still permitted if you can get the kosher 4th stomach. There is kosher calf rennet commercially available.  However, for economic and practical reasons, the newer bacterial enzymes are more widely used."

If you wish to learn more about the kosher (and Muslim halal laws), I suggest you consider taking a course with Professor Regenstein in the Food Science Department. He is also a faculty lecturer on the Cornell cybertower site (http://cybertower.cornell.edu).

Both the rabbis and Plato must have recognized that the world in which we live contains imperfections and not pure essence. For Plato, the shadows on the cave are not the real. But, don't worry--you're more than just a shadow. Good luck in your grades, in finding some wholesome food, and in seeking a view that reaches beyond the cave.

Could you clue us ancients in to what "Frogger" means?  Thanks.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Prospective student,

Here is the information typically evaluated in determining in-state residency:
        1. Residence of parents, spouse and children
        2. Financial independence, income sources, business pursuits
        3. Residence for tax purposes
        4. Place of voter registration*
        5. Marital status               
       &nb sp;6. Age
        7. Situs of motor vehicle and other personal property registration
        8. Situs of real and personal property  
        9. Location of checking and savings accounts    
        10. Place of employment       
        11. Telephone directory listing
        12. Place of draft registration

For a student receiving any financial assistance from his or her parents, the items above apply to both the student and the parents.

Applicants to CALS may apply for in-state status through the CALS Admissions Office. Students currently at Cornell may apply to change their residency through the University Bursar's Office. Good luck!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear ID,

The spirits of synchronicity awakened. You're very welcome.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear researcher,

Try http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/5082/mulanfaq.html or http://www.ultravmx.com/jason/1song.htm. Poems were often written to sing the accomplishments of hero(ines) in the days before many people could read or write. Song, dance and theatre are still important modes of communication in countries with low literacy rates (especially for educating the populace about health and agricultural practices).

Who knows for sure? The website I read reports that Hua Mulan is a historical figure who is famous for disguising herself as a man. According to Annals of the Ming, her surname is Zhu, while the Annals of the Qing say it is Wei. Xu Wei offers yet another alternative when, in his play, Mulan Joins the Army for Her Father', he gives her the surname Hua. Others using The Ballad of Mulan as their guide have attributed her surname to be Mu. There is also some confusion concerning her place of origin and the era in which she lived. She is said by some to have come from the Wan County in Hebei, others believed she came from the Shangqiu province in Henan and a third opinion is that she was a native of the Liang prefecture in Gansu. One thing seems certain though. Hua Mulan was from the region known as the Central Plains. Cheng Dachang of the Song Dynasty recorded that Hua Mulan lived during the Sui and the Tang Dynasties. Song Xiangfeng of the Qing Dynasty asserted that she was of Sui origins (AD 581-618) while Yao Ying, also of the Qing Dynasty, believed she was from the time of the Six Dynasties. No record of her achievements appears in official history books prior to the Song times. Stories circulated in China's Central Plains indicate that she must have lived before the Tang Dynasty.

 Both history books and legends do at least agree on one thing - her accomplishments. It is said that Hua Mulan's father received an order to serve in the army. He had fought before but, by this time, was old and infirm. Hua Mulan knew it was out of the question for her father to go and her only brother was much too young. She decided to disguise herself as a man and take her father's place. The troops fought in many bloody campaigns for several years before they obtained permission to return home. Hua Mulan was summoned to the court by the emperor, who wished to appoint her to high office as a reward for her outstanding service. Hua Mulan declined his offer and accepted a fine horse instead. Only later, when her former comrades in arms went to visit her, did they learn that she was a woman.

The story of Hua Mulan is well known and has provided much inspiration for poetry, essays, operas and paintings. Here is one: Poem, "Mu-lan" Anonymous (fifth or sixth century A.D.) Form: yueh-fu Tsiek tsiek and again tsiek tsiek, Mu-lan weaves, facing the door. You don't hear the shuttle's sound, You only hear Daughter's sighs. They ask Daughter who's in her heart, They ask Daughter who's on her mind. "No one is on Daughter's heart, No one is on Daughter's mind. Last night I saw the draft posters, The Khan is calling many troops, The army list is in twelve scrolls, On every scroll there's Father's name. Father has no grown-up son, Mu-lan has no elder brother. I want to buy a saddle and horse, And serve in the army in Father's place." In the East Market she buys a spirited horse, In the West Market she buys a saddle, In the South Market she buys a bridle, In the North Market she buys a long whip. At dawn she takes leave of Father and Mother, In the evening camps on the Yellow River's bank. She doesn't hear the sound of Father and Mother calling, She only hears the Yellow River's flowing water cry tsien tsien. At dawn she takes leave of the Yellow River, In the evening she arrives at Black Mountain. She doesn't hear the sound of Father and Mother calling, She only hears Mount Yen's nomad horses cry tsiu tsiu. She goes ten thousand miles on the business of war, She crosses passes and mountains like flying. Northern gusts carry the rattle of army pots, Chilly light shines on iron armor. Generals die in a hundred battles, Stout soldiers return after ten years. On her return she sees the Son of Heaven, The Son of Heaven sits in the Splendid Hall. He gives out promotions in twelve ranks And prizes of a hundred thousand and more. The Khan asks her what she desires. "Mu-lan has no use for a minister's post. I wish to ride a swift mount To take me back to my home." When Father and Mother hear Daughter is coming They go outside the wall to meet her, leaning on each other. When Elder Sister hears Younger Sister is coming She fixes her rouge, facing the door. When Little Brother hears Elder Sister is coming He whets the knife, quick quick, for pig and sheep. "I open the door to my east chamber, I sit on my couch in the west room, I take off my wartime gown And put on my old-time clothes." Facing the window she fixes her cloudlike hair, Hanging up a mirror she dabs on yellow flower powder She goes out the door and sees her comrades. Her comrades are all amazed and perplexed. Traveling together for twelve years They didn't know Mu-lan was a girl. "The he-hare's feet go hop and skip, The she-hare's eyes are muddled and fuddled. Two hares running side by side close to the ground, How can they tell if I am he or she?" For a beautiful calligraphy version, see: http://www.chinapage.com/mulan.html.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear safety minded,

Thank you for reminding our readers about safety at the gasoline pump.  While studies have shown that the odds of a static electricity accident are low, they do occur.  Furthermore, gasoline is flammable, and with a gas station on most every corner, we sometimes forget to handle with care.  As for your question about whether you're really putting 5 gallons in your tank, that pump is probably quite accurate.  The New York State Bureau of Weights and Measures tries to certify every measuring device from gasoline pumps to butcher scales, to fabric store rulers once per year.  Many guidelines follow federal legislation, so this is the case in many other states too.  The sticker that you see displays the last time the device was checked.  In most cases, NYS representatives show up unannounced, so storeowners don't know when they're going to be checked.  Five gallons of gasoline must be within 6 cubic inches of accuracy.  There are 231 cubic inches in a gallon, and 1386 in 5 gallons, so that's pretty close!  For additional questions about specific weights and measures regulated by the state, contact the Tompkins County office at 274-0353

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Student,

Since these societies are student organizations, you could start a conversation in the student assembly about whether students want these organizations on campus.  If you're worried that the secret societies violate the Open Doors, Open Hearts, Open Minds policy then you could discuss that with Associate Provost for Diversity, Robert Harris, who handles that policy on campus. Funa Maduka, a student trustee, is a member of Quill & Dagger.  If there is hazing, Vice President Susan Murphy would be interested.

Advocacy skills are good to learn.  Find others interested in your cause, communicate in every way possible -- letters to the editor, get a reporter to write an article about your interest or write a guest article, open mics, lectures, meetings, flyers, join with others nationally.  Invite someone from Mchigan to come here and talk. Learn the process of getting money to fund activities. That may include doing some of your own fund-raising, which is an awareness-raising acitivity in itself. Learn about your issue and help others learn.  In a democratic civil society, we all want to learn as much as we can about an issue so we can make our decisions wisely.  Good luck.

Uncle Ezra   

Uncle Ezra