Dear Uncle Ezra - Questions for Thursday, June 24, 2004

Dear Em,

Robert Purcell was one of Cornell's major benefactors. Born in Watertown, N.Y., he was a member of the Class of 1932 and a 1935 graduate of the Cornell Law School. He joined the New York City law firm of White and Case after graduating from law school. He later became counsel and vice chairman of the Allegheny Corp. and its railroads, the Chesapeake & Ohio and the Nickel Plate. In the mid-1950s he became president and chairman of Investors Diversified Services. From 1955 to 1979, he served as a financial advisor to Rockefeller Family and Associates. He owned Portillo, an international ski resort in Chile, where the 1966 Winter Olympics were held. He served on the Board of Trustees from 1959 to 1981, and as chairman from 1968 to 1978. His gifts to the university totaled more than $17 million, many of them given anonymously. In 1982, the Board of Trustees named the Robert Purcell Union after him in recognition of his long-standing interest in students, and researchers at Cornell named an improved strain of winter wheat for him. He died in 1991 at the age of 79. If you want more information, we have a biographical folder for him, with a complete obituary, photographs, etc. There's probably also an alumni folder. I hope this pleases you and your dad.

Uncle Ezra

Dear Uncle Ezra,
Can you elaborate about your involvement with morse code? Thanks, amy

Dear Amy,

Ezra Cornell's vision, faith, and perseverance made him successful in many life ventures from the development of the telegraph to the founding of this great university. But though he achieved much success, it was not without hard work and trials.

Ezra's (my) involvement with Samuel Morse and the telegraph began in the early 1840s, when I was part investor, part inventor, and part employee for Samuel Morse, doing extensive research for and later implementation of the first cables running from Washington, DC to Baltimore, MD. The early years of the telegraph industry were tumultuous as many companies cropped up, and then quickly disappeared. After many failures, the companies finally agreed that expansion could only occur if they merged together as one large organization, which became The Western Union Telegraph Company. During these years of success and failure, my family experienced lean financial times, and I often took speculative company stock in lieu of dollar payments. When the companies finally merged into Western Union, I became a very wealthy man. And it was my $500,000 gift of Western Union stock that became the university's first endowment.

To learn some of the finer details, visit the online document "Ezra Cornell's Life and Times" hosted by the library's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections (http://historical.library.cornell.edu/ezra/). If, after reading it, you wish to seek more information, a trip to the archives will more than meet your interest.

Uncle Ezra

Good Day Sir,
I pasted your response to Historian's question below. I think it merits correction; the oldest building on campus is Cascidilla, not Morrill. Morrill was the first built for Cornell University. Cascidilla was finished in 1866, in use as a water-cure for several unsuccesful years (interesting story there ... but you should remember this — you were a principal investor in the water-cure facility!), and was then converted into a University dormitory in 1868, in time for opening day. If you don't have a copy of Kermit Carlyle Parson's book, The Cornell Campus, please buy one now, on E-bay or abebooks.com. It's neither expensive nor inaccesible for lay readers and experts such as you alike. Also, in another post you say that The Daily Sun ran a series on how the pumpkin got up there, and then you said 'but it was probably done X way.' (cut the chimes, climb through the roof, etc.) It's odd that you don't attribute to any source where you got the idea that it happened in X fashion. It's doesn't sound very credible. Farhad Manjoo, now a Salon.com writer, wrote The Sun's final expose (not part of the series that you do mention) which I believe revealed how the pumpkin got up there in X fashion. http://www.cornelldailysun.com/articles/909/ Of course, there is no way to know with 100% certainty that this is how it happened, but the Reagan, Kennedy, Nixon hypothesis fits best, and it was printed in The Sun first. Factually yours, Pete Dear Uncle Ezzy,
What is the oldest building on the campus? Dear Historian,
Can you guess? Buildings of the old stone row are: Morrill Hall (first building, known originally as 'South Hall,' 1866), White Hall (second building, known originally as 'North Hall,' 1868), McGraw Hall (originally carried the name of 'Middle Hall,' third permanent building , 1870 - 1872), and Tjaden Hall (known originally as 'Franklin Hall,' 1882-1883). They remain, outwardly at least, pretty much as they looked when built. You might be interested in Professor Ron Ostman's new book with photographs by Harry Littell entitled Cornell Then & Now: Historic and Contemporary Views of Cornell University, (McBooks Press, Inc., 2003). You'll find that and others at the Campus Store. If you type "building" into the Uncle Ezra seach box, you'll find some more interesting architectural facts, such as Question 8 from June 17, 2003. Uncle Ezra

Dear UnCLE Ezra,
Is it true that you, Ezra Cornell, the figure displayed besides the title "Dear Uncle Ezra",
actually spent more time in Albion, Michigan than in Ithaca, New York. A tipster at www.albionvision.com set me off to this fact.

Dear Student,

Yes, my parents and three sisters lived there. You can read Frank Passic's article at http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/980510.shtml.

"Ezra’s sisters Mary and Phoebe lived here in Albion following their marriages, so in 1855 Ezra’s parents Elijah and Eunice moved to Albion with their youngest daughter Jane. One reference states, 'and with Ezra spending far more time in Albion than at Ithaca, the aged parents were drawn Westward. At 84 Elijah and his 67 year old wife Eunice undertook one more migration, this time to Albion.'

"Ezra purchased a lot for his parents in 1856 ...and built a home for them. Eunice died there in 1857, and Elijah died later that same year at the home of his daughter Mary (Cornell) Robertson .... Both are buried in Riverside Cemetery.

"Much of Ezra’s Albion interest was also due to his brother-in-law,
Martin B. Wood (1807-1881) and his wife, Ezra’s sister Phoebe (Cornell) Wood (1816-1891). Ezra offered Martin a position in the construction of the new telegraph line across Michigan, and asked his sister Phoebe to operate the Albion telegraph office, which became a full-fledged operation. Mrs. Wood is said to have been the first woman telegraph operator in the United States. She operated it out of her home on N. Superior Street just north of Vine Street."

Uncle Ezra

Uncle Ezra,
Where could I find a list of Cornell's majors that includes the annual number of students on average who choose each field? (specifically the college of arts and sciences). thanks.

Dear inquiring about majors,

The number of students in each major is not available online. However, I was able to get a few figures from the staff in the College of Arts and Sciences. Please note, students do not have to declare a major until their junior year in this college, so there may be more students walking around saying "I plan to be a XXX major" that are not in the actual figures:

As of mid-November, the smallest majors are:

Africana Studies (9), Astronomy (3), Dance (4), Earth & Atmospheric Sciences (9), Feminist, Gender & Sexuality Studies (7), German (6), Independent Major (8), Italian (6) Romance Studies (2), Science of Earth Systems (2)

The largest majors are:

Biological Sciences (446), College Scholar (120), Economics (442), English (265), Government (385), History (178), Mathematics (109), Psychology (219), Sociology (155)

All the rest fall somewhere between 10 and 99 students. Regardless of the number of students who share your interest, I hope you are able to find the major that is the right fit for you.

Uncle Ezra

Ez,
When, during a dinner party, or reception is it appropriate to give a toast (i.e. before the meal arrives, just after the meal arrives, etc.). thanks, toasted

hello
im from romania...and i just ask one of my teacher how i get the chance to study somwhere else like romania he give me this...site now im lost in space here i just feel that i have to get the chance to come to cornell HOW?????????????

Dear Uncle Ezra,
Are there some classrooms on Ithaca campus that are accessable to students all the time, no matter morning or night and no matter weekdays or weekends?

DUE,
What is up with the increasing duration of the chime concerts. Tonight's has been going on for an hour ... Sincerely, Tired of "Oh, Christmas Tree"

Dear tired of "O Christmas Tree",

The Cornell Evening Song (played to the same tune) has special meaning to generations of Cornellians. More than 20 Chimesmaster alumni, representing classes from 1949 through 2003, were in town the weekend that you wrote this question for an annual meeting. Most of the playing was by alumni Chimesmasters, who were eager to have the opportunity to play the bells, after such an extended absence. Please forgive their trip down musical memory lane.

If you have never been to a Chimes concert before, the Chimesmasters invite you to attend any of their three-times daily concerts in McGraw Tower, to experience this unique performance (hours are slightly reduced during the summer).

Uncle Ezra

Hi,
I would like to know if there is a way through which I could obtain the e-mail addresses of venezuelan students on campus. There used to be a Venezuelan Student Association, but apparently it was dissolved. A friend and I would like to send an e-mail to other venezuelans to arrange a meeting and hopefully revive the venezuelan organization. In the case that this was not allowed, we would at least like to write a message and give it to someone from the faculty with access to the addresses so that he/she could send the e-mail. Thank you for your time, David

Dear David,

The Office of the University Registrar is the safe holder of all student information including email addresses. They do not release student emails to a third party, so you would not be able to obtain a list and send it directly. If the previous Venezuelan Student Assoc. dissolved, perhaps this is an opportunity to do a more broad-based recruitment effort, not only to Venezuelan students, but other students as well. There may be others out there who are interested in learning more about Venezuelan culture and customs. You could do this through postering, contacts with the Student Activities and International Students & Scholars Offices, or the blessing of a faculty member to post a notice in a relevant class. If you have additional questions about student data, please contact Mr. Tracey Thompson, Office of the University Registrar (TLT3).

Uncle Ezra

Dear Uncle Ezra,
As a friend of a Cornell Alumni, I was pointed to you for all of my random questions.

Here goes. Many hair product companies are now selling shampoo and conditioner bottles with the openings facing in different directions. The shampoo bottle has the opening facing upward and the conditioner bottle facing downward. Do you have a logic reason as to the difference? And who started this?

Dear Uncle Ezra,
Is it a fact that cornell PhD graduates are not given faculty positions here? Inbreeding is prevalent in many state universities...It is my dream to join here as a faculty!

dear uncle ezra,
my best fiend is threatening to beat me up. i told one of her secrets as payback to every thing she put me through.shes been threatining me for months but she has never done anything.what should i do?

dear uncle ezra,
what's with all the outsourcing to india and china? i watch lou dobb's "exporting america" segment on cnn every night,
and it's horrendous. i just got my bs in physics this fall, and it seems to live up to its b.s. namesake. i havent heard anything from the companies i applied to yet. plus, no one told me grad schools dont give a nickel of financial aid unless you're a phd student. well, i knew actually, but it doesnt really hit you until you're faced with the situation yourself. what's the use of taking loans, if there arent going to be jobs available that can pay them off? here in southern california, there arent many universities around (in terms of density, like the east coast), and graduate physics departments dont cater to ppl who want more vocational training as opposed to pure academic research. i think this is because of the many foreign students that keep such programs alive.

Hi unkie,
I am on Club sports team here at Cornell and we just won a First place prestigious trophy. We want our trophy displayed in a high traffic area on campus. The first place that came to mind is the case in Willard Strait Hall. Someone thought that perhaps that case was reserved for academic awards like College Bowl, but I think I may have seen a trophy there for the women's figure skating club. Do you know if and how we could get our trophy put in that case? Could you tell us of other cases we could put our trophy in and how we would go about doing that?

Thanks,
National Champions

Dear Ezra,
What do I need to do in High School to get into Cornell?

From,
CornellLover

Dear prospective student,

We're glad you're thinking ahead and planning to make yourself look attractive on your college application. You should follow the college prep guidelines in your school, taking the appropriate math, science, English, foreign language and electives to prepare you for your major, or to help you decide what line of study you'd like to pursue.

You also should become a well-rounded citizen, participating in sports, volunteer work, clubs and other activities that show your character and ability. Meet with your high school guidance counselor for advice so you'll know about everything your particular school has to offer. Good luck.

Uncle Ezra

Dear Uncle Ezra,
I'm a undergraduate interested in becoming an Actuary. Does Cornell offer any classes in actuarial science?

Dear future actuary,

Cornell does not offer any specific courses in actuarial science, but a Cornell education can still prepare you for a career in this field. I spoke with one Cornell alumnus who received a degree in engineering but found that wasn't a good fit, and went on to become an actuary. Math courses, including a strong calculus background has been helpful to their career. Your best bet is to make an appointment with a staff member in Cornell Career Services. They will be able to help you find more resources about this field, and from there, what courses you might take to better prepare you for a career in this field including professional exams you may be required to take. Good luck.

Uncle Ezra

Dear Uncle Ezra:
How are you?
        I learn you from my friend. Now I am very confused by a tough choice.
        I am from China and I came to US in November Last year to join my husband, who is a law student here.  From then, I begin to prepare for the application for LLM degree, and I am very luck to get the Harvard Law School admission and Upenn Law admission, both are LLM program.
        However, from my husband experience,I find that for LLM graduates, it is very hard to find a job in US.
        Moreover, I find that for a foreigner, to study law of US is much different from the legal study in China. To do well in law school, it depends much on the language skill.To many cases to read, to acquire polished writing skill, and most important, you should be articulate in oral English. To date, i have no confidence in my  English. It is hard to be a good lawyer in a foreign country.
        Then one of my friend advise me to take up another major,which is easy to find a job.She suggest me that I should take GAMT and study accounting.
        So, I have two questions:
        1,whether I should study LLM, which lasts only for one year and as this program is seen as a degree for international students, it is difficult for LLM to find job.
        2, If you do think I should study LLM, now I faced with the choice between Harvard LLM(no scholarship) and Upenn LLM(20000 dollars scholarship),which one should I take?
        I am very sorry to convey this complex queation to you.
        With best regards,
        rain

Dear rain,

First let me welcome you to this country of many choices. You do have a difficult decision, and you can't predict the job market. You can only know yourself, and what you would enjoy doing for 8-10 hours a day for years of your life. What was it that interested you in law? Will you be able to do that? If that is what you really want, then it is just a matter of taking intensive English courses to help you do the work. It is true that to write and argue cases, you need to understand nuances of language and culture both, so that is a challenge.

Do you enjoy accounting? Have you looked into the kinds of jobs you can do with that degree? Are you good at the logical thinking and the filling forms and understanding regulations? That also requires expertise with language reading and processing, so your challenge still stands.

In making your decision, consider the long-term goal, rather than short-term issues like how long the program is or how much it costs. A year or two longer to prepare for a career which will last 50 years is not a bad investment. The money you can always pay back, and if you prepare for something you will really like, you won't find yourself wanting to go back to school later and spend more money again.

Consider also your family plans and how these decisions and this timing will help you achieve those goals. I wish you the best.

Uncle Ezra

Thank you Dr. Ezra for taking this time out to answer the following question:

My brother recently completed a few nutrition courses at Cornell.  I have a small biology background and also like nutrition.  I have recently begun taking supplements for my health.  My brother informed me that the supplements I am taking may be doing more harm than good to me.  I have searched the internet and have only found good information about the following health products; cracked-shell Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Chlorella vulgaris.  They are the only two supplements I take daily now (5-10 grams daily) along with some homemade Kefir. I used to take calcium citrate, calcium malate, organic colostrum, and other supplements.
According to your opinion, would these Chlorella spp. be a suitable nutritional supplement for the body, or are their claims for supporting good health unjustified?
I have chosen to take Chlorella over all other supplements because of their health claims.  I had though about organic spirulina spp. from Nutrex, Hawaii, but due to the possibility of inactive vitamin b12 analogs,
I've decided to pass them up.

Thank you for your time and assistance!

Jerry

Dear Jerry,
Unlike prescription medications, the Food and Drug Administration does not highly regulate or supervise the manufacture of supplements.  This means that health claims can be made about them that are not backed by evidence, and contents do not necessarily correspond with labels.  Thus, for example, the potentially active ingredient in a product may not be actually present in the amount indicated, or an exact amount may not be indicated.  Even more worrisome, other additives or contaminants may be present that are not indicated on the label, some of which can be toxic.

The supplement industry in the US is a multibillion dollar one.  Unfortunately, it is not clear that most of the supplements sold are effective and without risk.  Innumerable products are available, with more appearing all the time.  Without further research on Chlorella, some important general questions could be asked about this or any other supplement, which could inform your decision about taking it.

1) Is there good scientific evidence backing the claims?  Short-term or long-term risks?  Long-term studies?   Information from reliable sources?  (Note that advertising and information from the web are not always reliable sources.)

2) What is the cost?  Do the benefits outweigh the costs and risks, or are there too many unknowns?

3) Is the manufacturer reliable?  Is the item certified by USP?

4) Why do I think I need this supplement, and would it be better to consult with a medical professional?

An example of a supplement with potential problems is St. John's Wort, popularly used to self-treat depression.
The advantages of it are that it may be lower in cost than antidepressant medications, and it may seem more natural and empowering to use an herbal product. The disadvantages are that the active ingredients are present in variable and unmeasured dosages depending on preparation, St John's Wort may make some depression worse, it may interact with other medications and make them less effective (e.g. birth control pills), and its use may discourage more effective modes of treatment.

Go to the FDA website for more information about supplements at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov. When you search the net for information on commercial prodcuts like this, it is likely that many of the sites you bring up will be in some way sponsored by the company trying to sell the product. Check reliable unbiased sites like fda or referreed journals, not popular magazines in which articles may be thinly disguised advertisements.  Just remember that we have evolved as healthy beings for years without these supplements, and the tried and true methods of eating a well-balanced diet, sleeping and exercising are the best health protection you need. In fact, if there is anything science has found to add to the list, it is social support. Gesundheit.

Uncle Ezra,
I've caved...I have finally decided to give some money to the alma mater. Anyway, I'm very particular about where my money will be going (this is going to be a miniscule sum--I'm a starving grad student). Anyway, I want to give to the department of biology, but more specifically, to biology students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. I went to the CALS web page and looked at specific departments to give money to...but no Biology. I went to the undergraduate biology web page and nothing there either...I figured maybe you could help me out...who wants my money?

Thanks,
cu grad 02

Dear '02 grad,

It is very generous of you to give back to your alma mater, and although you are giving from your graduate school wages, every dollar makes a difference.

You have a couple of options for directing your gift. If you are completing your annual fund pledge card or making your gift online, you can write in that you would like your gift to go to the Department of Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. You might also be interested in giving to the Jane Brodie Cornell Tradition Fellowship, a scholarship for undergraduates in the Ag School who are interested in the fields of health, biology, and agriculture. If this interests you, please write the name of the fellowship on your pledge card, along with the fund number (#327415). Thank you for your support.

Uncle Ezra