Dear student,

First, please take a deep breath -- you're not the first person who has forgotten to lock down their schedule!  Second, if you haven't already done so, please speak with your college registrar about your situation as soon as possible.  Remember that during pre-enrollment you are making requests so even the "most perfect" schedule may be slightly different when you register in the fall.  Enjoy the rest of your semester.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear student,

I'm sorry for your dilemma, but I reassure you that others have faced a similar decision.  Planned Parenthood has excellent confidential services.  They can counsel you on your options and refer you to the next step, which is your choice. Planned Parenthood provides non-biased support, and so they may be the best first step. At this point, time is a key factor. 

You can certainly use someone to help you through this process, so that you go gently on yourself and find safe ways to communicate with your family. A counselor can provide emotional as well as practical support that will save you from suffering undue psychological distress and long-term harm.

I urge you to take care of yourself and use this opportunity to learn and grow. Gannett is also a source of confidential services if you are a Cornell student.

Uncle Ezra   

Dearest nephew,

A message from the heart is the best way to go.  Sometimes cliches are just that because they are the simplest way to say what you mean.  If you really mean it, then it is not just a cliche, but it is an honest invitation for conversation.  This may be a situation where less is more. Then you wait to see if she responds, and then you have more to respond to.

If there are things in her profile that interest you, you certainly can mention them, and say why, for example "I am also fascinated by hedgehogs and have a collection of 100 on my bed, which is why I sleep on the floor." Good luck.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear smaller,

Your problem could also be a matter of nerves or muscles.  I hope you can get some advice from a clinician on how best to handle your problems.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear viraj,

Your organization's purpose sounds like an interesting one.  Are you seeking money for programming happening this semester, or are you looking ahead to next fall?  Remember that you will have an opportunity to apply for SAFC again next academic year.  If you are looking for funds for this academic year, many of the groups granting additional funding have already made their allocations.  But that does not mean that you need to give up hope yet.  Stop by the 5th floor of WSH and speak with the Student Activities staff or email Catherine Holmes, associate dean of students (cah4) for info on alternative funding and fundraising opportunities.  Good luck to your group.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear student,

Check out http://www.slopeday.cornell.edu...we'll be celebrating with the Starting Line, The Game, and Snoop Dogg!  See you there.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear student,

I understand your concerns.  Unfortunately, making Cornell phone books available only to the Cornell community is easier said than done.  They are intended for the Cornell community, and we're certainly not hawking them on street corners, but it wouldn't be too hard for someone to get their hands on one either.  There is also the electronic directory which marketers can obtain information from, but if you were to restrict that, how would you decide who gets access?  The free flow of information in today's society due to the Internet and other tools has its positive and negative aspects. 

As a Cornell student you do have the option of suppressing your directory information (name, address, college, etc.) which will remove it from the electronic directory, and if it is done within 10 days from the start of the academic year, it will be suppressed from the paper directory, too.  But don't just click that button!  Suppressing your directory information will leave you off other lists too, for example, honor societies, or other groups that are not selling something but have a reason to contact students.  If you feel ok with the possibility of missing out on some mailings, then you can click the check box at the bottom of the addresses screen in Just the Facts.  Or for more information on this visit http://registrar.sas.cornell.edu/FERPA.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear academic,

If you ask anyone who has gotten their Ph.D., or any professor about their career pathway, you will discover that a doctoral degree is truly a labor of love!  Pursuing that level of academic expertise is not for the faint of heart but for the truly impassioned spirit.  While many professors are well compensated for their work, it takes years of toiling, continuing pressures to teach, research and publish, and so on.  If you're considering this career path I encourage you to speak with a few of your old Econ professors to see if this is indeed a good fit for you. 

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Francophile,

This video seems to exist, but is rather hard to find.  Albicocco's 1967 film the Wanderer is available used at Amazon.com (although it's pretty pricey).  Mary Fessenden, Cornell Cinema Director, also recommended Facets Multimedia Video (http://www.facets.org) which carries many unusual foreign titles, but they list it as "no longer available."  A web search, or e-Bay search may also help you.  I have a friend that was able to track down many "lost" films on e-Bay. 

For those looking for movies, or movie facts, you may also enjoy visiting the Internet Movie Database at http://www.imdb.com.  Bon chance! 

Uncle Ezra   

Dear no-needles,

There are a few tailor shops in town, and there are some private businesses.  One is the following:  Anna’s Alterations -- Anna Sapozhnikova has an interesting journey to share - all the way from central Russia to Ithaca. She grew up in Kazakhstan. At 15 she moved to Russia to complete high school and study design. Once done, she designed clothes for a fashion company and taught at a local university. She won a prestigious Moscow competition for designing a line of children’s clothing. By 22, Anna was an accomplished designer, but she was not settled. In Russia life was difficult and filled with uncertainty. Anna’s desire for stability led her first to an international dating agency and then, a move to Ithaca where she married David Elliott, a member of Alternatives. Once settled in her new home, Anna decided to open a business doing what she knew best. She came to Alternatives for help. Miroslav Knezevic and Amy Audetat, staff who speak Russian, were able to assist Anna in setting up her finances. She got a share secured Alternatives VISA Credit Card and slowly established credit. At home, she hung out her shingle and Anna’s Alterations was born. Today, Anna’s business is doing well. She does everything from stitching backpacks to designing wedding gowns. She opened an Individual Development Account at Alternatives and plans to save enough to upgrade her sewing machine and purchase more equipment to expand her business. Contact Anna’s Alterations at 256-0809 or email artd79@yandex.ru

Uncle Ezra