Dear Curious,

Cornell does not mandate counseling at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).  CAPS staff have been involved in mandated assessments. Students are sometimes referred for these assessments by the Judicial Administrator after some type of violation (alcohol-related, for example). 

If a student is voluntarily seeking counseling at CAPS and decides to discontinue that counseling, they can certainly do so at anytime. 

For anyone considering counseling at CAPS, call 255-5208 for an appointment.  Another option is to see a counselor at CAPS walk-in hours at various places around campus.  No appointment is necessary.  For specific sites and hours see the Off-site Walk-in Hours, http://www.gannett.cornell.edu/CAPS/offsiteSupport.html

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Student,

Yes, in 1994, I shared that definition in this posting:

Dear Walking Down Wall Street,
The thematic dictionary PICTURESQUE EXPRESSIONS (2nd edition, 1985) gives an intriguing history of "piker":  "A tightwad, a cheapskate.  This Americanism appears to have originated during the Gold Rush, when the Forty-Niners applied this epithet to those among them who had come from Pike County, Missouri.  By 1880, when piker denoted a two-bit gambler, its connotations were clearly derogatory, and the term was well on its way to its general current application.
        "'My companion immediately produced the coin and not wishing to seem a piker, I followed suit.'  (Robert W. Service, Ploughman of the Moon, 1945)."
        Thanks for finding this resource goes to the folks at the Uris Reference desk (Urisref@Cornell.edu; 255-2339), who, in their generous sharing of information, can never be called pikers.

And here is the answer I gave last February to another question about "pikers":

Dear Chris '88,

When "Davy" was written in 1904, "pikers" was a slang term for freshmen.  Theodore Zinck was a tavern owner in downtown Ithaca.  His pub was a popular place for Cornellians to gather for a drink and to sing Cornell songs.  It was so popular that after the tavern closed, Zinck became the namesake for several local bars over the years, the last of which closed in the1960s.  Cornellians around the world still come together on the 3rd Thursday in October to toast Cornell at the International Spirit of Zinck's Nights.  Check with your local Cornell Club chapter for the Zinck's event in your area this fall. 

Give my regards to Davy, remember me to Tee Fee Crane.
Tell all the pikers on the hill that I'll be back again.
Tell them just how I busted lapping up the high highball.
We'll all have drinks at Theodore Zinck's when I get back next fall!

To learn the meaning of all the characters and words, and to hear the music, visit the Cornell Big Red Band website, http://mb.bigredbands.org/.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Alum,

You wrote just in time.  U Hall 1 still stands and is known by most as Class of 17.  It and the other U halls were all renamed after donors.

As part of the West Campus Initiative the Class of '17 Hall will be completely operational for the rest of this academic year, serving a large portion of the transfer community.  It will close in May and eventually be demolished some time next year to make room for House 5 of the West Campus Residential Initiative.

The buildings that will be closing in January and their residents moving to Hans Bethe House are Class of '18 and Class of '26 (U-Halls 4 and 5, respectively).
This information, courtesy of a Cornell Alumna and Employee who noticed the mistake in my original answer.
For more about the changes on West see: http://www.alumni.cornell.edu/initiatives/res/westcampus.cfm

Uncle Ezra   

Dear First Year Student,

All students are guaranteed on-campus housing for their sophomore year.  You may arrange to live with up to 5 of your friends through the lottery system.  You must all enter the lottery.  Whoever has the earliest selection time will then "block" off spaces for all of you.  Please note that when blocking with more than three people, at least two will have to select a double.  The lottery process starts in late January.  All undergraduate students should receive a mailing from Campus Life with more information in November.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Free Spirit,

In words.  Just let her know what you think, what you feel, what you like about her.

There is obviously an immediate attraction between the two of you, but there is no telling where this relationship is going.  Two weeks is a very short time, and spending most of the second week in bed might make it difficult to really know what's going on.

Fifty miles is not that far.  Spend a bit more time together "out of bed" to really know her and see where it goes.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Plantations Visitor,

Dayne Gunn, Visitor Center/Gift Shop Manager Cornell Plantations,  says he can only respond to the questions which relate directly to Cornell Plantations.  Perhaps someone from the Vet School could answer questions related to the more specific coyote questions.
"I have not had any reported incidents with coyotes in the 4 years I have worked at the Plantations.  Some of the areas managed by Cornell Plantations are remote and/or infrequently traveled by humans and so are more likely to be frequented by uncommon animals.  Some Cornell Plantations sites allow hunting on them, with our permission and within state regulations.  I would suggest a common sense rule - if you feel unsafe in an area, don't walk there!!"

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Friend,

I assume you mean Dr. Louis Leibovitz who taught in the College of Veterinary Medicine from 1973 to 1988 and specialized in avian pathology and later aquatic animals.  There is a portrait of him in the Flower-Sprecher Veterinary Library next to the former entrance, which is now a computer area.  When faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine become emeritus their portraits are hung in the Veterinary Library courtesy of the Alumni Association of the College.  Thanks go to the staff of the Veterinary Library for their help portrait-sleuthing.

Uncle Ezra   

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Bio-no-more,

Have you let the Office of Undergraduate Biology know that you have chosen not to continue with a biology major?  According to Wendy Aquadro, a recent database cleanup has removed everyone from the email list who has let the office know.  If this didn't help, just email her, gsa8.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Car Troubles,

I would try Rick Houghtling's Body Shop, 109 E. Clinton St., 272-3866.  His shop is tiny, next to Pyramid Sound and sort of across the street from the Ithaca Police Station.  He's honest, good and you can negotiate what kind of fix you want; completely like new or serviceable.

Uncle Ezra