- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Uncle Ezra,
I would like to know what is going to happen the the Physical Sciences Library once it closes next year. What will be done with the space?; is there a possibility that it will ever re-open?; and what will happen to its staff - will they be able to keep their jobs?
Thank you very much.
A concerned student
Dear Concerned
Student,
Thank you—on behalf of
all students, faculty and staff members, and your Uncle, too— for asking the
tough questions. The outpouring of
concern following the announced closing of Clark Hall’s Physical Sciences
Library makes it clear that any library is so much more than a room full of
books. All of us have a
catalog of reasons why we will miss that special place. Your Uncle turned to
Library Administration’s Janet McCue (who has been asked to lead the Transition
Team that will address all the concerns
and questions) and here’s what she says:
“The Physical Sciences
Library may be closing its doors in Clark Hall, but it will not be stopping its
services or eliminating its collection. A better description than
‘closing’ is that some of the services (e.g. book check-out) will be
consolidated with services in other libraries on campus, and much of the
collection and services will be available online. Like many science libraries,
much of the collection budget is spent on journals and most of those journals
are available online through the library's subscriptions. These journals
will still be on your desktop--no matter where you are. Given the current
budget situation, however, it's no longer sustainable to have 20 physical
locations on campus. Circulation figures, number of visitors, and
reference questions —-as well as the availability of online access — contributed to the decision to close the
Physical Sciences Library.
“Thank you for asking
about the staff. They have been extremely dedicated and very helpful as
we work through this transition. We are working with Human Resources to help
them find opportunities elsewhere in the university. For example, one staff
member in PSL recently transferred to a position in the Annex; some staff
members also considered the university retirement incentive. Since we are
committed to maintaining a strong presence in the physical sciences and making
sure that the community's research, teaching and learning needs are fully met,
we will need some staff who will select materials and provide research and
instruction services for faculty and students. “In terms of the
space, the future use of this space will be determined by the Office of the
Vice Provost for Research, which has lead responsibility for the management of
Clark Hall space. The OVPR will work in collaboration with the Deans of
Arts and Sciences and Engineering and with the departments in the physical
science precinct, CCB, Physics, A&EP and Astronomy.
Together they
will seek to determine the future usage(s) of the space that will best advance
the educational and research mission of Cornell. Certainly affordable
proposals for accommodating instructional and study space needs of students
will be very carefully considered, as will be other proposals for possible
educational and research usage.
“The Library is
hosting two conversations about the future of the Physical Science Library and
we hope that concerned students will come and share their thoughts and concerns
with us.'
And thank you, Janet,
for tackling a tough assignment and for welcoming Cornell students in your “conversations.' Okay, students, the
ball’s in your court. Tell ‘em what you
think.The first forum, for graduate students in particular, is April 14; for
undergraduates, the date is April 21; both forums are at 4:30p.m. in Clark Hall
701. Suggestions can also be sent via
e-mail to pslibrary@cornell.edu.
Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Uncle Ezra,
Hi! I hope all is well :-)
So since transferring to Cornell as a sophomore last year, I’ve really loved my time here. There are some great things about this school and I’m confident I made the right choice in transferring here.
However, there’s something that’s been a constant problem that has been bothering me a lot more than usual lately and I can’t take it anymore!!!!!!!
A majority of the people here seem to be really full of themselves. I’ve made a bunch of friends, but even they can’t stop talking about how smart they all are. At parties or in class, I constantly meet people who belittle other schools, and even though it’s usually in a joking manner it happens so often that I’ve begun to think the general feeling around here is that we’re better than other people. I know a lot of students at so-called “lesser” institutions that are probably wayyy smarter than a lot of students here but don’t go to an Ivy League school for a variety of reasons.
To add to this problem, I am constantly attacked for having a “stupid major”. I’m a communication major in CALS and I love it. It’s everything I wanted from college because its very flexible, lets me take courses in many different subject areas and get a well-rounded education, and It’s perfect for someone like me who’s not sure what they want to do. It’s also perfect for people who want to go into a comm. related field, or learn about the social science research that is essential to our society.
However even my so-called friends don’t shut up about how it’s not a “real” major like their precious science or ILR majors, how I don’t understand a “real” Cornell workload, and how anyone who does comm. Should add a second major so that they get a “real” education. I don’t know why the Communication major has such a bad rep, but it makes me feel horrible about myself to the point where I want to switch majors just to get some respect.
I know that I’m smart and that the comm. major is right for me, but how can I get other people to understand that we are all Cornell students, we all had to be smart to get in here, and we should all respect each other’s courses of study without them thinking that I’m just trying to justify having an “easy” major?
Thank you for your time, I look forward to hearing from you and keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
Your fed up niece :-(
Dear Fed-up, Thank you for this insightful letter. I hope it is read by many who will reconsider their arrogance and enjoy and be supportive of the diversity of majors at Cornell. Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Uncle Ezra,
Sometimes when I'm standing in front of Willard Straight Hall on Ho Plaza, I smell an apple-y cinnamon scent--almost like apple pies or tarts. However, I've never been able to locate the source of this delicious smell, or even the product it might come from. Can you help?
Thanks,
Your foodie niece
Dear Foodie, Yes, I was also plagued by those sweet smells when I walked by Willard Straight Hall. As I followed my fine-tuned (read large) nose it took me right inside the building to the Ivy Room and Okenshields. Those smells are the delicious homemade pastries, cookies and muffins coming right from the oven. Yum! Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Uncle Ezra,
I recently heard some students went on a service trip to Nicaragua during Spring Break and that this was a class where they they learn about it in class. I believe this is a hotelie class, but I couldn't find anything on it. A Google search only resulted in an old 2006 article. Do you know which class this is and where I can find more information?
-Wanting to Help
Dear Wanderlust, There are so many ways to travel with Cornell. Check out the Cornell Abroad program, https://www.cuabroad.cornell.edu/, and the Cornell Public Service Center, http://www.psc.cornell.edu/, for many ways to travel and do service work. Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Uncle Ezra,
I am a transfer and will study abroad next year. However, I am becoming doubtful about leaving now that I am here... I love the classes that Cornell offers, as well as the school in general. I feel that by leaving, I will be missing out on my Cornell experience, especially when I came here as a transfer. However, I also feel that studying abroad is a great way to live a different lifestyle for a few months. What should I do?! Is studying abroad really worth losing out on my Cornell experience?
Dear Cornellian, Too many good choices! Are you thinking about going for a full year, or a semester? Is there an option of taking a short trip abroad during winter break and being here for the full academic year? Or possibly a summer internship abroad? I suggest making an appointment to talk with someone in the Cornell Abroad office. Express your concerns and listen to the options that they might know about. Gather info from other students that you know as well. Put all this together with your understanding of your dreams and desires and the picture may become clearer. Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Uncle Ezra,
Is there a Cornell affiliated e-mail based counseling service? I am aware of EARS but I don't feel comfortable talking to someone face-to-face or over the phone. Thanks for your help!
-Crawling out of my skin
Dear Crawling, Yes, this is the Cornell e-mail based counseling service, but all we can really do is to listen to your concerns and send you in the right direction. You are in good company with your reluctance to talk on the phone. In this internet age, there are more and more people shy of phone contact. But you can't let that get in the way of your well-being. Call EARS at 5-EARS or stop in at Let's Talk for one-time, confidential, free, counseling with a professional counselor, http://www.gannett.cornell.edu/CAPS/offsiteSupport.html. Your description of "Crawling out of my skin", sounds like a situation that requires some professional help to be resolved. Take the step to take care of yourself now, before the situation becomes worse. Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 7 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Uncle Ezra,
WHERE HAS THE BHANGRA TEAM GONE? Pao Bhangra is supposed to be happening around this time. Where is it? Not on facebook! Not on old websites! Where?
Dear Bhangra Fan,
Billed as “The BIGGEST Bhangra Exhibition in North
America.”“Over 3,000 people expected,” and “the best bhangra event of the
year,” PAO BHANGRA 8 is set for April 25th, 2009. No idea why Cornell Bhangra doesn’t have their 2009
web site up, but the music from PB7 (http://www.rso.cornell.edu/bhangra/PB7.html) got your Uncle up and on the dance floor.
Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
dear uncle ezra,
After working out in Noyes gym last night, I had a idea that I am hoping you can help implement. I've noticed that us girls in the gym tend to stay mostly in the cardio area, while the guys generally stick to the free weights and weight machines (although I've noticed that in Teagle, guys tend to use the cardio machines a bit more than in Noyes). Honestly, I think this happens because it's intimidating for us to be over in the guys 'turf'. I myself lift free weights at home, instead of at the gym, because I just feel uncomfortable. I know many others who do the same. What if there was a 'ladies hour' one or two days a week, where the weights area was strictly for girls like me who want to work out a little harder without feeling stared at? Just an idea...
Dear Female Fitness Center User,
Andrea Dutcher, Director of Recreational Services, has this answer for you:
"Yes indeed, sometimes the free weight areas can be a bit intimidating for those who may not be as familiar with that particular aspect of working out. To help embolden those individuals, we have a few programs in place. We have an excellent Physical Education Class, "Weight Training For Women", which is taught by one of our fantastic female personal trainers. (I personally have taken the class and it has allowed me to venture without hesitation into the free weight areas.)
:"We also have free personal trainers who help members set up a complete workout program. As part of this, the personal trainer will take the member into the free weight area and show exactly what equipment to use and how to use it. To set up a meeting with a personal trainer, call the CFC Main Office at 255-2824.
"There are also "Trainer Blocks" scheduled in each of the fitness sites. During these blocks, certified personal trainers are on the floor to assist members with their workouts and to answer any questions they may have about any of the equipment. They are eager to answer your questions and to help you out.
Another suggestion would be to find a workout buddy (male or female) who will help spot you and whom you can spot while doing free weights. Perhaps by working out with a friend in the free weight area, over time you will become more comfortable working out there on your own.
"Just as we have resisted blocking off "Faculty/Staff Only" times (which would exclude students at those times) in our fitness sites, we resist blocking off "one gender only" times in our sites. We feel that all sites should be open to all those who pay the fee at all times." Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 9 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Uncle Ezra,
I started first semester of my freshman year with an above 3.3 GPA. This semester,
I scored well below the mean on all four of my prelims, and I got a D on one midterm. How low can this make my GPA go? Also, I am on probation from taking 11 credits last semester. Is my getting kicked out of Cornell a possibility?
Dear Flirting With Disaster, Go directly to your Advisor or the Academic Advising Office in your college. Do not pass GO, do not collect $200, but do tell them your situation and see how they can work with you to salvage this semester and your Cornell career. Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Wow,
I don't care for the Pussycat Dolls either, but bitter much? Your response to the first question on April 9th sounds so whiny! Shouldn't you try to sound objective and wise and not like a kid tattling on others? You are pretty old after all :)
Dear Reader, I usually try to sound old and wise, but this time my feelings overwhelmed me. Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 11 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Unc:
Normally your responses are right on target and very useful, but your response to Question 7 on April 9, 2009 was less so. Hitting "reply" to a mailing list message to ask them to take you off the list will only serve to flood the entire mailing list with your request. This wastes everyone's time and is bad "netiquette."
Assuming it's a Cornell-hosted mailing list, you can leave the list by emailing
listname-request@cornell.edu
(replacing listname with the name of the mailing list, including the -l)
with a message with a blank subject that simply has the word
leave
as the entire body of the message. So if you were on a mailing list spam-l, you would email spam-l-request@cornell.edu a message that has no subject and the word "leave" in the body.
Instructions (with pictures!) for doing this can be found at http://www2.cit.cornell.edu/computer/elist/lyris/leave.html.
Alternatively, if you're a bit more technically inclined, there is a link in the header of every message you receive from a Cornell mailing list that is marked "List-Unsubscribe" - click this link and click send and you're done.
Dear Kind Reader, You are so correct and I am so wrong. I changed my original response to include your helpful information. Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 12 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Uncle Ezra,
I found out yesterday that I was accepted to study at Cornell in the fall! My major will be in CALS Communication, but I am also very interested in the Textile and Apparel program in HumEc.
Is it possible to minor in this program? I was having trouble finding information about what minors are acceptable for a COMM major.
Dear New Cornell Student, Contact the Academic Advising Office for CALS (see my links to the left) and they will answer all of your questions about majors and minors. Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 13 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Uncle Ezra,
In response to "too much food for puny arms": there is a food donation bin in Noyes Center on West just above the main stairs.
Dear Helper, Thanks. Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 14 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Uncle -
Is there a Baccalaureate Service during the graduation weekend?
Thanks -- a couple of your neices!
Dear Nieces,
Regrettably, the last
Baccalaureate Service was in 2005; there haven’t been any since, including this
year. Thankfully, there are many other celebrations and activities scheduled
for this Commencement Weekend, Saturday, May 23, through Sunday, May 24, 2009.
Surprisingly, Commencement is early this year, but so is Memorial Day. Check
the listings here http://www.commencement.cornell.edu/May/ as well as here http://www.commencement.cornell.edu/index.html
for details.
Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 15 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
DUE,
Is it safe now to use USB flash drives after the mass infection back in October? Thanks!
On a separate note, please keep up with your work! I do enjoy your column very much.
Signed,
Your niece
Dear Niece,
Thanks for your kind
words about the Dear Uncle Ezra column.
Luckily I get plenty of help from knowledgeable folks around campus—and
in the case of your question, from the crew at the CIT HelpDesk (helpdesk@cornell.edu),
who obligingly respond: “We at CIT are happy
to inform you that the computers are now safe enough for users to use their USB
sticks. Of course, we do recommend that people take a few precautions:
1. If
using a lab computer, make sure it has been reset since the last person used
it. This clears any information that may have been placed on the computer.
2.
When using a friend's computer, make sure that they have anti-virus programs
installed and making sure their system is secure. Thank you for writing in to
the HelpDesk! We're always happy to help out our dear Uncle Ezra!" And thank you,
HelpDesk consultants, for providing the following contact info about the CIT
Contact Center (your formal name): 1st Floor, CCC Building; Phone: (607)
255-8990; Fax: (607) 255-9270; http://www.cit.cornell.edu/helpdesk/Office Hours and Phone Consulting: M-F 8am-5pm;
Extended Phone Consulting Hours: M-Th 5pm-6pm; Walk-in consultations by
appointment only.
Uncle Ezra - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Question 16 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Uncle Ezra,
I will probably be here in Ithaca for the summer but I don't think I can afford the tuition for the summer. I was once told that there were summer scholarships available for rising seniors who needed a course or two to graduate on time.
Need some advice..thanks!
Dear Needing Advice,
Summer aid is
available, but usually in the form of loans and/or work opportunities. A
counselor in the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment can tell you
about that. In addition, there are some
limited summer scholarships available through the Learning Strategies
Center. Contact info for both places can
be found in Uncle Ezra’s Links, in the left hand column of this page.
Uncle Ezra |
