Dear Freshman,

I would say that a W looks better than an F, but that is just my opinion.  I would also assume that a W might not be figured in your GPA, but an F would.  Check with your professor, let then know how much you have been struggling, and see what they suggest.  Another option is to stop by the Student Services and Academic Advising Office in your school and college and ask them for advice. 

Since you are planning to take it again in the fall, see if you can spend some time this summer reviewing the material, practicing speaking Spanish to those who know the language and get prepared to do very well the second time around!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Language Learner,

The language requirement is a college requirement, set by the college faculty. It was reviewed as recently as seven years ago by two different faculty committees and was changed to its current form then. There are a few places you could voice your concerns. One is the department, another the advising deans in Goldwin Smith.

It is cumbersome that classes meet everyday.  I think that is why there are so many sections of each course.  And I do agree that the workload is mega huge, but it might be what is necessary to actually become proficient in a language.

For what it’s worth, the requirement is not out of line with the language requirements at peer Ivy Plus institutions. Some, like Penn, are somewhat less demanding; others, like Yale and Princeton, are similar.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Reader,

Uncle Ezra is the caring spirit of the university that lives on and on.  Ezra is the warm body behind the glass and electronics that helps students, staff, alumni, and parents feel heard, consider courses of action, determine resources, and become empowered to move forward.

"Dear Uncle Ezra" was the first on-line helpline in the world,
created at Cornell in 1986.  Twenty years and 20,000 answers later Dear Uncle Ezra is still popular.  Why?  Maybe because the world is so transitory.  Maybe because people can ask questions anonymously about relationships,
emotional issues, or academic snafus.  Uncle Ezra is often a persons first step in defining their challenge before connecting with helpful resources.

Where else can you learn about how to build a 12 foot sphere you can stand inside or why there is a lion in a cage in the Helen Newman Gym or where to turn when you are feeling depressed or the meaning behind the Cornell Bear?

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Tired Typer,

Luckily for all who toil at keyboards in Engineering and elsewhere, there’s a Department of Design and Environmental Analysis in the Hum Ec College, where a workplace-ergonomics expert, Prof Alan Hedge, feels your pain.

Studies in the Hedge lab prove the importance of adjusting all your workplace gear (keyboard and screen, the lighting and furniture) until you’re comfortable and working efficiently.  Type, type, type . . . type, type, type. Then you step away from the keyboard!

And take a break!  That’s the best part of Prof Hedge’s advice (http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/ergoguide.html) in “Ergonomic Guidelines for Arranging a Computer Workstation.”

He says, “every 30 to 60 minutes you should take a brief rest break. During this break stand up, move around and do something else. Go and get a drink of water, soda, tea, coffee or whatever. This allows you to rest and exercise different muscles and you'll feel less tired.”

Thanks, Prof Hedge, for that reminder.  Back to the keyboard in a few . . .

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Feeling Lost,

It is very difficult to know exactly what is going on for you, but what is clear is that you could use some help figuring that out.  It is possible that your loss of motivation has something to do with your upcoming transition and anxiety about the future, but also may be fueled by other issues.  This is a perfect time to take steps to figure out what is going on. A good counselor can help you regain that motivation, passion and drive.

I think that there are two good directions for you to pursue at the same time.  Stop into the Career Office of your college or school at Cornell and talk to them about what steps you could take to move forward after graduation.  And, secondly, make an appointment to talk to someone at Counseling and Psychological Services, 5-5155.  If they are too busy to see you right away, try a free, confidential session with a counselor at Let's Talk. You don't need an appointment, just stop in.  For locations and times, check their website, http://www.gannett.cornell.edu/services/counseling/caps/talk/index.cfm.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Seeking History,

Corey Ryan Earle, a Cornell trivia buff, was first associated with Cornell by being the son of the great Brian Earle from the Communications Department.  His grandfather also graduated from Cornell in Business Management in the Ag School. Corey graduated from Cornell in 2007 - CALS '07, Glee Club president, Cornell Daily Sun columnist (http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/may07/sp.earle.fac.html). 

After graduation he worked in the Archives Office and is also a collector of Cornell History books.  He is presently the Associate Director of Student Programs at Cornell Alumni Affairs.  Corey has been interested in Cornell history for as long as I can remember and has been one of Dear Uncle Ezra's very best helpers.  Thank you Corey, for all of your help over the years!

He appreciates that Cornell has always been somewhat a radical institution given its acceptance of diversity and the myriad of coursework available, etc.  Corey also works with the History Center of Tompkins County and helped create the Living History Tour.

Another great way to learn more about Corey and campus history is to enroll in AMST 2001: The First American University. This new course, taught by loyal alumni Corey Ryan Earle '07 and Tom Balcerski '05, covers Cornell University's own history and influence. You can read more about the course here: http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/March11/CornellCourse.html

Man of mystery?  - If you want to know more, just ask Corey! He loves meeting with students to discuss their Cornell experience. Corey is often spotted at campus events, whether welcoming new students on Move-In Day in August or leading the Commencement line-up and ushers on the Arts Quad in May.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Rider,

Shuttle services are now available to and/or from Syracuse Airport; there are 3 stops on Cornell Campus for each trip.  Here is the site where you can find all the info and reserve a seat.  This is your best bet for a ride to Syracuse. 

http://cornelltickets.universitytickets.com/user_pages/event_listings.asp

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Casablanca Connected,

The connection is a Cornell alum who waited a lifetime to be acknowledged for his greatest work. An American schoolteacher traveling in Europe when Hitler rose to power. A playwright who identified with the “Casablanca” café-keeper, Rick (Humphrey Bogart)), “a former rebel with apparently inviolable values and principles, who has lost faith in the world and humanity, but is reborn through a past that catches up with him and forces him to rediscover the hibernating fighter within himself.”  A fraternity brother who played “As Time Goes By.”   Again, and again.

 Alumni Affairs and Development’s Corey Earle picks up the story here:

“Cornell's main connection to ‘Casablanca’ is through Murray Burnett '31. His unpublished play, ‘Everybody Comes to Rick's,’ was the basis for the 1942 film ‘Casablanca’ after Burnett sold the play to Warner Brothers for $20,000. Sadly, Burnett never received the recognition he deserved, and he lost multiple lawsuits over the issue. It wasn't until decades later (and a screenwriting Academy Award) that one of the Casablanca screenwriters admitted that Burnett was treated unfairly. For more on the Cornell and Casablanca connection, check out this six-part CornellCast series with Professor John Weiss: http://www.cornell.edu/video/ccast.cfm?videoID=1184.”

Thanks, Corey, for that.  And thank you, Professor Weiss, for the video, “How Cornell and Hollywood Joined to Save the World from Hitler.”  Other sources of info on Murray Burnett, who died in 1997 at age 86, include his New York Times obit. 

Belatedly he got credit for his work, at least by film scholars (“Casablanca: A Comparison Between the Classic Motion Picture and Its Stage Play Source,” a 2003 essay by Martin N. Kriegl, gets credit for the quotation at the start of this item). The next time you rent “ Casablanca,” watch for an almost parenthetical titles-credit to Murray Burnett and the play that started it all.   Just remember: “It’s still the same old story . . . A fight for love and glory . . . ”

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Depleted.

First of all, kudos on your concern for the environment.  The various kinds of batteries on the market today contain a bewildering array of yucky stuff that needs to be disposed of appropriately.

Most kinds of batteries can simply be tossed in one of the labeled battery disposal receptacles— in places like residence halls, the Cornell Store, and at many off-campus stores that recognize their responsibility to take back what they sell when the Energizer Bunny has lost his bounce.  While you’re roaming the big box stores on Ithaca’s Elmira Road, check out the Tompkins County Recycling & Solid Waste facility http://www.recycletompkins.org/ at 122 Commercial Avenue (it’s an education in itself to see how seriously this community takes waste!) or call them at 273-6632.

And to learn more about recycling on campus, visit the R5 Operations site at http://r5.fs.cornell.edu/. That’s R5, as in Respect, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse . . . batteries are wearing down . . . Re . . . cy . . . cle . . .

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Laptop Tapper,

Those fairly new computers in the libraries get outdated and tired pretty regularly—with all the tasks thrown their way by brainy Cornell students.

Checking with Cornell Library Admin, it seems that “old Library computers are either re-used for good causes through volunteer refurbishment programs (such as the Cornell Computer Reuse Association, a student organization); or they are recycled in a safe, clean, legally-accountable manner through a service the Cornell Grounds Department provides.”

So old Library computers are not up for adoption (at least not directly) by their favorite students.  However, one likely place to look for a pre-owned computer at a reasonable price is the eCenter at Finger Lakes ReUse http://fingerlakesreuse.org/ecenter.shtml which is located off campus in Triphammer Mall.  And if you’re handy at fixing old computers —and helping them find deserving new owners—the eCenter and the Cornell Computer Reuse Association welcome student volunteers.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Disguested,

It's difficult to know why this is happening, but it is clear that something needs to be done about it.  I would check with Amanda Carreiro, the Assistant Dean of Becker House.  You can find her at 122 Becker House or give her a call at 5-8098.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Upset Grad Student,

I seems like many people are also upset and some have banded together to create a petition to keep the Ceramics Studio open.  I would not give up without making your voice heard and asking for a dialogue with the Straight Union Board.  I would hope that conversations might lead to a compromise or a change that can satisfy more of the needs that are being expressed by all parties.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Summer Job Seeker,

Start your search in your college or school’s career center (see http://www.career.cornell.edu/ for a list of all).

Things related to student employment can also be found at the Cornell Student Employment site, http://studentemployment.cornell.edu/.  Good luck and have a great summer. 

Summer College offers lots of summer jobs as well as Cornell Adult University.  For part-time short term work you might want to see what is available for commencement and reunions.  And don't forget Conference Services!

Summer in Ithaca is totally scrumptious!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Helper,

Thanks for the recommendation.  Hope others also are bitten by the softball bug. Any excuse to be outside and get exercise is a good idea!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Niece.

Oh you Cornell students—always sending your Uncle to the dictionary to look up things like “ailurophile,” which turns out to be a lover of cats.

Whatever.  It’s good to know you’re enjoying the class by Prof Gilovich, who says:

“ A Japanese investment firm, Daiwa securities, ran a print and television ad campaign several years ago featuring a few American academics known for their work in behavioral economics.  In addition to Gilovich, the others involved were Colin Camerer (Cal Tech), Dan Gilbert (Harvard), and Eldar Shafir (Princeton).”

Thanks, Tom, for that.  And to Ailurophile Niece, you and the cat might appreciate the professor’s research on the “Spotlight Effect,” which he describes as “overestimating the manifest variability of our actions and appearances.” especially when we think we’re having a “bad hair day.” 

Even in the spotlight, cats never have bad hair days.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Hunt-and-Peck,

I hear what you are saying.  You want to have all of your options in front of you for pre-enrollment and you are frustrated that the information isn't 100% complete.  Unfortunately it is impossible for the processes to be entirely in sync.  Our Courses of Study catalog is so broad it takes months to update each year, and our creative faculty are developing course proposals year round.  Yes, they may be inspired to teach a course next fall that is still being developed now.  As a result, pre-enrollment is a chance for you to get most of your schedule settled, but don’t think of it as an end, think of it as the base, with an opportunity to add/change in August.

Now a piece of good news – we're moving to a new course management system for Courses of Study that will go live this summer.  Yes it will still be a separate website from the roster, but there will be many useful features including a My Favorites tab where you can create an account, and save all the course descriptions that interest you, so that you're not constantly paging back and forth.  The new courses of study will also allow us to make edits more easily throughout the year, so that when you go to pre-enroll for Fall 2012, while you won't be using the official 2012-13 catalog it will include many new courses that were developed after the release of the 2011-12 catalog.

Finally, where are you looking for the course offerings?  Are you using the Fall Roster at http://registrar.sas.cornell.edu/courses/roster/FA11/ or are you going through Student Center? Some people prefer one version better than the other.  

I hope you pre-enrollment went smoothly for you.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Niece,

Yes, the administration is very interested in what students think about their education here and have been very open to hearing what is working and what could be changed.  Please take the time to share your thoughts. 

Much is changing now due to the recession as we all work to continue to provide a top notch educational program while cutting costs.  Students, staff, faculty and administration all need to work on this together to make this successful.  Please make your voice heard.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Desperate,

Ah, if only every student would check in with their Academic Advising and Student Services Office now an then to review their requirements and educational plans.  The most important thing is that you took the courses that interest you and that are part of your long range career plans. That is much more important than anything that is written on your diploma.  Most people store their diploma's away in a closet or drawer, so what really counts is what you learned and not necessarily what your diploma says.

In fact, I don't even think minor's are listed on your diploma.  Here is the scoop from the Registrar's Office. 

"The information on a diploma is basically their name and their degree.  The college is noted under the signature of the appropriate dean of the college.  The rest gets a little more complicated.  Honors are listed on the diploma, if they are awarded to the student but this is dependent on what college and type of honors they are receiving."

If you want to petition to have your coursework count as a minor, start with the Student Services and Academic Advising Office in your college or school.  And most importantly, and where it will be seen, you can write on your resume that you graduated with a "concentration" in ......

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Feeling Hopeless,

I can hear how frustrated and disappointed you feel right now and how it seems like there is no solution.  For all who have goals that they are passionate about, there will be bumps in the road, and right now your bumps feel like mountains.  Don't give up now!

It is time to talk to Judy Jensvold who is an expert in talking to those interested in health careers and also in helping those who feel frustrated along the way.  She will be able to work with you to figure out how to turn things around and get back on track.  Make an appointment with her very soon by calling 255-5221.  Here is the website for Health Careers in case you want to see all that they offer, http://www.career.cornell.edu/HealthCareers/default.html.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Wheel-less,

Your concern is understandable. Police consider a bolt cutter to be a burglar’s tool — when used in the commission of a theft.  Probably you should start your life of crime with a visit to the Cornell Police (G-2 Barton, 255-1111) and tell them your plan.  (They might even lend a bolt cutter, which would save renting one.)  Oh, you didn’t mention whether your bike is officially registered, as is required on campus and free by the way.  That complicates things a bit.  You could quickly register the bike (call Transportation at 255-PARK) then deal with the police.  Yeah, that’s probably best.  Honesty, humility (and a Cornell ID) still count for something around here.  

Uncle Ezra