Dear Faithful Reader,

Your Uncle Ezra is here, but the site that enables me to answer questions has had a slew of problems this week!  All fixed now.

After enjoying a beautiful summer relaxing, entertaining guests and enjoying the sunshine, I return to answer your burning questions.  Remember that I only post answers on Tuesdays and Thursday (archaic, I know). If your questions are time sensitive you might try contacting one of the many offices at Cornell for a more immediate response. All academic questions are best answered by one of the wonderful advisors in your college's Academic Advising Office.

When you ask me a question, if you include your email address, I might be able to get back to you sooner and it's also fun to get a personal email from your dear Uncle Ezra.  I'm a bit backlogged since the site was down, so please be patient if I don't get to your question right away.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Poster Seeker,

Okay, Your Uncle will tell you how to get a “Got Milk?” poster featuring University President David Skorton —but why?  He’s not a hunky athlete, not a movie star or even an astronaut.  Rather, Dr. Skorton is a cardiologist and computer scientist, jazz musician— and the president of a place that’s not embarrassed to have the boss look a little silly in order to promote a healthful beverage.

If you still insist, here’s the word from Ellen Leventry in CALS, who says:

“Folks interested in obtaining a poster can email gotmilk@cornell.edu. Just provide a campus mailing address or let us know if you can pick it up on campus and which poster/s you would like. More posters will be released in the next couple of weeks and over the summer and into next school year. They can always visit the Facebook page (facebook.com/CornellGotMilk) to enter milk trivia contests, find out more about milk events on campus and put in their guess as to the next milk mustache model.”

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Swimmer,

Good question!  Try any of the State parks: Buttermilk, Treman or Taughannock.  You can get to them by using the TCAT Bus system, http://www.tcatbus.com/.  Just type in your start point and the end point and you will be given a few choices for bus routes you can take.   Free for first year students and  $1.25 one way for others.

If you have a few people who want to join you a taxi might also be a good option. The parks have a $7 parking fee, but you won't be parking so it doesn't apply.

The other option is the outdoor pool at Cass Park, also accessible by the TCAT bus system.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Sans,

The people you need to talk to are in the Bursar's Office, http://www.dfa.cornell.edu/treasurer/bursar/.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Graduate,

The Cornell Registrar is the keeper of all information about transcripts and diplomas.  Check in with them to see what they can do for you.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Major Major,

Sorry about that “Catch 22” reference to a fictional character who leaves the office through the window. (Your Uncle has been waiting for a double-double-major question to come along for years.) 

Unlike Maj. Major, the Arts College’s Assistant Dean Tammy Shapiro enters the Goldwin Smith office through the front door (pausing to greet those waiting to see her) and answers your question as follows:

“Cornell no longer offers a major in Applied Mathematics, but it does offer a minor. The minor in Applied Mathematics is only open to students enrolled in the College of Engineering.”

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Aardvark Wannabe,

Noting that the Big Red Marching Band’s traditions famously “bubble with quirkiness and vitality,” the Cornell Daily Sun defines aardvarking as “a display during which the aardvarker (typically a band member, but President Skorton has aardvarked before) suspended from a railing, ladder or other fixed object, warbles a series of shrill, upper register pitches as he bends his spine backward and shakes his arms wildly.”

Still bubbling to join in the quirky vitality?  It helps to be a band member (annual try-outs) or University president (position currently occupied).

JOIN THE BAND!!!
To join our ranks, send an email to our publicity chairs, Steve Albanese & Mary Andrews with your name, preferred contact method, and instrument. We always welcome new members, no matter your experience or year in school. Our section leaders can even help you learn a new instrument!

Or check out their website, http://mb.bigredbands.org/index.php.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Philanthropic Bibliophile,

First, thank you for considering a gift of books. Next, you will want to contact the Associate University Librarian for Scholarly Resources and Special Collection, John Saylor, jms1@cornell.edu, to discuss your holdings and the needs of Cornell University Library. 

In the meantime, here are some pertinent parts of the Library’s gift-giving policy:

“The Cornell University Library welcomes and encourages gifts in support of the University's programs. Indeed, the Library relies heavily upon donors to help sustain its growth, many of the Library's most valuable resources and special collections originated in this way. Gifts of money, books, periodicals, equipment, and other research materials contribute to the Library's development. Modest gifts are much appreciated, as are bequests, endowments, and larger contributions.

“In preparation for receiving gifts of books or other materials (referred to as gift-in-kind), the Library encourages donors to provide a list of materials including the name, dates, and general condition of the material.”

If the books that you have aren't those that the Cornell Library needs, you might want to try Ithaca's Firends of the Library Booksale.  They collect books all year and then sell them twoice a year to support the local Tompkins County Public Library, http://www.booksale.org/.  Also, a great way to stock up on books!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Student,

Our University Registrar, Cassie Dembosky confirmed that the university's grading scale is out of 4.3.  I know this question often comes up for students applying to medical school as the AMCAS system converts the 4.3 to a 4.0 scale.  If you're looking for the "official word" check the Courses of Study by going to http://courses.cuinfo.cornell.edu/ > General Information > Grading Guidelines.  This scale (A = 4.0; C+ = 2.3, etc.) is also explained on the back of the official transcript for employers, professional schools, etc. to evaluate.  The university does not translate the grading system to a percentage scale.  If you have a question about how a possible numeric grade would apply to an overall course grade, please speak with the course professor.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Reader,

Oh, this is so hard to answer.  There are so many.  Here is one that I think about almost everyday, because I love my job!

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
Confucius

Uncle Ezra