Dear Roomie,

Whenever rooming with someone who you hardly know, you are bound to experience some things that drive you batty and many things that you enjoy.  The important thing is for both of you to get your needs met in a way that respects each of you.

I commend you on trying to think of ways to prevent his loud laugh from bothering you without inhibiting his style of laughing, but that is obviously not working. Next step is to talk to him about it in a non-confrontational way.  It is very possible that this is a medical condition that he doesn't have complete control over the volume or sound of his laugh.

You might start by mentioning that his "his hearty laugh" startles you (or whatever) and makes it difficult to concentrate on what you are doing.  Ask him about it and if he is able to laugh more quietly.  Try to come up with a solution that works for both of you. 

If you feel hesitant to talk to him directly, you can ask your RA for help.  They are specifically trained to help roommates live with each other in peace and expect to help students with these conversations as a regular part of their job as an RA.  Glad you are mentioning this at the beginning of the semester so it can be resolved soon.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Curious,

Nobody really knows who has the 'SlopeDay' twitter – there's lots of speculation, but of course, everyone denies being behind the tweets.   Slope Day's "official" twitter is CUSlopeDay. P.S. I love you too!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear First Year Student,

First you need to know where you are going and which bus goes in that direction.  Check out the TCAT Bus site for complete info, http://www.tcatbus.com/.

At Cornell, riding the bus is easy, especially for first year students who can use their Cornell ID cards to ride for free.  Stand at the bus stop, look for the bus with the number of the route you want to travel on, get on the bus, wave your Cornell ID card over the magic card swiper, take a seat and you are all set.  The drivers are very helpful, so if you aren't sure that this is the right bus for you, just ask.

The driver will call out the stops to help you know when to get off.  Sit up close if you want reassurance.

Happy riding!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Student,

New Student Orientation takes a whole village! Many staff that are usually sitting behind their desks being helpful to you year-round, are out and about welcoming new students, answering questions and making their transition to Cornell smooth and easy.

They should all be back at their regular duties now.  Please stop in to ask those well formulated questions.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Surfing,

The short answer is, "Yes." From the NUBB FAQ list:

Q: What billing changes went into effect for students on July 1, 2011?
A: Starting July 1, 2011, Cornell's network usage-based billing (NUBB) increased the monthly billing threshold from the previous 20 GB (gigabytes) per month to 50 GB per month for Internet usage to or from off-campus sites.

This and other frequently asked questions about NUBB are available at: <http://www.cit.cornell.edu/services/nubb/faq.cfm>

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Construction-stymied Runner,

That stone bridge, a tribute to Col. Henry W. Sackett, Cornell Blass of 1875, and a philanthropist who built trails through the University’s natural areas “for the benefit of lovers of woodland beauty” — or so the historic plaque reads, if you could get across the gracefully arched bridge to continue your run abound Beebe Lake— well, it’s closed for lack of stone.

That’s according to the Maintenance Management director, Jim Gibbs, who says,  “The plan was to have the bridge open next Wednesday, the 31^st, but material (stone) deliveries have caused a delay.” It’s not clear when the materials will arrive— much less be stone-masoned into place so the bridge can be opened—but Jim says “we can be sure that it will not be ready next Wednesday.”

Sorry for the inconvenience. What better time to imagine the gorges and other natural areas (around Fall Creek, Beebe Lake, and Cascadilla Creek) at a time (the first decades of the 1900s) when the watery woodland beauty wasn’t quite so accessible? Your Uncle isn’t saying early Cornellians never explored the gorges. But scholarly forays deep into this campus’ rugged natural history were at the explorers’ peril.

Colonel Sackett (a math whiz at Cornell, former newspaperman and a prominent attorney specializing in libel law, so we’ll be careful what we write about the governor-appointed officer in the New York State Cavalry) gave more than  $200,000 in the 1920s to build safe trails into gorgeous places where water transforms stone.

The water-level trail through Cascadilla Creek gorge, between Collegetown and downtown Ithaca, is one such (and frequently closed for repairs, now that you mention). So are the trails, steps and stonework that make the Fall Creek watercourse so enjoyable.  Please don’t be surprised, with the approach of winter conditions, to see some trails closed for your safety. Carving a major university campus out of a rocky, waterfalls-besotted hillside always presented transportation challenges. 

For instance, also in the 1920s—when Col. Sackett was all about trails— a weirdly ambitions plan was afoot for an automobile tunnel. This tunnel was to ascend 430 feet, from downtown Ithaca to Central Campus, with parking garages terraced into campus slopes and elevators emerging at Stewart Avenue, Central Avenue by the library, the Ag College at Garden Avenue, all the way to Judd Falls Road.  Talk about construction delays! You would have hated it.

Okay, we did get the parking garage, terraced into a hill, with the completion this summer of Martha Van’s northernmost appendage. And plenty of other running/strolling/learning loops —in this charming outdoor classroom we call Cornell—are open for exploration. (One person’s roadblock is another’s scenic detour.)   Share your favorite with a friend. Enjoy!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Conscientious First Year Student,

Glad that you want to do a good job on your academic work, but remember that you are also here to develop as a person as well. Tapestry is a well loved mandatory program for all first year students. The troupe seeks to dramatize the dynamics that new students at Cornell may experience, such as those from privileged backgrounds mingling with those from disadvantaged backgrounds, students of color suddenly being thrust into a largely white environment, or students being forced to confront issues of sexual differences and race that can affect comfort levels. The skits were written by students in the troupe, based on their own experiences and observations.

Tapestry is mandatory, but Cornell won't stop you from graduating if you don't go (but you will not be able to graduate without passing the swim test).

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Reader,

Thanks for the information.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Wine Connoisseur,

I tried to email the profs, but no response. Could it mean, "four approved wine Classes?"

Although I really like the Freudian slip!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Mover and Shaker,

If you are intersted in finding out what the Engineering School will approve, that is the place to go.  You will find the Engineering Advising Office in 167 Olin Hall.  Here is their website for more inof, http://www.engineering.cornell.edu/resources/advising/index.cfm.

Uncle Ezra