Here is your answer straight from CIVR:

Dear Backwards Walker Hopeful,

The Office of Campus Information and Visitor Relations is always on the look out for talented and eager new tour guides, such as yourself.  Our office goes through a hiring process every fall, spring and summer.  You can look for our ads in the Cornell Daily Sun, on the Student Employment website, various list serves, or just stop in at the lobby desk in Day Hall to inquire when the next hiring round will be. We keep also a list of emails to notify those who are interested for the next hiring round. Our hiring process consists of three rounds of interviews.  This might seem like a lot, but since this is a highly sought after paid job position with few openings available, we like to take our time to get to know the applicants. The first round is a group interview style format, where you meet and interact with our student hiring team and your peers applying for the position.  The second and third rounds are two interviewers with one interviewee format.  Please take note that this is not just a standard tour guide position, as there are four main components to the paid job position of Information Specialist.  Our large staff is comprised of roughly seventy students who give tours to students, families and VIPs, and also answer the main switchboard for Cornell University, work the front information desk in the lobby of Day Hall, and staff the Traffic booths to help issue parking permits and navigate visitors around campus. And if that weren't enough peak your interest there is also room for advancement within the organization to be a Senior Information Specialist or Student Manager, who each have varying degrees of responsibility with ongoing training, hiring, presentations to staff, and assisting in management. Campus Information and Visitor Relations is not a student run organization, but it is a job where student staff are given a lot of responsibility and experience that will help you succeed in life outside of Cornell University. If you are interested we  are happy to receive your notification via info@cornell.edu or just stop in at the Day Hall Lobby desk  and leave your contact information. We are hiring right now! We would be delighted to hear from you. Sincerely,

A Potential New Employer

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Open-minded,

I love your way of thinking about things.  The most important thing you need to do is find out the process of applying to your dream school and focus on what you need to do to get there.  You really don't have to tell anyone at Cornell until you have been accepted to the school you want to transfer to.  Then you will let Cornell know that you are not returning next year.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Secret Searcher,

As far as your uncle knows, Aleph Samach hasn't been around for a few decades. The junior honor society, founded in 1893 around the same time as the Quill & Dagger senior honor society, flourished in the early 20th century. Many of Cornell's class and departmental honor societies (Rod and Bob for civil engineering, for example) began to fade away in the 1960s and 1970s.

By the late 1970s, the all-male Aleph Samach had merged with its all-female equivalent, Raven and Serpent. But by the mid-1980s, the junior honor societies were largely inactive. The University Archives in Kroch Library has some materials related to Aleph Samach, including a copy of their original bylaws. It might be worth a visit for more information!

Uncle Ezra   

Thanks for the information!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Wary,

Is that a whiff of distain in the air? For a gentle creature that dares to share the night with us? Or maybe you just don’t want to get sprayed.

Either way, read the late, lamented Cornell Professor of Zoology, William J. Hamilton Jr. (“Mammals of the Eastern United States” second ed.) about the Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis):

“Nightfall transforms this pretty animal into an active, nimble little creature; it runs about in the moonlight, flipping stones deftly to one side to snare unsuspecting crickets or sleeping beetles.”

The sources of that mephitic smell (anal glands, not that you asked) “are used only in times of great stress,” the legendary zoologist, known as Wild Bill, wrote,  “but the warning of the uplifted tail is often sufficient to intimidate all but the most insistent foe.”

With the approaching colder weather, the summer-fattened skunks will retreat into underground burrows of as many as a dozen furry, snuggling kin. But not for long, Hamilton says: ”In northern climates, skunks become very active in mid-February. The mating urge is on them, and the woods are often covered with tracks of wandering males searching a mate.”  Sounds like Valentine’s night in Collegetown, eh?

As for avoiding skunk spray, treat one as you would any beetle-munching, mate-minded male: Cross the street and be on your way.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Sam,

It is true that computers at Cornell are recycled, but with this austerity budget it is much longer thatn every three years.  The discarded computers, monitors, etc. are refurbished and sent all over the world to deserving programs in developing countries.

Want a refurbished monitor here in Ithaca?  Try the eCenter in Triphammmer Mall, just north of campus, http://fingerlakesreuse.org/ecenter.shtml.  They have a huge store with used equipment.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Niece,

Easy.  You can send a letter to any country in the world with a 98 cent stamp. Want to mail it from campus, try any of these locations, http://www.cornell.edu/search/index.cfm?id=579&q=&tab=facts.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Athlete,

Thanks for your input.  I guess a variety of times and days would be best to take into consideration everyone's needs.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Concerned Parent,

In early Spring, the Cornell Housing office starts taking reservations for parents and families to stay in the dorms for Cornell Graduation.  Check their site for news of reservation start dates.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Niece,

The Cornell Store also sells Birthday cards as well as many cards with blank insides so you can create your own personal message.

Uncle Ezra