Dear All Above Average,

Passing this on to the appropriate Marisa LaFalce in the University Registrar’s Office, the following is learned:

This past spring, the University Faculty voted to remove the median grade reports.  People wishing to learn more should visit the following site (http://registrar.sas.cornell.edu/Student/mediangrades.html) or contact the Office of the Dean of Faculty.”

Previously, an August 2011 story in the Daily Sun (http://cornellsun.com/node/47458) “University Eliminates Median Grade Reports,” reported:

“The Faculty Senate voted in May to cease the online posting of median grade reports for Cornell courses, leaving students without the controversial resource that had helped them choose classes since 1998 . . . The resolution said that the publishing of median grades for all courses is ‘used by students to select courses that give high grades,’ noting that the practice has contributed to grade inflation.”

We probably haven’t heard the last of this.  What do you think?

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Frustrated and Assuming Chemistry Students,

So many famous Cornell chemists have climbed those stairs from East Avenue to the Baker Laboratory of Chemistry — Nobel laureates like Hoffmann, Debye, du Vigneaud, Rabi, Flory, Taube.

How about famous physicians who, against their better pre-med judgment, endured organic chemistry in Baker? They trudged up those stony flights of steps and took their medicine.

With only a couple semesters of Intro Chem in Baker, famous mechanical engineers like Thomas Midgley invented important chemical things like high-octane gasoline and the chlorofluorocarbon, Freon. 

And you want to follow in their footsteps? You actually intend to take this walk of fame, this stairway to greatness, sometime before you graduate?

To facilitate that, let’s check with the facilities manager for Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Dave Neish, who says: “We too are more than frustrated with closing of the Baker steps, which appear to be in very usable condition.”

But the steps might not be so usable, according to Maintenance Management’s Erik Gray, who says: “I agree it would be great to open these stairs back up. In their existing condition we have safety concerns. The treads are cracked, weak and damaged. While the treads appear flat at the moment, you will notice pervasive cracking throughout them.”

 So why not just fix the famously trod steps, Uncle Ezra wonders.

Not so fast, says Maintenance Manager Gray: “Fixing the stairs is only a question of money.  Our endowed maintenance budget for the coming fiscal year (started July 1) is $4.7 million. If you contrast this with the $11M we used to get annually a few short years ago, you can see the rather austere predicament we have.  We are in the unfortunate situation of only being able to fund things that absolutely need to be done. This is far from an ideal situation, but I would ask for peoples’ patience with the current situation, until funding allows proper restoration of the stairs in the future.” 

Okay, Frustrated Chemistry Student, it’s all up to you now.  Stride purposefully up an alternate set of steps to Baker Lab (from the corner with the Thurston Ave bridge) or up the safely paved slope in front of the new Physical Sciences Building (if you’re so inclined). Study hard, and finish your degree. 

Then invent important, environmentally conscious chemical things (leaded gasoline and Freon not included) and make a zillion dollars. Give some back to the place where you got your start. We’ll fix those pervasively cracked steps— and name them after you to boot.

Speaking of boots meanwhile, please do not detour up or down the grass-covered hills around Baker Lab. Maintenance Management reminds us all that meteorological conditions (rain, ice and snow, infrequent sun) make steep-sloping turf even more treacherous than crumbling steps.  Inside or outside a chem lab on a hill, safety is paramount.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Missing,

If you have concerns about skin discoloration, you should seek a medical consult. Contact Gannett Health Services for an appointment at 607 255-5155. 

I am sure that the problem does not stem from the water you are showering in.  Water can be filtered to remove some of the minerals that cause the water to be hard and some people will do this for drinking water.

Hard water is not dangerous at all for your skin and the only consideration is that hard water sometimes makes it more difficult to work up a good lather, but you will still be just as clean.

Flouridated water is a whole other thing.  Some communities fluoridate their water to encourage better tooth health in children.  In 1990 Tompkins County voted not to flouridate the water citing that tooth health in areas serviced by city water is excellent and the children with severe tooth decay often lie in the rural areas not serviced by municipal water. Staunch opponents of fluoride popped up in Ithaca in the early 1950s. Their fight continues and has garnered more supporters who say they want the freedom of choice to decide whether to fluoridate their -- or their children's -- teeth. Tompkins County is one of 14 counties in New York state without any fluoride in its public water supplies.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Doggie Deprived,

I know how I feel when I’m away from my dog for any period of time. I really miss her – she’s a huge part of our family. However, I can’t bring her to the office with me. Others have allergies and some have fear of animals. That’s why we’ve included a statement in the housing terms and conditions about pets not being permitted in buildings: Students residing in the undergraduate halls (other than Ecology House), and graduate students living in Hughes Hall, and in shared single student apartments in Maplewood are prohibited from having pets in their rooms, with the exception of fish that are in tanks no larger than 10 gallons. Dogs, cats, and rabbits are not permitted.

Sorry, but you’ll have to visit with your four-legged friend outside of your residence hall.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear S/U Option,

There is no limit.  The only requirement is that 80 credits must be for letter grade.  That said, if you are interested in grad school, law school, med school or competitive careers for which gpa matters, you should not take too many courses for s/u.  I would advise checking with an advising dean to discuss in more detail the s/u option and the overall academic plan.  Your advising deans are wonderful and can often be helpful in choosing courses or ensuring you meet all of your requirements.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Wing Dad,

The one for whom Cornell’s Wing Hall is named is none other than Professor of Animal Husbandry Henry H. Wing, Class of 1881, who is noted for boosting the milk output of the University’s dairy herd   more than three times the New York State average—all without synthetic bovine growth hormone, which was unknown when the Classical Revival building opened in 1913. 

Nowadays, Wing Hall (with its aptly named annex, Wing Wing) is home to the Ag College’s Department of Microbiology (not to be confused with the Vet College’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology, which is up the road a piece).  Normally you have to give a lot of money or give extraordinary service to get a building named after you at Cornell.  Here’s hoping your daughter prospers, succeeds beyond your fondest dreams, and gets her surname on an annex to the annex, making it Wing Wing Wing.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Voter,

The elections will be held on Monday September 19th 8 am- to Wednesday September 21 10 am. All eligible voters will be getting an email to vote once the polls are open on their registered Cornell email account. The SA is also in the process of creating a facebook event with the details.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Sensitive,

We don’t think you’re exaggerating, since we’ve noticed the smell, too. The smell is due to the plumbing traps in the building which need to be drained periodically. If they are not drained, the smell becomes evident. We have put a schedule in place to drain the traps, but sometimes they fill up faster than anticipated. If you detect this smell in the future, please place a work order so our Facilities Managers are aware and can take care of it promptly. Go to http://tma.campuslife.cornell.edu/request.html

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Long Hair,

There is a Salon in the Community Corners Shopping area called Mane Event, just north of North Campus on Triphammer Road at the intersection of Hanshaw Rd.  The other choices would be in Collegetown.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Cornellian,

The Bursar's office will be able to answer all questions about your CornellCard. uco-bursar@cornell.edu, or call (607) 255-6413.

Uncle Ezra