Dear Western Niece,

I'm so glad that you enjoyed your stay at Cornell and appreciated all that there is here. Thank you for sharing that with me. Appreciation of oneself, the world around you and others is so important. 

I hope that you are also "savoring the moment" at your new home in the west.  Although it is much different from Ithaca, I am sure that it has a lot to offer, if you look for it.  Remember not to multitask, but fully immerse yourself in each thing that you do.

Enjoy your new relationships and those new sights, sounds and smells.  Remember that you can miss the present by focusing too much on the past.  Instead use what you have learned from the past to enhance the present, and that will ensure a positive future.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Possible Early Grad,

I don't think that numbers will be beneficial in making your decision.  The important thing is to do what is right for you.

There is no "one way" to do college anymore.  Some take a gap year before they start, some go abroad after they are in college, over 150 Cornell students return from a leave of absence every year (some after a semester off, some after 10 years off).  Some graduate in three years, some in five.

The best way to have life altering regrets is to make a decision without thinking it through.  I suggest talking to others to find out their experiences, run your idea by an advisor in the Academic Advising Office in your college, and spend some time looking at the pros and cons. Start out by understanding what things you value the most.  Make a list of all of the benefits of each plan.  Then think outside the box and see if there are alternative plans that you haven't' even considered yet.  When you have two solid paths that you could take, spend a week pretending that you decided on one of them and act as if that is what you are going to do.  Write down your thoughts and experiences.  Then spend the next week pretending that you will be doing the other plan and record that experience.

I am sure that at the end of this exploration you will have a better idea of what is right for you.  If not, try EARS.  they are great at listening to someone's dilemma and helping them sort it out.  They are open every afternoon and evening from 3PM - 11PM, on the second floor of Willard Straight Hall, or give them a call at 5-EARS.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Prankster?

Ok, you can't buy a live lobster on the Commons, but you can in most grocery stores like Wegman's.  As for a live hedgehog, you are out of luck, unless you want a stuffed hedgehog (stuffed animal) and in that case you can find one on The Commons at Alphabet Soup Toy Store or maybe at The Cat's Pajama's in The DeWitt Mall.

If you head down to The commons this weekend, you can enjoy Ithaca's famous Apple Harvest Festival!  Great music, entertainment and excellent food, and of course lots of apples!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Parent,

Yes, visitors are welcome to walk in to any of our libraries, and they can either use their own laptops, or use one of the many computers available in the library for public use.

This web page made specifically for visitors: http://www.library.cornell.edu/aboutus/visit/priv is full of useful information, including the process for the wireless connection (called Red Rover Guest Access). Thanks for contacting us and let us know if we can help further with this or any other question!

Kindly, Randi Kepecs Olin Library Public Services

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Student,

The Career Services Office belives in your choices and so do I!  Here is their response:

First I want to address some of the underlying themes about Cornell that I see in the question. There is no subject taught at Cornell that is “useless.” (Even the example of the changes in Theatre Arts is about hard choices that had to be made to reduce costs, not an indication that the area is “useless.”) No one at Cornell is here by mistake, taking up a spot that someone else should be in. The only way to “waste” an opportunity here is to fail to engage in what Cornell has to offer—whether that’s classes, performances, enriching activities, etc.—and it doesn’t sound at all like this person is doing that!

Now I want to say that I think it is most unfortunate that this writer seems to have so many judgmental people in his or her life! Like the writer, I simply can’t imagine why people would feel free to share such negative thoughts about choices that another person has made—which really are none of their business. The decision of what to major in is a personal one. The choice of a career field is a personal one. The choice of a job with whatever pay level (and resulting life style) accompanies it is a personal one.

What is important is to take responsibility for the choices that one makes, and then make every effort to succeed in them so that by definition they become the “right” choices. Cornell graduates go on into any number of career fields. That’s one of the things that make this such an interesting place. Consider this: 51% of graduates in the Class of 2010 went to work right after school. A total of 751 different employers from all sectors of the economy and from all over the country (and world) hired them! The important thing is to try to find something that appeals to you and figure out a way to make that goal a reality. In the end, it just doesn’t matter if others don’t share the goal. You are the one who will be living the choice.

It’s important for the writer to gain confidence about his/her choices and become comfortable talking about them. If I were that individual, I’d work on developing a “script” for a few snappy responses to these unwelcome comments. For instance, “Clearly, since you’re a XX major which is so different from mine, we aren’t going to be interested in the same kinds of jobs after Cornell – and that’s OK. I’m enjoying my major and building good skills. I’m confident that the job I’m thinking about will be a good first step for me after leaving Cornell. I hope yours will be for you, too.” (OK, that’s not so “snappy,” but I hope you get my point.)

It might be useful to have a conversation with an academic advisor or a career advisor on campus for help with this. I wish the writer all the best in standing up to these negative, bad-mannered folks!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Curious in Cook,

I checked with my friends in the Housing & Dining Contract Office, and was told that it is indeed possible for you and your roommate to live in a West Campus House next spring – although not guaranteed. And, the chances of you living together are very slim.

Beginning the first week of September 2012, you and your roommate will have the opportunity to apply for spring semester housing by going to housing.cornell.edu. On your online application, you can indicate where you’d like to live, in order of preference. As spaces become available through the fall semester – due to students leaving the university or deciding to study abroad in the spring – housing assignments will be offered to spring housing applicants on a first-come, first-served basis, and according to applicants’ housing preferences.

If you have any more questions, please contact the Housing & Dining Contract Office directly at housing@cornell.edu, or (607) 255-5368.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Sleepless,

I'm sorry, I can't really help you on this one.  Some people are helped by a sound blaster machine that makes a low level humming sound or the sound of waves.  Ear plugs in combination with a really loud alarm clock might work, or a friend who is willing to come into your room to give you a good shove.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Procrastinator,

So that’s why the Dean warned not to let those ever-so-practical engineers study in the high-ceilinged Hall of Pure Science, Theory, and Faith in Lifetime Light Bulb Warranties.

Well, you can get back to work, because a plan already exists, according to Facilities Management’s Dave Trout, who says:

“The atrium lights are changed with a rented lift that is brought in when needed through the loading dock in Clark Hall. The people in Building Care change the lights at the lower levels.”

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Engineering Student,

Here is your answer, straight from the Engineering Advising Office:

Absolutely!  Students in the College of Engineering request voluntary leaves of absence for any number of reasons, including mission work, military service, personal concerns, etc.  Most voluntary leaves last somewhere between 6 months and two years, though a leave longer than two years could be considered, depending on the circumstances.  The only condition I am aware of under which a student would not be granted a voluntary leave, would be if they were not in good academic standing.  (And in this case, there would likely be a required leave for academic reasons.)

Requests to take a voluntary leave (and to return from a voluntary leave) must be presented in writing; Unaffiliated students request a leave from the Engineering Advising Office; affiliated students make the request through their major department.  Either way, it is very simple to both request a voluntary leave, and to return from one.  There is no readmission process; the student simply needs to request to return (again, in writing) at least six weeks before they hope to rejoin the College.  (This simply allows time for records to be reactivated, housing, dining, etc.)  No class standing is lost when returning from a voluntary leave, and we would not deny a student the chance to return to their studies following a voluntary leave.

The biggest issue that students on extended voluntary leaves face is usually the issue of being away from math and science for a year or more.  For this reason, we recommend that students (where possible) plan to take extended leaves AFTER they have affiliated with a major.   It is also a good idea to stay current with their math and science while away.

What I would recommend is that the student come to visit with one of us in the Engineering Advising Office.  Any of our advisors can help explain a voluntary leave more fully.

I cannot really speak to the issue of financial aid; the student should contact their office directly, as the situation can be different depending on the student’s situation.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Concert Promoter,

You should try the spaces in the Community Centers; Willard Straight, Appel or RPCC.  Each of these buildings have rooms with moveable furniture so some attendees can sit and some can move around.  You also might try Lincoln Hall, although I'm not sure of spaces they have there.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Graphic,

Try the Design and Environmental Analysis Department in Human Ecology.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Two Eyes,

First check with the Facilities Office in Engineering.  If they don't have them, check in the general Cornell Lost and Found which is in Barton Hall.  All items found will eventually end up in this central location.  Good luck.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear SIS,

You are so right and I was so wrong. Thanks for the info.

Uncle Ezra