Dear Bill,
Thank you for passing on that information about course evaluations at the University of Pennsylvania.  I know that students at many institutions have worked together to publish course evaluations.  It seems there has rarely been a critical mass of Cornell students interested in pursuing such a venture. Maybe your letter, which provides a useful contact, will get the process started.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Noble and Pure Grad,
What better person to answer your letter to than Tom Dyckman, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the Johnson Graduate School of Management.  Here is what he had to say:


        "For anyone interested in finding out when courses are offered in the Johnson School, lists are available in the Registrar's Office (313 Mallott) which provide times, rooms and usually instructors.  These lists are available at pre-registration time which will be about mid-April for Fall Courses.
        "According to our students, including those from Cornell undergraduate programs, the openness of our faculty is unusual.  They are invariably willing to discuss a student's interests regardless of the student's college.  It would be thoughtful, however, to use their office hours to make an appointment if the situation is not an emergency. Teaching is important to our faculty.  They pride themselves in being concerned with the education of students who have invested a great deal to study at Cornell.  Indeed, they are not likely to be content unless they are will received by their class.
        "The Johnson School allows its students as many elective hours outside the School as any other graduate programs in the country.  Both faculty and students realize the value of what Cornell has to offer in its other programs and schools. In fact, our interest and enthusiasm for using the broad resources of the University to increase the educational experience available to our students is what sets us apart from our competition.
        "While some have not found out that we may also have something of relevance to communicate to students no enrolled at the Johnson School, many others have.  We are a  small graduate school and yet, because of the demand from other parts of the campus, our typical class size runs to fifty and above.
        "Those of you interested, regardless of what beliefs you may hold about graduate education, are encouraged to talk to the faculty and the administrators and even to sample a class for which you have the prerequisites. You will typically find us in and with office hours posted where you can sign up for a specific time."


        Tom's response seems very positive and encouraging to me.  Thank you for bringing this issue to light.  I'm so intrigued now that I just may go over and see if there are any courses that Uncle Ezra can sit in on...

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Gracie,
The possible causes for dizziness and other problems encountered when using microfilm/microfiche equipment are, as you suggest, myriad. Fans, for example, not only stir up dust and other pollutants, but also give off a whining or humming noise which might be annoying ...I'm told that some frequencies can be quite painful. Allergies to synthetic materials are a real problem for many people, and might be among the causes, as you suggest. Other possible problems are eye strain, lack of motion cues, allergies to the printing material (dry or liquid toner or treated paper, depending upon the age of the unit), or too much strain from concentrating on the same thing for too long.   More information on some of these hazards is available from the following articles:


             Is Your Computer Terminal Hazardous to Your Health?
             Popular Computing, July, 1982, pp 131-132.


             Are Computers Hazardous to Your Child's Health?
             Personal Computing, May, 1981, pp 34-35. Another problem, more related to operating a computer or terminal, is RSI, or Repetitive Strain Injury. According to the Columbia Journalism Review, RSI is related to tennis elbow and similar maladies, and results from the rapid, repetitive movements your hands make on the keyboard. In extreme cases people have been unable to move their hands or arms beyond a very limited range of motion. I heard of a programmer who had to have both hands surgically restored, something he described as having your hand muscles restrung like a tennis racket.   While technology has given us the ability to rapidly and accurately obtain and use information, we have to remember to be careful, and to take proper care of ourselves while using computers or fiching for information. Good precautions include taking breaks every once in a while (at least one every hour, for 5 minutes or so) and using common sense to keep from going beyond our limits.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Bud,
The "Killer-Green-Bud," eh?  I take it you mean marijuana. I have no idea where you can find any.  It is still illegal in NY State.  I could talk about other ways to have a good time, but instead, I'll use this opportunity to talk a little about pot.
        Unlike the 1950's, the sensationalism surrounding marijuana use has been greatly reduced. A lot of research has been done in the past thirty years and educated people no longer believe that a person who smokes pot is necessarily a violent criminal, a heavy drug addict, insane, socially unacceptable, or a bad person. But the scientific research has turned up quite a bit of startling information.  I asked Teresa Bakota of Health Education for some details on the effects of the drug.  She sent me some pamphlets from the Do It Now Foundation which indicate that your nickname "killer green bud" may be a lot more appropriate than you realize.
        When marijuana is smoked or eaten, it triggers effects ranging from mild euphoria to drowsiness, nervousness, and paranoia.  The effect varies with the person, dose and strength of the THC.  Next day "hangovers" are not uncommon -- characterized by slower reactions, trouble concentrating, and an overall "blah" feeling.  In addition to THC, pot contains 421 other mysterious chemicals that settle in fatty parts of the body as well as the brain, sex glands, heart and liver while they metabolize, a process which can sometimes take several weeks.
        The National Academy of Sciences categorizes marijuana's effects on the brain in three important operations: it slows coordination (ever notice delayed body reactions?), distorts perceptions (senses of color, touch, taste, and time for example, can get all warped), and it interferes with cognition (concentra- tion, calculation, and concept formation are difficult, if not impossible). Sometimes users desire these effects, but they are clearly dangerous when driving a car or operating other heavy equipment. When they extend to times when a user is not high, this could be an indication that use has gotten out of control.
        Some more medical facts, just for the record:


        --Marijuana contains up to 50% more carcinogens and tar than cigarettes.
        --There is evidence that pot can impair the function of the immune system, therefore making users more susceptible to colds and minor ailments.
        --Smoking dope interferes with the lung's functions, so less oxygen gets where it is needed.
        --Marijuana use slows sperm production in males, even resulting in less healthy sperm.  Pot also changes the hormonal balance in women.
        --Pot reduces brain cell sensitivity to messages from other cells and may cause permanent damage to nerve cell connectors.
        --Short term memory loss (phone numbers, names, facts for exams) is a definite problem in frequent smokers.
        I won't continue to flood you with details...you get the idea. Despite its sometimes relaxing and enjoyable effects, marijuana can be a very dangerous substance--especially if you are a frequent user. The facts get scarier when you realize that long-term effects have not been identified yet. I haven't even mentioned the economics, or danger of buying it from strange sources.  Who knows what other chemicals could be lacing your supply?
        While pot is not physically addictive, it can be psychologically addictive.  If you want to quit, you may feel pressure from your former smoking buddies, but they may actually want to quit, too.  All you really need is the desire to stop using marijuana and then just stop.  Some other things that help you fill in the "gap" that marijuana leaves at first include getting plenty of exercise, eating a junk-food-free and healthy diet, and learning to relax in different ways than using pot. If this isn't enough, you may want to consider Narcotics Anonymous.
        If you want more information on drug and alcohol related issues, please call the Health Education Office in Gannett at 5-4782.  And if you feel the need to talk to someone about your habit, or if you want a professional evaluation to see if you or a friend's drug involvement may be problematic, don't hesitate to contact Psych Services at 5-5208 or Alpha House Outreach at 273-5500.  There are people out there who are ready and willing to help you kick this habit if you want.




        If you're wondering "How can I have a good time without my weed?" then I think it's time to learn about other alternatives.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Confused,
There are normally 46 days of Lent every year if you include both Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday in your counting.  Since this year is a leap year, there is an extra day in February and an extra day in Lent. According to Father Mike Mahler of CURW there are 46 days of Lent every year. My next question then, was "But where does the traditional 'Forty Days of Lent' come from?"
        Apparently, in the Middle Ages, Lent was a penitential season of 40 days of fasting. The number "40" is a significant one in the Bible as it represents a period of trial and testing (the forty days of the Flood, Moses and his followers wandering for forty years, Christ spending forty days by himself in the desert). However, as Sunday is traditionally considered the Lord's Day, it was never included in the medievel Lenten count.  Therefore, Lent extends for a period of seven weeks from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.




        Lent is supposed to be a time of renewal.  Traditionally, people try to give up something that they really enjoy (or even a bad habit that they would like to quit) in order to appreciate what they might normally take for granted. Another idea for those who observe Lent is to "do something".  Make a promise to yourself that you'll say hello to a new person every day, get in touch with old friends, do some volunteer work, spend an extra moment in meditation or prayer. This may make Lent a more enjoyable and fulfilling season for both you and those around you. Easter will arrive more quickly than you think.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear T_M,
This assignment was extremely entertaining and educational, but it was a very difficult undertaking, to say the least, given the fact that all you gave was a name and city. An address would have helped greatly, as well as a check on the name.  Actually, I wonder if the name of the institute was given incorrectly. In any case, I regret to say that my search proved fruitless, even though I had a great time doing it.  Here is what I tried.
        I first contacted the AT&T operator and asked for overseas directory assistance. She told me that this was free of charge, so I went for it all and asked to be connected with the operator in Wako City. Unfortunately, they had no listing for an operator in that city, so she connected me instead with the operator in Tokyo. I asked the Tokyo operator if I could contact an operator in Wako City, but she told me that that operator did not speak English. Instead, the Tokyo operator looked the number up for me, but told me there was no listing for the Frontier Research Institute in Wako City, Saitama, or for any place with a similar name beginning with Frontier. I couldn't convince her to look for all places ending with Institute in that city.
        I next referred your problem to Professor Robert Sukle of the Japanese department in 423 Morrill, asking if he had heard of the Institute or knew of any way to find the phone number, seeing that the operator in Tokyo knew of no listing. Unfortunately, he hadn't heard of the place before, nor could he tell me a definite way to find the phone number. He said the directory listing, at least in Tokyo, is quite enormous (a stack of books at least 3 feet high), and that the Institute could possibly be listed under its Japanese name. He did offer a few suggestions, though.
        One is to contact someone in the department who speaks Japanese who could assist you in calling directory assistance in Japan. Another is to check the reference section in Olin, where they have a listing of most international research institutes. Finally, he suggested visiting the graduate school of business, where they might have a similar list.
        I checked out the International Research Institute Listing in Olin but found no Frontier Research Institute in Japan, and the book was published this year. In fact, the only Frontier institute is in Alberta, Canada. I suggest you talk with the reference librarian in Olin to investigate further; there may be someone there who could be of better assistance.
        What would help a great deal is the exact address of the Institute. Perhaps you received the location or the name of the Institute incorrectly from your friend, so you may want to double check. For future reference, if you ever need a telephone number overseas, you can ask the operator for overseas directory assistance, which is free of charge. They can in most cases provide you with the number you're looking for, and always at the right price. Good luck finding your friend!

Uncle Ezra