Dear Uncle Ezra - Questions for Thursday, June 8, 1989

Dear JW,
I can tell you the origin of the faces but not, alas, who they represent. According to folks in Olin's Reference Information and Manuscripts and University Archives Departments, the heads originally adorned Boardman House, which formerly occupied the Olin site.  The heads were moved to Olin in part due to protests about tearing down Boardman House,
which had housed the Law School. But no one appears to know for sure who, if anyone, the heads represent.  Speculations include the sculptors who carved them, former Cornell professors, and heroes and gods from the Classical Period.  See the NOV88 DUE
posting, p. 95, for a fuller account of their history if you're drawn to further investigation.             Uncle Ezra

Uncle Ezra

Hello!
The financial aid error mentioned (APR89, p.144) was on the summer financial aid form. Also, I did a bit of research on student ages (APR89, p.139) two years ago through the dean of students office (wanted to know how old the youngest student on campus was) and they couldn't tell me exactly, but they did tell me that there was at least one person born in 1971. So maybe if one settles for vaguer results one will get somewhere.

-me.

Dear You,
On behalf of Financial Aid, I'm happy to report that the reference to 1987 tax returns on the 1988 summer financial aid form was entirely accurate, since the summer aid package is developed from the PRIOR year's aid package. Thanks for writing back with that pertinent detail (which shows that sometimes only specifics will get one somewhere!) and for the results of your own quest for the youngest student.

Uncle Ezra

Uncle Ezra,
No question, just a bit of info for you. As a former resident of Greene I wanted you to know that you spelled it wrong in your answer (MAY89, p.72) regarding industries in the small town mentioned. It is spelled GreenE, not Green! I enjoy your replys and am glad that there is someone like you here for the students and staff. Thanks for being there!!

Formerly from Greene

Dear FfG,
Whoops! I conducted all my small-towns research over the phone, and, never having seen "Greene" in print, made a naive (you might say a green) assumption. I'm glad you're here, too, with your much-appreciated compliments and your extremely helpful corrections.

Uncle Ezra

HELP,
UNCLE EZRA! I DEFEND TODAYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Defender,
Best of luck to you. I wish you a clear head, an eloquent voice, and a feeling of confidence. Let me know how it went!

Uncle Ezra

Dear Uncle Ezra,
I just noticed that you can be reached directly from the main CUINFO menu screen (CUINFO EZRA instead of CUINFO SOS EZRA). Big time.
I saw a flashing warning light being installed at the bend in the road hiding the pedestrian crossing at Upson Hall. It's nice to know someone besides me noticed how dangerious a situation it was. Who is responsible for installing stop signs, cross-walk painting, and the like? If they are reading this, we need another stop sign on the Day Hall side of Tower Road and Central Avenue. Three of the signs read 'ALL-WAY STOP,' which it is not true since drivers coming out of the Day Hall lot aren't obligated to yield to anyone. Mostly high-ranking University officials park there, so I've always assumed this is why there is no sign. Or, is it felt that a sign would clutter up the area in from of Day Hall ? Traffic Watcher

Dear TW,
So glad you noticed!
Two people responsible for keeping track of traffic patterns and safety around campus are Lt. Lisa Sprague, Manager of Traffic and Parking at Public Safety, and Sam Rowe, Manager of the Cornell Traffic Bureau. Lisa agrees that aesthetics may in part account for the lack of a stop sign at the exit of the Day Hall lot, and she'll check on the feasibility of adding one. If you have any other suggestions or observations, feel free to let me know, or to call either Lisa (255-8948) or Sam (255-4600) directly.

Uncle Ezra

Dear Unc,
Just wanted to add to your note (MAY89, p. 28) to the person eager to volun- teer for the Empire State Games.  The local organizing committee of which you spoke also has a post office box where (I guess) you could write as well as call. I *think* it's: Empire State Games Committee, P.O. Box 4141, Ithaca, New York, 14852.  You can check it and make sure I'm right... but I think I am.
        Glad to see some people are thinking ahead, Unc.... I'm a graduating Senior, but if I'm not doing anything from Aug. 2nd through the 6th... you can bet I'll be back in Ithaca, doing what I can to help the Games.  Should be a lot of fun.

                                                               - Alyosha

Dear Alyosha,
Thanks for the additional information! Marcia Lynch at the local Empire State Games office (272-8873) did not recognize the address you gave, but thinks it might belong to the Games' Albany branch office at Ithaca College. She suggests you write to the Empire State Games Committee, City Hall, 108 E. Green Street, Ithaca, NY 14856. That office coordinates all local volunteer efforts. (Your helpful spirit is admirable!) Uncle Ezra

Uncle Ezra

Unc --
Does Day Care and Child Development Council of Tompkins County really recommend $2 to $2.50 an hour (MAY89, p.53) for babysitting these days?  For college students?  Perhaps for a 13-year-old sitter that would be a reasonable wage, but even then I'm not sure.  I love working with kids myself, and have done LOTS and lots of babysitting over the years, but it would be hard for me to justify spending any amount of time at such a small fraction of what I might otherwise earn with my time.
        There's no question that others who don't have other jobs might be more receptive to such wages, but even so, those are really, really low. Cornell Dining has trouble getting student workers at twice that.

                                                        Time is Money

Dear TiM,
Thanks for calling my attention to that astonishingly low wage recommendation. For a second opinion, I called the Ithaca Youth Bureau's Youth Employment Service (YES; 273-8364). They suggested, for college students, offering $3 to $3.50 are in somewhat short supply right now, experienced sitters could easily afford to turn down an offer of $2.50 or less, with the assurance of finding a better wage elsewhere. YES staff still consider $2 reasonable for younger sitters.

Uncle Ezra