Dear Star Trek Fan,
Sadly, STAR TREK:  VOYAGER is not yet available here in Ithaca. It's broadcast on "UPN", a new television network created by Paramount nearly two years gao, and Ithaca's Time Warner Cable doesn't offer any UPN affiliates who can provide us with our Voyager fix.
        For details on the problem, see the January 1995 issue of 14850 Magazine on the web at .
        The good news is that a Syracuse UPN affiliate recently upgraded its equipment so its broadcasts will reach Ithaca.  You can find WNYS TV on UHF channel 43 at the upper elevations around Ithaca, especially if you have a decent rooftop antenna.  (My picture is a bit fuzzy.) Time Warner Cable says they are required by law to carry Syracuse area stations that reach Ithaca under certain circumstances, and they expect to add WNYS to the cable lineup around the first of the year. Stay tuned!
        Meanwhile, Paramount is releasing its latest STAR TREK film, entitled "First Contact," in late November.  Keep an eye out for word of the events the local Star Trek fan club plans surrounding the film's release.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Ear to the Ground,
Thanks for the addition to the local-names story!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Sexy Sadie,
Thanks for your thoughtful reflections.  Happy Fall to you, too!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Writer in the Works,
Spring 1997 Freshman Writing Seminar brochures are now available at each college's Registrar's Office.  You'll fill out a paper ballot and submit that ballot to your College Registrar by the end of your CoursEnroll period.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Nature Lover,
Yikes...I'm glad you survived that frightening experience!  It's not even always safe to be on rural private property on Opening Day (I've had bullets whiz by me on a friend's land clearly marked "No Hunting"), much less in the Adirondacks.
        Here's the schedule for the 1996-'97 deer hunting season, courtesy of the University Police:

1996-97 Big Game Season White-Tailed Deer

NORTHERN ZONE (ADIRONDACK Region)

Archery Season:   Sept. 27th - Oct. 18th Muzzleloading Season:   Oct. 12th - Oct. 18th Regular Season (Rifle & Shotgun):   Oct. 19th - Dec. 1st

SOUTHERN ZONE (FINGER LAKES & CATSKILL Regions)

Archery Seasons:    Oct. 15th - Nov. 1st/Dec. 11th - Dec. 15th Regular Season:   Nov. 18th - Dec. 10th Muzzleloading Season:   Dec. 11th - Dec. 17th


        Peak days to avoid walking and hiking in both zones are the Opening Day and the first Saturday of the Regular Seasons.  These are the days with the most hunters in the woods.  If you walk any day during the Regular Gun season in State Lands that are open to hunting, you should wear blaze orange and stick to the roadways.  A little common sense goes a long way during this three-week period.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Worried Sleepless,
Lying awake when you finally get a chance to sleep is exponentially frustrating:  The harder you try to sleep, the more revved up and anxious you get.  Stress (which comes in big doses as you adjust to college) simply doesn't do wonders for sleep patterns. After all, Nature designed human bodies to rise and set with the sun, more or less, and a college student's busy schedule strays far afield from that model!
        But nonetheless you can modify some of your habits to invite sleep back into your life...which will make the rest of your life flow more smoothly, too.  Try any or all of these steps recommended by sleep experts:
        1)  Choose a regular time of day to get up and to go to bed, and stick to this schedule even on weekends.  Our bodies -- unlike our restless minds -- thrive on predictability.
        2)  Consider getting much more sleep than the average college student.  Studies show that young adults need 8-10 hours of sleep, which I know sounds laughable in the face of the onslaught of work around here (not to mention other aspects of life, like friends!), but which will make an astonishing difference in your ability to be alert, concentrated, and energetic for the rest of your day.
        3)  Avoid all drugs that alter the sleep/waking cycle.  This includes caffeine (in coffee, black teas, chocolate, colas, and many other sodas) and alcohol, which damage your sleep mechanism.  If you can't stick to this advice religiously, at least limit your intake.
        4)  Look for ways to make your sleep environment as comfortable as possible:  quiet (use a fan or other "white noise" and/or ear plugs if necessary) and dark (for instance, blocking out excess light with a sleeping mask).  The more you can reserve your bedroom for sleep and do your socializing and studying elsewhere, the better conditioned you'll be to sleep when you tumble into bed.
        5)  Get plenty of exercise and fresh air, and eat healthy, vital foods.  Then your body will have the best building blocks possible for sustaining natural rhythms.
        Books like WIDE AWAKE AT 3:00 AM by Richard Coleman, LOSING SLEEP by Lydia Dotto, and NO MORE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS by Peter Hauri and Shirley Linde offer further suggestions.  You can also make an appointment with a doctor or nurse at Gannett (255-6958) to talk about the problem and, if needed, get a referral to a nearby sleep clinic.
        Getting enough of the right kind of sleep is one way to improve grades, because you'll be able to think more clearly and hold up under pressure more easily.  Several letters in the Uncle Ezra archives -- such as Q06 in the 9/1/92 posting and Q03 in the 9/10/87 posting -- discuss good study habits; you can find other related letters by searching under words like "study and skills".  And the Learning Skills Center (4th Floor CCC; 255-6310; 8:30am-4:30pm Monday through Friday) offers all kinds of support services for becoming a better student, including afternoon workshops in time management, textbook mastery, rapid reading, learning from lectures, and exam preparation stategies; drop-in hours; private consultations, and tutorial services.
        Whatever small amount of time you put into improving study habits will pay off in a big way when it comes to grades and to your overall ability to learn.  And, in turn, your stress level will drop, you'll sleep better, and -- who knows -- your eyebrow may even relax!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Failing,
Hold on to those dreams until you get a chance to talk with Judy Jensvold, Pre-med Advisor at the Career Center (103 Barnes Hall; 255-0542; JMJ5@Cornell.edu), about how chem fits into the whole story of your premed plans.  She'll then have a true framework for advising you about what to do.  You can call 255-0542 to make an appointment with Judy, or you can stop by during her office hours:  Monday through Thursday 3-4pm and Friday 1:30-4pm.
        Also, if it's CHEM 103, 251, 253, 357, or 207 that's causing you trouble, stop by or call the Learning Skills Center (4th Floor CCC; 255-6310) and ask about tutoring and other free support.  For other CHEM courses, you can talk to your TAs or prof about your concerns, and ask for their recommendations about office hours and other ways to do as well as you possibly can from here on in.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Just Curious,
We aren't really part of the Adirondacks or the Catskills.  We're in the foothills of the greater Appalachian Mountain chain, with those other ranges not far away.
        Cayuga Lake is 382 feet above sea level, the city of Ithaca is about 393 feet above sea level, and the Cornell campus is around 950 feet (which of course varies from one end of campus to the other). I'll leave it to you to subtract and find out what a hike you take when you walk up the hill from downtown...the climb gives new prestige to the word "foothills"!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear 4-H Nut,
You'll have no problem getting involved here!  Locally, there are several volunteer opportunities; for instance, working with children in low-income housing developments.  For more information, you can call the 4-H Office at 615 Willow Avenue:  272-2292.  To participate in Cornell's collegiate 4-H Program, contact program advisor Tammie Cross at 255-7621 or tlc3@Cornell.edu.  What a great program to be nuts about!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Worried,
That sounds really unpleasant...I hope the weird aftertaste was the extent of the problem!  I shared your letter with Peggy Beach in Dining, and she suggests that if, in the future, you have any questions at all about the preparation or presentation of food in the dining hall, you immediately ask to speak with a dining supervisor. Dining staff use only top quality meats with strict adherence to food-handling and food-preparation procedures, and they want to know if there's any problem, especially something that could make people sick.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Nostalgic,
The pharmacist at Fay's Drug Store at Cayuga Mall was kind enough to refer me to the publishers of a pharmaceutical manual that includes the monographs on more than 20,000 prescription and over-the-counter drugs (published as "Drug Facts and Comparisons" in St. Louis, MO). In speaking with one of the editors there, I found out that the production and distribution of "argyrol", a 10 percent solution of mild silver protein produced by Loblab, has recently been discontinued entirely.
        I hope you can find another product that will be safe and effective.  Perhaps you can start a whole new lineage of nostalgia for it!

Uncle Ezra   

Confidential to Very Worried Niece,
No, physical violence is never justified in an argument...and you don't have to put up with behavior that jeopardizes your well being. I realize, though, that it's scary to cut off this relationship at the same time that it's scary to stay in it.
        What about taking the intermediate route of talking to someone, confidentially, about the problem, getting support while keeping the freedom to make your own decisions?  Both Nina Cummings in Health Education at Gannett (255-4782) and the staff at the Task Force for Battered Women (277-5000 for their round-the-clock crisis line; 277-3203 for their office) can provide free, caring listening.  You can even call anonymously if you like.  Since things don't seem to be improving no matter how hard you try, and since you've been swinging back and forth between temporary relief and desperate worry, this next step leaves you with not much to lose and a whole lot to gain.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Sticking Around for the Summer,
I forwarded your questions to Linda VanNess, Director of Engineering Professional Programs (LV12@Cornell.edu; 255-3512), who responds:  "Anyone who has the required pre-requisites can take the summer courses, with the exception of a few limited enrollment courses.  The sessions run from about May 20-July 3 and July 7-August 16 next summer.  Course listings won't be available until April, but a list of courses usually offered is available in the co-op office.
        "The tuition is based on the following fall's tuition; this year it was $10,200 for 12 or more credits, and that is divided by 12 for a per credit cost.  Registration is through the co-op office, and if one or more co-op courses is taken, you register for all summer courses at our office (Summer Session regulations and charges apply for their courses, but they only want one registration form).  Preregistration is about May 1-10, and registration is the first day of classes, May 20."
        Thanks, Linda!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Slim-wannabe,
No, the Student Health Plan does not cover liposuction, which is considered cosmetic in nature.  According to the folks in the Student Insurance Office (255-6363), cosmetic surgery is covered only in cases where it will correct a deformity created by a birth defect or an accident that happened while you were insured by the plan.  Insurance does cover medical conditions resulting from an accident or illness, plus state-mandated preventive services like routine Pap smears, gynecological exams, and baseline mammograms starting at age 35.
        There are instances where a person is so overweight that they are considered "Morbidly Obese".  Most insurance carriers use specific guidelines on what they cover to treat this condition.  Usually this includes strictly monitored dieting, typically in the hospital. Liposuction would not be covered for the treatment of Morbid Obesity, either.
        If you have interest in alternatives to surgery, I recommend that you talk with Myra Berkowitz, a nutritionist in Health Education at Gannett (255-4782) and/or Terry Garrison, Director of the Diet/Weight Liberation Program (257-0563).  There are a variety of healthy ways to lose weight...and, more important, there's room in this world for beauty in all shapes and sizes!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Seeking Simplicity,
Thanks for mentioning the problem!  According to Peggy Beach in Dining (mjb15@Cornell.edu), all the dining units should have Big Red Bucks Add forms available at the cashier or doorchecker station.  She will make sure that all locations have forms and that Dining employees provide correct information as to how BRBs may be added.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Cramming for Prelims,
Feels that way sometimes, doesn't it?  But no, the mind has an incredible capacity to expand in order to take in new knowledge. Better yet, it manages to retain some of those facts beyond prelims!
        Sometimes it also feels like your body is going to explode when you're studying that hard.  Don't forget to pause every once in awhile to do something for sheer joy and release...a walk in the fall leaves, a dance with a friend, a quiet moment with your eyes closed listening to a favorite song....

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Desperate,
Cornell classes can be tremendously challenging, especially in your first year when you're also adjusting to being away from family and close friends back home.  And when you're under such tremendous pressure to survive school work, it's tough to find energy for other important parts of your life that you want to unfold, like new friendships, romance, and further responsibilities like a job.  I can understand how that all adds up to unhappy, panicked feelings.
        But the good news is that you wouldn't have gotten into Cornell if you didn't have a chance of making it here.  Chances are, if you make adjustments in your class schedule or possibly get into another program, you'll gain academic confidence.  And that confidence will be a positive influence on other aspects of your life as well.
        I recommend that you make an appointment to see Vivian Geller (phone 255-0973).  Vivian is a wonderful, understanding person who directs the Internal Transfer Division and who has all kinds of good ideas about ways to shift gears so that your academic load accurately reflects your talents and needs.  You can also look into the wealth of academic support services listed on the "Ezra Pointer" to "Academic Services" on the main "Dear Uncle Ezra" menu in CUINFO...but it's nice
to have one person to start with when you're feeling overwhelmed and isolated.
        By the way, I've heard from more than one student that they've come from a close-knit high school and don't know how to fit in here. It helps to keep in mind that most first-year students go through feelings of loneliness and awkwardness, and that basic kindness and friendliness towards the people in your classes and dorm can turn up friendships in unexpected places.  The people who seem to know all the catch phrases may be trying just as hard as you are to fit in.  After all, knowing catch phrases isn't what makes a friend:  A friend is someone who knows how to listen and how to share him or herself in the midst of the ups and downs of life.  Sounds to me like you fit that description beautifully, and that it's only a matter of time until you find good friends here.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Looking,
You can find information right here in the "Dear Uncle Ezra"
archives:  Q01 in the 3/17/94 posting.  Maybe someday you'll wind up in space with the Cornellian who wrote that letter and has high-soaring dreams like you!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Caring Grandson,
It's lovely to hear that your grandparents can come to the ceremony!  Please don't worry about special arrangements to help them get there safe and sound.  The information brochure about Commencement will be sent to parents at the end of December, and it will explain how to make arrangements for guests with special needs to park in the garage on Commencement Day, after applying for a permit through the Commencement Office (B13 Day Hall; 255-9541).

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Frustrated Niece,
I forwarded your letter to Carl Cohen, Assistant Director for Commuter and Parking Services in Transportation Services (255-5688; crc3@Cornell.edu), who responds:
        "We have actually sold a few less K permits this year than were sold last year.  Unfortunately we did not anticipate the loss of several K spaces because of the delay in completing the Alumni Field track project or the steam line project that is proceding through the Crescent Lot.  In addition, we are seeing many folks with H permits parking in K areas because of the Strength and Conditioning Center that is being built on what was H Parking.
        "Unfortunately, we were not informed of the timing of these projects in time for us to reduce our K permit sales.  Fortunately, the construction that is interfering with K parking spaces will be completed some time in November.  At this point our only option is to offer individuals who are not satisfied with the space availability in the K areas an opportunity to return their permits and exchange them for an O permit and park in B lot at our perimeter rate ($255.25 annually; $9.82 by payroll deduction)."
        Thanks, Carl!

Uncle Ezra