Dear Curious and Caring,
The Vet School has an annual Open House in April when the famous cow and other rooms and barns full of exhibits are on public display. Howard Evans, beloved Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Anatomy, says that "the Cow with fistula (a hole) can be seen at any time in the Large animal clinic; she would be outside in good weather or in the barn at other times. She has been at the college for a long time as a demonstration animal for various clinical purposes and appears quite happy. She is well taken care of and has no pain of any kind. It is the same kind of operation that is done on people who have parts of their intestine, colon or rectum removed because of cancer etc. and then have the intestine sutured into the body wall -- this is called a colostomy and they wear a container to catch their waste. They can live happy lives for many years as does this cow.
        "The procedure for making a ruminal fistula as this cow has is a surgical technique of suturing the body-wall to the stomach and when it heals an incision is made into the stomach through the adhered area and a rubber plug is inserted to keep the food in the stomach. This plug is removed when samples of digestive material are needed or when something has to be removed after being in the stomach to see how it was affected by digestion. Cows that swallow nails or pieces of wire (called hardware disease) are given magnets to swallow so as to collect the nails.  The magnets with the nails must be removed surgically. In our fistulated cow a demonstration of hardware disease can be done repeatedly without any surgery simply by removing the plug in the body wall."
        Take a walk up Tower Road and see for yourself by calling Dr. Mary Smith or someone at the Large Animal Clinic.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Diner,
Dining Services has heard that feedback from many other students about the limitation of only 1 meal equivalency per day.  So, beginning in the Spring semester, all meal equivalencies associated with the plans will be available on a weekly basis:

Traditional 20 - 14 meal equivalencies per week

Any 17 - 14 meal equivalencies per week

Any 14 - 7 meal equivalencies per week

The remaining plans, Any 10, Any 7, and Any 5, currently offer meal equivalencies by the week.
        Hopefully this will make your Dining meal plan more flexible. Cornell has so many fine dining establishments.  You'll be spoiled for when you have to live in a town without such great selection, reliably good food, authentic atmosphere and stimulating dining companions. And, reasonable prices.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Western Wanderer,
I'm glad to hear you're keeping your bones and teeth strong with calcium supplements.  It is always wise to examine the actual benefits of a product before you rely on it. Iron, calcium, and Vitamin B6 have been found to be lacking in the "average American diet". Calcium is found in milk products, leafy greens, broccoli, blackstrap molasses (yum), sesame seeds, canned fish containing bones (!), soups made from bones with vinegar or lemon juice, and tofu made with calcium lactate. Interestingly, too much phosphorus or leafy vegetables that contain oxalic acid (my favorites: chard, spinach, beet greens) reduce calcium absorption.
        Sea-shell calcium is a form of calcium carbonate.  Calcium carbonate is absorbed reasonably well, and is the same compound that's in many calcium supplements, including generic antacids or Tums.  With calcium supplements it's a good idea to check the label for the USP insignia (United States Pharmacopia), which indicates two things:
        1) The supplement is soluble (some supplements were previously found not to dissolve when tested).
        2) The supplement does not contain lead, which is sometimes a contaminant in calcium products, particularly mineral sources of calcium such as dolomite.
        There is some evidence that calcium lactate and calcium citrate may be better absorbed than calcium carbonate.  One study supporting the absorption of calcium citrate appeared last year.  However, calcium carbonate is probably less expensive and may be less bulky (a smaller molecule).  Absorption of calcium carbonate is considered to be improved when taken with food.
        The Calcium Info Center, 800 321-2681 is not so easy to use -- you get an automated line and have to leave a message, then they call back a week later, but persistence pays off!  A good website is: http://www.calciuminfo.com.  And don't forget Cornell's own Nutriquest website.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Appetite for Paninis,
Eileen Hughes, Executive Chef, Willard Straight Dining, was gracious enough to share her secret for these Cubanos, which are grilled sandwiches weighted down while grilling: You can use french bread or hard crusted rolls.  (The Ivy Room uses a pizza-like square that they cut in half).  Smear with chipotle mayonnaise (chipotle is a smoked jalepeno in adobe sauce), 1 chipotle, chopped fine to 1 cup of mayonnaise or to taste. Per sandwich: 1 1/2 ounce turkey, 1 1/2 ounce ham, swiss cheese, with a few slices of dill pickles.  Put it on your grill, weight it down with a plate and soup can and cook until cheese melts.  Cook a few for holiday guests and think Caribbean beaches and red and green parrots!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Jon,
Cornell's motto -- "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study" -- is one of the longer ones, but other schools try to match us, including our fellow ivy schools like Yale, perhaps using humor to combat stress:
        "Forsan et haec olim meminisse jarabit qiote," a quote from the Aeneid, meaning "Someday, perhaps, it will be pleasant to remember all this."  And Penn attempts to get to the essence with: "Leges Sine Moribus Vanae" meaning "Laws without morals are useless."
        School mottos reflect both the history and the culture of a school to this day.  Cornell's motto reflects our commitment to diversity, pledging that any person may study anything. Although there were not many women students in the early days, the school was always co-ed, while many of the fellow Ivies did not become co-ed until around 1969.  The number of subjects offered for study here is enormous, varied and growing.
        Harvard's famous "Veritas" meaning "Truth" still holds strong, as their honor system is prevalent throughout the university's policies and student life. Cornell's motto also has no religious references, enforcing the secular nature or our University, in comparison to Princeton's "Dei Sub Numine Viget" which means "Under the protection of God she flourishes" or Duke's "Eruditio et Religio" which means "Sanctified Knowledge" derived from a Methodist Hymn.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear "Bugged",
Achieving a harmonious diversity is a work in progress. And we have a multitude of minds and hearts committed to creating that work in the careful, sound, mindful way that is the hallmark of what we do here at Cornell. It is easy to lay down law and order putting human rights aside.  Far more difficult is the task of respecting the diversity of perspectives, cultures and life-styles in order to forge and enforce policies which ensure that our "Open Doors, Open Hearts, Open Minds" statement of principles is carried out in spirit as well as in practice.
        The Campus Climate Committee sponsored an open forum "Not on Our Campus/Not in Our Community: A Forum on Campus Safety and Bias Prevention" on October 19th.  The Dean of Faculty and the Vice Provost for Diversity and Faculty Development sponsored a University Faculty Forum on October 18th, "Diversity in the Classroom: Faculty/Student Interaction."  On November 5, Susan Murphy, Vice President for Student and Academic Services, responded to proposals from students with specific items regarding safety, student life and academic curriculum. (See Nov. 9 Cornell Chronicle.)  In addition to undergraduate requirements for Women Studies or Ethnic Studies coursework, RA's will be trained and provide training in diversity issues.  Orientation programming for entering students in fall, 2001, as well as forums and workshops throughout the year will address inclusiveness, respect for difference, gender, race and sexuality issues. Campus Life has recently appointed an Associate Director of Student Affairs and Diversity.  Moreover, there is a bias reporting and prevention protocol in place that is administered by the Office of Workforce Diversity, Equity and Life Quality.
        Working together as a campus community, we can address these issues with "Open Doors, Open Hearts, and Open Minds" as our guiding principles. I hope that you will lend your voice to these discussions and your work to actions that reaffirm our faith in the possibility of getting unstuck and finding ways to move on.
        One of my favorite conundrums is:  Why would non-violent Buddhists say "When you see the Buddha in the road, kill him?"  The answer, at the crux of our problems, is that the illusion of separateness from other humans is what stands in the way of our feeling our oneness as a community of beings who can coexist peacefully.  When you break down your own us-them thinking you discover "we" the people.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Reader,
The Campus Life Housing Website at http://www.campuslife.cornell.edu/housing.taf links to the 8 Cornell-owned and 8 independently-owned cooperative houses. They typically are small, with from 10 to 35 residents, who share responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning and governance.  They have various interests such as vegetarianism or interracial understanding. Their amenities include fireplaces, porch swings, pianos and ping-ping tables.  You can find background information about the residences, addresses, and contact names and numbers (although no urls) on the website, but Stuart Little does not have a page.  Call them at 273-1983.  They can be a real home sweet home for some people.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Freedom,
You need to make friends with yourself!  Some part of you is balking for some reason -- perhaps a cry for help to get out from under too much pressure.  Perhaps just an unfulfilled need to get a little R&R (rest and relaxation).  First, you need to set some priorities, like getting to classes on time, and commit to keeping those lines firm.  If you are late, then you get mad at yourself, and suffer the consequences besides.  Reward yourself for keeping your commitments, and remind yourself that the long-term reward is waiting for you, too.
        You also play a little game with yourself, talking yourself out of what you know you need to do, when a part of you knows you need a different plan.  This strategy may be, as you say, a way you deal with stress.  Plan your day from the night before to be able to stay on campus and get your work done.  Pack a tasty lunch that you can look forward to, or buy food that will sustain you through the day. Give yourself a little treat, too, not starvation rations.  Or make a plan with a friend to meet for lunch or coffee to give yourself a small break.
        Stress is like a horse.  Too little stress is like a lazy horse that won't go, and we don't get anywhere.  Too much stress is like a wild horse, going everywhere and getting nowhere. Focus and confidence are the skills you need to manage to keep that horse moving forward with you in the saddle.  When the horse starts getting wild, pull in on the reins until it's under control again.  What that means in your life is that when the pressure is too tight, slow it down a little. Take a break, go for a walk, and come back fresh and in the mood to try again.  You have the freedom to manage yourself in this way, and I'm sure that you will become skilled at it very soon.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Hopeful,
The Admissions Office says that EDP notification letters are due
to be mailed Wednesday, December 13.  Good luck!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Worked,
Just in time for tax season. Thanks, you many have saved a few folks some $.  Very cool.

Uncle Ezra