The Cornell Quaranzine

11/11/2020

Dear Community,

It's the last week of classes for the undergraduate students among us and the last week of teaching classes for many graduate students before the semi-final period. No doubt the coming week will hold a wide range of experiences for all of us. Some students will be busy studying for multiple semi-finals whereas others will have a lighter schedule and will be thinking of relaxing and perhaps traveling home early. Some students will be continuing to work on their dissertation or figuring out the timing to either complete or continue their research projects before traveling or taking a break here in Ithaca for the University Thanksgiving Break. Regardless of your situation, we encourage you take time to explore some of the opportunities and resources in this week's newsletter to help you stay resilient and on top of your responsibilities this week!

Wishing you wellness,

The Skorton Center for Health Initiatives at Cornell Health

* If you would like to continue receiving issues of the newsletter each week, follow this link!

Ask yourself: How am I doing? How am I really doing? For many students, this week may almost feel like a calm at the eye of the storm between last week's U.S. presidential election, next week's semi-final exams and students starting to pack up and leave campus until in-person instruction begins again in February 2021.

This is why now is the time to calibrate yourself; reflect on the things that make you feel in tune with yourself, balanced and even joyful - the things that make you feel like you! If you have a lot of semi-finals, use the resources in this newsletter to take those well-earned study breaks we're always talking about and reinvigorate your mind for this last effort before the Thanksgiving break. If you have a lighter semi-final schedule, we invite you to use these resources to replenish your physical, mental and emotional energy and use your free time in a way that will prepare you to successfully navigate any changes you may be facing upon traveling home for good for this semester, or you may encounter if staying here in Ithaca as the on-campus community shrinks in size.

Last but not least, it's November, a time (in the U.S.) when many of us turn our thoughts to the things we have in our lives to be thankful for - friends, family, art, music, nature, humor, our abilities, faith, kindness of others, to name a few - and we allow ourselves to celebrate these .

Cornell University is located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ’ (the Cayuga Nation). The Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ’ are members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, an alliance of six sovereign Nations with a historic and contemporary presence on this land. The Confederacy precedes the establishment of Cornell University, New York State, and the United States of America. We acknowledge the painful history of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ’ dispossession, and honor the ongoing connection of Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ’ people, past and present, to these lands and waters.

We invite you to learn more about the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫ’ people and their culture by watching and listening to Steve Henhawk, a Cayuga speaker and historian, recite part of the “Words Before All Else” in the Cayuga language. The address is a giving of thanks to all living things that is recited at the beginning of community gatherings and events. The Cornell Botanic Gardens are honored to work with Steve, who has brought his people’s seeds home to be planted in the Pounder Garden at Cornell Botanic Gardens in the soil of his ancestors. Steve’s plantings are used in the first-ever Cayuga language class he is teaching at Cornell.

As you explored the nature of the Ithaca region during this semester, have you ever stopped to think about what that racket from the birds actually means? Science and music combine to tell the stories of species from around the globe as staff from the Cornell Lab's Center for Conservation Bioacoustics explore how and why animals make sound and how these sounds can be used for conservation. Visit California’s Sierra Nevada, listen to rainforest sounds in Central Africa, and dive below the ocean’s surface to listen to whales and coral reefs.

Register for this event HERE! (Nov 12, 2020 12:00 PM Eastern)

If you have experienced some pangs of loneliness this semester, know that this is not a character flaw - many struggle to find their place in a big school like Cornell, and COVID has not made it any easier. If this is the case for yourself or someone that you know, we encourage you to check out this article on coping with loneliness. This article gives a highly comprehensive list of ways to feel better. From practicing self-compassion to staying active there is good advice here for everyone!

Host: Taryn Mattice, Chaplain, Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell

Start/End Date: Thursday evenings, Nov 19-Dec. 17, 7 PM (4 weeks, no meeting Thanksgiving Day)Meeting format: 75-minute weekly zoom meeting

Open to All students regardless of religious identity

Description: This “Post Election Gathering” will offer students the opportunity to reflect on what this year’s election cycle has meant to each participant and what we will carry going forward. For some of us that may mean complicated relationships with family and friends, for others this season has been one of awakening into purpose and connection. As you make the move from Ithaca to your home environment, this group will give you the space to care for your fellow Cornellians, whether exploring strategies for navigating home conflict, sorting out our own thoughts and feelings, or setting an individual course for the months ahead.

Sign up online here.

A lot of Americans have lost loved ones over the past months, and this goes for members of our Cornell community as well. Whether or not you are actively religious, we invite you to the Cornell Catholic Community's Sunday Evening Prayer for the Dead happening every Sunday of November. Whether you are looking to especially remember someone you know or support others, take a moment to look at their website where you may gain access to these events as well as have the opportunity to inscribe names of deceased loved ones in their Book of Remembrance so that they may receive a prayer during the session.

Join us to paint a canvas of the Big Red Barn with the staff of the Barn, a local studio owner, and other grad students! Pick up (contact-less) supplies at the barn in preparation for the program or use your own supplies and follow along on Zoom. No experience necessary!

Zoom link, directions on supply pickup, sketch of the picture, and further instructions will be delivered to your email before the program. Free if you provide your own materials, $5 (payable in cash) if you pick up painting supplies at the Barn.

We look forward to painting with you!

Register Here:

https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6nGuKeCse5M3zj7

VIRTUAL WRITING GROUP WITH THE BIG RED BARN

Thursday November 12 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm |Recurring Event (See all)

Are you missing the in-person Grad Write-In at the Barn? Want to be part of a supportive writing community, virtually, until we can all meet up again? Join the Virtual Writing Group with the Big Red Barn. Join us on Zoom, you can find the registration links on the BRB Newsletter!

We will share goals, writing strategies, and encouragement. You can post questions or advice on chat at any time. Otherwise, we write!

The Women’s Resource Center is joining with Haven, GJAC, the LGBT Resource Center and Loving House to host this engaging new workshop at Cornell. Register HERE

Are you excited to deconstruct gender? Or are you confused by terms like non-binary, cisgender, and agender? Perhaps you’re an energized trans activist who’s ready to change the world!

Or do you want to be a better ally to your trans friends? Gender binaries affect us all, not just trans and gender nonconforming people. No matter who you are, you’ll want to attend this thought-provoking, intersectional, non-judgmental workshop facilitated by two down-to-earth transgender advocates.

With stories, humor, engaging exercises, and video clips, you’ll leave with your questions answered and myths shattered, inspired and empowered to make the world a friendlier place for our trans friends and our trans selves. This workshop will center the experiences of trans and gender nonconforming people of color.

All are welcome: beginners and experts, transgender and not.

Facilitated by Maybe Burke and Sean Desiree.

Behavioral health is one component of addressing a student’s mental and emotional health care. Much like a visit with a medical professional, behavioral health targets specific goals and concerns in the “here and now,” utilizing concrete strategies to promote change toward a student’s desired outcome.

Behavioral health consultants (BHCs) are licensed mental health clinicians — often psychologists and social workers — qualified to conduct brief behavioral interventions on a wide range of issues.

If you'd like to connect with a Behavioral health consultant, talk with your Primary Care Provider (PCP) or another member of your primary care team about your interest in BHC service options.

Website: https://health.cornell.edu/services/mental-health-care/group-counseling

This is a great opportunity dedicated to time for you to ask general questions, explore engagement opportunities and get connected to campus resources! You can also have the chance to meet other FGLI students and just to chat with Shakima M. Clency. Check out the weekly event (Tuesdays) HERE!

Take n' Make - Clay Hands

• Sat Nov 14, 1pm - 2pm
• Join Museum Club and SEAM in creating art inspired by works in the Johnson Museum's collection. Register and pick up your pre-packaged material kits! Register by clicking HERE!
  

Join a Tat Chat!

• 6 Days of the week, every week!
  

• Need a break from being alone in your room all day, want a good restaurant recommendation downtown, wondering about exams, ask anything!
  The Tat staff were hired to help you. Stop by for as little or as long as you like for these informal chats. See our special themes for the week but you can also ask anything anytime! Check it out HERE!
  

We are at the home stretch and have done a great job with mitigating the spread of COVID thus far! Let's keep going and finish the semester strong - and keep the following message in mind when you see your friends.

~ Message/image below brought to you by a COVID-19 Peer Consultant

If you find yourself struggling or in need of someone to talk to, know that you are not alone.

The following resources are here to support you:

Cornell Resources

• Cornell Health phone consultation (24/7): 607-255-5155

• EARS peer counselors phone consultation 3-11pm M-F; 7-11pm S/S: 607-255-3277

Ithaca Resources (24/7)

• Ithaca Crisisline: 607-272-1616
  

• Advocacy Center (sexual/domestic violence): 607-277-5000

National Talk-Lines (24/7)

• Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

• Trevor Project hotline (LGBTQ+): 866-488-7386

• LGBT+ National Hotline: 888-843-4564

• TransLifeline: 877-565-8860

National Text/Chat Services

• National Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741

• Steve Fund crisis text line: Text STEVE to 741741 (connects you to a counselor of color)

• Trevor Project text line (LGBTQ+): Text START to 678678

National Suicide Prevention "Lifeline CHAT" service: suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat

• Contact Catherine Thrasher-Carroll, Mental Health Promotion Program Director, at ct265@cornell.edu.

• Contact Johan Kjorven or Adaeze Okorie, Public Health Fellows, at jk988@cornell.edu and aio22@cornell.edu
  

• Medical and Telehealth Services for Students in Ithaca

• Medical and Telehealth Services for Students Outside Ithaca
  

Website: health.cornell.edu
Phone: (607) 255-5155
Twitter: @CornellHealth