Ever heard the saying "Ithaca is Gorges"? Well, that's because the gorges trails truly are gorgeous, especially this time of year!

Hiking in the gorges is a great way to enjoy the fall weather. Remember that the gorges can be dangerous, so stay on the designated trails, be cautious of wet trails and loose rocks, and never underestimate the power of the water.

Research shows that spending even short periods of time in nature can improve memory, ability to concentrate, and reduce overall stress and improve your sense of well-being. In fact, time spent in nature has been shown to:

• Improve your cognitive ability, specifically by boosting your ability to concentrate and increasing your attention span
• Positively benefit your mood and improve your sense of overall happiness
• Reduce feelings of and physiological responses to stress
• Increase your number of social connections and the quality of your social relationships
• Boost your physical health and well-being

The gardens, arboretum, and natural areas of Cornell Botanic Gardens are at their height in September, with late summer glory lingering in the Herb Garden and the early fall color coming to the arboretum and Beebe Lake.

Make some time this week to enjoy the natural area on and around campus.

SAVE THE DATE: Oct 22 (Friday) from 12-5pm virtually. It's free, open to the public!

Find out more info and register at campusnature.com to attend for part or all of the sessions.

Many campuses across the country, like Cornell have started up NatureRx Initiatives to help students receive the physical and mental health benefits nature provides. The Campus NatureRx Network has recently added a resource guide to their website entitled:

Anti-racism in the Outdoors:

Resources related to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion of black, indigenous and people of color in parks and greenspaces

Compiled by Don Rakow, Cornell University, dr14@cornell.edu, & Laura Brown, University of Connecticut- laura.brown@uconn.edu.

See more info here: https://www.campusnature.com/anti-racism-in-the-

With prelim season in full swing, now is a great time to get help with challenging course content by visiting instructor office hours, going to LSC tutoring, or developing a study plan. Got your first prelims back already? This is a great opportunity to look at what you got wrong and learn from your mistakes! Taking time to reflect on what you got wrong-and why-can help identify how to study more effectively.

The university returned to COVID-19 Alert Level Green on September 24 due to the relatively low number of current cases of COVID-19 among the Cornell community.

Please continue to do your part to protect the Cornell and local community by continuing to wear your mask over your mouth and nose, monitor yourself for symptoms using the Daily Check, and participate in surveillance testing as assigned.

If you plan to travel for Fall Break, students need to fill out travel forms in the Daily Check to adjust your testing schedule. Be sure to get tested upon returning to campus from fall break and minimize your exposure to others before your arrival test results.

Before or after dinner, come to Tatkon for a very informal chat. Stay as little or long as you like. Tatkon is all about older students sharing their knowledge and experiences with first years. Tat staff are super friendly and eager to help. Ask anything!

All Tat Chats are in the Tatkon Center Reception Area, room 101 RPCC.

Engineering: Choosing a Major

Tuesday, Sep 28, 5:45-6:45pm

Are you excited about engineering yet confused about which major to pick? Chat with Julia, a sophomore in engineering who has gone through many major changes herself. Learn about major choices, the affiliation process, and how to make the best decision for your career!

Math is Hard and That’s Okay

Thursday, Sep 30, 5:30-6:30pm

1+1=2? There are few universal experiences but difficulty in math is one of them. Talk with Allie, a sophomore math major about tips and tricks to get by in class, and maybe share some deep thoughts on the subject.

Finding Creative Spaces on Campus

Sunday, Oct 3, 6-7pm

Are you looking to find a creative outlet on campus? Chat with Jenny about finding your artistic community at Cornell! Jenny is a junior majoring in music with a focus in classical singing.

Friday, October 1 from 3 - 4pm

Facilitator: Wai-Kwong Wong, PhD
Register for the October 1 Procrastination workshop
Do you procrastinate? Are you doing it right now? Are you sick and frustrated because you keep doing this to yourself? Come learn about procrastination and how you might get more done in your life.

Friday, October 1 from 6:30 - 7:30pm

The Latino Living Center's presenting From Plants to Home Remedies as part of it's Cafe Con Leche Series.

October 1 - 3, 2021

Apple Harvest Festival will host plenty of farmstand fresh apples and produce, delectable apple and seasonal baked goods, a variety of food trucks offering tasty bites, and a craft fair with artisans from around the region. There will also be live music and entertainment, plus a cider trail to enjoy refreshing cider in store and plenty of great apple and apples-inspired products for sale inside shops in and around Downtown.

For more information visit: https://www.downtownithaca.com/apple-harvest-festival/

How to Green Your Event Workshop for Students
Thursday, October 7 @ 5 p.m.

Learn more about how to make campus events more sustainable, from concept to clean-up, using guides and decision-making tools.

Wednesday, September 29 @ 10am - 11am
Register for September 29

The Job Search Virtual Monthly Discussion is designed to get graduate students and postdoctoral scholars together to talk about concerns that job seekers share, and strategize about how to move forward.

Each session will begin with a brief introduction that includes tips, perspectives, and thoughts from staff who support career exploration within and beyond academia. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions they have and share best practices that work for them. Depending on attendance numbers, we may split into breakout rooms for more tailored questions and answers to master’s students, doctoral students and postdocs, etc.

We want to create a safe space for everyone to talk and listen. Please come join us and hear from each other! This event is co-sponsored by the Graduate School and Cornell Career Services.

Location: Zoom link to be provided upon registration

Facilitators: Christine Holmes, Postdoctoral Studies Director, Caleb Yu, Graduate and International Student Career Advisor, Colleen McLinn, Executive Director of Future Faculty and Academic Careers, Denise DiRienzo, Experiential Program Director of Careers Beyond Academia, Susi Varvayanis, Executive Director of Careers Beyond Academia

Accommodations: We strive to make our events accessible to all community members. Individuals who would like to request accessibility accommodations should contact futurefaculty@cornell.edu. We ask that requests be made at least one week in advance to help ensure they can be met

Check out the Graduate School Events Calendar to find events specifically for graduate students: https://gradschool.cornell.edu/events/

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

• mentalhealth.cornell.edu
• Cornell Health
  phone consultation (24/7): 607-255-5155
  
  

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

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