The Cornell Quaranzine

Supporting Your Well-being - Fall 2020

10/20/2020

Dear Community,


Notice something different about this week's edition of the Quaranzine? Maybe some dogs in the background? A picture of a cat, perhaps? If you have not guessed the theme by now, this week we will be celebrating the peace and joy that our pets and other animals can bring us each and every day! Keep an eye out in this week's newsletter for pictures of cute animals, videos of cute animals, and even an opportunity to view cute animals LIVE!


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!

But First: A Self Check-in

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Now that we are well into the semester and looking forward to upcoming holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving, it is a time when the student body begins to collectively think about home (and if you are one of those people who get more excited about the prospect of seeing their pets than their human family members, then this issue is for you)! What does home mean to you? Is it waking up late and finding your family (or housemates) already sitting around a breakfast table? Is it jumping on a group text with your closest friends or extended family? Or is it wherever your dog, cat, fish or iguana happens to be? Perhaps you are in all online classes and never left home and are really looking forward to the downtime an official holiday gives you!


We all have different concepts of what home means, and as we approach this time of year it is a good time to reflect on what home has meant in the past, and what we want home to be like in the future.

Next time you find yourself spending an inordinate amount of time gazing at your pet from your desk, just remember that you are actually improving your well-being! This article in Science has findings that supports the existence of an "interspecies oxytocin-mediated positive loop facilitated and modulated by gazing." As if paying attention to our pets could get even more worthwhile!
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Bunnies!

To everyone's great excitement, a user in the Cornell subreddit has been posting regular pictures of their per rabbits. Cornellians on Reddit are showing great appreciation for the images and videos, saying among other things: "I'm a simple Cornelian. I see rabbit, I upvote."
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Want to improve your sleep? Enroll in Refresh, Cornell Health’s online sleep program, for evidence-based information and strategies proven to help you catch more high-quality ZZZs. Refresh is an eight-week self-help program open to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Enroll in Refresh by Wednesday, October 28 to participate in the program beginning November 1.

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Step into our cafe for delicious food & drink, and then visit our cat room! All cats are rescued by Browncoat Cat Rescue, and are adoptable. Kitty silliness is $5 for 30 minutes.


Due to COVID-19 we are currently open to the public 11am-3pm Wed/Fri/Sat. Please wear a mask and practice physical distancing!


For more info: https://www.facebook.com/IthacaAlleyCat/

Ithaca May Have a Cat Cafe, but Where is the Raccoon Cafe?

That Raccoon Cafe In Seoul Everyone Is Hyped About

Thinking About Graduate School?

Attend Cornell Graduate School Virtual Fair


Whether you're wondering if graduate school is the best option for you, or you are already set on applying but are not sure where to look - mark your calendar for Tuesday, October 27 when Cornell University's Graduate School will be hosting a Virtual Graduate School Fair from 11:00am - 3:00pm. Click on this link in order to register and prepare yourself for this opportunity to learn a lot more about all kinds of graduate programs, academic minors, and summer internships! If you want, you will also have a chance to chat with faculty, staff and current grad students!

Christian Cooper. George Floyd. Removal of Confederate Statues. Renaming of institutions. Reparations. Systemic Racism. John Muir? What does "environment" have to do with it? How do we meet this moment?


To answer these questions, Carolyn Finney, author of "Back Faces White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors," will bring her talents to give a virtual lecture hosted in part by Cornell's Botanic Gardens! Finney will draw from her life work and experience to give insight on the role that green spaces play in the realm of social change and overall American history. More information on this event (November 3rd at 3:00PM) can be found HERE.

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BRIGHT SPOT

Animals in Action!

The San Diego Zoo has set up cameras in several of their exhibits so that you can watch some of their coolest animals LIVE! Just click on this link to spend some time checking them out. We recommend the platypus!

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The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Cams connects viewers worldwide to the diverse and intimate world of birds. The Lab of Ornithology works hard to make watching an active experience, sparking awareness and inspiration that can lead to conservation, education, and engagement with birds.


Viewers tell the Lab of Ornithology that watching the cams is a life changing experience: an unprecedented learning experience that they liken to virtual field trips or field biology in their living room.


Click on title above to connect to live bird cams.

Resources for Connecting

Connecting for Emotional Support: CAPS Drop-in Workshops

Cornell Health counselors are facilitating virtual, free, drop-in workshops for undergraduate, graduate and professional students anywhere in the world. Check out:

Thursday, October 22:

Friday, October 23:

Monday, October 26:

Tuesday, October 27:

  • Why do I Feel so Weird? Unpacking Complex Feelings About COVID-19
    3:00-4:00 pm


To see a list of all upcoming CAPS Free, Drop-in workshops go here.

Connecting for Academic Support

The Learning Strategies Center (LSC) wants to help you Harness Positive Online Peer Pressure to Get Your Work Done!


Do you miss being in the library or another study spot surrounded by other students who getting their academic work done? Then come study online at the LSC’s Motivation Station! Work independently alongside other students in a Zoom session or in Gather Town, with your camera on and your mic off.


The Motivation Station is staffed by LSC Study Skills tutors. If you’d like, the tutors are available to help you set goals (via chat or a breakout room) for your time in the Motivation Station, as well as help with general advice about how to study effectively. Or just come and do your work–it’s up to you!

Please self enroll in the Canvas site for access to the Motivation Station.

Motivation Station Hours (all hours are Eastern Time Zone):

  • Sundays from 7:00 – 10:00 pm in Gather Town
  • Mondays from 7:00 – 10:00 pm on Zoom
  • Tuesdays from 7:00 – 10:00 pm in Gather Town
  • Wednesdays from 7:00 – 10:00 pm on Zoom
  • Thursdays from 7:00 – 10:00 pm on Zoom

Office for Graduate Student Life

Students, faculty, and campus partners can contact Janna Lamey, assistant dean for graduate student life, for any of the following reasons:

  • Resources for academic support
  • Assistance in navigating the educational program
  • Referrals to campus services
  • Support for personal development
  • Other concerns that are impacting student ability to succeed


Janna Lamey, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Life

Janna Lamey Contact Information:

Talk/Text Resources

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)

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

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