Events going on this week for CU National AIDS Week:

On Display All Week:

November 28 through December 2, All Day

AIDS Memorial Quilt

Willard Straight Hall, Memorial Room

Please join us for the reception of our display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in Willard Straight Hall. "Founded in 1987, The AIDS Memorial Quilt is a poignant memorial, a powerful tool for use in preventing new HIV infections, and the largest ongoing community arts project in the world."  Panels of the quilt will be on display in the Memorial Room to commemorate the many losses from HIV/AIDS. The reception will have free food and drinks, and will be attended by Scott Fried, the keynote speaker for AIDS Awareness Week. Find out more about the AIDS Quilt here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAMES_Project_AIDS_Memorial_Quilt

November 28 through December 2, All Day

AIDS Education Poster Display

Willard Straight Hall, Art Gallery

Chosen from approximately 1,149 posters, this display has been specifically designed for Cornell’s AIDS Week 2011.  The posters have been digitally reproduced from the originals house in the Human Sexuality Collection in Kroch Library.  Each is unique and pertinent to the nation or locale that it was designed to serve in Africa.  More information about the collection is available at http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/ead/htmldocs/RMM07723.html 

Tuesday, November 29, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Candlelight Vigil

Ho Plaza

In commemoration of those who have suffered and passed from HIV/AIDS,  join Sexual Awareness For Everyone (SAFE) and the Protestant Cooperative Ministry for the 2011 Candlelight Vigil.  Grab a free cup of coffee, and some baked goods from Ithaca Bakery as we listen to personal accounts of those living with HIV/AIDS and those we have lost.

Wednesday, November 30, 7 p.m.

Wear Red:  CU Women’s Basketball Game

Newman Arena

Join your fellow Big Red Bears in Red as you cheer on the on Women’s Basketball Team as they battle it out against Binghamton University.  Wear your red to show support for National AIDS Week.

Thursday, December 1, Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Lunch with Scott Fried

626 Thurston Ave., Multipurpose Room

Join us for lunch with National AIDS Week keynote speaker, Scott Fried.  The Intercultural Center and LGBT Resource Center invite you to this free lunch to hear Scott talk about what motivates him to be a speaker on the college circuit and to preview his keynote speech.  All are invited to attend.  Taste of Thai Express will be catering (veg and vegan options will be available).

Thursday, December 1, 3 to 5 p.m.

Reception for National AIDS Week

Willard Straight Hall, Browsing Library

Please join us for the reception of our display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in Willard Straight Hall. "Founded in 1987, The AIDS Memorial Quilt is a poignant memorial, a powerful tool for use in preventing new HIV infections, and the largest ongoing community arts project in the world."  Panels of the quilt will be on display in the Memorial Room to commemorate the many losses from HIV/AIDS. The reception will have free food and drinks, and will be attended by Scott Fried, the keynote speaker for AIDS Awareness Week. Find out more about the AIDS Quilt here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAMES_Project_AIDS_Memorial_Quilt

 

Thursday, December 1, 5:15 to 6:30 p.m.

Keynote Speech:  Scott Fried

Goldwin Smith Hall, Kaufman Auditorium

Scott is a nationally acclaimed speaker on HIV/AIDS, dedicated to providing education, awareness, and hope about the disease he has had since he was 24.   Scott uses himself as Exhibit A. He begins each lecture with his story of how he got infected with HIV in 1987 at the age of 24, during his first and only unsafe sexual encounter.  His unstoppable approach to educating others can be encapsulated into one thought: one must understand the value of one's own life, and hold it sacred, in order to refrain from dangerous behaviors that could lead to HIV infection and other crises.  (http://www.scottfried.com/index.html)  Please join us right after the presentation at 104West! for a sit down dinner with Scott, and get the opportunity to have a more intimate conversation with him. (Cost: One meal swipe) Please contact Nate Treffeisen at   if you don't have a meal plan.

Thursday, December 1, 7 p.m.

Dinner with Scott Fried

104 West

Please join us right after the presentation at 104West! for a sit down dinner with Scott, and get the opportunity to have a more intimate conversation with him. (Cost: 1 meal swipe, BRBs, or Debit/Credit.) Please contact Nate Treffeisen at   if you don't have any questions or need assistance in attending.

Thursday, December 1, 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Allied Against AIDS Fashion Show

Clark Hall, Atrium

Help us as we raise awareness about the ongoing struggles with HIV and AIDS faced by millions of people around the globe and also raise funds for those most affected by this disease.  The night will feature:  Condom Couture fashion show, AIDS activist Scott Fried, performances by some of Cornell's favorite dance and a cappella groups, catered food, raffles and silent auctions, and a free photo booth!   Condom Couture Fashion Show --A popular staple event for other FACE AIDS chapters, the goal of the Condom Couture fashion show is to promote safe sex in a nonthreatening way. Dresses and other clothing items made primarily out of condoms were designed AND made by Cornell students and will be showcased at the event!  Performances by Beketsev Israeli Dance, Anything Goes Musical Theatre Troupe, Illuminations Chinese Cultural Dance Troupe , Hearsay A Cappella, and Teszia Belly Dance Troupe!  $5 Suggested Donation.  Open to entire Cornell Community

Friday, December 2, All Day

Free, Anonymous HIV Testing

626 Thurston Ave.

Free, anonymous rapid (results in 20 minutes) HIV testing will be offered on campus by the NYS Health Department to members of the Cornell community.

Morning appointments (10am-12) will be available by calling 255-4782.

Afternoon slots (starting at 12:30pm) will be walk-in:  first come first served.

For information, call 255-4782.

Sponsored by the LGBT Resource Center and Gannett Health Services.

Sassy, sarcastic, and sharp, Cornell’s CampusBasement.com is an emerging gem you’re sure to see on your neighbor’s laptop in Mann sometime soon. That is, if you have not stumbled across the site yourself. A cousin of Collegehumor mixed with The Onion, CampusBasement hosts student-authored mock news stories under web pages for varying campuses involved. While every post is very enjoyable, only a Cornellian could understand all the jokes, guaranteeing laughs.

“Regional Manager or Michael Scott of Cornell’s CampusBasement” Alexandra Post (12), has been working for the site since her friend, who worked for CuseMyCampus.com, expressed their wish to expand. CuseMyCampus was the site’s birth at Syracuse and was essentially what the Syracuse page of CampusBasement is today. Thus, BigRedMyCampus was formed, before other schools including Penn State and BU joined, creating the CampusBasement site. Students from the corresponding schools write and edit their articles.

“We are Cornell Basement after all… we can rock a grammatically correct piece,” according to writer Jennifer Nauheim (12). Anyone can write for the site, “even if you are not funny” said fellow writer Daniel Greener (14), so long as you can manage to find the “contribute” button.

Though it is common to write about once a week, the Cornell Basement contributors write as they see inspiration across campus. Greener feels “you need a sort of snarky, satirical type of humor…we try to take typical Cornell situations and flip them on their head.” However, the site hosts a variety of writers who have a fittingly diverse range of comedic styles.

Experience with comedy is not needed to succeed on Cornell Basement. Greener had experience with the Skits-o-Phrenics, and as Post describes, “my journey began long ago when I first climbed the hill with Jack and Jill. When Jack fell down and broke his crown I ran all the way home laughing. I decided this was my calling.” Yet for plenty of writers, Cornell Basement is their first experience at writing humor.

As a writer, Post feels that Cornell Basement has made her “more confident in her comedy” and brings “joy and cookies” to Cornell students. Though you might be the only person laughing out loud in the A.D. White Library, don’t regret the minute you take out of your day to visit CampusBasement. We could all use a little break.

Girl talking to friend: I'm hungry, no, I'm thirsty! I think I'm going to get some orange juice. I need some Vitamin B in my system.

       

Friend: Um, orange juice is definitely Vitamin C...

If any of you saw my roomie Hannah and I interact a week into school, you would think that we had known each other for years before coming to Cornell. Many were surprised to know that we had just met in person on the first day of school. We are literally the same person- so how did we get so lucky? Well if you listen to The ZodiAct, you would know that we picked each other after I found her on the Cornell Girls’ Roommate Search for the Class of 2015 back in April. Although the fates did not throw us together randomly, the stars gave us a little push. I had contacted her because she had mentioned that she was a Communication major on the group page, and since we are a rare breed I decided to say hello. After talking for awhile, we decided we’d be roommates- but why did she agree to be my roommate? Being the zodiac savant that she is, she checked my Facebook page to see what my sign was, saw I was a Pisces, and said yes. Why was my being a Pisces such a good thing? Well, because she’s a Cancer. Cancerians are water signs just like Pisceans, which is why they are destined to get along well. Pisceans, as I had said in my last column, are dreamers and tend to need someone to help ground them. Cancerians need planning and organization- they are less spur of the moment and need to know what they are going to be doing and when they are going to be doing it. In this way, the signs complement each other. Security is big for Cancer; they need to feel safe. Cancer is the motherly sign- they enjoy taking care of others. They are sensitive and tend to do what is in their own best interest. Cancers can be indirect but dependable, for they enjoy being hospitable. You are sure to find plenty of Hotelie Cancers. Being around a Cancer can feel like being on Kingda Ka- one second he/she is feeling motivated and on the top of his/her game, but one small thing can completely change his/her mood for the worse. Friendly tip for all of the guys out there- if your girlfriend’s moon is in Cancer and it’s her time of the month, avoid her at all costs- feign illness, fake your own death, say you got abducted by the government because you knew too much; do whatever you have to do. Speaking of boyfriends and girlfriends, let’s talk compatibility- that’s all people seem to care about in astrology anyway.  It’s fun to blame the stars for problems in your relationships or for qualities your significant other has or lacks. “My boyfriend’s such a Pisces- he never commits to anything and he just wants to ‘go where they wind takes him’- what does that even mean?!” or “My girlfriend is such a Cancer- she’s smothering me like my mother and everything always has to be so organized all the time!” But really, these things are true. Cancerians will usually get along well with Cancerians because they are both organized and sympathetic; they will complement each other well in their similarities because they will be similar in important areas of relationships. However, if their emotions are too strong, then they could become too sensitive for each other and they will both take everything too personally. Those who fall under the sign of Aries might be a little too expressive for Cancers, but at the same time Cancerians will enjoy their generous nature. However, one must be wary of this match because once the initial infatuation is gone, their temperments will clash. Both Cancerians and Taurians look for someone who will be sensitive and whom they can spend the rest of their lives with, so this match will most likely work out well. A Gemini will be too fickle for a Cancer, though the Cancerian will be initially attracted to the lively Gemini. A Leo will prove to be a good stabilizer for a Cancer and will quell the Cancerian’s insecurities. The emotional Cancer will be a very good match with the more rational, analytical Virgo. The Virgo’s practicality will balance out the excessive emotion in the relationship. Cancerians should avoid those with the sign of Libra, for the Librans look more for intellectually stimulating relationships, rather than emotionally driven ones.  Librans will have difficulty handling the intense emotions of the Cancerians. Since the Cancerians are constantly seeking security, Scorpios will provide them with exactly what they need. The possessive natures of the Cancers will give the Scorpios the security they need in return. A Sagittarian will prove to be too much of a wanderer for the Cancerian and this relationship will ultimately fail. The former is too spontaneous and in the moment for the latter’s obsession with planning for the future. Capricorns are the complementary opposites of Cancers and their relationship will be similar to that of a Virgo-Cancer’s relationship. Capricorns will keep the Cancerians grounded with their practicality and love for planning and organization. Aquarians will be too unpredictable for Cancerians to handle, though they can learn something from one another. Aquarians are too adventurous and liberal for the more conservative Cancer. Like I had mentioned before, a Cancer-Pisces relationship will most likely work out extremely well, because they will balance each other out well and respect one another’s feelings. It will be a very emotional, sensitive relationship that is balanced and stable. As always, there are exceptions to every rule, but if you stick to this general compatibility guide, you have a great chance of your relationships working out!

This Saturday night Risley Residential College will be host to one of the wildest dance parties of the year, the 16th annual Masquerave. For one night only, each of the rooms on this north campus dorm’s main floor will be transformed into other worldly creations, including a fractals room, astrology room, and a magical forest. A total of 5 DJs will be providing house/electro, dubstep, techno and breakbeat sets as the musical backing for the night, spread throughout Risley’s Central Living Room, Tammany (Risley’s coffeehouse) and the main stage in the Great Hall (normally known as the Risley Dining Hall!). Tickets will be sold for just $5.00 to this 10pm to 2am dance party/visually enhancing experience, and costumes are a must. Last year the event had a record number of nearly 1,000 attendees, so make sure to nab your spot in line before the doors open at 9:30pm. Think you can handle the ultimate rave experience? Come ready to rage on the dance floor this Saturday and we’ll find out. RSVP on the event page here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=291217544237542

Girl to friend: I'd love to study abroad in Scotland, but I'm afraid their accents would drive me crazy.

Friend: I know, right, I'd be like, "Speak English!"

...seriously?

Astrology tends to have a stigma attached to it of fairytales and fantasy. However, it is actually an ancient pseudoscience created in the third millennium BCE to explain why certain phenomena occurred. Ancient peoples desperately searched for a pattern that would provide them with an explanation for catastrophic events. What they found was that the stars held the answer. Today, this science is considered to be something akin to magic, but if it worked for the Babylonians and made sense back then, then why can’t we take a look at the sky and see something there for each of us? The idea that astrology holds the answer for everything is very unlikely, but there certainly seems to be some sort of validity to it. This column will take a trip around the Milky Way and explore the stars to show you all that some of your personality traits can perhaps be explained by your date of birth. Also, whom you’re compatible with might actually be written in the stars. This column will follow the radio show I have on Slope Media, called The ZodiAct which airs every Thursday at 5:30 on www.slopemedia.org/radio.

Here is a brief introduction of the person who will be feeding you all of this astrological magic that you have most likely never bothered to pay attention to. I am a Freshman here at our beloved Cornell, majoring in Communications-  I like to talk a lot, which you will see in time. I am a Pisces, born on March 15th on a blustery evening around midnight. The daughter of a Scorpio and a Virgo, I grew up with an extremely caring and loving mother, and a strong-willed father. I myself am a dreamer, as Pisces tend to be. A common motto that describes Pisces are, “dreamers, not doers.” Of course, this is not the complete case for everyone- I got into Cornell somehow, didn’t I? But to be perfectly honest, I have dreamt about having this column and supplying you with fantastic astrological wisdom, but waited until the last minute as I sit in my Wednesday evening class to get around to writing it. Yes, of course prelims, essays, and being sick like everyone else on this campus have contributed to this procrastination, but honestly I tend to dream of doing things and then be satisfied with ending it there. Obviously I am a motivated person with certain passions, but the thing with Pisces is that we tend to be indecisive and want to do everything at once. It is important for us to be able to focus our interests. Another common Pisces curse is caring too much; we tend to put a tremendous amount of energy into caring and worrying about other people, but we have to take care not to let people walk all over us. We like to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders and feel the need to try to make the world a better place singlehandedly, which of course is impossible.

As far as compatibility goes, we Pisces base our decisions on intuition, and not always on rational thinking. This can lead to issues with relationships, because we always want to think they work out if we find someone that we have a strong initial attraction to. However, our indecisiveness makes it difficult for us to settle down. If used properly, Pisces intuition can prove to be very accurate when picking a mate, but we tend to let our tendencies to dream get the best of us, and we want to see the best in everything and everyone. We prefer long-term relationships filled with stability and mutual love. We tend to be most compatible with the supportive Taurus, the stable Cancer, the caring Virgo, the loyal Scorpio, and the dreamy Pisces itself, but be wary of the Pisces-Pisces combination, as this indecisive and flighty combo can be dangerous.

In the forthcoming weeks, I will go into detail about the pseudoscience that is astrology, the compatibility between astrological signs, in-depth analyses of the characteristics of each sign, and advice for how to succeed and overcome obstacles associated with that sign. Tune in to the next segment of The ZodiAct, which will focus on the sign of yours truly!

Male to female friend on TCAT bus: A chicken can definitely eat an owl.

Friend: No way! Owls eat chickens. They eat anything! The only way a chicken could eat an owl was if it was a baby owl.

Apparently, the friend was right.

By: Anna Ancona

It’s that time of year again!  Yes, I’m talking about prelims. Forget O-week, forget homecoming…Everyone knows the first set of prelims are everyone’s favorite back to school activity!

Not.

Sources in Gannett say that Prelim Fever, a disease fairly common among Cornell undergraduates, is particularly rampant this year.  Not only that, but the symptoms (which typically include all-nighters to study, lack of going out on Friday nights (GASP!), and obsessive library attendance), have gotten even worse.  Complete social isolation and lack of going out on Saturday nights (that is just not human) have also taken hold of students.

Prelim fever is a dangerous disease to have spreading around campus, particularly given its extreme contagiousness.  Gannett nurses ask that students avert their eyes when passing by the Olin windows on the Arts Quad, for seeing the other students obsessively studying is the first germ to enter one’s system.  It is also crucial that students continue to go out and socialize, particular on Friday and Saturday nights.  Keep the…ah…juices flowing.  And be sure to take some extra vitamin-C every day.

Unfortunately, it is very easy to catch this bug, especially if you are unable to follow the directions above.  Luckily for you, Anna is here with the antidote to make you good as new!

Now, one must be very careful in self-diagnosing Prelim Fever.  There is a difference between some light studying for a prelim and this disease.  The first sign that you might have the Fever is when you are at the library hoping to get a little studying in, and you suddenly realize you’ve been going with no break for three hours.  A healthy person would, at this point, run to Libe Café or Manndibles for a break, or would even just go home and call it a day at this point.  A student with Prelim Fever, however, would have the following thought process:

It’s already been three hours??? I have only studied for one of my subjects, and my prelims are coming up in TWO WEEKS!!! Time to move on to Oceanography…I have at least ten hours of studying to do for that class alone!

First of all, no one needs to study Oceanography for ten hours.

Second of all, the above student most likely needs caffeine, food, the bathroom, or all of the above.  This student is ignoring any and all other needs besides the need to study, and that, my friends, is when you should think about heading over to Gannett.  You have Prelim Fever.

Don’t feel like walking to Gannett?  I wouldn’t either.  I’ll tell you how to cure your disease so you can get back on track.

When you find yourself freaking out like the student above, first thing to do is to get out of the library.  I repeat: get out of the library.  Given your state of feverishness, this may be difficult.  Find the nearest athlete (football players are generally your best bet), and order them to carry you out of the library, no matter how much you resist.

Once you are out of the library, ask for the above-mentioned athlete’s cell phone number—hey, might as well make the most of your situation.

Next, go HOME. Walking is preferable—get some fresh (ahem, freezing) air in those lungs!  Breathe!

Already you should be feeling much better.  Hopefully the fever will be going down.  But you’re not done yet.  You still have your heavy books weighing on your mind, you’re drowning in those oceanography notes, and your eyes are red from staring at your online biology slides.

So go get all dressed up, grab a friend, and go out for a nice, relaxing dinner.  Stuff your face with food rather than information.  Believe me, it tastes much better.

Now hopefully you have your cool back, and the fever has gone down.  Go back to Olin, Uris, Mann, you name it, but don’t stress so much.  You’ll do better on your tests without Prelim Fever bogging you down.

Join Jill's Legacy on September 25th at the Cornell Plantations for the first Jog for Jill Cornell in Honor of Ingrid Nunez to raise money and awareness for Lung Cancer. Registration for the event will begin at 10am and shotgun is at 11am.