The thousands of students and faculty who have passed through Cornell’s doors, 12 presidents and two co-founders have shaped the University into the institution it is today. While it is undeniable that both Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White have left lasting legacies at Cornell, it is Ezra’s forward thinking that I most admire.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Tenzin Gyatso, will be speaking to the Cornell and Ithaca communities in Barton Hall this Tuesday. (If you didn’t get tickets, the event will be streamed online.) While many Cornellians may be traveling back from wherever they escaped to during Fall Break, some students have chosen to cut their breaks short to be present for the Dalai Lama’s talk, “A Human Approach to World Peace.”

Ithaca’s strong ties to the Tibetan community likely prompted the Dalai Lama’s visit. The city is home to His Holiness’ North American seat and personal monastery — the Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies. Located close to the Commons, the Namgyal Monastery has occupied a beautiful house on N. Aurora Street since 1992.

Inspired by the amazing beer selection at the first annual Ithaca Brew Fest earlier this month, I sat down with Jon Schaeffer, the co-owner and manager of The Chapter House, to discuss the 48 beers on tap and the C-town bar’s history. A Cornell student in the late 1980s, Jon stuck around Ithaca and has worked at Chapter House on and off since 1990.

Originally a tap room and restaurant called Jim’s Place, the bar changed its name to The Chapter House in the mid-1960s. The Sun archives have advertisements for “fine drinks and good food” at Jim’s Place dating back to World War II. By 1965, Jim’s Place had become Chapter House and the advertisements in The Sun list all you can eat spaghetti for just a dollar. Beer and spaghetti — quite the combo.

Ah, Collegetown housing. My mom thinks the whole place is a firetrap. My dad sees it all as a big rip-off. You’ve probably searched high and low trying to find a residence that meets everyone’s standards. No dishwasher? A deal breaker. A 10-month lease? Sign now. And now that we’ve finally unpacked, house-hunting season is already upon us.

Welcome back to Ithaca! Even if you’ve only been at Cornell since orientation, you’ve surely heard that Ithaca is “gorges.” In your first few weeks here, you’ve already traversed across many gorges on your way to class, home from parties and out to eat in the Commons. While the gorges on campus are certainly a sight to behold, there are a myriad of other outdoor wonders in Tompkins County. In particular, the state parks in the area are treasures that all Cornellians should explore. So ready, set, go — get outside before it starts snowing!