Tony's Tech Terms: Structured Query Language

You have probably heard us use the acronym SQL (sometimes pronounced "sequel") from time to time, which stands for Structured Query Language. SQL is a language that is used to create, retrieve, update, and delete data in a relational database. It's a readable language with a specific structure.

If you learn "standard" SQL, you'll have a pretty good grasp of how to query tables in Oracle. However, Oracle has its own variant called PL/SQL (Procedural Language/Structured Query Language), so some standard queries will look a little different.

Let’s use this simple table named “campuses” as an example:

ID	NAME	ABBREVIATION
1	Crookston	UMNCR
2	Duluth	UMNDL
3	Morris	UMNMO
4	Rochester	UMNRO
5	Twin Cities	UMNTC

It's pretty easy to write some SQL to retrieve the Morris row. If we happen to know the ID (which is unique), we could query it with SELECT * FROM CAMPUSES WHERE ID = 3; (The "*" character says give me all the columns.) This query would return:

ID	NAME	ABBREVIATION
3	Morris	UMNMO

However, most of the time we don't have IDs memorized. We could get the same information with SELECT * FROM CAMPUSES WHERE NAME = 'Morris'; This is a much more intuitive query.

Note: I mentioned above that Oracle has its own version of SQL. I used single quotes around Morris in my query. My query would cause an error if I used double quotes. Other relational databases are not as opinionated about single vs. double quotes. This is just one example of the subtleties of working with Oracle.

Update from Stacey

Thank you to everyone who participated in October Community Fund Drive events. Whether you donated independently or attended one of the fund drive events for OUE-ASR, I appreciate your contributions. A special shout out to those who took on leadership roles for the Community Fund Drive: Jessica Franck, Jessica Kuecker Grotjohn, Dani Rustad, and Megan Wollner. Thank you!

With the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, this will be the only News & Notes issue this month. I hope you enjoy time away from work on November 28 and 29!

One Stop availability on December 11 - All OUE Assembly

One Stop Student Services will be closed 9-11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 11 so staff can attend the All OUE Assembly. This includes phone, email, and in-person services at all One Stop Student Services locations. Offices impacted are One Stop, University Veterans Services, Graduate Student Services & Progress, Student Account Assistance, and Third-Party Billing.

Full service will resume at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 11.

The details of this closure are being communicated to both staff and students across multiple platforms. Please share this information with others as needed.

Rethinking Traditional Thanksgiving Celebrations

Thanksgiving is a much-celebrated holiday in the United States. Imagery of the “first Thanksgiving” portrays a lighthearted meal and celebration of the fall harvest. In fact, this friendly moment between Pilgrims and Native tribes is a myth, and the story has perpetuated a false narrative of acceptance and inclusion. This is historically inaccurate and whitewashes Indigenous experience.

As you prepare your Thanksgiving meal and plan family activities, try to incorporate some historically-accurate texts from the Native experience. Here are a few family-friendly resources to get you started:

• Watch this Rethinking Thanksgiving webinar via Showing up for Racial Justice
• Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp (Lee & Low Books, 1997)
• The “First Thanksgiving: How can we tell a better story?” from the National Museum of the American Indian
• Greet the Dawn the Lakota Way by S.D. Nelson (South Dakota Historical Society Press, 2012)
• Let's Go! A Harvest Story by Hannah Lindoff (Sealaska Heritage Institute, 2017)
• Mary's Wild Winter Feast by Hannah Lindoff (University of Alaska Press, 2014)

Open Enrollment for benefits

As a reminder, Open Enrollment for 2025 benefits ends on December 2. You can find the available benefits, enrollment instructions, and changes for 2025 on the Open Enrollment website. When making your selections, remember to click “Submit” and then “Done” in the pop-up window to finalize your enrollment. Once submitted, you can check your choices by going to the My Benefits section of MyU and clicking “Confirmation Statement.” You can make changes until December 2.

If you experience difficulty enrolling or have questions, the OHR Contact Center is available to help. You can email benefits@umn.edu, or call 612-624-8647 or 1-800-756-2363 and select option 1.

ASR Staff Engagement November 14 Survey

This week’s ASR Engagement Survey asks about the upcoming holiday season and more. Thank you for continuing to share your stories and experiences.

According to the last survey, a slim majority would rather host a costume party (28.6%) than a baking party (25%). Gilmore Girls and Hocus Pocus were mentioned most frequently for TV shows and movies that remind staff of fall. In addition, most would rather curl up with a book (60.7%) than have a movie marathon (39.3%).

Finally, we asked about your favorite fall scents. Pumpkin/pumpkin spice, apple cider, leaves, and baked pies were the most common responses. Thanks all for your continued participation! It is very much appreciated.

October 31 survey results

Would you rather host a baking party or a costume party?

• Baking party (25%)
• Costume party (28.6%)
• Neither! (28.6%)
• Both! (17.9%)

What movie or TV show reminds you of Fall?

• Hocus Pocus!
• Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
• Friday Night Lights
• The Craft or Practical Magic
• Young Frankenstein

Would you rather curl up with a book or have a movie marathon?

• Curl up with a book (60.7%)
• Have a movie marathon (39.3%)

What is your favorite Fall scent?

• The pungent scent of leaves on the ground.
• Bath and Body Works' 'Leaves' scent
• Pumpkin Pie baking
• Cinnamon & cloves
• Bonfire

Ton'ys Tech Terms: Ruby on Rails

We use a software development framework called Ruby on Rails, often referred to as "Rails." Rails is a web development framework used to build online applications. Just as a kit can simplify building a model, Rails simplifies software builds by providing a structure that we can follow. By using Rails, we can focus more on the creative parts of our work instead of the repetitive technical tasks, which means that we can build high-quality applications more quickly.

One of Rails' strengths is its emphasis on making software that is easy to read and modify. This means that as needs change, Rails applications are generally easier to update. It encourages practices like testing code to prevent errors and "convention over configuration," meaning Rails has pre-set choices that allow us to focus on what's unique to the application rather than on routine setup.