News

Greek houses receive awards for philanthropy

Rensselaer slips six places in US News rankings

Red Hawks drop first UCAA game

Ed/Op

Staff Editorial
Infrastructure lacking for incoming grad students

Editorial Notebook
Empower parties to exist all year

Editorial Notebook
Racket brings stress, costs sleep

My View
Trustees should reconsider tuition hike in light of gift

Top Hat
GM begins term with many thanks

Derby
Semester end brings fresh start

Independent Council
Many goals face next Council

Features

Daria Robbins, Joseph’s House winners in MMOC

Words to Eat By
Grand Buffet just okay

Dave Barry
Get rich quick by inventing company name

Help us choose the Poly Person of the Year

Sports

Men’s lacrosse reigns supreme over UCAA

Red Hawks stave off late inning two-out rally

Men’s track best MIT, WPI for Engineers’ Cup

Engineers finish second in Cup

Dragons burn Red Hawks in doubleheader

Rensselaer in Brief
Volunteers needed
Volunteers from the campus community are requested to participate in the upcoming third annual community service day that will be held on Wednesday, April 18.

Locations which the project plans to cleanup include Frear Park, Prospect Park, Poestenkill Gorge, Oakwood Cemetery, the Hillside and College Avenue neighborhoods, the Junior Museum, Troy’s Riverspark Visitor Center, Joseph’s House, and the Troy Public Library’s downtown and Lansingburgh branches.

Volunteers must register for a minimum of two service hours and be signed up for the project by 5 pm, April 16.

Individuals or groups from an academic department, the alumni association, a dormitory, a club, a fraternity, or a sorority may register online at the service day website located at http://www.rpi.edu/web/communityservice/ Projects.html, by picking up an application from the Office for the First-Year Experience on the Troy Building’s fourth floor, or by contacting Cynthia Smith at 276-6864 to have an application mailed to them.

Site assignment is conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. T-shirts, food, and transportation will be provided for those participating. Volunteers are requested to wear clothes suited to dirty work.

Dedications planned
Members of the campus community are invited to attend two dedications planned for Friday, April 20.

The dedication of the Doris B. Robison Field, will take place at 2:30 pm. The Robison Field is located at the corner of 15th Street and Bouton Road.

In case of inclement weather, the dedication ceremonies will be held inside the Armory.

The dedication of Schumacher Park will take place outside Walker Laboratory beginning at 3:30 pm.

Refreshments will be served immediately after its conclusion from 4 to 5 pm in the lounge located on the fifth floor of Russell Sage Laboratory.

The dedication of the park honors the memory of John Schumacher ’66, former Rensselaer professor and chair of science and technology studies, who died of cancer in 1999.

Schumacher was well-liked by the campus community for his willingness to devote time to students, colleagues, and friends.

Program reorganized
ernal and external review committees and the IT Leadership Task Force, Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson has shifted responsibility for the Information Technology’s administrative oversight to the School of Science, under the direction of the dean of science.

As per the change, an IT academic committee and advisory to the provost with associate deans from RPI’s five schools will be created to help ensure the interdisciplinary nature of the IT Program.

The vice provost for IT—who reported directly to the provost—previously had academic oversight for the program.

Jackson said the move would strengthen both the academic and research programs related to IT.

She plans to identify the needs for key investments, infrastructure, and facilities in support of IT research programs and establish the Information Science and Technology Research Institute, an interdisciplinary research center, with the support of the vice president for research.

Jackson said the IT program’s reorganization will enable the development of a broad-based research center encompassing all five of the Institute’s schools.

By having faculty working in a broad range of disciplines, the research center would serve to promote the IT program’s interdisciplinary nature and strengthen faculty collaboration from various areas.

Nominations requested
Nominations by the campus community for the 2001 Pillar of Rensselaer Award, the highest honor conferred upon Rensselaer staff, are requested; the deadline to submit nominations is April 21.

The Pillars of Rensselaer Award annually recognizes an Institute staff member who shows concern for student well-being, plays an active role in the community, enhances the school’s human facets, has been an active role model for other staff members to follow, and demonstrates an understanding of RPI’s mission and history; the staff member nominated must be employed in a staff position for at least 10 years.

Carl Westerdahl, former dean of students and director of alumni relations, first instituted the award in 1993 to honor long-term staff members who showed a commitment to Rensselaer’s values.

Nomination forms should be returned to the Division of Human Resources, attention Jackie Creech, located at 2144 Burdett Avenue. Additional copies of the form may be obtained by contacting Creech at 276-2888.

Knowles chosen
After an extensive nationwide search, Eddie Knowles—who served as dean of students for 18 years—has been named as vice president for student life. Knowles had been serving in an interim capacity since last February.

"Eddie Knowles is a highly regarded professional whose work at Rensselaer throughout his career has earned the respect of his colleagues in student life throughout the nation," said Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson in making the appointment.

"Rensselaer can be justly proud that a national search that included the participation of the full range of campus constituencies has concluded with the selection of Dr. Knowles, whose contributions have enriched the life of Rensselaer students over the last 24 years."

A renowned expert and experienced leader in student life administration, Knowles earned his doctorate degree in public administration and policy from the University at Albany’s Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Lincoln University and a master’s degree in higher education from Columbia University.

The search committee considered potential candidates who had a minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in student life administration and demonstrated excellence in interpersonal communication, a comprehensive knowledge of higher education, and the ability to work effectively with students.

"Dr. Knowles is committed to being the chief advocate for student life at Rensselaer and will continue the outstanding work he has done for a quarter-century," said outgoing Grand Marshal Joseph Greco ’01, a member of the search committee. "He gained the strong support of the committee and has a firm grasp of the responsibilities of this position."