News

Student Senate sets activity fee

School looks forward with new dean, programs

Students build homes during spring break

RPI hosts Science Fair, offers $10,000 prize

Ed/Op

Staff Editorial
Get heard, vote responsibly

Editorial Notebook
Modernized reparations needed

My View
Organizers explain intent, plans, goals for theme house

Letter to the Editor
Stanton portrait belongs in Pub

Derby
Activity fee approved

Independent Council
Council investigates laundry

Undergraduate Council
Time to move on, express thanks

A View from the Real World
Communication key to success in engineering careers

Features

ROTC drill teams converge on Armory

Rensselyrics and Pipes host a cappella show

Three more Rath games reviewed

Words to Eat By
Location change leads to improvement at Garcia’s

Dave Barry
Dave gives son tips on buying gifts for women

Hartt works with student leaders

Jansen: Students work hard at RPI

Sports information director Sports information director

Ballroom club hosts DanceSport competition

Music Review
Compilation features great jazz musicians

Music Review
American Town shows artist’s unique style

Music Review
Jeff Beck’s latest album should cut out techno, noise

Sports

Young softball team still battling growing pains

Offensive firepower fuels two Red Hawk wins

RPI represented well at national swim meet

RPI rugby team wins tournament

Offensive bursts power Red Hawk victories

Rensselaer in Brief
Thompson dies
Phillip A. Thompson, RPI emeritus professor of mechanical engineering, aeronautical engineering, and mechanics, died March 23.

During his tenure at Rensselaer, he served as assistant professor of mechanical engineering from 1960-1963 and then as associate professor from 1974 until his retirement in 1993. The funeral was held March 23 at the Daniel D. Purcell Funeral Home in Troy.

Donations in memory of Dr. Thompson can be made to Caregivers of Catholic Charities, located at 44 North Main Avenue in Albany or to the Alzheimer’s Association, located at 85 Watervliet Avenue in Albany.

Gardens awarded grant
The National Tree Trust recently awarded the Capital District Community Gardens a grant in the amount of $7,000 for Troy’s annual Street Tree Planting Program.

Celebrating its 13th year in existence, the program is both an urban revitalization project and an opportunity to educate residents of the Capital District about urban environmentalism. Thousands of trees have already been planted on the street in front of local homes and businesses.

The National Tree Trust awards qualifying organizations monetary grants to facilitate the work of tree-related projects.

The trust has provided nonprofit organizations around the nation with more than $2.1 million in grants through its Partnership Enhancement Monetary Grant Program.

The Capital District Community Gardens, a nonprofit community service organization, has been devoted to assisting local residents in improving the quality of their neighborhoods through urban greening and community gardening programs for the past 25 years. To find out more information on the organization, call 274-8685.

New degree offered
RPI will be offering students a new B.S. program in electronic arts starting this fall. The degree will provide undergraduate students who are strong in math, science, and technology, and also aspire to be artists, the opportunity to obtain an arts degree that emphasizes technology.

The program, offering an interdisciplinary approach to the field of electronic arts, will include courses in computer music, video, computer imaging and animation, website design, and multimedia installation and performance.

"What’s unique about the degree is that it is a B.S., not a B.A.," said Erin Glasheen, director of undergraduate programs in arts and language, literature, and communication.

"As an art program situated within the context of a technological university, we will offer a unique creative environment in which to develop and realize cutting-edge electronic art."

The curriculum will also incorporate practical experiences in performing and exhibiting by taking advantage of the arts department’s Electronic Arts Performance Series and collaborating with the new Troy art center, WMHT public television, and radio stations to provide participation in live professional productions.

Glasheen said, "The degree will integrate an intensive curriculum of studio and theory courses in electronic and traditional arts with Rensselaer’s rigorous core requirements in math and science."

Candidates interviewed
A search committee has started the process of interviewing prospective candidates to fill the position of vice president for student life, said Don Millard, search committee chairman and director of the Center for Integrated Electronics and Electronic Manufacturing, and of the Academy of Electronic Media. Eddie Knowles has been serving as the interim vice president for student life since February 15, 2000.

During the month of February, the committee interviewed a multitude of applications from qualified candidates. For the search, advertisements had been placed in several notable publications including the Boston Globe, The New York Times, and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

"All of our prospective candidates are extremely impressed by both the quality and comprehensive nature of The Rensselaer Plan and Dr. Jackson’s leadership," Millard said.

The committee plans to submit a list of potential candidates to Institute President Shirley Ann Jackson by the end of March.

In addition to Millard, other members of the search committee include Isom Herron, professor of mathematical sciences; Kerry Quinn, associate director of athletics; Deborah Nazon, assistant provost for Institute diversity; Jules Jacquin ’91, senior director for risk management and internal auditing; Michael Kalsher, professor and chair of philosophy, psychology, and cognitive science; Grand Marshal Joe Greco ’01; Kerry Dutkus, president of the Graduate Council and graduate student in environmental engineering; and former Grand Marshal Eric Schmidt ’01.

Redesignation received
The Focus Center-New York, in which RPI is a participant, has received redesignation as a part of the nationally distributed Interconnect Focus Center headquartered at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Established in 1998, the Focus Center-New York is involved in conducting research and development for future generations of integrated circuits.

The redesignation—together with assistance from New York State’s annual $5 million commitment—is a key step in the process of attracting semiconductor manufacturers and other high-tech companies to the center.

The Focus Center-New York intends to create scientific and technical research programs that will help install it as a leading R&D center for microelectronics and opto-electronics.

Tim Cale, director of the Focus Center-New York’s branch at RPI, said the Interconnect Focus Center and Focus Center-New York are making good progress toward satisfying the needs of industry 10 years into the future.

"The redesignation of the Focus Center-New York will allow us to continue cutting-edge microelectronics research that will have a tremendous impact on society as we move toward the next decade," said Cale.