Staff memorial service
The members of the Rensselaer community will meet to honor staff, faculty, and retirees who have died during the past year. The Rensselaer community is invited to participate in a celebration of their lives, at the Chapel + Cultural Center at 11:00 am on Friday. Chaplain at Rensselaer Father Ed Kascergius, President Shirley Ann Jackson, and the Pillars of Rensselaer, will lead the memorial service. The service will be followed by a reception with refreshments.
In the spirit of reflection and remembrance, Rensselaer will remember:
James Lynch, Ronald Mayhew, Donald Merusi, T.J. O’Dell, Eileen Sutherland, Grace Beatty, Rose E. Brown, Rosa-mond M. Clickner, Clarence H. Daniel, Kenneth DeYoung, Joseph Dzura, Eva V. Fowler, Alma J. Galuski, Helen N. Kelley, John W. Macomber, Frank W. McNeil, Gertrude Meader, Robert Pendt, Guy C. Shafer, Virginia R. Sherwood, Dorothy M. Strod-dard, John Tilley, Violet L. Tink-ler, Robert Wimer, and Dwanyne L. Wood.
Graduate students
Dean of Graduate Education Tom Apple and Dean Flaherty will hold a series of meetings with graduate students to discuss issues and concerns regarding the new tuition policy.
The sessions will be held in CII 4050 and anyone is allowed to attend any session.
Listed below are the days and times scheduled for each school:
March 25 – Science at 3:30 pm,
March 26 – Architecture at 1:00 - 2:30 pm, March 27 – Management at 10:30 am - 12:00 pm, March 27 – H&SS at 2:00 - 3:30 pm, and March 28 – Engineering at 2:30 - 4:00 pm.
$1 million for research
Professor Wilfredo Colon was awarded a $1 million four-year grant from the National Institute of Health to further his studies on Lou Gehrig’s disease.
The causes of this disease, known also as ALS, have eluded scientists for more than half a century. However, the primary cause of the disease according to Colon is “when good proteins go bad.” Knowing the details as to how the disease starts is vital in developing medicines to help ALS patients live better.
Colon’s research will primarily focus on the hereditary form of ALS.
Award to Freedman
Daniel Freedman, assistant professor of computer science, has been awarded the prestigious CAREER award from the National Science Foundation.
The $350,000 five-year grant will enable Freedman to continue his research into a automated visual tracking system. The technology could improve surveillance and MRI technology. Freedman will work on algorithms that will help track objects with varied properties. Tracking people for surveillance purposes as they move inside buildings and tracking organ movements through MRIs or CT scans are only some of the applications.
Sense of Wonder
On Friday, the Chapel + Cultural Center will host a live dramatic presentation of, A Sense of Wonder, on the work of Rachel Carson. Carson is considered to be one of the prime players in the modern environmental movement. The play will be performed by actress Kaiulani Lee.
Darrin Award
Faculty and students are urged to nominate candidates for the 29th recipient of the David M. Darrin Counseling Award.
Members of the Phalanx, the senior Leadership Honorary Society at Rensselaer, will select a faculty member who will be presented with the award during commencement ceremonies. The award consists of a certificate and income provided by an endowment established by Mr. David M. Darrin ’40.
This award recognizes faculty members who [1] “have made unusual contributions to the personal counseling of students, [2] have generously shared time and talents with students, and [3] have demonstrated special concern for the welfare of students in and out of the classroom.”
Nomination forms are available for pick-up in the Rensselaer Union Administration Office; if you would like a copy faxed to you, please call 276-6505. The nominations are due on March 28, at 4 pm, in the Rensselaer Union Administration Office.
