October 24, 2002

Vol. 13, No. 16

The "8 1/2 x 11 News" is published each week by the Department of Public Relations. News of campus interest should be sent to
Ed Delaney, 412-268-1609 (ed47@andrew.cmu.edu) or Bruce Gerson, 412-268-1613 (bg02@andrew.cmu.edu). The newsletter is available on the official.cmu-news and cmu.misc.news bulletin boards.

Last year's editions are available online.

Previous editions are available online.

Carnegie Mellon has received a three-year, $1.9 million grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to develop and deploy four Web-based courses in statistics, causal reasoning, economics and logic. To be provided free to individual users on the Internet, the finished courses will also be available, for a small access fee, to colleges and high schools that wish to offer them for credit.

—The courses include Formal Logic and Causal Reasoning with Statistical Data, both already developed, as well as Introductory Microeconomics and Introductory Statistics, which will be produced next.

—"We believe this project will enable us to create a self-sustaining infrastructure that will provide opportunities to create not only online courses but also Web-based course materials," said lead researcher Joel Smith, vice provost for computing services. "Our goal here is not to replace all college education with online courses, but rather to explore what can be done with introductory classes, which are usually large-lecture format to begin with." Information: official.cmu-news, Oct. 23, and www.cmu.edu/PR/press_releases/index.html

NEW TEXTBOOKBOOK SHOWS HOW TO BE A BETTER COMPUTER PROGRAMMER

Computer Science Department Head Randy Bryant and Associate Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Dave O'Hallaron have written a seminal textbook whose thesis is that understanding the basics of computer hardware will make you a better programmer. "Computer Systems, A Programmer's Perspective," published recently by Prentice Hall, has been beta-tested by 8 colleges and universities with rave reviews.

—Bryant notes that the book can serve the needs of diverse populations—from hard-core programmers to others for whom the text will be part of the first and last class on computers they will ever take. "We're very proud that it's being used by institutions ranging in size from the universities of Minnesota and Oklahoma to Middlebury College in Vermont, and two-year Rocky Mountain College in Montana," he said.

FOOD DRIVE TO HELP THE POOR OF OUR REGION BEGINS NOV. 4

Staff Council's annual Food Drive for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank starts Nov. 4 and continues through Nov. 15. Canisters and boxes will be placed in most buildings and departments on campus.

—A "One Day/One Can" event will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Bring at least one can to the Food Drive tables in the University Center (UC) and you will be entered into a raffle for various prizes.

—The Food Bank is a non-profit organization that collects, stores and distributes food and household products to more than 370 charitable agencies in the region. Most needed are nonperishable items: soups, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, diapers, pancake mix, cleaning supplies, health and beauty aids and baby food. Proteins such as tuna fish, Spam, and peanut butter are desperately needed.

—If you wish to donate your Giant Eagle Advantage Card gift certificate, send it in campus mail to either Gloria Dadowski at Hunt Library or Carole Panno at Alumni House.

YOUR ONLINE CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNITED WAY MAY WIN A PRIZE

Provost Mark Kamlet urges the university community to participate in Carnegie Mellon's United Way Campaign, which is under way. "Your generosity will support the charitable work being done by the region's many deserving United Way health and human services organizations," Kamlet said. The United Way has created a secure Web site for members of the Carnegie Mellon community to make their contributions online: www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org/uwac/carnegiemellon. Online donors will be entered in a raffle for an Orlando, Fla., vacation—compliments of the United Way. The university will also raffle off a $500 gift certificate to Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Donate by campus mail by Nov. 17 to be eligible for the gift certificate. The drawing is on Monday, Nov. 18. Weekly prizes are also being raffled off. See the October issue of the Carnegie Mellon News, www.cmu.edu/cmnews/index.html, for more information.

NEWS BRIEFS

—Staff Council invites all staff to the annual President's Address, noon - 1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, McConomy Auditorium. The talk will focus on issues submitted by staff.

—Open Enrollment for 2003 benefits coverage for eligible full-time and part-time faculty, staff and CPA is Nov. 4 - 15. You will receive your Open Enrollment information packet in the next week.

—Muslim, Jewish, and Christian traditions will be celebrated in an unusual concert presented by the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh on Oct. 26 and 27. Catherine Morrow (Academic Coordinator for the School of Drama), Pamela Lewis (principal lecturer, Heinz School), and Susan McIntyre (graduate student, Heinz School) will perform with the 130-voice choir in two locations: 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper St. Clair; and 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27, East Liberty Presbyterian Church. Tickets may be ordered by phone at 412-394-3353 or purchased at the door.

PERSONAL MENTION

—Devra Davis, visiting professor, Heinz School, has been nominated for a National Book Award in Nonfiction for her book, "When Smoke Ran Like Water: Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle Against Pollution." Winners will be announced Nov. 20. Davis will speak about her book at 4:30 p.m., Nov. 4, in the Adamson Wing.

—Elaine A. King, professor, art history/theory, was a recent research fellow at the Central European Cultural Institute in Budapest. During that time she discussed ongoing changes in global contemporary art and culture with a diverse range of people, gave a lecture at the Ernst Museum titled "Art Criticism/Theory In a Post-Post-Structuralist Time," presented the paper, "The PM Principle—People, Power, Politics & Money" at the Central European Cultural Institute and conducted a seminar on ethics and private money in the realm of the museum sector.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Friday, Oct.25: Mathematical Sciences Colloquium. "Long Range Effects in the Hard-Core and Related Models." Jeff Kahn, Department of Mathematics, Rutgers University. 4:30 p.m., 7500 Wean Hall. Refreshments at 4 p.m., Wean Hall 6220.

—Friday, Oct. 25: Mechanical Engineering Seminar, "Multiattribute Decision Making in Design: Principles for Centralized and Decentralized Approaches." Associate Professor Kemper Lewis, director, Design of Open Engineering Systems Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Buffalo. 2:45 p.m., Scaife Hall 125.

—Monday, Oct. 28: University Lecture Series. "So, What's a Face? The Changes in Visual Representation of Individuals in Portraitures." Elaine King, professor of art history/theory. 4:30 p.m., Adamson Wing.

—Tuesday, Oct. 29: University Start-Ups (Guidelines, Procedures and Valuation). 3:30 - 5 p.m., Mellon Institute, Social Room 328. RSVP: phyllis@andrew.cmu.edu or 412-268-7393. Refreshments will be provided.

—Tuesday, Oct. 29: University Lecture Series. A conversation about PENTECOST: An educational discussion about the production with Director Mladen Kiselov, members of the production team and other faculty members. Led by Elizabeth Bradley, head, School of Drama. 8 p.m., Mudge House, Piano Lounge.

—Wednesday, Oct. 30: Presidential Town Meeting. President Cohon joins members of the Black Student Advisory Committee and the Black Graduate Student Organization in inviting all members of the campus community to an open dialogue on race and cultural climate at Carnegie Mellon. 5 - 6 p.m., Rangos 3, UC.

—Thursday, Oct. 31: International Festival Lecture: "The Enduring Truths of the Great Religions." Huston Smith, world-renowned expert in religious studies. 3 p.m., McConomy Auditorium, UC. Free and open to the public. Smith is the author of "The World's Religions," the most widely used textbook for courses in world religions. Further information: official.cmu-news, Oct. 17.

—Thursday, Oct. 31: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Seminar Series. "The Princeton ZebraNet Project: Power-Aware Computing Meets Biocomplexity Research." Margaret Martonosi, Princeton University. 4 - 5 p.m. Scaife Hall Auditorium, Room 125. Refreshments at 3:30 p.m. Information: amp.ece.cmu.edu/ECESeminar

—Friday, Nov. 1: MechE Seminar. "But Professor, the computer says our design will work. Why do we need to build it?" John S. Lamancusa, professor, mechanical engineering, Penn State. 2:45 p.m., Scaife Hall 125.

—Saturday, Nov. 9: In the mood for a ghost story? Staff Council's Activities Committee invites Carnegie Mellon staff and their families to: "The Turn of the Screw" by Jeffrey Hatcher. 8 p.m., Little Lake Theatre, 500 Lakeside Drive South, Canonsburg (across from Donaldson's Crossroads on Rte. 19 S.). Cost: Dinner and show: $35 (arrive 6 p.m.). Show only: dessert/coffee: $ 17.50. Payment information is posted on official.cmu-news, Oct. 23.

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