November 21, 2002

Vol. 13, No. 20

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 will offer a new integrated engineering and business program culminating in a B.S. degree in engineering and an MBA degree. The program, the only one of its kind among the top-ranked engineering programs nationwide, is scheduled to begin in fall 2003.

—The program will admit up to 20 students who are interested in completing an integrated five-year program leading to a bachelor of science degree in one of five engineering majors from the Carnegie Institute of Technology, and an MBA degree from the business school.

—The integrated program requires students to take their normal engineering program through six semesters with the remaining four semesters consisting of MBA courses and engineering courses. Internships complement the program's depth, with the students completing three internships in engineering and business for practical experience.

SIEMENS WESTINGHOUSE COMPETITION TO BE HELD ON CAMPUS, NOV. 22 - 23

Some of the best and brightest high school students in the United States will be on campus Nov. 22 to compete in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship of the Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science and Technology—the nation's most prestigious research-based science and math competition. Albert Hoser, chairman and CEO of the Siemens Foundation, will oversee the contest.

—One individual and one team will each win a $3,000 college scholarship and go on to compete in the national finals in Washington, D.C.

—Past winners have created a computerized glove that translates sign language into text, designed a robot to rescue people who have fallen through ice, identified the genetic mutations that cause Cystic Fibrosis, and contributed other discoveries in medicine, mathematics, computer technology and astronomy.

GREENSPAN PRAISES MELTZER'S HISTORY OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE

Professor Allan Meltzer of the Graduate School of Industrial Administration is the author of the new book, "A History of the Federal Reserve, 1913 - 1951." The period covered in the book's more than 700 pages includes the creation of the Federal Reserve, the financing of two World Wars, the prosperity of the 1920s, the great Depression and the start of the Korean War. The volume ends with the beginning of the modern era of central banking in the United States, when the Treasury-Federal Reserve Accord freed the Federal Reserve System from Treasury control.

—"Allan Meltzer, who undertakes projects that to most appear daunting, has delved deeply into the history of the Federal Reserve System, with a result that will add substantially to the discourse on the institution's role and development," says Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan in the book's foreword. "He has reviewed the records of policy discussion at an extraordinary level of detail, and his analysis illuminates the contributions of the many fascinating individuals who shaped the Federal Reserve System we know today."

ENTRIES SOUGHT FOR "MLK JR. DAY" WRITING AWARDS

Carnegie Mellon's Creative Writing Department is again sponsoring the Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day Writing Awards for Carnegie Mellon students and Pittsburgh-area high school students. Entries are due Dec. 6.

—Contestants are asked to offer personal narratives dealing with individual experiences with racial difference and discrimination, or personal reflections on race, which rely on concrete detail.

—Prizes are $100 for first place, $75 for second and $50 for third. Winners will read their work at Carnegie Mellon on Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 20. There are both poetry and prose categories. Last year's winners, along with their entries, can be found at: english.cmu.edu/degrees/ba_cw/luther_king2002.html.

—Further information: official.cmu-news, Nov. 14.

NOMINATIONS REQUESTED FOR CIT STAFF RECOGNITION AWARDS

The College of Engineering is seeking nominations for the annual "Staff Recognition Award," created to honor CIT staff members whose job performance and dedication to the college merit special recognition.

—The college is also accepting nominations for the "Burritt Education Award," in memory of former staff member Timothy J. Burritt. Any CIT staff member currently enrolled as a continuing education student at any degree level for the calendar year 2002 is eligible for nomination.

—Nomination packets for these awards have been distributed through campus mail. If you did not receive a packet and would like one, send email to cbanks@andrew.cmu.edu. The deadline for submission is Nov. 27. Send nominations to CIT Staff Recognition Award, Scaife Hall, Room 110.

ARCHITECTURE OFFERS PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 3 - 12

The School of Architecture is offering a Saturday morning program for students in grades 3 -12. The 11-week program begins Jan. 11 and ends March 22. Classes will be held 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. The program gives students an opportunity to design, draw, sculpt, form, model, build, learn and create architecture.

—Local architects and upper level architecture students teach classes. Activities vary by grade level and instructor.

—Students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Class size is limited to 15 students with a minimum of eight required to run the class. Students are divided by grade. The cost of the program is $150 per student, or $140 for early registration (due by Dec. 6). For more information, call 412-268-2355.

NEWS BRIEFS

—The Credit Union will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28, in observance of Thanksgiving. It will be open from 9 a.m. - noon on Friday, Nov. 29.

PERSONAL MENTION

—Babak Falsafi, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and computer science, gave an invited distinguished lecture earlier this month at the University of Virginia's Computer Science Department. The lecture, "Breaking the Memory Wall," was part of the school's "Top Gun Lecture Series" that recognizes faculty on a trajectory to become research leaders of the coming decades.

—Marilyn McShane, retired business manager in the Department of English, died suddenly on Nov. 17. The obituary notice in the Post-Gazette and Tribune Review appears under her married name, "Baney." Friends will be received 2 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 21 and 22, at the Thomas L. Nied Funeral Home, 7441 Washington Ave., Swissvale. The funeral Mass is at 10 a.m., Saturday, in St. John Fisher Church, Churchill.

—Dena Haritos Tsamitis is the new associate director of the Information Networking Institute (INI). Before joining the INI, she worked with the Office of Technology in Education where she consulted on the use of technology in education. In her new post, Tsamitis is responsible for helping Director Pradeep Khosla strengthen the INI programs, including the new program in Greece with the Athens Information Technology Institute.

—Ignacio E. Grossmann, the Rudolph R. and Florence Dean University Professor and head of Chemical Engineering, has received a Fellow Award from the Institute for Operations Research Management Sciences in San Jose, Calif., for his outstanding contributions in the field.

—Senior Katie Aerni and junior Matthew Meurer will compete in the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship this Saturday, Nov. 23, at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. Aerni qualified for the national championship after finishing eighth in the NCAA Mideast Regional meet. Meurer qualified for nationals with a 16th place at the regional meet. Further information: www.ncaachampionships.com

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Sunday, Dec. 1: Artist/ Faculty Recital. "An Evening of Songs and Duets." Andrea Hanson, soprano, Mimi Lerner, mezzo-soprano, Ralph Zitterbart, piano. 7 p.m., Kresge Recital Hall. Free.

—Monday, Dec. 2: Adamson Writers Series. Scott Saunders, director, writer and producer of two feature films and more than 20 short films. 8 p.m., Adamson Wing, Baker Hall. Free. Information: official.cmu-news, Nov. 18.

—Wednesday, Dec. 4: Contemporary Ensemble. "The Soldier's Tale" by Igor Stravinsky. Eduardo Alonso-Crespo, conductor. 8 p.m., Alumni Concert Hall. Free.

—Friday, Dec. 6: School of Music Holiday Concert. Noon, CFA Lobby. The program is posted on official.cmu-news, Nov. 18.

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