January 23, 2003

Vol. 13, No. 26

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.

2001 Editions are available online.

2002 Editions are available online.

Previous editions are available online.

The Department of Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) has received a $1.1 million grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to study the risks posed by weapons of terror and weapons of mass destruction. —"We've learned the hard way that such apparently innocuous things as airliners, the U.S. mail, electric power and computer systems can be turned into weapons against us," said Granger Morgan, head of EPP. "This new grant will help us identify ways to design safer systems so that we can continue to enjoy their benefits while minimizing the possibility that it can be turned around and used as weapons against us."

—The grant will support research and training to reduce risks and improve security in a number of areas. Further information: www.cmu.edu/PR/releases03/030120_newresearch.html

RENOWNED CELLIST TO SPEAK HERE ON JAN. 28

The School of Music will present "A Conversation with Russian Cellist Mstislav Rostropovich," at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 28, in McConomy Auditorium, University Center (UC). Joining Rostropovich in the conversation are Ken Meltzer of the Pittsburgh Symphony and Alan Fletcher, head of the School of Music. The conversation will be accompanied by a performance by the Starling Quartet, the School of Music's honors quartet, featuring students Jan Fiser and Eunice Keem on violin, Virna Cornejo on viola and Nicole Myers on cello. The event is free and open to the public.

—Rostropovich, acknowledged internationally as the greatest living cellist, has inspired the world's leading composers to enhance the standard cello repertoire. "Mstislav Rostropovich's Pittsburgh Symphony and Carnegie Mellon appearances are among his only U.S. appearances this season and represent a precious opportunity to hear one of the great musicians of our time," Fletcher says. Further information: www.cmu.edu/cfa/music/rostro/#rostro

NEW DEGREES OFFERED IN INFORMATION SECURITY

Carnegie Mellon has developed two new graduate degrees in information security to address the security policy and technical issues facing government and industry. The degrees, which include Master of Science in Information Security Technology and Management (MSISTM) and Master of Science in Information Security Policy and Management (MSISPM), are designed for students with backgrounds ranging from technical to non-technical.

—"These new degrees are uniquely positioned to address the shortage of security professionals created by the fast rate of innovation in the technology sector and the growing complexities associated with securing data and networks," said Pradeep Khosla, head of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the university's Information Networking Institute.

—The Master of Science in Information Security Technology and Management prepares students to become "infosec" leaders by blending education in information security technology, business management and policy. This degree is suited for individuals with a technology background and who have an interest in management and policy issues. The degree is offered through the Information Networking Institute.

—The second degree, offered by the Heinz School, is the Master of Science in Information Security Policy and Management. This degree takes students with an interest in analyzing and creating security policy or managing information security operations and equips them with the analytical methods and management practices to succeed as managers and policy analysts.

NEWS BRIEFS

—Colleen Bendl, director, Payroll Services, reminds the university community that the state has a new payroll tax that will be withheld beginning with the first pay in January 2003. Called the state unemployment tax, it will be withheld at a rate of .02 percent, or 20 cents per each $1,000 wages. It will be indicated on the check stub as SUI/SDI (state unemployment insurance or state disability insurance.) Everyone will be subject to this tax except students who are enrolled at least half time in classes. If their enrollment dips below half time, they will be subject to this tax.

—University Police has made a third escort van available to pick up students needing rides home from campus to locations in North and South Oakland, Shadyside and Squirrel Hill. The multi-passenger van, marked "Carnegie Mellon Escort," will operate from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., Monday through Friday. Further information: official.cmu-news, Jan. 20.

—Traffic monitors have begun a strong enforcement of parking rules in the UC circular drive, an area that has become heavily congested. The circular drive is for pedestrian drop-off and pick-up only. There is a 5-minute time limit. It is not for service vehicle parking, deliveries or short-term parking. —February is Black History Month. The schedule of events is posted on official.cmu-news, Jan. 21.

PERSONAL MENTION

—Sarah Abdullah, administrative coordinator in the Carnegie Institute of Technology (CIT) Dean's Office, Steve Klim, facilities supervisor in the Mechanical Engineering Department, and Cynthia Peters, administrative coordinator in the Materials Science and Engineering Department, have received this year's CIT Staff Recognition awards. Abdullah and Klim were selected for their job performance, dedication, positive attitude and contributions as team players. Peters received the Timothy J. Burritt Education Award, which recognizes staff members pursuing further education while working full time. The award is named for the late undergraduate advisor in CIT.

—The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), an international scientific society with more than 10,000 members dedicated to applying scientific methods to help improve decision-making, management and operations, has announced the recipients of its new INFORMS Fellows Award. Among the winners are Carnegie Mellon professors Egon Balas, Graduate School of Industrial Administration, Alfred Blumstein, Heinz School, and Ignacio E. Grossmann, Chemical Engineering. Also included is Nobel Prize winner John F. Nash (S'48).

—After six years of service as assistant vice president for finance and as controller, William G. Laird is leaving Carnegie Mellon to become chief financial officer (CFO) of Loyola University, Chicago, effective Jan. 31. He was Carnegie Mellon's acting CFO from July 2002 through Jan. 1, 2003.

—The College of Fine Arts has announced the appointment of Jenny Strayer as director of the Regina Gouger Miller Gallery. Strayer has a master of art in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University and did graduate work in the history of art and architecture at University of Illinois-Chicago.

—The Graduate School of Industrial Administration's John Hooker, the T. Jerome Holleran Professor of Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, has been named editor-in-chief of the new "Journal of Business Ethics Education" published by Ireland-based Senate Hall Publishing. The journal's inaugural issue is expected within the year.

—Phyllis A. Lewis, corporate relations manager for the Institute of Software Research International in the School of Computer Science, will retire on Jan. 31 after more than 19 years at the university. She began her career in the Chemistry Department and moved to the Software Engineering Institute in 1989 to develop and administer the new Master of Software Engineering degree program.

—Lauren Ward is the new director of media relations for the Mellon College of Science. She comes from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and UPMC Health System. Eric Sloss is the new director of media relations for the College of Fine Arts. He was public relations coordinator for the Mon Valley Initiative and was named one of Pittsburgh's Top 40 Young Professionals by Pittsburgh Magazine. Jonathan Potts, former reporter and editor for the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, joins the College of Humanities and Social Sciences as its director of media relations.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Friday, Jan. 24: Mechanical Engineering Seminar. "A Novel CFD Strategy for Turbulence Simulation." Peyman Givi, professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh. 2:45 p.m., Scaife Hall 125.

—Monday, Jan. 27: Poet Susan Stewart, recipient of a MacArthur genius award, will inaugurate the Adamson Visiting Writer Series' spring semester. 8 p.m., Adamson Wing, Baker Hall. She is the Regan Professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania and a 1997 MacArthur Fellow.

—Wednesday, Jan. 29: Assessment Workshop for faculty. "Assessment and Learning: What's the Connection?" Noon - 1:20 p.m. Presented by Anne Fay, educational assessment specialist. Register online at www.cmu.edu/teaching/. Lunch will be provided.

—Thursday, Jan. 30: School of Art lecture series. Artist Sean Regan. 5 p.m., McConomy Auditorium, UC.

—Friday, Jan. 31: Black Faculty and Staff Association celebrates Black History Month with a vendor fair: Jewelry, art, books, clothing, etc. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Food vendors: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Rangos Ballroom, UC.

—Friday, Jan. 31: Cabaret at Carnegie Mellon. "Whatever Happened to Melody?" 11 p.m. - midnight. Purnell Center for the Arts. Suggested donation $5. Hosted by the School of Drama. For details, call 412-268-2407.

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