May 22, 2003

Vol. 13, No. 43

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.

Philanthropist Teresa Heinz addressed a crowd of more than 3,000 graduates, their families and friends at the university's 106th commencement last Sunday. Her keynote speech encouraged the Class of 2003 to take the spirit of humanity and compassion with them into the world.

—"If there is any hope for lasting peace and enduring justice, it lies in our ability to create a world in which individuals—not just nations or armies, but citizens acting out of conscience—can shape the future in positive, peaceful and enduring ways.

—"Yes, there are times when history requires a firm hand and the use of power is our only option. Our country has never ducked that duty, and, I believe, we never will. But even in those moments—most especially in those moments—we must remember where that power came from, and what that power is for. It came from the spirit of a compassionate and just people, and it exists to help us protect that spirit and share it with the rest of the world.

—"As you leave here today, graced with a level of education available to only the smallest fraction of the world's citizens, I hope you will think about how to carry that spirit with you. If history is about anything, it is about the persistent struggle between those who would suppress or even oppress the best of human potential—and those who would unleash it.

—"Congratulations, Class of 2003.... I am sure this university and this city embraced you when you came here and now sends you off with love, with pride in your achievements and with the hope that you will come back to settle down and raise your own families and build your dreams right here in Pittsburgh."

—The text of Heinz's speech is available on the Web at www.cmu.edu/

STAFF MEMBERS RECEIVED DEGREES AT COMMENCEMENT

The following members of the university staff received degrees at Carnegie Mellon's commencement ceremonies on May 18: Lorraine J. Nemeth, information analyst, Software Engineering Institute, master's degree, Public Management, Heinz School; Meg A. Papa, technical information coordinator, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, master's degree, Professional Writing, Humanities and Social Sciences (H&SS); Rob Siemborski, research systems programmer, Computing Services, bachelor's degree, School of Computer Science; Stacey Sabo, Web master, Heinz School, master's degree, Information Technology, Heinz School; Sally Stewart, administrative coordinator, office of the dean of Student Affairs, bachelor's degree, Creative and Professional Writing, H&SS. Stewart also received University and College Honors.

— Christine Pohuly, benefits specialist, Human Resources-Benefits, received her Bachelor of Science in Management with a minor in Human Resources from Carlow College on May 10.

—In August, Ann Marie Mesco, digitization projects associate, University Libraries, will receive her master's degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Library and Information Science.

GSIA RECOGNIZES STAFF FOR EXCELLENCE, YEARS OF SERVICE

MBA Program Assistant Joyce Maszle received the Staff Excellence Award at the Graduate School of Industrial Administration's (GSIA) recent staff recognition ceremony.

—The Team Award went to the GSIA Work Processing Center: Amy Ashley-Matta, Shane Barnhill, Rosanne Christy, Jeff Easter, Angela Labuda, Rosemarie Lang, Mary Ann O'Brien, Lawrence Rapp, Carol Salerno and Bonnie Schultz. Executive Director of Finance Richard Schaeffer was honored for 25 years of outstanding service to GSIA.

NEWS BRIEFS

—Staff Council is selling discount tickets for the Mario Lemieux Golf Invitational, which takes place June 5 - 8 at The Club at Nevillewood. Tickets are $8 in advance ($10 at the gate). Make checks payable to Carnegie Mellon. Purchase tickets at the office of Jackie Cushion, Alumni House, 5017 Forbes Ave.

—Due to lack of use during the summer months, Human Resources' "Get Well Room" on Craft Avenue in Oakland will be closed from June through August. The room, which is staffed by a pediatric nurse, provides a caring atmosphere for children who are unable to attend day care or school due to illness. Full-time faculty and staff members are eligible to use the Get Well Room at a discounted rate. You must pre-register children before they can use the program. Further information: http://hr.web.cmu.edu/default.asp?sectionID=259

—Time is running out to submit your Health Care or Dependent Care Reimbursement Account claims that were incurred in 2002. If you do not submit your 2002 claims by June 30, 2003, you will not be eligible to be reimbursed for those expenses. If you do not submit reimbursement claims that use the full balance of your account by June 30, the remaining money in the account will be permanently lost, according to IRS regulations. Your claim form is at http://hr.web.cmu.edu/forms/shps_form.PDF

—The East Campus Garage will be closed during Memorial Day weekend. It will close at 10:30 p.m., Friday, May 23, and reopen at 11:30 p.m., Monday, May 26. Be certain to make the necessary arrangements to have your vehicle out of the garage before it closes. When the garage is closed, parking will be available in the following lots: Morewood Gardens, Doherty Apartments, Purnell Center, Hamburg Hall, Porter/Wean and West Campus. If you have left your vehicle in the garage after closing, contact University Police at 412-268-2323, so you may exit the garage. There will be no admittance into the garage after closing.

PERSONAL MENTION

—Alfred Blumstein, the J. Erik Jonsson University Professor of Urban Systems and Operations Research and former dean of the Heinz School, testified on May 13 before a Senate Judiciary Committee, questioning the effectiveness of a new initiative to step up gun crime prosecution. Senator Orrin Hatch, chairman of the committee, invited Blumstein to testify at the hearing entitled "Project Save Neighborhoods: America's Network Against Gun Violence." "We are still woefully ignorant of the mix of factors contributing to gun violence and how that mix varies across locality," Blumstein told the committee. "We're getting the low-hanging fruit. The other piece of the puzzle we're not really touching on is the whole gun distribution network."

—Mary Shaw, the Alan J. Perlis Professor of Computer Science and co-director of the Sloan Software Industry Center, and her husband, Roy Weil, a civil engineer for Baker Corp., received the annual Recreation and Outdoor Community Steward Award last Saturday at the Venture Outdoors festival on the North Shore. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to promote outdoor recreation in the region. Shaw and Weil have traveled thousands of miles on their Cannondale tandem bike, and their book on the region's recreation trails, "FreeWheeling Easy in Western Pennsylvania," soon will be in its fourth edition. Last year, they published the second edition of "Linking Up: Planning Your Traffic-Free Bike Trip Between Pittsburgh, PA, and Washington, D.C." Further information: http://www.post-gazette.com/lifestyle/20030517rocs0517jp4.asp

—Ashley Campbell, a Carnegie Mellon student from 1998 to 2002, died on May 15. During his years at the university, he was involved in student government and was an active student leader. Ashley has been described as "a loving soul, a beloved son and brother and a good friend to so many." The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be given to the Community School of Naples, Florida, or the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. For more information, contact Michael Murphy or Jennifer Church at 412-268-2075.

—Thomas A. Kuhr, a doctoral student in Materials Science and Engineering, has been named a 2002 Student Award Winner for his paper, "Spontaneous Formation of Stacking Faults in Silicon Carbide," presented at the 44th Electronic Materials Conference (University of California at Santa Barbara, June 26 - 28, 2002).

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Saturday, May 31: Household Hazardous Waste Collection event. The pesticides, insecticides, paints and other toxic materials gathering dust in homes across Southwestern Pennsylvania can now be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Heinz Field Parking Lot Gold #2. Information: official.cmu-news, May 20.

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