Welcome to Campus News & Notes

Welcome to Campus News & Notes, where you'll find out about many exciting and interesting things happening on campus. From important campus news announcements to featured event listings, videos and podcasts, you'll find information here to help you stay informed. If you have news of campus interest — an announcement, event, new video or new research endeavor — please pass it on to Internal Communications. Our contact information is below. Stay Posted @ Campus News & Notes!

Crime Alert: Armed Robbery

2:47 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21

At approximately 4:10 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20, a person not affiliated with the university was robbed near the intersection of Devonshire Road and Fifth Avenue. The suspect took the victim’s purse by force. The victim sustained injuries during the encounter as she fought off the suspect. The suspect was on foot and described as an African American male approximately 25 years of age, 5’10’’ tall, 180 lbs. with a medium build. He was armed with a silver revolver with duct tape on it. The suspect fled on foot up Devonshire Road. University Police are assisting the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police in the investigation. Report any suspicious incidents, persons or vehicles to Campus Police at 412-268-2323 or off-campus to Pittsburgh Police at 911.

Credit Union Offers Loans

3:33 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20

The Carnegie Mellon University Federal Credit Union is offering a special loan to staff transitioning to the bi-weekly pay schedule. The loans are available from Dec. 7 through January 8, 2010 at a 3 percent APR. Loans up to $500 are repayable over seven pay periods; and up to $3,000 over 13 pay periods. Payment terms will begin in January. Credit union membership is required for these loans, and is open to all Carnegie Mellon employees. Stop in to the lower level of the University Center for more information, or visit their Web site.

Intelligence Squared Debate

11:07 a.m., Friday, November 20

Allan H. Meltzer, the Allan H. Meltzer University Professor of Political Economy, recently participated in a debate in New York City about whether Obama's Economic Policies are working effectively. He argued against the motion with James K. Galbraith, Chair of Government/Business Relations at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, the University of Texas at Austin and Eliot Spitzer, former governor of the state of New York. Check out more about the debate, sponsored by Intelligence Squared.

Join the Show!

11:25 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 19

CNBC's Maria Bartiromo is hosting an hour-long special at Carnegie Mellon called "Meeting of the Minds: Rebuilding America" at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 30, and students, faculty and staff are invited to be a part of the studio audience in the Wiegand Gym.

The manufacturing industry led the United States to become the richest nation in the world and has been the foundation of the middle class. But, times have changed and today's economy values innovation and design over manual labor.

Are the manufacturing jobs in the U.S. gone forever? Does an economy that doesn't produce anything have any real value? Has 'Made in the USA' died?

Speakers include:

• Jeff Immelt, Chairman & CEO, General Electric
• Hilda Solis, U.S. Secretary of Labor
• Bill Ford, Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company
• John Engler, Former Governor, Michigan, President, National Association of Manufacturers
• Dan DiMicco, Chairman, President & CEO, NuCor
• Leo Gerard, International President, United Steelworkers

Along with some of the most influential leaders in manufacturing, CNBC welcomes the campus community into this discussion. To register for free tickets, visit http://cmutickets.cnbc.com. All guests must be registered to attend. Audience check-in begins at 4:45 p.m. for the 6:30 p.m. taping.

Researchers Are Customizing Electric Cars

11:15 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17

Researchers at the Robotics Institute have converted a 2001 Scion xB into an electric commuter vehicle that will serve as a test bed for a new community-based approach to electric vehicle design, conversion and operations. The vehicle is part of a new research project, ChargeCar, headed by Illah Nourbakhsh, associate professor of robotics. The project is exploring how electric vehicles can be customized to cost-effectively meet an individual's specific commuting needs and how an electric vehicle's efficiency can be boosted and its battery life extended by using artificial intelligence to manage power.

ChargeCar isn't developing new vehicles, but rather a knowledge base that can be used to convert gas-powered vehicles using existing technology. The researchers are working with Pittsburgh mechanics to develop community-level expertise in vehicle conversion, as well as a set of conversion "recipes." Read the full story.

Bachelor of Science and Arts Program Celebrates 10 Years

11:22 a.m., Monday, Nov. 16

Carnegie Mellon University is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Bachelor of Science and Arts (BSA) program, a joint interdisciplinary program between its College of Fine Arts (CFA) and Mellon College of Science (MCS). "The BSA program is not the summation of two interests," said Franco Sciannameo, director of Carnegie Mellon's Interdisciplinary Degree Programs (BXA). "Students don't develop one interest and then the other, but develop a strategy to combine them in a way that will generate something new and ultimately give us new forms of knowledge." Read more.

Staff Talk About Why They Love Their Work

10:41 a.m., Monday, Nov. 16

Internal Communications asked a variety of staff members why they loved working for Carnegie Mellon during the annual benefits fair.

Research Shows People Blame External Agents When Bad Things Happen

3:57 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12

Ask most Boston Red Sox fans about "The Curse of the Bambino" and they'll quickly tell you it was responsible for the team's 86-year world championship drought from 1918, when the team traded Babe Ruth (pictured at right) to the New York Yankees, to 2004. But ask them about the good fortunes brought about by the ghost of Ted Williams and most will probably think it has something to do with cryonics. Those predictable responses are in accord with new research by Carnegie Mellon University's Carey K. Morewedge (below, left) that reveals people attribute external agents — other people or supernatural forces — when something goes wrong, but not when things happen the way they wanted or expected.
      
"No one credits the ghost of Ted Williams for Boston's 2004 and 2007 World Series victories," said Morewedge, an assistant professor of social and decision sciences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. "They attribute those victories to the talent and skills of the ballplayers."

Morewedge's research, published in this month's Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, suggests that people tend to attribute negative events to external agents because they are naturally motivated to believe outcomes were due to someone's intentions rather than pure chance, and only take credit for their positive outcomes. "Pointing a finger at someone or a thing gives people a satisfactory explanation for an event, and blaming a negative event on someone else is more satisfactory than blaming yourself." he said. "This is important for understanding why people are so prone to blame other political, social, ethnic or religious groups for their misfortune." Read more.

Buggy Free Roll Practices Scheduled

Weather permitting, the Buggy freeroll practices will take place on scheduled Saturdays (6–8:50 a.m.) and Sundays (6–9 a.m.) on Tech Street, Frew Street and Schenley Drive. During these times, vehicles will not be able to access or park on these roads. Contact Kaycee Palko, coordinator of student activities and sweepstakes advisor, at kpalko@andrew.cmu.edu or 412-268-8704 with any issues or concerns. The full schedule is as follows:

> January 30, 31
> February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28
> March 20, 21, 27 and 28
> April 2, 4, 10 and 11