Olin’s unofficial, FRANKLY student-run news SPEAKING source. volume 6, issue 4 December 2014 FREE, AS IN BEER Dining Hall Food for Thought Mariko Thorbecke and In the survey, several for labor and benefits of the Kris Groth people asked for more trans- staff, sales tax, cleaning, and Contributors parency from the dining hall. serving ware (plates, cups, Change will never happen etc.), among others. This is “The fruit looks like it’s unless we’re all on the same the portion of the budget that going to fall over and die.” page and make realistic de- Dave Nadreau handles. “A large percentage of food mands. I often hear people The remaining $900,000 offered is either pizza or say that the issue is either is spent on overhead costs burgers. Since we are college with the way the dining hall and is handled by the Olin students and not picky 5 year is run or with the way that administration. Costs here olds I feel like there could be Olin’s administration is as- cover heating, cooling, light- way more healthy, interesting signing budgets. But how ing, maintenance, and space options.” “I think the biggest about instead of pointing fin- depreciation. issue is a lack of transparen- gers, we look at the facts and cy. Many people form strong work out reasonable solu- Cost of Food: opinions about getting rid of tions. That’s what engineers The average cost of in- meat or paying for specific do after all, right? We solve gredients per plate is $2.50. meals or that we're just get- problems given a set of con- Contrast this to the $1.70 ting robbed outright without straints. plating cost at Babson, which really knowing any of the The following facts were is due to the larger scale of details about how our money given to the dining hall com- their operation. is actually spent.” “It seems mittee by Dave Nadreau and With a $2.50 plating cost like all I eat is carbs with Joanne Kossuth. per meal, that makes the an- crappy cheese.” “I would re- nual money spent on ingredi- ally like to see more healthy Operating Budget (based ents roughly $650,000. and less processed foods.” on 2012 data, numbers are Side note: For those of Last month the dining ballpark figures): you demanding unlimited hall committee sent out a sur- The total annual cost of meals of exquisite quality, vey on Olin’s dining services operation of the dining hall is why don’t you try feeding and received a wealth of re- $2.3 million. Annual revenue 350 people for 7.5 months on sponses. The takeaway mes- from students is $1.9 million. a food budget of $650,000. sage: nearly 70% of the Olin The remaining $400,000 bill Abandoning the all-you- student body is dissatisfied is footed by Olin. can-eat format for slightly with the current state of our Of the $2.3 million, $1.4 smaller meals that actually dining options. And it shows. million go to direct costs. make you feel good might be At dinner these days, it’s And, no, that doesn’t mean the key. No more crying on not uncommon to overhear $1.4 million pays for in- the toilet after that fried chi- someone saying, “the food is gredients. In addition to in- michanga. Just think about it. much worse this year.” gredients, this portion pays continued on next page Dining Hall Use (from card Now that you have seen an Olin student and do some- swipe data): the data, you may be won- thing! You guys claim to care On average, 600 Babson dering, “So what now?” I about the nutritional value students eat at Olin each have not fixed anything yet, and quality of the food over week. and I need your help to do the quantity, yet the major- An average of 150 Olin so. Sure, as a result of the ity of you prefer the unlim- students eat at Trim per survey, the dining hall has ited, buffet style meal plan. week. agreed to serve less pizza Well this is not feasible. With The net plating cost is and better labelling on food the budgetary restrictions exchanged behind the scenes is now being practiced. But that the school has, it really between the two schools. for real change to happen, boils down to choosing either The Babson-Olin collab- you need to start caring. quantity or quality, and that’s orative dining arrangement is The food that you eat daily the conversation we need to by presidential order and was should energize you and start having. I’m not offering put in place to foster interac- make you feel healthy, and I a solution, but I’m calling on tion between students of the know that I’m not only one you to take up the conversa- two schools, whether or not feeling the opposite when I tion so that we can find one that actually happens. eat at the dining hall. So be together.

DiningHere are a few thingsHall: you facilities inDid the cafeteria. AYou soccer or frisbeeKnow? or debate may not know about the caf- long time ago the Midnight club? Ask for breakfast or eteria: Bakery Operation used the lunch to go from the cafete- You can ask for gluten kitchen facilities to bake ria. free bread. Or just don’t massive amounts of good- Olin composts! All post want bread with your grilled ies. Just coordinate with consumer food is composted chicken sandwich? Just ask Dave. Also, throwing a stu- through a third party service. for the chicken. dent event? Ask the cafeteria So don’t throw your leftover Don’t like everything on to special order stuff (Meat food in the trash. the plated meal? Just ask for Club ordered a WHOLE PIG You get 10 guest swipes part of it. last year). per semester! Bring your You can use the kitchen Leaving campus early for friends!

FacultyLast month, we didand a Alyson Staff Goodrow: Marketing Describebots Jobs twist on our regular col- Peter Antognoni: Instruct in Sarah Spence Adams: Faculty umn. Instead of asking open the Fabrication shops. Member ended questions to students, Rae-Anne Butera: Dean of Stu- Oscar: Learn, sometimes I we had students submit and dent Life say useful stuff vote for questions that we Alison Black: Assistant Dean Anonymous A: Work asked faculty and staff. Three of Student Life Anonymous B: Admissions questions came out on top. Susan Johanson: Administra- Anonymous C: Teach You will find the responses tive support to Dean of Ad- Anonymous D: (not specified) to these questions in articles mission and Admission of- titled "Least Favorite Part of fice in general A special thank you to our Olin," "What You Do Satur- Jessica Townsend: Associate Faculty and Staff contribu- day Nights," and "Coolest Dean of Curriculum and Ac- tors for taking the time to Project You've Done." ademic Programs answer these questions, and First however, we asked: Michelle Davis: Marketing a super special thanks for all What do you do at Olin? Drew: Muck about with ro- you do beyond that. LeastThe open ended Favoritequestion verse, especially inPart terms of withof mildly Olinincompatible for faculty and staff that re- race and ethnicity. views thinking the other is ceived the most student votes Rae-Anne Butera: I wish we wrong, unintelligent, and was: What is your least fa- had a snack bar/coffee shop. being intentionally difficult. vorite part of Olin? Maybe we should start one in Meanwhile, we aren't aware OSL.... Would more students of the influence our own Peter Antognoni: The com- come up to OSL just to hang blind spots have on our ac- mute (2.5 hr./day) out if we did? tions, and the impact that we Susan Johanson: The lack of Oscar: The lack of diversity have on others based on our an ombudsman for staff and and will to engage this. assumptions. faculty. Anonymous A: People abusing Anonymous C: When students Jessica Townsend: We're all too "working from home" remember to criticize parts busy all the time. Anonymous B: Lack of em- of a course but forget to men- Drew: There are too many pathy or understanding of tion the good parts (on course things to do, and not enough one another's viewpoints. evaluations, for example) time. So many disagreements or Anonymous D: Getting to Alison Black: I wish the Olin struggles at Olin (and in the know students personally. community was more di- world) arise from two people Y'all's interesting.

WhatThe second most You popular sleepovers,Do etc.Saturdayten to music Nights or the radio. Open Ended Question was: Peter Antognoni: I gather with Jessica Townsend: Cooking What do you do on Saturday friends and family to break dinner with friends nights? bread, talk, watch content in Alison Black: I'm usually on our family projector room my couch reading, watching Alyson Goodrow: Most re- with the wood stove going ( TV, and recovering from a cently, watch episode after or if left to myself just tinker long run/walk. episode after episode after in my machine shop :<) Oscar: Sleep episode of Homeland... or Sarah Spence Adams: Sleep Anonymous A: Out for dinner, go out for dinner/drinks with Susan Johanson: Make and show, movie friends, go on a date with share supper and the evening For the final question and my hubby, watch a movie, with my husband, take a late answers, see the back page of host 7 and 9 year olds for walk with our dog, read, lis- this issue.

Visit us online: franklyspeakingnews.com Nintendo's Influence on Arcade Games Elizabeth Mahon Nintendo distribute it far and that some Triforce games Columnist wide. It was such a hit that were even compatible with it got ported to many of the Gamecube memory cards, While Nintendo is known consoles that were popular at allowing you to unlock today for its home console the time in the United States things in the arcade games if games and does not have an – the ColecoVision, the Atari you had a related Gamecube arcade division, it has had a 2600, and others. The money game save file, and vice- large influence on the arcade acquired from these ventures versa. Among the games re- industry throughout its time helped Nintendo of America leased for it was F-Zero AX, making games. when they decided to break an arcade release of Ninten- Nintendo's first hit game into the home console market do's high-speed racer series, was in fact an arcade game with the Nintendo Entertain- developed by Sega. – Donkey Kong – released ment System (NES). This pattern of Nintendo in 1981. This game resulted Nintendo didn't exit the allowing other companies to from the conjunction of two arcade business immediate- make arcade versions of their bad events with one very ly after hitting it big in the series has continued to today. good event. Not long before home console industry with Namco has made three Ma- Donkey Kong came out, the Famicom/NES. Several rio Kart games for arcade, Nintendo was selling another games for the console had all of which have included arcade game, Radar Scope. arcade equivalents, such as Pac-Man as a selectable Initially, it did well, caus- Balloon Fight and Punch- character. Pokémon got sev- ing Nintendo to order many Out. This was facilitated by eral installments of a Japan- units. Unfortunately, once the fact that they used a vari- only arcade game, Pokémon the novelty wore off, popu- ant of the NES hardware, Battrio, all made by Takara larity crashed back down called the PlayChoice-10, in Tomy. Pokémon will also get in a matter of weeks. Stuck their arcade machines. The a new arcade game, Pokkén with a large inventory of an PlayChoice-10 is similar Fighters, next year, in col- arcade game that wouldn't enough to the NES that many laboration with Namco. sell, Nintendo needed a dif- NES emulators can also em- It's no surprise that Nin- ferent game that could utilize ulate the PlayChoice-10, al- tendo itself has little presence the same hardware. Around lowing users to compare and in arcades these days. The the same time, Nintendo was contrast the different ver- company is stretched pretty trying to get the license for sions of games. thin as it is, supporting both a Popeye the Sailor game The NES was not the only the 3DS and the Wii U, and for arcade. While the license Nintendo console that had an they want to give consum- didn't pan out, the designer arcade counterpart. Work- ers a reason to buy their sys- was able to translate the ing together with Sega and tems rather than playing their game he was thinking of to Namco, Nintendo released games at the arcade. But the new characters – specifically, an arcade board called Tri- impact Nintendo has had on the now-iconic Mario and force, which was a variant the arcade and the impact the Donkey Kong. Donkey Kong of the Gamecube hardware. arcade has had on Nintendo the game utilized the Radar Triforce was so similar to are both non-trivial, and not Scope hardware, which let its home console counterpart something to be forgotten. ComparisonShane Skikne of GPAs at Olin Contributor Last month, I sent out a survey to learn more about grade point averages at Olin. I received exactly 100 responses, split almost per- fectly by sex (51 males and 49 female) and pretty evenly distributed by class. As for major, I received about 30 responses each for ECE and ME, 15 for E:C and less than Figure 1: In general younger classes had higher GPAs, but 5 or 6 for every other major. the females from class of 2015 deviated from the pattern. So, what did the data show? First, gender did not appear to matter. Males have an average of 3.583 while females have an average of 3.58. Things get a little more interesting when compar- ing the graduating classes. I expected younger classes to have higher GPAs, and as Figure 2 shows, this was true for everyone except females from the class of 2015 who have 3.65 average. I also compared the av- erage GPA for each major. Given the small sample size Figure 2: Responses were evenly distributed across the outside of ME, ECE and E:C, classes surveyed. This shows the average GPA by class. conclusions cannot be drawn about the other majors, but I included the graph anyway. Everyone I spoke to ex- pected MEs to have a much lower GPA, but in the end ECEs, MEs and E:Cs were all within .03 of each other (ECE = 3.633, E:C = 3.614, ME = 3.603). The last question on the survey was about sleep. Un- fortunately (and fortunately), the vast majority of Oliners get 6-8 hours of sleep so I could not see a correlation Figure 3: The average GPA for ECE, ME, and E:C was al- between sleep and GPA. most identical; the average differed by a mere 0.03 points. AnAnonymous Experienceas silence fell.with I stopped beChristianity- I never told them about the Contributor ing a human; I just acted like hell I experienced before I one – a little puppet on stage changed. I never told them Editor's Note: The follow- masquerading around in a lie about the light. When I think ing was written as a response because at least it made other maybe everything would be to the article "Religion and people happy. I could feel my better if I did, I always end the Broom Closet" by Claire own mind ripping apart. up asking: why should that Barnes originally published Then I changed. Those even make a difference? November 2014. stories you hear about a light I want to apologize to coming down from heaven? Christians out there if I Thank you for telling us It happened to me. It took me make them feel the same you are Wiccan. We wel- out of that hell. But the peo- way. Someday I might be come you with open arms, ple I thought would rejoice able to talk to one of you and (I, at least) hope many were the first to turn their normally without cringing. I of you other religious folk, backs. They began speak- also apologize to anyone out minority or otherwise, write ing, almost word for word, there who I’ve made feel like articles to let us know what the same chants that put me they’re unwelcome. I truly your religion is all about. in that hell to begin with. I try not to. I wholeheartedly There is one thing I want- never even had to tell them know that you believe what ed to address however, and what those chants were. you believe as much as I be- that is the topic of Christian- lieve what I believe. I apolo- ity. Yes, here we go – another "I could feel my gize for turning a positive article by a Christian about article into something that’s Christianity. Or wait, could own mind ripping so negative. it be instead a non-Christian Finally, I want to say: bashing Christianity? Nei- apart." This is not a bashing of ther actually. Christianity, nor a bashing of I grew up a Christian. I was so scared. I was so religion. In fact, I was a model one. bleeping scared. The way Neither Christianity nor The Christian community they looked at me. Their religion put me in hell. Igno- was something I lived and necks slightly crooked, their rance did. Neither Christian- breathed, and I never knew pupils wide and almost on ity nor religion left me there. anyone outside of it beyond fire with a gaze full of scoff- Apathy did. Neither Chris- what I read in books. ing pity. Their voices. Al- tianity nor religion started I was also in hell. most a hiss behind the subtle, thrashing when I finally got I never told anyone. I was quaking sob because part of out. Pride did. Neither Chris- taught no one cared and that me wanted to believe that be- tianity nor religion “saved” I was just acting weird be- neath that deaf arrogance and me. God did. Even if that cause I wanted attention. I fear, they actually did care god was the hallucination exaggerated and made things about me. I was so bleeping of someone who lost their up because I wanted to be scared. mind because they had been noticed. If I was not “happy,” Am I a Christian? Not alone for too long – which I I was causing trouble. But anymore. By definition, am perfectly happy to accept nothing became as ingrained probably – I still believe a as an explanation – that light as what I started hearing lot of what they believe. But did more for me than anyone people scoff about others. A my family made it very clear else ever would. mass of chants accumulated their god is not mine and I A “god” will live through in my mind, voices which am no longer welcome, no their people, whether you be- should not have been there matter how many cards they lieve in one or not. So what began echoing them as soon send indicating their love. are you saying about yours? QualifiersKai Austin tativeand speech doublesTentative as the just qualifiers Speech here) because Editor shy, intra-personal alterna- that still has its place in the tive to assertion. Tentative world. And besides, your Kind of, sort of, maybe, speech is a defensive (or sen- brain might explode because might, usually, probably, sitive) way of speaking. It is overthrowing a speaking somewhat, very – the list a means of playing nice and style is harder than remov- goes on. getting along with others, be- ing one or two unnecessary What do all these words cause things might work out words [2]. Plus, chucking out have in common? They are how you want, and if they do tentative speech completely all qualifiers – extra grammar not, you already knew that means you will turn yourself words that pop up in sen- might happen, right? You into an arrogant jerk. Quali- tences to alter the sentence's cannot argue with that logic. fiers on the other hand, well, meaning, by either enhanc- And while nice people are I will let you decide. Which ing or limiting it. For ex- awesome, tentative speech sounds better? [3] ample: This megabot might is a characteristic of people A: The megabot might work. who lack confidence in them- work, but the thrusters are Qualifiers have their selves. kind of off so it can be a little place in this world. Lazy wonky at times. writers use them as short "Qualifiers serve B: The megabot will cuts when they cannot figure work. My primary concern is out a better way of writing one purpose: to that the thrusters are sporad- (eg. “kind of cold” vs. “cool establish uncer- ic, and will misfire if given breeze from the north”, “a uneven amounts of power. I lot of puppies” vs. “a hoard tainty." am working to fix this. of stubby tails”). But in real- ity, qualifiers serve one pur- Studies have also dubbed Notes: pose: to establish uncertain- tentative speech as stereotyp- [1] Before you start ty. Outside of that, they are ical of “women’s speech.”[1] chucking tomatoes, tentative grammatically useless. However, in a broader sense, speech is examined in gender This is part of a speak- it is characteristic of those studies. Some studies sup- ing style known as tentative who subconsciously feel port it, largely in the realm of speech, qualifiers that make they “lack power” or are of “women being more socially statements become ques- “lower status”[1]. Gender sensitive” rather than lack- tions. Like qualifiers, tenta- does not matter. ing confidence, and others do tive speech has its own place not. For complete citations in the world – sometimes "Tentative speech visit franklyspeakingnews. there is uncertainty, right? is a defensive way com. (You see what I did there.) [2] Tentative speech is After all, you do not really of speaking." also incredibly persuasive know if your megabot works, (so if you are into law or psy- but it might, so you put a Want to know a sure-fire chological manipulation, go small ounce of yourself into way to sound confident? for it) and can make people the belief that your hopes and Simple. Drop the qualifiers. agree with you (provided dreams will become a reality Drop them from your speech. they are not frustrated with as soon as you flip the power. Drop them from your writing. indecisiveness). Tentative speech also Drop them from your presen- [3] Disclaimer: I know serves to open up conversa- tations. Drop them from your nothing of megabots. I just tion, give people a chance to life. I do not expect you to write sci-fi and watch anime express their opinions, and a throw out tentative speech and use big words for the means of inclusion. But ten- completely (distinct from context of this article…. CoolestThis month, three OpenProject et engines at Blue Origin.You'vewith two of myDone first Olin re- Ended Questions were posed Michelle Davis: One time I search students. We worked to the faculty and staff. Their organized a headache suffer- together for many years to answers to the first two ques- ers art show to demonstrate solve the problem, solving tions can be found on page the pain, suffering and visual lots of other problems and in- three inside. The third ques- auras that people with head- cluding many other students tion was: What is the coolest aches experience, and to also along the way. It was an in- project you have ever worked show the creativity that can credible journey and a high- on? also accompany headaches. light of my professional life. We received photos, prints, Oscar: 1. Vibration-to-elec- Alyson Goodrow: Redesigning paintings and sculptures of tric energy conversion using Olin.edu. Hands down! people with spikes in their MEMS. Peter Antognoni: Without heads, dramatic visual ap- 2. MIT microengine (a tur- a doubt volunteering with paritions and representations bine the size of a dime). home building through Habi- of the sense of isolation that PS: You asked for coolest, tat for Humanity. people felt when experienc- not most meaningful or im- That's where the saying "It is ing an episode. It was very portant… more blessed to give than to empowering for our patients Anonymous D: Space, when it receive" comes alive! (I worked at a hospital) but it was new, when nobody knew Susan Johanson: It would also generated tons of atten- just what would work & have to be Project INTREX tion for our headache treat- wouldn't. You had to REACH (information transfer experi- ment facility, which was my -- both with imaginings and ments), an MIT-based project job as a PR director at the with products -- and only de- proposed to the National Sci- time. livering counted. The funda- ence Foundation to put the Drew: PackBot! A mobile ro- mental P/F (NR just wasn't) entire contents of the MIT bot that's fast, tough, easy to was launch and all that sci/ engineering library onto mi- use and has actually saved pol stuff it took to get to the crofilm and microfiche, so it people's lives. I've worked pad, then data & the satel- could be remotely accessed. on other great projects, but lite-filled world as we now At the time, we had no ter- knowing someone didn't die enjoy it. I have lived in the minals, personal computers because of my robot is the best, most fun & challenging or internet - what an imagina- best. times, methinks & me hopes tive, remarkable idea! Sarah Spence Adams: Solving a u feel the same at yours as Jessica Townsend: Testing rock- really hard research problem you find your contributions.

Olin College of Engineering does not endorse and is not affiliated with Frankly Speaking. Want to write for Editor-in-Chief: Lyra Silverwolf Editors: Kai Austin, Gigi Chow Frankly Speaking? Contributors: Sarah Spence Adams, Peter An- Send us your articles at tognoni, Drew Bennett, Alison Black, Rae- Anne Butera, Michelle Davis, Alyson Good- [email protected] row, Kris Groth, Susan Johanson, Elizabeth Mahon, Oscar Mur-Miranda, Shane Skikne, Or check out the website at Mariko Thorbecke, Jessica Townsend http://franklyspeakingnews.com Special thanks to Allie Duncan and Julianne Jorgensen.