CMU’S NEWS SOURCE FOR FACULTY & STAFF 2/16 ISSUE

2 t r a d i n g p l a c e s 9 w i n n i n g i n l i f e Coolest Ride 11 c o l o r o u r w o r l d 12 t h e f u l l m o n t y In Town In It To Win It CMU Team Floats Airtight Design In Hyperloop Pod Competition n Kelly Saavedra

When Elon Musk first made public his idea for the Hyperloop — an ultra-high speed ground transportation system that would rocket passengers hundreds of miles through a tube — some thought he’d gone off the rails. But Anshuman Kumar, who was in India preparing to embark on a Carnegie Mellon education, leaped at the oppor- tunity to do something groundbreaking during his time as a student. PHOTO BY COOPER KOSTELIC Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla Motors, called on universities around the Tanuj Apte takes Prashant Bhardwaj for a ride through Shadyside in an “Autopod,” a micro-taxi service that takes world to compete to design and build the passengers on jaunts of about two miles or less. The three-wheeled, battery-assisted bicycle, which is also an advertising tool, is the brainchild of CMU graduates Apte and Deepak Vidhani. r e a d a b o u t a u t o p o d s o n p a g e 5 . c o n t i n u e d o n p a g e f o u r

Money Matters: Small Changes Crime and Punishment Equal Big Returns Students Analyze Risks, Benefits of New Marijuana Law

n Emily Stimmel n Shilo Rea Cities and states across the U.S. are “They are the best and the brightest, cities, states and countries that have It is estimated that roughly seven changing laws on marijuana, and and their work product is consistently decriminalized marijuana possession, million Americans each year — Pittsburgh has joined the movement. fantastic.” they determined that the health and or 25 percent of those eligible — Drawing inspiration from The students — Jack Devine, social risks posed by decriminalization fail to claim the Earned Income Philadelphia’s attempts to decriminal- Daniel Kusbit, Stephen Nimalasuriya, are small enough to be insignificant, Tax Credit (EITC), the primary ize possession of small amounts of the Lisa Tu and Gabriel Vegh-Gaynor — particularly when compared to the channel through which the drug, City Councilman and Carnegie did the work for their senior capstone potential benefits of decriminalization. government supports the Mellon alumnus Dan Gilman com- project. Based on analyses of other c o n t i n u e d o n p a g e e i g h t working poor. missioned a study on the feasibility of Economists and policymak- doing the same in Pittsburgh. Gilman ers have long been puzzled over turned to Dietrich College students why millions voluntarily forego to examine the issue, and five seniors credits worth, on average, a majoring in ethics, history and public month of income. policy (EHPP) rose to the challenge. To shed new insight into why “I always like soliciting research so many people fail to sign up from the students at Carnegie Mellon for valuable government ben- whenever possible,” said Gilman, who efits, and to identify strategies to also majored in EHPP and worked with improve participation, Carnegie EHPP seniors last year on a project c o n t i n u e d o n p a g e f i v e involving government surveillance. o n e Trading Places Faculty Exchange Opens New Chapter in Creative Writing Program

n Amanda King

Jim Daniels is teaching a nonfiction writing course called “Life Writing” and another course in which he works closely with creative writing students as they complete their senior projects. But, you won’t find Daniels at CMU. Instead, he’ll be teaching them at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) in the United Kingdom as part of the English Department’s first faculty exchange with SHU. The exchange complements the creative writing program’s undergradu- ate student exchange with SHU, which is now in its sixth year. “All of our students who have participated in the exchange have come back energized and enthusiastic about their experiences at Sheffield Hallam, and I am very excited about having the opportunity to spend a semester there myself,” said Daniels, the Thomas Stockham Baker University Professor PHOTO BY SHILO REA of English. Taking Daniels’ place at CMU is Sheffield Hallam University’s Conor O’Callaghan (left) and CMU’s Jim Daniels are trading places this semester in the Conor O’Callaghan, an Irish poet and English Department’s first faculty exchange. senior lecturer at SHU who is teaching “Reading in Forms: Fiction” and the “Beginning Poetry Workshop.” pating in this exchange,” Daniels said. Prize, and “Fiction,” a Poetry Book “I am pumped to be in Professor “Conor is a fine writer and teacher, Both cities and creative writing Society Recommendation. His work O’Callaghan’s classes this semester,” and we are lucky to have him partici- programs share similar characteristics also has appeared in the Harvard said Sarah Hodgson, a junior double — the City of Pittsburgh established University Press’ “An Anthology of majoring in creative writing and a “sister city” partnership with Modern Irish Poetry” and “Poetry” professional writing. “I didn't get the Sheffield and are both “steel cities.” magazine. chance to take classes with him when CMU and SHU have established Along with poetry, O’Callaghan’s I studied at Sheffield Hallam last year, creative writing programs, which comedic memoir, “Red Mist: Roy but I had the opportunity to read some O’Callaghan said is what makes the Keane and the Football Civil War,” of his wonderful work in my poetry schools the perfect match for a student was published in 2004. The book, class. When I heard he was coming PIPER and faculty exchange. which recalls the public furor sur- to CMU this year, I wanted to take 2/16 ISSUE O’Callaghan said he’s looking rounding Ireland’s 2002 soccer World advantage of both opportunities to forward to exploring Pittsburgh — Cup team, was adapted into a one- learn from him — and the classes just p u b l i s h e r making sure to attend a Pirates game hour film for UKTV. sound so fun!” Ken Walters or two — and meeting his new col- Daniels work often crosses genres e d i t o r Bruce Gerson leagues and students. as well. He has authored 15 poetry “For me and Jim, it will be fun to books and five collections of short m a n a g i n g e d i t o r Kelly Saavedra have the chance to be elsewhere and “All of our students fiction. His most recent are “Apology to w r i t e r s maybe get some writing done in a new the Moon” and “Birth Marks,” which Bruce Gerson Kelly Saavedra environment,” said O’Callaghan, who who have participated was named to the 2014 Michigan Andrea James Erin Keane Scott Amanda King Byron Spice has been teaching at SHU since 2007. in the exchange Notable Books List and won the 2014 Heidi Opdyke Emily Stimmel Daniels said he hopes the faculty Independent Publisher Book (IPPY) Shilo Rea exchange will strengthen the stu- have come back Awards’ Poetry Gold Medal and the d e s i g n & photography dent exchange program by bringing Binghamton University Milt Kessler Digital & Creative Services energized and more awareness to it on both cam- Poetry Book Award. To contact The Piper staff, call 412-268-2900 puses. Daniels will be talking to SHU enthusiastic about He has written four films, including or email [email protected]. students, faculty and administrators “The End of Blessings,” which was Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate in admis- their experiences at sion, employment, or administration of its programs or about Carnegie Mellon, the creative recently selected for the 35th annual activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identi- writing program and Pittsburgh, while Sheffield Hallam, and I Black Maria Film Festival for 2016, an ty, religion, creed, ancestry, belief, veteran status, or genetic information. Furthermore, Carnegie Mellon University does O’Callaghan does the same at CMU. international touring festival of short not discriminate and is required not to discriminate in viola- am very excited about tion of federal, state, or local laws or executive orders. The exchange also will be useful films sponsored by the Thomas A. Inquiries concerning the application of and compliance with this statement should be directed to the vice president for both professors when they return having the opportunity Edison Media Arts Consortium. for campus affairs, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, telephone 412-268-2056. to their home institutions to advise His 2010 film, “Mr. Pleasant,” Carnegie Mellon University publishes an annual campus to spend a semester security and fire safety report describing the university’s students. They will be able to give appeared in more than a dozen film security, alcohol and drug, sexual assault, and fire safety there myself.” policies and containing statistics about the number and first-hand accounts of what the classes, festivals across the country. type of crimes committed on the campus and the number universities and towns are like. and cause of fires in campus residence facilities during the preceding three years. You can obtain a copy by contacting O’Callaghan has authored four col- the Carnegie Mellon Police Department at 412-268-2323. — Jim Daniels The annual security and fire safety report is also available lections of poetry. The most recent are online at www.cmu.edu/police/annualreports. Produced by Digital & Creative Services, January 2016, “The Sun King,” which was shortlisted 16-305. for the “Irish Times” Poetry Now t w o The Honor Roll Four Faculty, Two Alums Lauded for Outstanding Achievement

Rothberg, a member of the Board of Trustees, is best known for pioneering high-speed, massively parallel DNA sequencing. He created the technology that sequences DNA to allow research- ers and doctors to identify, diagnose and potentially develop treatments for Alumnus, Trustee genetic diseases. Earns Highest Rothberg has led or been a major National Honor part of well-known sequencing projects — including the first human genome DNA pioneer Jonathan Rothberg will (of Nobel laureate Jim Watson), the receive the National Medal of Technol- Neanderthal genome and incorporation ogy and Innovation at the White House of sequencing technology on semi- this year. conductor chips. The medal is the nation’s highest Rothberg, a 1985 CMU engineer- honor for achievement and leadership ing graduate, is founder of a string of Whitacre Elected to National in advancing the fields of science and successful companies, including 454 Academy of Inventors technology. The award recognizes those Life Science, CuraGen, Ion Torrent, who have made lasting contributions to Raindance Technologies, Hyperfine Jay Whitacre, professor of awards, including the 2015 Lemelson- America’s competitiveness and quality Research, Butterfly Network Inc., engineering and public policy and MIT Prize, which honors outstanding of life. Rothberg is one of seven winners. LAM Therapeutics and 4Catalyzer. materials science and engineering, inventors committed to mentorship in has been named a 2015 Fellow of STEM fields. the National Academy of Inventors Whitacre founded the startup (NAI). He’ll be inducted April 15 Aquion, which markets his invention, at the United States Patent and the Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI™), an Trademark Office in Alexandria, Va. environmentally friendly, sustainable Whitacre joins four others at and inexpensive saltwater battery.

CMU who have achieved this high The AHI™ uses its unique saltwater John Lehoczky “Raj” Rajkumar Lui Sha professional distinction: Krzysztof composition to store solar and wind Matyjaszewski, José M.F. Moura, Raj energy for residential and off-the- Lehoczky, Rajkumar and Sha Reddy and President Subra Suresh. grid applications. Nicknamed the Whitacre has more than 30 “edible battery,” this non-toxic Praised for Technical Leadership patents issued or pending and has energy storage system has minimal IEEE, the world’s largest technical programs by QuantNet three times. been recognized with numerous environmental impact. professional organization, will award Rajkumar is the George Westing- John Lehoczky and Ragunathan house Professor of Electrical and Com- “Raj” Rajkumar and CMU alumnus puter Engineering and the co-director Lui Sha with the 2016 IEEE Simon of the General Motors-Carnegie Mellon Ramo Medal, which recognizes Autonomous Driving Collaborative technical leadership and contributions Research Lab. He also directs the Center to fundamental theory, practice and for Technologies for Safe and Efficient standardization for engineering real-time Transportation (T-SET), one of five U.S. systems. Department of Transportation National The trio is being honored for University Transportation Centers. revolutionizing how systems handle Rajkumar founded Ottomatika, a tasks with deadlines under serious CMU spinoff that was acquired by Del- weight, power and space constraints. phi. Ottomatika’s software acts as the Their work has been used on the original brain powering Delphi’s advanced net- Krishnan Honored for Data-Driven Research Mars Rover, NASA’s Space Station, work of sensor technology for autono- submarines, military jets and GPS mous vehicles, creating a platform that Ramayya Krishnan, dean of the Heinz and living analytics. satellites. They will receive their medals, enables vehicles to make safe, highly College and the William W. and Ruth Provost Farnam Jahanian praised sponsored by the Northrop Grumman complex decisions in an instant. F. Cooper Professor of Management Krishnan for his work at the intersec- Corporation, at the IEEE Honors Sha, the Donald B. Gillies Professor Science and Information Systems, is tion of information technology, public Ceremony in New York City on June 18. of Computer Science at the University the 2015 recipient of the Nayudamma policy and management, for having a Lehoczky, the Thomas Lord Uni- of Illinois, received his Ph.D. from Centre for Development Alternatives’ significant impact on organizations in versity Professor of Statistics and CMU in electrical and computer (NCDA) Nayudamma Award. the public and private sectors, and for Mathematical Sciences, has been on the engineering in 1985 and was a student The NCDA presented the award to his commitment to improving the CMU faculty since 1969. In addition to of Lehoczky. From 1986-1998, he was Krishnan at his undergraduate alma human condition. his work studying stochastic processes a senior member of the technical staff mater, the Indian Institute of Technol- The NCDA ceremony marked and how they can be used to model real at CMU’s SEI. His research includes ogy Madras (IIT-Madras) in Chennai, Krishnan’s second trip to India this applications, he is well known for ap- leading the creation of the generalized Tamil Nadu, India. year to share his expertise on sustain- plying stochastic modeling to problems rate monotonic scheduling theory The Nayudamma Award honors able development. In July, he moder- in finance. He helped create CMU’s (GRMS), as well as work in real-time individuals for their significant con- ated the Smart Cities Panel at CMU’s unique master’s degree program in com- computing and safety critical system tributions around the world in areas Integrated Intelligence Showcase in putational finance — a joint program integration. of sustainable development. Krishnan New Delhi before the largest gather- between the departments of Statistics Lehoczky and Rajkumar join is being honored for his research and ing of CMU alumni, parents and and Mathematical Sciences, the Tep- CMU faculty member William “Red” leadership in making data-driven future students outside of the per School of Business and the Heinz Whittaker as recipients of the prestigious decisions in key societal domains, United States. College. The program has been ranked Simon Ramo Medal. Whittaker was including transportation, smart cities number one among financial engineering honored in 2012. t h r e e In It To Win It c o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e o n e

The Hyperloop, as envisioned by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, would turn a six-hour road trip into a 30-minute commute.

best Hyperloop pod. One month before The pod designed by CMU’s Hy- Kumar even arrived in Pittsburgh, he’d perloop team, which has grown to 50 already recruited half a dozen team engineering, design and business stu- members eager to accept the challenge. dents at Carnegie Mellon, made it to the “The real motivation is the impact semifinal round of the Official SpaceX this will have on people, cities and Hyperloop Pod Competition based on society,” Kumar said of the Hyperloop, a document they submitted detailing which has the potential to turn a six- aspects of their pod’s levitation, propul- hour road trip into a 30-minute com- sion, structures, navigation, communica- mute. “Right now it’s a ‘vacation’ when tion and safety. SpaceX deemed it as a a mother and father in Pittsburgh want “solid and impressive” design briefing. to visit their daughter at college in New Next, the team hopes to secure a spot York. With the Hyperloop, it becomes in the top 10 on Jan. 29-30, when they as simple as ‘dinner in the city tonight.’ present their final design package to This is really about relationships and engineers from SpaceX and Tesla Mo- bringing people closer together.” tors and university professors at Texas Musk envisions the system to be a A&M. But first, they need to conduct cross between the Concorde jet, a rail- some preliminary research. gun and an air hockey table. Extremely “In our efforts to design a truly low air pressure inside a network of scalable Hyperloop pod, we find our- tubes spanning hundreds of miles would selves dealing with questions that even allow pods filled with people to zoom industry experts have trouble answer- us to generate quantitative proof to sub- with design strategy and administra- through them at transonic speeds. ing,” said Karthik Chandrashekaraiah, stantiate our designs before we can move tion from the start. Assistant Teaching the structure lead engineer. “The most to the final round and actually build our Professor of Mechanical Engineer- pressing issue is that of the air bearings pod,” said Shishir Gupta, the team’s air ing Satbir Singh is the team’s official we intend to use. Even the most promis- bearing expert. SpaceX adviser, helping out with “The real motivation ing alternative for our levitation system Once the team determines the pod technical issues. — an air caster style bearing — has can float, they’ll need to slow it down. The competition is being held at is the impact this never been tested at the extreme condi- That will require the use of magnets, half scale, primarily to reduce the will have on people, tions that have been proposed for the since the pod is not actually touching cost and complexity of the designs. final event.” anything in the tube. However, a full-scale pod would hold cities and society.” A crowdfunding campaign helped So far, the team has been primarily around 20-30 people. the team raise the money they needed sponsored by CMU’s Mechanical Engi- Kumar will graduate from Carnegie — Anshuman Kumar for prototyping and testing. neering Department, which has provided Mellon in 2016 with a master’s degree “We need to simulate the conditions space for them to work. Integrated in Integrated Innovation for Products for levitation of the assembly. We need Product Design Professor Julian Lion and Services. to put together a test rig that will allow Boxenbaum has been guiding the team f o u r Coolest Ride in Town Micro-Taxis Give Riders, Advertisers a Lift n Bruce Gerson shops on Ellsworth Avenue and back.” It’s the coolest ride in the neighborhood. Parts of the street-legal electric The three-wheeled, battery-assisted bicycles are produced and assembled by bicycle with a lime green, sleek, aerody- six manufacturing companies in Guang- namic fiberglass shell surrounding the dong, China, and shipped to the U.S. at driver and back seat for two is the brain- a cost of about $3,500 each. But Apte child of Carnegie Mellon graduates Tanuj and Vidhani, who took shipment of their Apte and Deepak Vidhani, co-founders prototype just one week after graduating of Autopods. last May, said they recoup the cost pretty The Dubai natives’ “micro-taxi” quickly. service that takes passengers on jaunts of “It’s profitable. The pods pay for about two miles or less is now operating themselves in less than one-and-a-half through Shadyside, but by April their months. It all comes down to advertis- fleet will be traversing the South Side, ing,” said Apte, who thought of the idea PHOTO BY COOPER KOSTELIC for the company during the winter of his Strip District and downtown neighbor- Color exterior ads on the Autopods are $850 a month. hoods as well. And in February they’ll junior year. make their debut in “almost heaven” “It got too cold for me to walk to class month. Rates are on a per pod basis. master’s degree grad, and Prashant Charleston, W.Va. so I thought if only there was a way to get “We want to bridge the gap between Bhardwaj, who graduated from Arizona Rides are free on weekends and only a quick short distance ride — something a taxi and an advertising tool,” Apte said. State in supply chain management. Taba- $5 during weekdays. Drivers, who keep a taxi wouldn’t do,” he said. “We want it to be something in which tabai runs the product development side the fares and tips, lease the “cabs” for Apte, who earned his bachelor’s de- people can connect to the community, of the house. $25 per day. During weekends, Autopods gree in information systems, is the CEO and the community connects with them.” Modifications now underway pays the drivers and handles the advertising and apps Mistick said the vehicles garnered a include rolled glass and canvas jeep- $10 per hour to accommodate for the through which riders access the vehicles lot of attention in Shadyside. like doors that snap onto the shell; a free fares. and view advertisements. Ads also are “Everyone loved them. Several cham- lighter aluminum shell that would cut the During the holiday season, Autopods placed on the exterior of the taxis and ber members thought it was very fun. vehicle’s weight from 400 to 225 pounds; partnered with the Shadyside Chamber of companies can run video ads on an iPad When I was riding around I saw many and iPhone mounts created by 3-D Commerce, which sponsored the week- that faces the back seat passengers. people pointing. They’re great because printers. Apte and Vidhani credit much end rides for shoppers. Businesses pay a premium to it’s like riding in a big mobile billboard,” of their success to the entrepreneurial “They’re fun, the color is great and advertise. she said. culture at CMU. they’re very practical,” said Chamber Di- “When you see these on the streets, Vidhani, who earned his master’s “CMU and Pittsburgh are rector Tori Mistick. “You could park your people’s heads turn,” Apte said. degree in mechanical engineering, is the great communities that welcome car for free a few blocks from Walnut iPad video ads run $150 per month; COO and engineer of the company. Also entrepreneurship,” Vidhani said. “The Street and take an Autopod. We saw a lot black and white exterior ads are $650 per on the team are Arya Tabatabai, another of people taking rides from Walnut to the month; and color exterior ads are $850 per 2015 CMU mechanical engineering c o n t i n u e d o n p a g e t w e l v e

Money Matters: Small Changes

Equal Big Returns c o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e o n e

Mellon’s Saurabh Bhargava led a “Many government policies are first-of-its-kind field experiment shaped by standard economic theories with the Internal Revenue Service. that assume people are rational and Published in the recent issue of self-informed,” said Bhargava, an the American Economic Review, assistant professor of economics in the study strategically modified CMU’s Department of Social and instead the result of “psychological sensitive to traditional incentives. the appearance and content of tax Decision Sciences. “This study frictions,” such as low levels of pro- Since the completion of the claiming notices and worksheets in suggests that complexity and small gram awareness, confusion regarding study, the IRS has begun to circulate such a way that it permitted a better administrative burdens or ‘hassles’ eligibility and inattention to program redesigned notification forms. And, understanding of how confusion, can deter regular people from acting information. because other government assistance informational complexity and pro- in their own interest, even when the Intriguingly, across recipients of programs have even more severe gram stigma affected the decision stakes are large.” all of the new mailings, 22 percent challenges getting eligible individu- not to claim. The authors examined the low par- claimed a credit, despite these indi- als, often in dire economic need, to The IRS distributed the rede- ticipation rates for the EITC because viduals having already received an sign up for benefits, Bhargava sees signed mailings to over 35,000 the costs of claiming — merely filling earlier, but complicated, notice from this type of work as having wide- eligible non-claimants in California out and returning a form — appeared the IRS. This indicates that a mere re- spread relevance. to determine which mailings led to be low, while the benefits — some minder can lead a substantial number “This study demonstrates the to the highest response. The study were eligible for credits over $5,000 of individuals to claim benefits. value and need for rigorous evidence- found that small changes to the ap- — can be substantial. The field study, Overall, the study led to additional based approaches to public policy. pearance of the tax notices, such as along with additional surveys of claiming of about $4 million in cred- It also suggests that, in an increas- a cleaner layout, a modestly shorter thousands of low-income individuals, its among a group owed about $26 ingly complicated world, simplicity claiming worksheet or displaying suggested that the absence of claim- million in benefits. The study estimat- and a commonsense recognition of the amount of the potential credit in ing is not the result of stigma or the ed that redesigning and expanding the how individuals make decisions can the headline, led significantly more amount of time required to apply for distribution of notices could lead to play a critical role in the ultimate individuals to claim than mailings a credit — explanations favored by several hundred thousand additional success of policies like the EITC,” with typical government complexity. traditional economic theory — but claimants in a population not highly Bhargava said.

f i v e 17th Annual MLK Jr. Writing Awards Students’ Poetry, Prose Express Personal Experiences with Racism, Discrimination

n Emily Stimmel program established a safe haven where students can create an honest Seventeen Pittsburgh-area high and open dialogue about their experi- school and college students were ences through poetry and prose. recognized for their poetry and prose “Their essays give me hope at Carnegie Mellon’s 2016 Martin because it seems like many of them Luther King, Jr. Writing Awards are not alone in dealing with it. They Ceremony on Jan. 18. have peers, family and teachers who The writing awards program help them deal with their personal — now in its 17th year — is a experiences with discrimination, highlight of CMU’s Martin Luther organize their words on the page or King, Jr. Day celebration. In organize politically and collectively addition to readings, guests enjoyed to try and do something about racism a performance by the School of and discrimination,” Purcell added. Drama’s Gospel Ensemble and a At the high school level, students light dinner. Throughout January and from Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 took February, CMU will celebrate King’s first, second and third in the poetry legacy with special programming. category. Associate Professor of English “Our students are interested Rich Purcell has judged entries for in poetry and what poetry can do. three years, but this is his first year They care about social justice and directing the MLK Writing Awards. human rights issues, and how these “Every year I am struck by the connect to their own lives,” said maturity and insight these high Christa Romanosky (DC 2006), a school and college students express. poetry instructor at CAPA. “They Each student is all too aware of have worked hard to craft poems that the way they are either targets of speak about the truths of identity, or witnesses to the way racism and race and ethnicity; poems that have other forms of discrimination shape something to say and poems that our social world,” Purcell said. want to be heard.” “The MLK Writing Awards Romanosky, who holds bachelor’s remind me that art is one way degrees in psychology and creative for young adults to process and writing from CMU, first became understand this sad but all too real familiar with the writing awards as element of our social world.” an undergraduate student. “This is Founded in 1999 by Jim Dan- always an inspiring event,” she said. iels, the Thomas Stockham Baker Read excerpts of four entries from University Professor of English, the students at CMU.

s i x First Place, College Prose Second Place, College Prose First Place, College Poetry

What’s in a Name? Sushi at Yunioshi’s Acceptance Quite a Lot Kevin Lee, Junior, Electrical & Kelly Kim, Freshman Hyunho Yoon, Sophomore Computer Engineering

Recalling my past experiences and I’ve had new friends, with the best of You probably think you’ve seen me viewing them in retrospect, I realized intentions, go out of their way to tell me sipping bubble teas, walking Pekingese that my entire life as an Asian living how much they enjoy eating rice, as if and other small breeds across these city streets in non-Asian countries was about some solidarity could be formed on the Kicking it with Mr. Miyagi in the back seat proving myself to other people: when basis of those sticky grains. Of course, I of my Honda Accord SE, puffin poppy seeds my peers didn’t think I would be good would appreciate it more if they treated bumpin’ Far East, and always acting accordingly. at English, I vowed to prove them me like their other friends who go nuts I’m that young Bruce Lee with the buckteeth wrong by participating constantly in for bacon cheeseburgers and Chipotle, and Coke bottle frames, class discussions, writing for the school but the fact is I do like rice as much as that don’t know he don’t know how to sing. newspaper and magazine, and taking the I like burgers (a lot), and I hardly think But you know I know when that “Hotrine Bring” AP English tests. When they told me that the Asian-Americans who worked on the I’m that Karaoke King with that four-inch thing. the reason why many Asians don’t join railroads and sugarcane fields a century I’m that chink in the back pew sports is because they spend all their time past would have been offended if a white trading Yu-Gi-Oh cards for Pikachu’s. in the library studying, I signed myself up person went up to them and tried to be I’m that dude with the kimchi stains on his Canada-Goose-Fu-Manchu, for both rowing and squash. friendly, albeit relying on a racial crutch dripping down to his Jimmy Choo shoes. But, what were my efforts for? As the for lack of situational familiarity. So I For some reason, Editor-in-Chief for the school newspaper seldom get annoyed when it happens. I’m not the person you know but the guy that you see. and the school magazine, a fourth-year I’ve had others politely ask, “Are But if you ever want to get to know the real me, member of varsity crew and equipped you from Pittsburgh?” in lieu of “What I’ll be sippin soju like it’s iced tea with 5’s on both of the AP English tests, country are you from?” But based on the on the corner of Mott Street I still didn’t feel like I conquered English type of people who mostly ask the former eating sushi with Mr. Yunioshi. or was “good enough” for my white question, I can tell it is the latter that they peers. Even after I received both the are curious of. Of course, more times school’s Journalism and Literary awards than not, if you ask a Carnegie Mellon in front of the whole school, I was disap- student with a foreign sounding name, he Second Place, College Poetry pointed to find out that many classmates or she will not be from the United States; and teachers assumed I was going to nor am I, so I can’t say that they’re major in STEM. unjustified. And besides, I work with While I was proving my American- elderly patients at the local hospital— How I Came to Be American Charu Sharma, Graduate Student, ness, I was struggling to prove my Asian- some of whom affectionately remember Human-Computer Interaction ness. I spent many weekends in my dorm the “oriental gentleman” they had a nice room, hovering over SAT books because conversation with — so I learned not the Korean ajummas (“aunts”) told me to get offended even by the more direct And I was born with ten toes like my mother and her mother “Asians need higher test scores than most variation of the question. and I was born with ten fingers, and her mother college applicants.” I nibbled raw carrots Then there are the several enthusiastic two eyes and two ears, who learned to choke and ate tofu when I really wanted to be bus drivers who yell out “Nihao!” when and one heart, or so they say. before she learned to speak, popping French fries into my mouth and a large group of my Korean friends get And I was born red in the heart like the temples we’ve inscribed our biting burgers, because the Asian culture on. I don’t know what they expect to do if and I was born blue in the brain histories into, lionized skinny 90-pound girls who had we really spoke the language and replied like police sirens, like brown paper bags thigh gaps and 24-inch waists. I wasn’t something back to them in Mandarin, like a box of rocket popsicles, so used sleeping because I was studying until 4 or but I know they’re being nice. I resist the like a true American. to expanding 5 a.m. to receive all As, only to beat my urge to jokingly reply “Guten tag” when And it betrayed my brown skin, for the deep breaths tired self down when I didn’t. they’re Caucasian, or “Hola” if they’re colored of others. I realized how lonely living a life like darker skinned. I just smile and nod my like the monsoon mud, And my heart shouted at that skin, this was. Feeling like an outsider to both head in a respectful half-bow, as I would like the dry cracked earth, my brain chanted over its delicate American and Asian cultures, living a life to a bus driver in Seoul. like July in Rajasthan, and carefully crafted that didn’t feel like my own, pretending like Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate Sanskrit script— to be a multitalented, organized girl who bars from the Indian store, U-S-A. U-S-A. U-S-A. was perfect by both American and Asian like mehendi, like henna And so my parents named me standards, when really inside I was break- on a new bride’s arm, American. Or so they say. ing down. I began to conceal my true self elbow-deep in commitment, from others in an effort to shield myself from vulnerability and imperfection.

s e v e n vehicle to the ground, the Land Tamer Keeping Fighters Safe drove itself off of its transport platform Air and Ground, Unmanned All Around to commence its leg of the mission. The vehicle, equipped with sensors for detect- n Byron Spice ing chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear contamination, then found and Two very different autonomous robots technical project manager. “The helicop- surveyed several potentially contami- — a Black Hawk helicopter and a Land ter provides long-range capability and nated sites, autonomously traversing six ® Tamer ground vehicle — combined access to remote areas, while the ground miles in the process. their unique capabilities to perform re- vehicle has long endurance and high- When the vehicle sensors detected po- connaissance of a potentially contami- precision sensing.” tential contamination, operators were able nated remote site in a demonstration The Oct. 27 demonstration for the to switch the vehicle from autonomous this fall for the U.S. Army. Army’s Tank Automotive Research, operation into a tele-operated mode for a The joint demonstration by Carnegie Development and Engineering Center more detailed exploration of the site. Mellon’s National Robotics Engineer- (TARDEC) took place at Sikorsky’s “The teaming of unmanned aerial ing Center (NREC) and Sikorsky Air- Development Flight Center in West vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles, craft, a Lockheed Martin Co., proved Palm Beach, Fla. as demonstrated here, has enormous The autonomous Black Hawk carry- that ground and air robots can perform In the demonstration, a Black Hawk potential to bring the future ground com- ing NREC’s Land Tamer vehicle to a complex missions that would otherwise helicopter equipped with Sikorsky’s mander an adaptable, modular, responsive remote site in West Palm Beach, Fla. put soldiers at risk. Matrix™ autonomy kit flew NREC’s and smart capability that can evolve as “We were able to demonstrate a new Land Tamer all-terrain vehicle, slung be- quickly as needed to meet a constantly SUV called Boss. technological capability that combines neath the aircraft in a specially designed changing threat,” said Paul Rogers, TAR- The Black Hawk helicopter used in the strengths of air and ground ve- cage, 12 miles to a remote area. DEC director. “The cooperative effort the demonstration was a UH-60MU hicles,” said Jeremy Searock, NREC Once the helicopter lowered the between the Army labs, academia and model, equipped for “fly-by-wire” industry to bring solutions to the warf- operation. Sikorsky installed its Matrix ighter is exciting to see.” technology, which it has been developing NREC led the 19-month project, since 2013. which was called Extending the Reach of “We invested in Matrix technology the Warfighter Through Robotics. because we knew it would mean that, in NREC has extensive experience in certain scenarios, the warfighter can be unmanned ground vehicles, having devel- kept out of harm’s way and would be able oped the unmanned Crusher off-road ve- to perform more missions and perform hicle for the Defense Advanced Research them more effectively,” said Mark Miller, Projects Agency (DARPA), the Advanced vice president of research and engineer- Platform Demonstrator for TARDEC ing at Sikorsky. “This demonstration and a tactical unmanned ground vehicle, indicated just that.” called Gladiator, for the U.S. Marines, as “This project was a great partnership well as advanced off-road autonomous between Carnegie Mellon and Sikorsky driving technology. NREC also was Aircraft,” Searock said. “It was reward- part of CMU’s Tartan Racing Team that ing for our engineers to work with Sikor- NREC’s Land Tamer vehicle performed environmental sensing won the $2 million 2007 DARPA Urban sky’s team to create a new capability that at a remote site as part of the demonstration. Challenge robot race with its autonomous will benefit our military forces.”

Crime and Punishment c o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e o n e

The students interviewed a diverse sample of the local population, including Pittsburgh police officers, faculty from CMU and the University of Pittsburgh, attorneys, social workers, clergy and an East Liberty-based rapper. Throughout their research, they paid close attention to a complex network of interrelated issues, including racial disparities in arrest rates, and how those dynamics influence community relationships with law enforcement and public opinion of drug use. For example, African-Americans — Throughout their research, the CMU students discovered an overwhelming majority of Pittsburgh particularly young black men — are residents were in favor of decriminalization of marijuana. Pictured (L-R) are Danial Kusbit, Lisa Tu, arrested for possession at higher rates Stephen Nimalasuriya, Gabriel Vegh-Gaynor and Jack Devine. than individuals from other races; in 2014, 70 percent of those arrested for of drug laws shape the environment individuals for years, affecting access to $100, saving time and resources. marijuana possession in Pittsburgh in which we live now, and to some social services and limiting housing and Throughout their research and at a were black. degree shape how proposals for reform employment opportunities. local hearing, the students discovered “Social problems are not kind will be received.” “The punishment doesn’t fit the that an overwhelming majority of enough to live within narrow Presenting their findings to 40 crime,” Tu said. Pittsburgh residents were in favor disciplinary boundaries. They are members of the campus community, Pittsburgh’s current penalty for of decriminalization. complex and multifaceted,” remarked the group explained that from an possession is up to 30 days in jail and “City Council ended up thoroughly Alex John London, professor of ethical standpoint, Pittsburgh’s current a $500 fine. Under a new ordinance discussing and passing marijuana philosophy and director of CMU’s stance on marijuana possession is too proposed by City Council, however, decriminalization legislation, and the Center for Ethics and Policy and the harsh. Possession charges for even police will have the option to issue a research that the capstone students e i g h t EHPP major. “The history and politics small amounts of marijuana can haunt citation and a fine ranging from $25 to produced was part of the robust Winning in Life CMU Celebrates Its Student-Athletes

n Andrea James, Heidi Opdyke

Student-athletes at Carnegie Mellon set would be hosting the NCAA tournament the bar high for themselves in sports and playing the same first-round team and the game of life. [Cabrini College] as we did my freshman Their performance in the classroom year,” said Broderick, who plans to attend has been a significant point of pride medical school. “It was a really good way for the community. During the fall, 74 to come full circle.” student-athletes finished the semester A member of the University Athletic with 4.0 GPAs. Sixty-eight were perfect Association, CMU has 18 intercollegiate in the classroom during the spring 2015 teams. Like all Division III schools, semester. athletic scholarships are prohibited, so CMU President Subra Suresh students compete for the joy of the game. praised student-athletes for their work The students study in a wide variety of in the classroom while recognizing undergraduate programs that represent that participation in athletics can be a the entire university. transformative experience for students. Christopher Herrera (E 2016) was a During the second annual Student- wide receiver on the football team who Athlete Academic Achievement recorded eight receptions for 137 yards Celebration, he thanked the students for and four touchdowns. The senior civil the way they represent the university. and environmental engineering major Of the students who attended, nine said the balance between academics and students have unblemished academic the Athletics Department is a driving records with perfect 4.0s. force for the students and “It’s not just about playing a game the program. or a sport. It’s not just about winning. It’s about lifelong lessons that you pick up and will serve you very well,” President Suresh said. “It’s about winning in life that comes out of such “ It’s not just about an experience.” playing a game Director of Athletics Josh Centor said CMU’s student-athletes represent or a sport. It’s the best of intercollegiate athletics. not just about Academic All-American Sam Benger scored a “Participation in intercollegiate school record 22 touchdowns last season. athletics must complement the learning winning. It’s about that takes place in the classroom and lifelong lessons you all live that philosophy each and every day,” he told the assembled that you pick up student-athletes at the celebration. and will serve you Amanda Broderick (S 2016), a conversation at the hearing,” Gilman job easy. I was able to step back from member of the women’s soccer team, very well.” added. “As always, working with them the research process and provide them said the support of faculty and coaches was rewarding and beneficial to City with feedback and guidance more has helped her succeed. The team — President Council and the citizens of Pittsburgh.” as a colleague or mentor than as a finished the season with a 17-2-1 mark Subra Suresh Based on its research findings, professor,” Aronson commented. and was ranked as high as No. 3 in the student team made several “They ended up producing a final NCAA Division III. recommendations that would enhance product that one would expect from “Whenever we have review sessions decriminalization policy. Chief among seasoned policy analysts with several or meetings with professors during them are public health awareness years of professional experience.” practice, our coaches allow us to leave campaigns addressing the risks of London, too, was impressed by the early. Likewise, professors are flexible “I chose to participate in Carnegie marijuana use, monitoring for adverse way the students tied history and ethics in rescheduling tests while we are away Mellon football because I love to play effects and ensuring police support and to an ongoing local issue. at games or allow us to take tests on football,” Herrera said. “I have had accountability. “Good ethics and sound policy are the road while proctored by coaches,” to overcome a lot of obstacles and The group is quick to stress that about moving us from where we are she said. “Many professors also come different hardships that have made me decriminalization would be a positive now to a better state of affairs. The watch our games, which is really cool the player and person I am today. Many step forward, but not a silver bullet work of the students in this year’s to see.” intangible characteristics, such as hard solution. EHPP capstone course exemplified A senior in the Mellon College of work, dedication and working in a team “Something more needs to be done this multi-disciplinary approach and Science, Broderick said some of her have helped me grow as a student and to address the larger issues,” said the relevance of history and ethics will help me in my future career in Vegh-Gaynor. to a live policy issue for Pittsburgh favorite CMU memories involve her The students were advised by Jay residents,” London said. teammates. During her first year at medicine.” D. Aronson, associate professor of The EHPP major in the Dietrich CMU, the team went to New York City The football team ended the year science, technology and society in the College of Humanities and Social for a game and had a bonus of getting 8-3, with a seven-game winning streak History Department. Aronson was Sciences is administered jointly by to see “Wicked” on Broadway. Her capped by a victory in the ECAC struck by the professional quality of the History and Philosophy sophomore year, the team traveled to Legacy Bowl over Bridgewater State. their work. departments. It focuses equally on Germany, Belgium, France and Holland Herrera returned a kickoff 88 yards for “It was an absolute pleasure to the historical understanding of how to play semi-professional teams during a touchdown in the first quarter of the work with this year’s EHPP seniors — modern-day problems have evolved spring break. game to put the Tartans up 14-7 and they took ownership of the project very and the importance of developing clear “My favorite overall moment was set them on their way to a resounding early on in the semester and made my criteria for ethical decision-making. when we learned this year that we 48-13 win. n i n e Inside the Lines Illustrator Draws on Nostalgia To Create Pittsburgh Coloring Book

n Kelly Saavedra

Keeping the pace in today’s modern early 1950s and is still going strong. for friends and family, remembering, “They’re not dismissing all the tech world has left many longing for “They only sell pizza — and only as Dorothy did in “The Wizard of cool technology today; they’re just a simpler time, or at the very least, a one kind of pizza — and they continue Oz,” there’s no place like home. saying it’s nice to take a break from it “time out.” to thrive after 60+ years. No white “I lived in Pittsburgh for 21 now and then.” To unplug and recharge, an pizza, no hoagies. Salads? Are you years,” wrote Amy Price Lee, who The coloring book is available at increasing number of adults are kidding me? You go to the counter moved to Florida in the mid 1990s. a number of locations throughout reaching for coloring books. and it’s ‘how many slices?’ There are “I love this book because Rick Pittsburgh and online through Amazon. Pittsburgh Magazine’s top picks for no seats or tables, so people sit and captured the heart of Pittsburgh, and holiday gift buying last year included eat their pizza on the steps of the old pieces of Ambridge where I grew up, a new Pittsburgh-themed coloring police station next door, hence the too. I still visit my hometown every book illustrated by Rick Antolic, a name,” Antolic said. year with my daughter. She is 15 and 1993 graduate of Carnegie Mellon’s Another page-worthy memory he loves the coloring book. There are School of Art. shares is strolling around downtown lots of memories for her in it as well.” It features many of the city’s local Pittsburgh as a kid right before Christ- Lee added, “We’re never too old charms — such as the Gateway Clip- per, the Farmer’s Market, Kennywood, even Carnegie Mellon’s Hunt Institute — and local businesses are lining up to get it in stock. “Originally, I wanted to do a Carnegie Mellon University coloring book,” Antolic said. “I was very involved with the Thistle yearbook as a student when someone pointed out to me that Crayola had a lavender crayon called ‘Thistle.’” Antolic proposed to create a 10- 12 page coloring book of Carnegie Mellon scenes, give the yearbook staff a booth at Spring Carnival, and ask Crayola to donate a bunch of Thistle crayons. “But this was in 1991, before on-demand printing — even before the Internet — and it was incredibly expensive to have anything printed then,” Antolic said. PHOTO BY NAN DAWN ALEXANDER A recent rise in the popularity of coloring books for adults spurred Rick Antolic (A 1993) Antolic to revisit the idea. This time he decided to broaden his scope, mas with his parents and two siblings, to color. It is soothing, and you can choosing to fill its pages with many of looking at all the holiday scenes in the nurture your creative side.” the treasured hometown memories that storefront windows. As an illustrator, Antolic has done fill his head. “The highlight was always a lot of art for products and advertise- Gracing the book’s cover is his Kaufmann’s windows,” Antolic said ments for other people’s businesses. partially colored line drawing of of the former department store. “What The coloring book marks the first time the city from the overlook on Mt. Kaufmann’s did with their Christmas that the actual product is his, something Washington, a view Antolic says he window displays was a dying art. I’m that he hadn’t considered until the end never gets tired of seeing. glad I got to experience Kaufmann’s of the project, but once he realized it, “I loved it when our family windows into adulthood, where I could felt remarkably satisfying. would have visitors from out of really appreciate them as an artist.” “We love our smartphones and town, and we’d take them to the Nancy Reynolds, manager of tablets and video games on our 52-inch overlook. Taking visitors to the top VisitPittsburgh’s Welcome Center at flat screen high-definition TVs, but of Mt. Washington is still one of my Fifth Avenue Place, likes that Antolic there is a trend now to reach back to favorite things to do in Pittsburgh. It’s included the city’s neighborhoods, simpler times,” he said. “We miss the always nice to witness the reaction of identifiable landmarks and lots of ‘old stuff’ — things that don't rely on someone who is experiencing it for the details in each scene’s background. batteries or need to be plugged in or first time,” he said. “I chose to sell it at the Welcome charged.” Inside the book, drawings of neigh- Center because it will make a great He noted that despite the popularity borhoods that reflect the local flavor, souvenir for folks to take home and of iTunes, music downloads and such as Polish Hill and Deutschtown, show off some of the places they streaming services, vinyl records also are nestled between mouth-watering visited while they were here, and to are making a comeback. memories like Dave and Andy’s Ice remember the flavor of Pittsburgh,” “So, I think the current coloring Cream on Atwood St., and a popular Reynolds said. “Locals also will find book trend is really just a part of a pizza shop in Ambridge, Pa., where it entertaining, coloring their favorite larger picture, one where we see adults Antolic grew up. The Original Ital- neighborhood landmarks.” taking a break from our modern tech ian Style Pizza place, better known Some locals who have been away world in favor of something more throughout Beaver County as Police from the ’Burgh for many years have sentimental. And I think it’s really quite Station Pizza, was established in the scooped up multiple copies of the book nice,” he said. t e n Color Our World Break out the crayons, colored pencils or markers and take a few minutes to color a page out of CMU alumnus Rick Antolic’s Pittsburgh coloring book. The Hunt Institute at CMU is just one of Antolic’s favorite local scenes to draw for others. ˮ The Full Montyˮ Patrick Wilson Returns To Make Directing Debut

n Erin Keane Scott

Patrick Wilson is back at CMU, again. “I’ve been talking with [professors] But this time it’s different. Gary Kline and Don Wadsworth He’s not giving a commencement about finding or making time to address and receiving an honorary direct for years,” Wilson said. “Gary doctorate in fine arts. And he’s not here suggested this was the perfect fit to talk to students about making a career because I know the show and we had in acting. the right class for it.” This time the 1995 Drama School Wilson is interested in bringing a graduate is here to direct “The Full completely fresh take to the show and Monty” as a director-in-residence in the has been collaborating with a production John Wells Directing Program. team that comprises School of Drama “The Full Monty,” by Terrence design and management students for the McNally with music and lyrics by David better part of a year. They are working Yazbek, is a production Wilson knows together to create a world familiar to well. He earned a Tony Award nomina- many Pittsburghers — a ’90s Rustbelt tion for best leading actor for his perfor- city (in this case Buffalo, N.Y.) befallen mance as Jerry. by layoffs. The men of the story take This return to “The Full Monty” their cue from the famed male danc- marks Wilson’s directorial debut and ers called the Chippendales to create a what better place to make this entrée revue that both pleases their wives and than the training grounds he used for his bolsters their own self-esteem. career as an actor. Most recently, Wilson Wilson knew the timing was right was nominated for a Golden Globe for this new challenge and chose to Award for his role as Lou Solverson carve out the time for the project. on the second season of FX’s hit series “It worked perfectly, and I was just “Fargo.” hoping nothing great came along, and “Conservatory training is not for nothing that outweighed this experience everybody,” Wilson said. “The School did,” Wilson said. “I’ve reached a point of Drama treats the arts as a career and in my career where I want to do what not a hobby and allows you to enter the makes me happy and push myself artisti- business with more tools in your belt.” cally.” He attributes this “tool belt” — a “The Full Monty” will run from handy metaphor when relating back to Feb. 18-27 at the Philip Chosky Theater

PHOTOS BY LOUIS STEIN the blue-collar steel workers featured in in the Purnell Center for the Arts. “The Full Monty” — to his longevity For more information and to buy Patrick Wilson was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in in the business. Now in his 40s, Wilson tickets, visit drama.cmu.edu/50/ "The Full Monty." Above, Wilson conducts a reading of the script with has been working steadily in film and on box-office. Peter Cooke, Don Wadsworth, and alumnus Matthew Stocke (L-R). stage since graduating from CMU.

Coolest Ride in Town c o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e f i v e

city and school set you in that business models, marketing and sales. mentality.” AlphaLab Gear selects startups Apte noted several CMU courses that based on its ability to develop and he found instrumental. launch a winning product and/or ser- “A lot of the courses at CMU, like vice, the technology’s market potential the entrepreneurship practicum, business and the concept’s originality. development and business marketing, “We took Autopods into the really helped to form the initial business program because we believe they have model from where we could progress,” an idea and underlying technology Apte said.“The professors and staff were that, with the proper business model, extremely helpful. You could approach can completely disrupt short-distance them anytime and they would help you.” transportation, especially in the U.S.,” Autopods recently received a $50,000 said Assistant Program Manager investment from AlphaLab Gear for a 9 Chris Millard. percent share of the company. AlphaLab “They also have a great team. Gear is an accelerator program that Tanuj and Deepak have the perfect helps entrepreneurs in the early stages blend of technical talent and busi- of product and customer development. ness smarts to makes this company It provides startups with free office successful. Like all our companies, we space, thousands of dollars in perks took them because their success means and discounts, such as free legal and a healthy return on our investment,

accounting services, and educational which goes right back into funding PHOTO BY COOPER KOSTELIC programming. It also provides mentors more of the emerging talent in this who help startups with their business region,” Millard said. Passengers view video advertisements on an iPad. t w e l v e