Hey, Hey, Hey...It's Bill Cosby! Researchers Cook-Up Robot

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piper5/07 Issue

4 I n t e r n a t i o n a l D i s p a t c h e s Hey, Hey, Hey ... It’s Bill Cosby!

9 A s k a n d r e w H a n g o n t o

y o u r m o r ta r - 1 0 N e w s B r i e f s b o a r d s , l a d i e s 1 2 L e c t u r e s p o t l i g h t a n d g e n t l e m e n ,

c o m e d i a n B i l l

C o s b y i s c o m i n g Researchers t o ca m p u s ! T h e c o m e d i a n , act o r

Cook-Up Robot a n d A m e r i ca n i c o n Recipes Anyone w i l l d e l i v e r t h e k e y n o t e a d d r e s s at

Can Follow C a r n e g i e M e l l o n ’ s

n Byron Spice c o m m e n c e m e n t

It once would have required the c e r e m o n y o n

expertise of the entire Robotics Institute S u n d a y , M a y 2 0 . to build a robot that connects wirelessly F o r m o r e o n to the Internet and can be controlled from any Web-linked computer. Now, C o s b y a n d a l l

thanks to a Carnegie Mellon research t h e d e ta i l s a b o u t team, almost anyone can do it. c o m m e n c e m e n t , s e e Want a robot that can keep an eye on your pet during the day and send t h e C o m m e n c e m e n t

photos to your work computer? You can P r e v i e w s e ct i o n build one. Want a robot that looks like a b e g i n n i n g o n flower, with leaves that open and close based on time of day or your mood? p a g e f i v e . Photo by erinn

C o n t i n u e d o n p a g e n i n e

Erwin Steinberg Retires After Six Decades

n Jonathan Potts That was 16 years ago. Steinberg By the time he was 70, English spent five years as vice provost then Professor Erwin Steinberg was giving returned to the English Department, his serious thought to retirement. Then retirement plans forgotten — until now. Carnegie Mellon President Robert After 60 years, Steinberg is retiring, Mehrabian offered him a brand-new bringing to a close the storied career position: vice provost for education, that has spanned several chapters of with a charge to cut the university’s Carnegie Mellon history. double-digit freshman attrition rate. So

Steinberg decided to stick around. C o n t i n u e d o n p a g e 1 1 e n a n d r e y o K y B P h o t o

E r w i n S t e i n b e r g ’ s ca r e e r at C a r n e g i e M e l l o n h a s s p a n n e d 6 0 y e a r s . H e ’ s

s h o w n h e r e at t h e M A p w 2 5 t h a n n i v e r s a r y c e l e b r at i o n t h i s p a s t f a l l . O n e Ruder Jets To Germany To Meet piper With Nobel Laureates 5/07 Issue n Chriss Swaney P u b l i s h e r Teresa Thomas Warren Ruder will be making a dream Assistant Professor of Mechanical En-

E d i t o r come true this summer when he meets gineering Philip LeDuc, nominated him Bruce Gerson with 15 Nobel Laureates. The Ph.D. for two reasons. For starters, the oppor- M a n a g i n g E d i t o r candidate in Carnegie Mellon’s Depart- tunity carries great academic glory. But Susie Cribbs ment of Biomedical Engineering was it also serves as an excellent platform W r i t e r s selected to attend the 57th Meeting of for a young researcher to interact with Cindy Carroll Jonathan Potts Nobel Laureates and Students in some of the world’s great minds. Eric Sloss Byron Spice Lindau, Germany, July 1–6. “I’m probably as excited as Warren, Chriss Swaney “I’m elated. I hope to learn lessons because this is the first time a Carnegie Ken Walters from the laureates, including how they Mellon student has participated in this D e s i g n e r approached their own research careers particular program,” LeDuc said. Science and Education. The institute is Melissa Stoebe Communications Design Group as younger scholars and what practices A handful of select U.S. scholars administered by ORAU under contract

P h o t o g r a p h y complemented their success,” said will join an additional 450 international with the Department of Energy to man- Ken Andreyo Ruder, whose own research focuses students to make the academic trek this age programs that support science educa- Communications Design Group tion and research. Carnegie Mellon is a To contact The Piper staff, call 412-268-2900 member institution of ORAU, a consor- or email [email protected]. “I h o p e t o l e a r n l e ss o n s f r o m t h e l a u r e at e s , i n c l u d i n g h o w tium of 98 major research universities. Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate and Carnegie Mellon University is required not to discriminate in admission, t h e y a p p r o a c h e d t h e i r o w n r e s e a r c h c a r e e r s a s y o u n g e r employment, or administration of its programs or activities Ruder, a second-year Ph.D. student, on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of s c h o l a r s a n d w h at p r a c t i c e s c o m p l e m e n t e d t h e i r s u c c e ss .” earned his bachelor’s degree in civil the Educational Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or other federal, state, and environmental engineering from the or local laws or executive orders. — W a r r e n R u d e r In addition, Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate Massachusetts Institute of Technology in admission, employment or administration of its programs on the basis of religion, creed, ancestry, belief, age, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity. Carnegie Mellon does not in 2002. Between 2003 and 2005, he discriminate in violation of federal, state, or local laws or executive orders. However, in the judgment of the Carnegie Mellon on how stem cells interpret mechanical summer to the shores of beautiful Lake worked for the VA Medical Center Human Relations Commission, the Presidential Executive Order directing the Department of Defense to follow a policy of, “Don’t cues during tissue integration. Constance in Lindau to participate in affiliated with Harvard Medical School ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue,” excludes openly gay, lesbian and bisexual students from receiving ROTC scholarships or serving as a research technician in Professor in the military. Nevertheless, all ROTC classes at Carnegie Mel- The 27 year old joins 50 other plenary lectures and small discussion lon University are available to all students. Inquiries concerning application of these statements should members of a U.S. delegation supported groups with the distinguished scientists. Aldebaran Hofer’s cell physiology lab. be directed to the Provost, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, telephone 412-268-6684 by funding from the U.S. Department of This year, the meeting will address “We look forward to having Warren or the Vice President for Enrollment, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, telephone 412- Energy Office of Science, the National research related to medicine and share his wonderful experience with the 268-2056. Carnegie Mellon University publishes an annual campus entire academic community when he security report describing the university’s security, alcohol and Science Foundation Directorate for physiology. drug, and sexual assault policies and containing statistics about the number and type of crimes committed on the campus Mathematical and Physical Sciences, “It’s an amazing experience, be- returns,” said Indira Nair, vice provost of during the preceding three years. You can obtain a copy by contacting the Carnegie Mellon Police Department at 412-268- the National Institutes of Health, Mars cause the U.S. delegation arranges for education and a professor of engineering 2323. The security report is available through the World Wide Web at www.cmu.edu/police/statistics.htm. Inc. and the Oak Ridge Associated additional interactions with the Nobel and public policy. “We are so very proud Obtain general information about Carnegie Mellon University by calling 412-268-2000. of him, and we hope his experience Produced for Media Relations by the Communications Universities (ORAU). Laureates and other students attending Design Group, May 2007, 07-415. Ruder’s advisors, Biomedical the meetings,” said Sam Held, pro- will encourage more of our students to Engineering Professor Jim Antaki and gram manager at Oakridge Institute for participate in this exceptional program.”

Celebrate Earth Day, Change Your Light Bulbs

n Eric Sloss

In today’s world, there’s a lot of focus on The team is building individual pods, transportation and its effects on global centered around a larger core, that allow warming. But when people around the for easy upgrades of the space, as well world recently celebrated Earth Day, as the ability to expand and rearrange. they should have paid some attention to New units can be added or exchanged their homes and offices, too. to allow the house to grow or be modified “Buildings fundamentally impact to meet a homeowner’s changing needs. people’s lives and the health of the The design also creates a comfortable planet,” said Steve Lee, a professor living environment that promotes close in the School of Architecture. “In the interactions between the occupant, the U.S., buildings use one-third of our total house and nature. energy, two-thirds of our electricity, one- At the conclusion of the event, the eighth of our water and transform land house will become a permanent addition that provides valuable ecological services. to the Powder Mill Nature Reserve in Atmospheric emissions from the use of Ligonier, Pa., an outdoor educational cen- energy lead to acid rain, ground-level ter and natural field station affiliated with ozone, smog and global climate change.” the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The construction industry creates T h e C a r n e g i e M e l l o n t e a m h a s c r e at e d a S o l a r D e cat h l o n m o d e l w i t h Though it may take years for the more than 136 million tons of building a “ p l u g - a n d - p l a y ” m o d u l a r s y s t e m f o r a n a d a p ta b l e l i v i n g s p ac e . building industry to adopt the new ap- and demolition waste in the U.S. alone, proaches to construction displayed on amounting to approximately 2.8 pounds to build energy-efficient living spaces from the schools of design, drama and the Mall, the Solar Decathlon is a step in of waste per person, per day. Three that will inspire new approaches in the art with other groups in the Pittsburgh the right direction. And with more and billion tons of raw materials are used building industry. The event, called the community to create a living space that more universities from around the globe globally each year. Solar Decathlon, will be held in October isn’t just efficient — it’s flexible. participating in the Solar Decathlon, these To address this issue, the Depart- on the Mall in Washington, D.C. The Carnegie Mellon team has and other new approaches to building ment of Energy created an event that Carnegie Mellon’s entry takes a created a “plug-and-play” modular efficiency may hit the market sooner challenges universities around the world multifaceted approach, uniting students system for an adaptable living space. than anyone would think.

T w o Rousseau Reveals Real Deals Between Employees, Employers n Ken Walters

Few people have more insight than Denise Rousseau when it comes to understanding the intricacies of what’s said around the office water cooler. The H.J. Heinz II Professor of Organizational Behavior and Public Policy at the Heinz and Tepper schools is a world-renowned expert on how an employee’s understanding of the employment relationship strongly affects work groups, firms and society. She has received the Academy of Management’s George Terry Award for best management book twice, and has been widely recognized for developing the theory of the psychological contract.

What are psychological contracts and how do they influence workplace n d r e y o behavior? A e n A psychological contract is the worker’s K understanding of what he or she owes the company, and what that person is owed in P h o t o b y return. We call it the “deal in the mind.” H . J . H e i n z i i P r o f e s s o r o f O r g a n i z at i o n a l B e h av i o r a n d P u b l i c P o l i c y D e n i s e R o u s s e a u s a y s s t u d e n t s e n t e r i n g And because it’s psychological, it is open t h e w o r k f o r c e s h o u l d b a r g a i n f o r p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s — a n d t h e y s h o u l d n ’ t b e s h y a b o u t to all sorts of subjective interpretations. c o m m u n i cat i n g t h e i r n e e d s t o p o t e n t i a l e m p l o y e r s . Over time, I’ve come to believe the old adage, “Half the promises never kept their commitment to the workplace. out, they will have more skills than they How could we change that? were never made.” There is a tendency for The ex-post deals matter a lot more came in the door with. Over and over, One of the things we’ve found that helps people to read into a situation what they than the initial offer, but unfortunately our data tells us that people who have reinforce teamwork and also really sup- want to see. Part of the fascinating aspects most employers don’t realize that. They arrangements that build their skills have ports personal development is to send of psychological contracts is trying to help might put a lot up front, thinking they a benefit that keeps on giving. people to training together. There is a people get a more realistic understanding are going to get loyalty, but all that tells tendency to use training as a one-time of what the real deal is, even while they the employee is that they are a market- What are some of the more interest- event for an individual. But the more we are trying to create an arrangement in the able prospect. ing dynamics of today’s workplace? conduct development work in the context organization that brings them benefits Whether or not we reward for teamwork of a group, the more people learn how to they really want. People want to create How would you describe the rela- or we reward for being an individual work better together and are better able to psychological contracts that can be kept, tionship between companies and contributor. Organizations like to talk transfer their skills to the workplace. their employees today? not just imagined. about teamwork, but most managers are One of the nice things about Performance pressures are greater. not very good at rewarding the group as Carnegie Mellon students is that they have Companies need to do more with less. What should graduating students a whole, especially in the United States. tons of opportunities to work together in be thinking about as they enter the As a result, employers have pushed It’s hard sometimes to reward people for teams. They know the dark side of work- workplace? more risk and uncertainty off to em- collaborating with each other, when the ing in a team, but they’ve also had the Two things. First, they should trust ployees — fewer up-front guarantees, only way they can do their job is by be- excitement of designing a project until the but verify. If there is something that is less support to help them do their jobs, ing interdependent in our environment, wee hours of the morning that ultimately particularly important to you in a work a sense that job demands will increase where individual high performers have works great. And they know they did it situation, you don’t want to read between and that people should accept that. The such status. together. In that respect, they have some- the lines. You want to convey to your shift of risk onto the employee, without thing that most other universities don’t employer what you need. And don’t be matching employer support, is probably offer their students. shy about communicating that. There’s a the most singular feature of the last real tendency, especially for women, not 10 years. to be willing to speak up and say, “This is something that would make a big differ- What advice would you give to Fantastic Four ence for me.” graduating students entering the workplace now? Second, one of the fascinating things People bargain for a lot of things — I’ve found, from the employer’s perspec- more money, a flexible work schedule. tive, is that it’s less what you give people But the one feature that people bargain when they’re hired that creates a strong for that affects their life over time and bond. Instead, it’s what employers offer their ability to get the career and work somebody once the person is on the job life they want is to bargain for develop- — when they see they have a good person ment. I talk with my classes a lot about and they trust them — that the employer the power of any kind of employee provides something that motivates the arrangement that can change your m y Pav l a k individual in a special way. These ex-post A future. I think it’s good to bargain for arrangements make people think, “This interesting work or to take a degree

is a good company and I really want to P h o t o b y program at night. If the employer be committed to them.” Because most F o u r M e l l o n C o l l e g e o f S c i e n c e u n d e r g r a d u at e s l e a r n e d i n A p r i l t h at accepts an employee’s development people, if they can negotiate something t h e y ’ l l r e c e i v e G o l d w at e r S c h o l a r s h i p s t o p u r s u e t h e i r r e s e a r c h . J o n a - requests, the employer is sending a when they are hired, think they received t h a n S ta h l m a n , S a m a n t h a S pat h , G r e g o r y N e w b y a n d L a u r e n T h o r p e ( l - r ) signal to the employee that he or she is a r e f o u r o f 317 s o p h o m o r e s a n d j u n i o r s n at i o n w i d e c h o s e n f r o m m o r e it because they deserved it. But if they ne- important and valuable. It also provides t h a n 1,000 n o m i n at i o n s t o r e c e i v e s c h o l a r s h i p s t h i s y e a r . C o l l e g e s a n d gotiate while they are on the job, they feel employees with a compelling future. u n i v e r s i t i e s ca n s u b m i t u p t o f o u r n o m i n at i o n s a n n u a l ly f o r t h e s e a w a r d s , like they’re special and the company is Because even if this job doesn’t work a n d f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e a l l o f C a r n e g i e M e l l o n ’ s n o m i n e e s w e r e s e l e ct e d . special to recognize them, which increases T h r e e I n t e r n at i o n a l D i s pat c h e s

Qatar Students Take Alternative Break in Pittsburgh Suburb

n Sahrr Malik & Mehrunissa Anis contributed to this report

It’s become tradition at Carnegie Mellon for teams of students to leave campus during spring break and assist in humanitarian efforts around the world. It’s called the Alternative Break program, and this year a team of students from Qatar took part as well in a Pitts- burgh suburb appropriately called Carnegie. There they helped residents and merchants continue to rebuild their community and businesses that were devastated as a result of Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The students had to work hard and fast — they didn’t have much time after leaving Doha for Amsterdam, then Detroit and finally Pittsburgh. With just a few hours to enjoy the university’s Greek Sing and then a joyous trip Sunday morning to a music-filled service at Mount Ararat Baptist Church in East Liberty, they got down to three days of hard work in Carnegie. “We worked on projects started by the Seventh Day Adventist Church,” explained Sahrr Malik and Mehrunissa Anis, undergraduates in business administration. “Our liaison with the church, Andrew Clark, let us know that our first project would be right up our alley! We were to devise a business plan for the Internet café they wanted to open on Main Street. The catch was that the plan had to include plenty of computer equipment for a low S t u d e n t s f r o m C a r n e g i e M e l l o n i n Q ata r t r av e l e d t o P i tt s b u r g h d u r - budget of $10,000. Needless to say, many hours were spent perusing Web sites to satisfy i n g t h e i r s p r i n g b r e a k t o pa r t i c i pat e i n c o m m u n i t y s e r v i c e p r o g r a m s . the amount and capabilities quota given to us. We did reach our goal and were able to provide Mr. Clark with a business plan that would work — and work well!” set of shelves, cleared rubbish from the stage area and repaired auditorium seats in the local Day two of their community service in Carnegie was the most tiring, but the most landmark, which is in the midst of an $8 million rehabilitation campaign. entertaining as they spent the day cleaning and painting the basement of a pizza shop. But it wasn’t all work and no play for the students. A visit to the campus had the team “The pizza shop owners were a Turkish family who had opened their doors just two raving about the “old buildings, gorgeous architecture and widespread lawns.” They were days before the flood hit. Shadi, the owner, told us his story and truly moved us. The dev- also in awe of the Fence, which was described to them as the “most widely painted object in astation and loss he experienced was evident in his eyes as he spoke of the tragic event. the world.” He was so kind and grateful to us. It was inspiring to see that our service that day would Before leaving, they did what every CMU-Q student does when they visit the Pittsburgh make such an impact on someone. His tragic story inspired us to make sure we did the campus — they raided the bookstore. The team also had the opportunity to see the Heinz best we could,” Malik and Anis said. History Center and attend a production of Riverdance at Heinz Hall. The students spent their last day in Pittsburgh at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library “Overall the alternative spring break was a trip I am sure none of us will ever forget,” and Music Hall, where they helped to clear about 30 years worth of debris that had piled the students said. “We have become closer as a group and were able to leave Pennsylvania up in the adjoining theater. The team of eight students dismantled and discarded a huge knowing that we had made a difference that week.”

Qatar Computer Science Faculty Create Osaka Mayor Visits ETC Teacher Outreach Program Junichi Seki, the mayor of Osaka, Japan, visited the Entertainment Technology Center on CS4Qatar, a new program offered by the Computer Science faculty at Carnegie Mellon in April 26 to learn more about its programs. Seki has invited the ETC to consider offering its Qatar, is tailored to reach out to technology, math and computer science teachers in local master’s program in Osaka. While in Pittsburgh, the mayor was invited to throw out the first schools. pitch at a Pirates baseball game. He also visited two ETC projects, including Project ER at Faculty members from both Pittsburgh and Qatar will provide resources for teachers Children’s Hospital and the Living History Installation at the Carnegie Science Center. ETC that will better allow them to teach computer science principles in a fun and relevant way. currently has international partnerships in Australia and Korea. This includes helping teachers understand all of the exciting career possibilities that are available to students who go on to study computer science in college. Meeting of the Minds — Qatar Style “We’re finding that a lot of teachers don’t know what computer science is,” says Majd The Qatar Campus held its inaugural Meeting of the Minds undergraduate research sym- Sakr, professor of computer science in Qatar. “If we can help teachers understand what posium on April 26. Students demonstrated robots they had built, showed movies they the field of computer science encompasses, they will be better equipped to educate their had produced, discussed experiments and much more. Local industry experts and faculty students and enhance computer science programs at their schools.” members from other universities judged the student projects and awarded prizes to the Sessions include “Computer Science Unplugged: How To Teach and Learn Computer best ones. The Meeting of the Minds has been a tradition at the Pittsburgh campus for Science Without Programming”; a session using Alice, an object-based, 3-D graphics 12 years, and this year it will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, authoring environment used to teach computer programming principles to students in in the University Center. The Meeting of the Minds is sponsored by Carnegie Mellon’s middle and high school; and a daylong seminar on Java, an object-oriented programming Undergraduate Research Office. language widely used in introductory programming and computer science courses. CS4Qatar will run from Friday, June 1, through Sunday, June 3.

s some renovations this Same Books, New Numbers summer as well. Two

n Cindy Carroll group study rooms will be ity librarie

s built at E&S and three at Engineering & Science (E&S) and E&S or Hunt this summer, you may en- Hunt. Rewiring through- Hunt libraries will be transformed this counter a certain amount of controlled u n i v e r out the libraries will summer, as about 500,000 books will chaos,” said Gloriana St. Clair, dean f

y o provide additional outlets s be reclassified, relabeled and reshelved. of University Libraries. “This is a big for laptops. The University Libraries are replacing project, and we have to expect it will be “Over the past couple the Dewey Decimal Classification sys- disruptive. However, we’ll do every- of years, we’ve been

tem with Library of Congress Classifi- thing we can to make a smooth and image courtemoving older materials to cation (LCC). LCC is already used in speedy transition. And we believe the “The transition to Library of Con- offsite storage, reclaim- the Mellon Institute, Qatar and Soft- result will be well worth any temporary gress Classification will provide Carn- ing space that we can now give back to ware Engineering Institute libraries. inconvenience.” egie Mellon students and faculty with students,” said St. Clair. “Students made The massive project will begin in Reclassification will give conti- a mainstream library experience that their needs clear, and the university and the E&S Library soon after commence- nuity to faculty and students’ library translates easily to any academic library our wonderful donors have responded. ment, and both libraries will be finished experiences, because LCC is common environment,” said Associate Dean of These changes will mean just as much to before fall classes begin. to almost all U.S. academic libraries. University Libraries Erika Linke. “This students as the Maggie Murph Café, if Keeping library users informed Most new books have preassigned is a big win for our scholars.” not more. I’m delighted,” she said. and helping them find materials as the LC numbers, which will save catalog- As if reorganizing the book collec- The libraries will distribute summer project unfolds are important concerns ing time and give students and faculty tions at two libraries were not enough, project updates via campus media, in the for the University Libraries. “If you use F o u r quicker access to new materials. Hunt and E&S libraries will undergo libraries and at www.library.cmu.edu. commencement07 American Icon Bill Cosby To Deliver Commencement Address Giants in Education, Business, Engineering, Music To Receive Honorary Degrees

n Bruce Gerson

The Class of 2007 is in for a treat. Not “As an actor, a humorist, and a only will they soon get their diplomas, citizen, Bill Cosby has been one of but they’ll also get a chance to hear America’s most eloquent advocates for from one of the world’s funniest and education and the value of developing most endearing comedic performers of every individual mind,” said Carnegie all time. He’s an American icon. Mellon President Jared L. Cohon. “We Bill Cosby, an award-winning are delighted that he will join us to comedian, actor, author and recording celebrate, in his inimitable style, the artist who’s also well known for his achievements and the promise of the commitment to education, will deliver class of 2007.” the keynote address at Carnegie Mellon’s Born in Philadelphia, Cosby devel- 110th commencement Sunday, May 20. oped a love and penchant for comedy in

“I t ’ s a lway s a p l e a s u r e t o s e e t h o s e f r e s h fa c e s o f

g r a d u at e s .” — B i l l C o s b y

The main ceremony will begin at 11 his formative years. After a stint in the a.m. in Gesling Stadium, where more U.S. Navy, he earned an athletic scholar- than 2,100 undergraduate and graduate ship to attend Temple University, where degrees will be conferred. he played football and ran track. During “It’s always a pleasure to see those his college days he honed his skills at fresh faces of new graduates. It’s also various nightclubs and comedy clubs. fun to notice the relieved smiles of the The 1960s was a breakout decade parents who are wondering, ‘Are they for Cosby. His storytelling comedy rou- going to be all right?’ The unanswered tines earned him his first appearance on questions are now really directed at “The Tonight Show” in 1963 and “The them,” Cosby said. Mike Douglas Show” in 1964. In 1965, Cosby has won numerous awards he landed a co-starring role alongside and honors for his work. Among them Robert Culp in the television series “I are eight People’s Choice Awards, Spy,” which broke the racial barrier in eight Grammy Awards for his comedy a dramatic television series. The rising albums and nine Emmy Awards. He was star launched “The Bill Cosby Show” in presented with the NAACP’s Springarn 1969, and two years later he produced Award in 1985, the Kennedy Center his first of many television specials. He Honors Lifetime Achievement Award also produced five best-selling albums Photo by erinn B i l l C o s b y , a n a w a r d - w i n n i n g c o m e d i a n , act o r , a u t h o r a n d r e c o r d i n g in 1998 and the Presidential Medal of in the ‘60s: “Bill Cosby is a Very a r t i s t , i s a l s o w e l l k n o w n f o r h i s c o m m i t m e n t t o e d u cat i o n . Freedom in 2002. C o n t i n u e d o n p a g e s i x

The Piper Commencement Preview

It’s May, and at Carnegie Mellon that means commencement is just around the corner. The university will celebrate the honors and achievements of the Class of 2007 May 19–20, and this special pull-out section of The Piper contains all you need to know to enjoy the university’s main event. You’ll find an in-depth look at this year’s keynote speaker, honorary degree recipients and student commencement speaker; a schedule of the weekend’s events; a list of diploma ceremonies; and general logistics about commencement. If you need more information, check out the Commencement 2007 Web site at www.cmu.edu/about/commencement/index.shtml.

F i v e S x i I experienced here.’” said — that’s something that everyone says, ‘That last thing she fully it ends up being diverse enough from them to make up the speech. Hope And then I’ll just use quotes and stories would you say if you were the speaker?’ hear at their graduation speech: ‘What basically asking them what they want to going to interview a bunch of people, that,” Scudera said. “Instead, I’m just on with your life, and I don’t want to do ment speech about how you have to go ally want to hear. going to tell them the things they liter the members of the Class of 2007. She’s something new and a little different for minor in religious studies, hopes to offer creative writing and psychology with a Scholar, who will earn a degree in May 20. Mellon’s commencement exercises on for you: you won’t find it at Carnegie senior Catherine Scudera has bad news ing the day” and “living in the moment,” speech chocked full of clichés like “seiz If you hope to hear a student graduation n awareness and sustainability, and equal committed to promoting environmental apartment complex whose residents are Neville Co-Op, a university-owned three years. Spring Carnival booth chair for the past community, and served as the group’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered belongs to ALLIES, which supports the other campus religious activities. She participates in meditation programs and in the Unitarian group on campus and port and counseling. She’s also active education instead of just reactive sup group’s efforts to offer preventative has been one of the forces behind the Sexual Assault Advisors (SSA) and board of advisors for the university’s counselor for two years. She’s on the newspaper, and served as an orientation Pulse, the university’s online student She’s the current editor of The Carnegie Mellon hasn’t been all work and no play. Creative Writing Jane Bernstein. guidance of Professor of English and developing all year under the watchful romantic comedy screenplay she’s been her honors thesis — a feature-length fact, she’s putting the final touches on essay and screenwriting genres. In a writer, particularly in the personal Children’s School. She’s also thrived as that field by working at the university’s chology and supplements her classes in Va., native has focused on social psy been rich. Academically, the Oak Hill, that of all students, but it has certainly Carnegie Mellon might not represent What TheyWant To Hear—Literally Scudera Tells Classof2007 Susie Cribbs Susie “Everyone has heard the commence- Instead the Science and Humanities commencementThis year, Scudera lives in the But Scudera’s life at Carnegie Scudera’s own experience at

------t u o y “ c c S she heads back to Virginia, diploma in commencement address is history and stand what motivates people. Once her ability to write, help others and under ness acumen, Scudera makes up in her already good at those things.” my own and pay the rent. I wish I were to have to have a bank account that’s And I’m going to graduate. I’m going just completely ignorant to all of that. stocks and how money works, and I’m ness-savvy friends who know stuff about about business. I have a lot of very busi and I wish that I had learned anything Scudera does admit having a few regrets. her four years at Carnegie Mellon, is just really nice.” minded, liberally minded people, which the same things you are. It’s all equality- everyone who is going to be there is for sexuality. ity of all things — race, gender and living space … and you know that espouses,” Scudera said. “It’s a great because I believe in the ideals that it a h E e n n o n e m m o c n e i yone n o ry e v t

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P h o t o b y K e n A n d r e y o “200 M.P.H.” Brother, Whom I Slept With,” and Air?’ “Wonderfulness,” “To Russell, My Funny Fellow, Right!” “Why Is There C Keynote Cosby To Deliver graduate degrees at the University of dent for Pittsburgh Public Schools. College and was an interim superinten Education Department at Chatham a visiting professor and chair of the a doctor of humane letters. Faison was public school teachers — will receive development program for Pittsburgh Teachers Institute — a professional Helen S. Faison, director of the Pittsburgh H year’s honorary class. neering, sustainability and music. business, civil and environmental engi stage representing the fields of education, degree recipients on the commencement Mellon. He’ll join five other honorary doctorate of humane letters from Carnegie excitement of discovery,” Cosby said. unanswered questions and pursuing the lenges of one’s own ideas, clarifying the academic. It’s about accepting the chal answer is that it isn’t about money. That’s money, why are you still working?’ My begins with knowledge. ance for a satisfying and rewarding life learning. They believe that the best assur to further emphasize the importance of delivered many commencement addresses funds to a wide range of universities and earned Ph.D.s in education, have donated He and his wife, Camille, who both have become a strong advocate for education. flourished into its fifth decade, Cosby has episodes on NBC. from 1984 to 1992 that included 135 Huxtable, enjoyed an eight-year run in which Cosby played doctor Cliff Phylicia Rashad. “The Cosby Show,” winning situation comedy co-starring “The Cosby Show,” a top-rated, award- ments, Cosby is perhaps best known for n o elen Faison elen She earned her undergraduate and The following is a brief look at this Cosby will also receive an honorary “People always say ‘You don’t need While his entertainment career has Among his many other accomplish t d e u n i

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- - Pittsburgh, of which she is a trustee vironmental sustainability, will receive a Earl Wild attend Carnegie Mellon and at 21 became emerita. She belongs to many profes- doctor of science and technology. the staff pianist for NBC in New York City. sional and civic organizations and has Lugari has molded Gaviotas into a In his 20s, Wild was the youngest and received many honors, including honor- green village using several technologies, only American soloist ever engaged by the ary degrees from Pitt and Muskingum such as hydroponic greenhouses that NBC Symphony. He was invited by famed College. Faison was one of nine African recycle waste from rice farms, biogas maestro Arturo Toscanini to be the soloist Americans profiled as “Strong Men and electricity generators, solar energy in NBC radio’s first and only broadcast Women” by Dominion Corporation in collectors, and water collection and of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” In his its 2004 series designed to motivate purification systems that are powered later years, Wild evolved the art of the students of African-American descent. by children on swings and seesaws. piano transcription with his vast interests Lugari has also helped to cre- in neglected works of the 19th and 20th Wilton Hawkins ate sustainable forestry, an industry centuries, and has been hailed as the that harvests resin from pine trees and “best transcriber of our time.” processes it in a zero-emissions factory. Wild’s stellar career spans more than The product is used in eco-friendly paint nine decades. He holds the distinction of and turpentine, and is an increasingly performing for numerous U.S. presidents, popular alternative to petroleum-based including Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. products. One of the greatest07 classical pianists of Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight The pine forest also boosts diver- all time, Earl Wild (A’37) will receive a Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. sity, yielding a supply of drinking water doctor of fine arts. A child prodigy, Wild He was a visiting artist-in-residence that villagers bottle and sell, and serves was discovered to have absolute pitch in Carnegie Mellon’s School of Music as a sinkhole that captures 200,000 tons at age 6, and by 14 he was the resident from 1992 through 2006. In 2005, Wild of carbon dioxide each year. pianist with the Pittsburgh Symphony. performed at venues around the world At 17, he received a scholarship to in celebration of his 90th birthday. Gerald C. Meyers Wilton A. Hawkins (E’48), who helped develop and patent a wide range of products and processes for the aero- Schedule of Events space, chemical, electronics and Commencement weekend at Carnegie Mellon involves much more than the semiconductor industries, will receive a ceremony itself. Below is a list of events, ranging from department breakfasts doctor of science and technology. to the “Zero-Year Reunion,” that will keep campus humming May 19–20. Founder of Chemplast, Hawkins retired in 1999 as vice president of Saturday, May 19 Norton Performance Plastics Division, 7:30–8:30 a.m. 4–6 p.m. but continues to be active. He’s a board Phi Beta Kappa Welcome Breakfast Carnegie Mellon Advising Resource member of the PlasmaSol Corpora- Connan Room, University Center (UC) Center Reception Singleton Room, Roberts Hall tion, a partner in Technology Holdings, 8 a.m.–3 p.m., 6–8:30 p.m. a trustee of the Yogi Berra Museum Commencement Information Area open, 5–7 p.m. Kirr Commons, UC Pre-Commencement Jazz Reception and Learning Center on the campus of Regina Gouger Miller Gallery, Purnell Center Montclair State University, a founding 8:30–9:30 a.m. RSVP by May 14 to member of Theta Tau (the nation’s old- Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society alumni-house @andrew.cmu.edu est professional engineering fraternity), Initiation Ceremony McConomy Auditorium, UC 8 p.m. and an emeritus life trustee at Carnegie Caps and gowns are required. Doctor’s Candidates Hooding Ceremony Mellon. Wiegand Gym, UC Gerald C. Meyers (E’50, TPR’54), the 9:30 a.m. He and his wife, Teddy, created Caps and gowns required. former Ford Distinguished Professor of ROTC Commissioning Ceremony Reception will immediately follow in the Teddy and Wilton Hawkins Distin- Business at the Tepper School, was an Naval Science (Navy) Rangos Hall, UC. guished Professorship in Engineering executive with American Motors, the Banquet Hall, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall at Carnegie Mellon and they named Ford Motor Company and the Chrysler Sunday, May 20 rooms in both the University Center 10–11 a.m. Corporation. He is now president of 7–10 a.m. Honors Ceremonies and the George A. Roberts Engineer- his own business consulting firm and Diploma Ceremonies and Department Events Seniors receiving university and college ing Hall. Hawkins has received several (See page eight for a complete list.) professor of management and organiza- honors will be recognized and presented honors from Carnegie Mellon, including tion at the University of Michigan Ross with honors medallions and cords, which 7:45–8:30 a.m. the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Business School. An expert in corporate should be worn during commencement Baccalaureate Celebration Alumni Merit Award and the Andrew governance and crisis management, on Sunday. Caps and gowns are not Wright-Rogal Chapel, UC required. Locations, which vary by Carnegie Philanthropic Award. Meyers will receive a doctor of business 8 a.m.–2 p.m. college, are as follows: practice. Commencement Information Area open Paolo Lugari After earning two degrees at Bachelor of Humanities & Arts/ Kirr Commons, UC Bachelor of Science & Arts 8:30–10 a.m. Carnegie Mellon — a bachelor’s in Chosky Theater, Purnell Center engineering and a master’s in business School of Computer Science Breakfast Carnegie Institute of Technology Perlis Atrium, Newell-Simon Hall — Meyers joined the Ford Motor Com- Wiegand Gymnasium, UC RSVP to [email protected]. pany in 1950. His next eight years were College of Fine Arts 10 a.m. with the Chrysler Corporation, where Chosky Theater, Purnell Center Robing for faculty, degree candidates he became director of manufacturing and members of the platform group for all overseas plants in 1961. In 1962, Humanities & Social Sciences Rangos Hall, UC 10:30–11 a.m. he joined American Motors in Detroit Procession of Graduates and rose through the ranks to become Mellon College of Science Wean Hall 7500 11 a.m. chairman and CEO in 1977. He retired Commencement Ceremony School of Computer Science in 1984 after successfully engineering Gesling Stadium the American Motors merger with the McConomy Auditorium, UC (ceremony) and Connan Room, UC (reception) 12:30–4 p.m. French automotive company, Renault. Diploma Ceremonies and Department Events Tepper School of Business He is the author of “When It Hits (See page eight for a complete list.) Posner Atrium, Posner Hall The Fan: Managing The Nine Crises of 9 p.m.–2 a.m. Paolo Lugari, a civil and environmental 2–6 p.m. Business” and co-author of “Dealers, Zero-Year Reunion for all graduating seniors engineer who transformed the harsh, Diploma Ceremonies and Department Healers, Brutes & Saviors, Eight Win- Pittsburgh Deli Company Events barren and dangerous Gaviotas region in 728 Copeland Street (Shadyside) ning Styles for Solving Giant Business (See page eight for a complete list.) Colombia, South America, into a model Sponsored by Alumni Relations. Crises.” community for social, economic and en- S e v e n E h g i t (reception prior to ceremony) 4141 Fifth Avenue Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, Ceremony and Reception: 12:30 p.m., (joint ceremony with Economics) Business Administration (reception prior to 8 a.m. ceremony) 7:30 a.m., Doherty Hall 2210 Ceremony and Reception: Biomedical Engineering Conference and Social Rooms Reception: Mellon Institute Auditorium, 4400 Fifth Avenue Ceremony: 2 p.m., Mellon Institute Biological Sciences Alumni Concert Hall, CFA Reception: 9:30 a.m., Hall, College of Fine Arts (CFA) Ceremony: 8:30 a.m., Kresge Recital and BachelorofScience&Arts Bachelor ofHumanities&Arts Sunday, 4141 Fifth Avenue 2 p.m., Soldiers and Sailors Hall, Ceremony and Reception: T 3 p.m., Rangos Hall, UC Ceremony and Reception: School ofDesign 2 p.m., Wiegand Gymnasium, UC Ceremony and Reception: Mechanical Engineering Philip Chosky Theatre, Purnell Center Ceremony and Reception: 2 p.m., in InformationT Management &asterofScience Master ofInformationSystems Purnell Center Lobby Reception: 7:30 p.m., Philip Chosky Theatre, Purnell Center Ceremony: 6 p.m., Information Systems 4905 Fifth Avenue 5 p.m., Rodef Shalom Congregation, Ceremony and Reception: Information Networkingnstitute Reception: Schatz Dining Room, UC McConomy Auditorium, UC Ceremony: 2:30 p.m., English Conference and Social Rooms Reception: Mellon Institute Auditorium, 4400 Fifth Avenue Ceremony: 3 p.m., Mellon Institute Chemistry Saturday, indicated, the reception will follow the ceremony. Written directions to off-campus sites will also be available in the Commencement Information Area. Unless otherwise Complimentary shuttle service will be provided on Sunday afternoon to diploma ceremonies taking place off campus. Graduating students receive their diplomas at department or college ceremonies held throughout commencement weekend. Diploma Ceremonies commencementepper Master’s andDoctor’s M M ay 20 ay echnology ay 19 19 ay

History *Shuttle service not provided. (reception prior to ceremony) 400 Art Rooney Avenue Heinz Field, East End Lounge, Ceremony and Reception: 12:30 p.m., Entertainment T 8 a.m., Rangos Hall 2 and 3, UC Ceremony and Reception: Engineering &PublicPolicy 12:30 p.m., Wiegand Gymnasium, UC Ceremony and Reception: Electrical &Computerngineering (reception prior to ceremony) 4141 Fifth Avenue Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, Ceremony and Reception: 12:30 p.m., Administration) (joint ceremony with Business Economics (reception prior to ceremony) 4215 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh Athletic Association, Ceremony and Reception: 12:30 p.m., Civil &Environmental Engineering Carnegie Museum Reception: Hall of Architecture, 4400 Forbes Avenue Lecture Hall, Carnegie Museum, Ceremony: 12:30 p.m., Carnegie Chemical Engineering 12:30 p.m., Rangos Hall, UC Ceremony and Reception: Psychology 12:30 p.m., Wean Hall 7500 Ceremony and Reception: Physics 8:30 a.m., Adamson Wing, Baker Hall Ceremony and Reception: Philosophy Reception: Skibo Coffeehouse, UC Rangos Hall 1, UC Ceremony: 8:30 a.m., Languages Modern Newell-Simon Hall Reception: Perlis Atrium, Doherty Hall 2315 Ceremony: 12:30 p.m., Mathematical Sciences Roberts Engineering Hall Reception: Singleton Room and Atrium, Gregg Hall, Porter Hall 100 Ceremony: 12:30 p.m., Materials Science&Engineering Giant Eagle Auditorium, Baker Hall Ceremony: 9 a.m., Coffee Lounge, Baker Hall Reception: 8 a.m., Lower-Level echnology Center

Reception: Skibo Coffeehouse, UC Connan Room, UC Ceremony: 12:30 p.m., Statistics McConomy Auditorium, UC Ceremony: 9 a.m., Schatz Dining Room, UC Reception: 8 a.m., Social &DecisionSciences Reception: Alumni Concert Hall, CFA Hall, CFA Ceremony: 12:30 p.m., Kresge Recital School ofMusic Carnegie Museum, 4400 Forbes Avenue Carnegie Music Hall, Ceremony and Reception: 1 p.m., School ofComputerScience Reception: Purnell Center Lobby Philip Chosky Theatre, Purnell Center Ceremony: 12:30 p.m., School ofDrama Miller Gallery, Purnell Center Reception: 12:30 p.m., Regina Gouger Philip Chosky Theatre, Purnell Center Ceremony: 2:30 p.m., School ofArt Building, University of Pittsburgh Reception: 3 p.m., Frick Fine Arts Chapel, University of Pittsburgh Ceremony: 1:30 p.m., Heinz Memorial School ofArchitecture 4905 Fifth Avenue 2 p.m., Rodef Shalom Congregation, Ceremony and Reception: The HeinzSchool 12:30 p.m., Baker Hall 154R Ceremony and Reception: Student-Defined Majors issue of The Piper. The of issue next the read going, is 2007 of Class the where out Tofind for last year’s grads included: included: grads year’s last for employers major but headed, all they’re where know to soon too It’s Mellon? Carnegie leave they once them of all to pens hap what but commencement, year’s this at degrees receive will students 2,000 than More T W Intel Deloitte L’Oreal Johnson & Schlumberger Lockheed Martin y e h e r e h

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Wednesday, May16:10a.m.–4p.m. McKenna/Peter/Wright Room,UC Distribution: C I 2007— C are available. Two-day rates,hotel andhomedelivery at 412-241-5121 toreserve yourrental. availability, calltheWheelchairExchange on campusSunday, May20.To ensure electric scooterswillbeavailable forrental A limitednumberofwheelchairs and Wheelchair reservations are required forthisseating. the CommencementInformationArea. No UC, andaseatingmapwillbeavailablein near thestadiumentranceclosestto wheelchair-accessible ramptothefieldis tioned infront ofeachseating section.A A sign-languageinterpreter willbeposi these areas toassistguests withseating. guests. Volunteers willbestationedin Up tothree guestsmaysit withdisabled designated sectionsonthefieldsurface. and theirfamilieswillbeavailablein Seating forguestswithspecialneeds Special water willnotbepermittedonthefield. chewing gumandbeveragesotherthan the stadiumtrackandfieldsurface,food, formation Area intheUC.To helpprotect coffee andteaattheCommencementIn university willalsoprovide complimentary during thecommencementceremony. The able atvariouslocationsinthestadium Complimentary waterservicewillbeavail listed below. and lightmeals.Hoursofoperationare will offer hotandcoldbeverages,snacks Andy’s Eatery, SiSeñorandSkiboCafé D Sunday, May20:Closed Saturday, May19:Closed Friday, May18:8a.m.–6p.m. Art Store Sunday, May20:8a.m.–5p.m. Saturday, May19:10a.m.–5p.m. Friday, May18:8a.m.–6p.m. The Bookstore Sunday, May20:8a.m.–5p.m. Saturday, May19:9a.m.–7p.m. Friday, May18:7:30a.m.–7p.m. Entropy below. friends. Hoursofoperationare listed to accommodatestudents,familyand open duringcommencementweekend Mellon’sCarnegie retail stores willbe and T Monday, May21:9a.m.–6p.m. Sunday, May20:Noon–6p.m. McKenna/Peter/Wright Room,UC Return: Sunday, May20:7:30–11a.m. 6–8 p.m. Saturday, May19:7a.m.–3p.m., Friday, May18:10a.m.–6p.m. Thursday, May17:10a.m.–4p.m. he he a m r o f n ap and and ap ining Sunday, May20:Closed Saturday, May19:9a.m.–5p.m. Friday, May18:9a.m.–5p.m. Skibo Café Sunday, May20:Closed Saturday, May19:7a.m.–4p.m. Friday, May18:7a.m.–4p.m. Sí Señor Sunday, May20:7a.m.–3p.m. Saturday, May19:Closed Friday, May18:7a.m.–3p.m. Andy’s Eatery n e m e c n e m m o A B rt Store rt ookstore, ookstore, N G eeds own own R G t ental n o i I l a r e n e nformation E ntropy ntropy

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This time of year is big at Carnegie Mellon, with its annual Spring Carnival and buggy races. So here’s my question: when did the buggy races start and why? S.M., University Advancement

Dear S.M., Buggy got its start in 1920 as the “Sweepstakes” races, which were part of the Campus Week activities. Unlike today’s buggies, designed for speed and agility, the buggies of the 1920s focused more on pageantry. The original competition featured only one driver and pusher, who changed places in the middle of the competition at a pit stop where they switched rear wheels to demonstrate their mechanical prowess. “By 1928, the competition included judging the buggies for design and engineering, and eliminating the humorous entries of early years,” writes Ted Fenton n d r e y o

A in “Carnegie Mellon: A Centennial History.” From that point on, the buggy races

e n became more and more like the ones you saw a few weekends ago. Preliminary K heats reduced the final races to manageable numbers; teams consisted of five pushers and one driver; and the course was changed to the present-day race up

P h o t o b y Tech Street, through Schenley Park and up Frew Street. Independent organizations T h e Q w e r k b o t , s h o w n h e r e w i t h S e n i o r R e s e a r c h A s s o c i at e E m i ly H a m n e r , were asked to join the fraternities in the 1929 competition. i s a t h r e e - w h e e l e d r o b o t w i t h a W e b ca m t h at y o u ca n b u i l d b y f o l l o w i n g From the 1930s through the 1950s, buggy designs were based on old Indy 500 t h e r e c i p e . cars, with a brief switch to soapbox models during World War II. Brakes became standard in 1951, but Alpha Tau Omega revolutionized buggy design in 1953, You can build one in a day or so. Want a The robot recipes vary. One, called creating a model that had the driver laying prone, face forward in a buggy built low to the ground — a model that has endured more than half a century. robot that vibrates every time it receives a Qwerkbot, is a three-wheeled vehicle One other interesting tidbit about buggy’s early days at Carnegie Mellon: the an RSS feed about an earthquake mounted with a Web cam. Another, the original women’s races pitted representatives of the women’s dormitories against somewhere in the world? You can build TeRK Flower, is a mechanical flower each other. They made costumes in secret and sat astride “kiddie cars” that they one of those, too. with six large leaves that open and propelled across campus with their feet. While these comical races have become a “We’re hoping people notice close. Other recipes under development thing of the past, women are on par with men in today’s buggy competition. Most that the sky’s the limit,” said Illah include a robotic teddy bear and a robot organizations enter men’s and women’s teams, and a few years ago the Kappa Nourbakhsh, associate professor that can measure air and noise pollution. Kappa Gamma sorority became the first one to enter a team composed completely of robotics. All of this is possible “Once people have followed of women — from mechanics and timers to flaggers and pushers. because of the Telepresence Robot Kit a recipe and become acquainted (TeRK) developed by his Community with robots, they can build on their Robotics, Education and Technology experience,” said Emily Hamner, a be operated remotely at any location Inc. In addition to Nourbakhsh and Empowerment (CREATE) Lab. TeRK senior research associate in the CREATE with a wireless Internet connection, but Hamner, graduate student Tom Lauwers, makes it possible to build a sophisticated Lab. “Not only can they customize the it can also send photos or video, respond research programmer Christopher robot without any prior knowledge of recipes to their liking, they can also to RSS feeds, or access the Internet to Bartley and design researcher Carl robotics. One hope, he said, is that TeRK design new robot types.” find information. DiSalvo have played key roles in its could unleash the creativity of people At the heart of all the TeRK robots Building such a capable robot only development. who might not know much about robots is a unique controller called Qwerk five years ago would have been all but Even before its public release on but have great ideas about what robots that combines a computer with the impossible, Nourbakhsh said. Using the April 25, TeRK had been in use for can do. software and electronics necessary to Internet to provide telepresence on a months in a variety of college courses, TeRK isn’t a complete set of control the robot’s motors, cameras and routine basis, he explained, is practical middle school classes and community parts and instructions. Rather, the other devices. Qwerk, developed by the today because of widespread broadband outreach programs. With its broader CREATE Lab has concocted a number CREATE Lab and Charmed Labs of Internet access and the ubiquity of release, Nourbakhsh hopes that TeRK of “recipes,” step-by-step instructions Austin, Texas, also connects the robot wireless hotspots in both public and will lead to more technological literacy showing how to build robots out of automatically and wirelessly to the residential settings. Qwerk itself takes and, ultimately, more innovation and commonly available parts and what Internet so it can be controlled by any advantage of technology now common creativity in robotics. tools you’ll need. The recipes and the Internet-connected computer. in cell phones. “We want robots that don’t just software necessary to run the robots are “The Internet connection means TeRK was developed over the subscribe to geeky notions of what available for free at the TeRK Web site, the robots are much more global,” past year and a half with support from robots should be,” he said. www.terk.ri.cmu.edu. Nourbakhsh said. Not only can the robot Google Inc., Intel Corp. and Microsoft

N i n e Spring Carnival Offers Delights for Kids of All Ages

n Susie Cribbs Once in a blue moon, the forces 1 2 of nature cooperate and Carnegie Mellon’s Spring Carnival is held beneath sunny skies as a mild breeze sweeps across campus. The buggy races can be held without threat of rain (or snow!) and students can pack the midway in shorts and flip-flops. That cooper- ation happened this year, making “Small Things Made Large” a Spring Carnival to remember. Sigma Phi Epsilon took home top honors in the fraternity booth competition for “Nintendo Games” (1), while Kappa Alpha Theta won the sorority division for their “Beehive” (2). The Asian 3 4 Student Association’s “Board Games” booth (3) came in on top in the independent organization category. The Midway wasn’t just jammed with booths, though — kids of all ages enjoyed the games (4) and rides (5) that go along with Spring Carnival. President Cohon also made it to the festivities to of- ficially open the Midway (6). Finally, the university’s buggy races (7) went off without a hitch, with Pi Kappa Alpha’s “A” team winning the men’s competition, and the Student Dormitory Council’s “A” team taking top honors in the women’s race. For more on Spring Carnival, see www.alumni. cmu.edu/carnival/index.html. 5 6 a n d e r m a r k V i l l B ndreyo and A e n K b y s 7 P h o t o

N e w s B r i e f s who go above and beyond their job description Physics Alum Establishes 2007 recipients are doctoral students Andrea to understand and meet the immediate and Student Fellowship Benvin (chemistry), Sandeep Gaan (physics) and underlying needs of students. These individuals Carnegie Mellon alumnus Bruce McWilliams, and Haifeng Gao (chemistry). act as role models who display a positive and chairman, president and CEO of Tessera University Mourns Loss professional image at all times. The deadline for Technologies; and his wife, Astrid McWilliams, of Voice Professor, nominations is July 9. Awards are open to all have given the Mellon College of Science (MCS) International Opera Star non-faculty university employees. Nomination more than $1 million to establish an endowed forms and further information are available at fund for the Astrid and Bruce McWilliams Carnegie Mellon mourns the loss of Mimi www.cmu.edu/andyawards/. The 2007 Andy Fellowship in the Mellon College of Science. Lerner, who died last month at her home after Award ceremony will be held at noon, Sept. 21 The fellowship will support MCS graduate a long bout with cancer. She was 61. The in McConomy Auditorium. students conducting leading-edge research award-winning international opera star was in emerging fields such as nanotechnology, an associate professor of voice and chair of Staff Picnic Set for May 23 biophysics and cosmology. Since June 1999, Carnegie Mellon’s voice department. She was President Jared L. Cohon and Provost and an astute teacher and classical performer who Andy Award Nominations McWilliams has served as chief executive sang at some of the most prestigious opera Due July 9 Senior Vice President Mark Kamlet invite all officer, president and a member of the board staff to the annual Staff Picnic, 11:30 a.m. to of directors of Tessera Technologies, a leading houses in the U.S. and Europe with such Nominations are being accepted for the 2007 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 23 in Wiegand Gym provider of miniaturization technologies for companies as the Metropolitan Opera, the Andy Awards, the university-wide recognition and Rangos Hall, University Center. The picnic the electronics industry. McWilliams earned Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, the Netherlands program that honors individual staff members is a celebration of the important contributions his bachelor’s, master’s and doctor’s degrees Opera, the Theatre de la Monnaie and the and/or teams whose outstanding dedication staff members make to the university. Those in physics at Carnegie Mellon, and he serves Canadian Opera. She also performed with and performance have had a significant impact attending must present a valid Carnegie Mellon on the advisory board for the Department of numerous American companies, including the on the university. Awards are given in five staff ID. Shuttles to and from the University Physics. For the inaugural year of the Astrid Seattle Opera, the Houston Grand Opera, the categories: dedication, innovation, commitment Center will be provided for those working at off- and Bruce McWilliams Fellowship, McCullough Dallas Opera, the Santa Fe Opera and the to students, citizenship and culture. This year campus locations. is matching the award with additional funds to Washington Opera at Kennedy Center, among the commitment to students category replaces provide full support for three recipients. The others. She also worked with the symphony enthusiasm. The new award honors those orchestras of Pittsburgh, San Diego, Chicago

T e n Steinberg Retires After 60 Years C o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e o n e

“I told my friends I was coming to Steinberg is also a leading Flower, who helped to launch the Carnegie Tech and none of them had scholar on James Joyce and MAPW program with Steinberg. “He ever heard of it. Now we are one of publishes on other Modernist made retention a public idea.” the leading research institutions in the novelists. He’s currently As for his own teaching style, country,” Steinberg said. “I don’t think working on a second edition Steinberg admits that it hasn’t always anyone has gone through that kind of of his 1973 book “The earned him adoration. He said one metamorphosis.” Stream of Consciousness and student praised him in a faculty-course

In the fall, the College of s Beyond in ‘Ulysses,’” and is evaluation as the best teacher he’d Humanities and Social Sciences (H&SS) completing a manuscript for had during his college career, while r c h i v e

honored Steinberg, 86, by naming A another on “Ulysses.” simultaneously adding, “He is also an

Baker Hall A53 the Erwin R. Steinberg i t y “Erwin’s retirement SOB but that is beside the point.” (The s Auditorium. Faculty and alumni feted means losing a fixture of the student did not use the acronym.)

th n i v e r

Steinberg during the 25 anniversary U English Department who Valerie Haus, who graduated celebration of the Master of Arts in f defined interdisciplinary from the MAPW program in 1983, y o Professional Writing (MAPW) program, s work in English spanning remembers Steinberg as a focused which he co-founded. literature, writing, rhetorical instructor, well prepared and always “Only a handful of people in the studies and education,” said clear on his objectives. university’s history have had as much department head David “Every once in a while people will Photo courte impact as Erwin Steinberg. He not only S t e i n b e r g , c i r ca 1 9 7 0 Kaufer. ask me what was the most important helped to establish signature programs in Steinberg was the class that I took at Carnegie Mellon, the English Department, but he ensured Steinberg said. “Some of them were Thomas S. Baker Professor and it was a technical writing course that that first-rate teaching would become older than I. As a matter of fact, one of of English and Interdisciplinary Studies he was teaching at the time,” said Haus, one of our hallmarks,” said H&SS Dean them said something about it in class from 1980 to 1993, and in 1991 he a technical writer and documentation John Lehoczky. one day, and I just didn’t answer.” became the university’s first vice provost manager who lives in Pittsburgh and Steinberg was the dean of Carnegie runs the technical communication firm

Tech’s Margaret Morrison Carnegie “O n ly a h a n d f u l o f p e o p l e i n t h e u n i v e r s i t y ’ s h i st o ry h av e WriteSound. College from 1960 until it closed in “It was from Erwin that I got the h a d a s m u c h i m pa c t a s E rw i n S t e i n b e r g . H e n o t o n ly h e l p e d 1973, and he was the first dean of concept and specifics of technical H&SS. The first class of H&SS students t o e sta b l i s h s i g n at u r e p r o g r a m s i n t h e E n g l i s h D e pa rt m e n t , writing. They served me very well entered the university in 1969. b u t h e e n s u r e d t h at f i r st - r at e t e a c h i n g w o u l d b e c o m e o n e over the years.” “That was at the height of student Steinberg lives a few blocks from o f o u r h a l l m a r k s .” — H&SS D e a n J o h n L e h o c z k y unrest. And that didn’t make life easy campus with his wife of 52 years, for us,” Steinberg said. Beverly. They have two sons and a Steinberg arrived at Carnegie In 1958, at Steinberg’s urging, for education. When he took the job, grandson. Mellon — then the Carnegie Institute the English Department established an almost 16 percent of students left the “I’ve had opportunities to become of Technology — in 1946, fresh out of undergraduate program in technical university between their first and second department heads elsewhere, and the U.S. Army Air Force. Many of his writing, the first of its kind in the years. When he stepped down in 1995, become a provost, but this was such an first students were World War II veterans nation. He was instrumental in creating the attrition rate was just below 10 interesting place, and I did a variety of benefiting from the GI Bill. the Ph.D. program in rhetoric and the percent. He’s at a loss to explain his own things,” Steinberg said. “I didn’t see “A lot of these students were people MAPW program. Both programs were success. much point in tearing my family up, who before the war never thought of in response to a federal government “He drew a lot of attention to and I didn’t want to give up teaching. themselves as college material, so initiative to foster clear writing and teaching, and helped make that a “I’ve never stopped teaching since college was very daunting to them,” design in public documents. priority,” said English Professor Linda I’ve been here.”

and Rishon Le Tzion in Israel. Lerner was update on progress being made by the Quality have appeared in various publications. He Support the Faculty also director of music and cantorial soloists of Life Technology Center, an NSF Engineering holds a Ph.D. in musical arts from Columbia & Staff Annual Fund at Rodef Shalom Congregation in Oakland. Research Center operated by Carnegie Mellon University; a master’s degree from Princeton The Office of Annual Giving encourages all She received her undergraduate degree in and the University of Pittsburgh. University; a certificato di perfezionamento faculty and staff to support the university by music education from Queens College and her from L’Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, making a gift to the Annual Fund. No matter master’s degree in voice from Carnegie Mellon. Noel Zahler To Head Italy; and a bachelor’s degree from the Aaron how large or small the gift may be, participation A memorial service will be held at 7:30 p.m., School of Music Copland School of Music at CUNY Queens in the Faculty & Staff Annual Fund helps Sunday, May 13 in Kresge Recital Hall. The College of Fine Arts has announced that College. support student life, research projects, special

Noel Zahler will lead the School of Music, programs and other university initiatives. SCS Hosts Quality of Life P2P System Could Speed effective July 1. Zahler succeeds Marilyn Contributions can be directed to the Carnegie Technology Symposium Movie, Music Downloads Taft Thomas, who will return to the school’s Mellon Fund, scholarships, particular colleges Randal E. Bryant, dean of the School of faculty after serving as interim head. Zahler Assistant Professor of Computer Science David and departments, or to a fund that has special Computer Science, hosted an on-campus comes to Carnegie Mellon from the University G. Andersen and Intel Research Pittsburgh’s personal meaning. While your participation regional meeting of the National Academy of Minnesota, where he directs the School Michael Kaminsky have designed a system, directly helps the university, it also impacts of Engineering on April 12. William A. Wulf, of Music and teaches composition. Zahler’s called Similarity-Enhanced Transfer (SET), that how others give. Faculty and staff participation a former Carnegie Mellon computer science compositions include a wide range of vocal, could significantly cut down the time involved rates are often reviewed by corporations professor who will finish his six-year term as instrumental, electro-acoustic, interactive and in transferring large data files, such as movies and foundations when making their funding NAE president this summer, attended the multimedia works. The American Composers and music, over the Internet. The peer-to-peer decisions. Visit www.cmu.edu/giving/give.shtml meeting and afterward helped Bryant kick off Orchestra, Arden Trio, Charleston String (P2P) file-sharing service is configured to share to make your gift online or to access a payroll a symposium on Quality of Life Technology. Quartet, Meridian String Quartet, League of not only identical files, but also similar files. deduction form. To donate by check, mail it Speakers at the symposium in the University Composers and other ensembles throughout By identifying relevant chunks of files similar to the Office of Annual Giving, 6 PPG Place Center discussed how information and robotic the U.S., Europe and Asia have performed his to a desired file, SET greatly increases the — 14th floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more technology, such as data recorders, self-driving compositions. Zahler has co-authored three number of potential sources for downloads. information, contact Carole Panno at cars and robotic arms, could enable more computer software programs, and his writings And boosting the number of sources usually 412-268-1617 or [email protected]. older people and people with disabilities to live on music theory and composition, artificial translates into faster P2P downloads. independently longer. Also included was an intelligence and music, and computer music

E l e v e n Lecture Spotlight: The Adamson Awards

n Jonathan Potts Pushcart Prizes, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, the Quantrell No one wears a tuxedo or gown, and Award for Excellence in Undergraduate no one poses on the red carpet. But for Teaching from the University of students in the English Department, the Chicago, the George Kent Award and annual Adamson Awards hold nearly as a Guggenheim Fellowship. much excitement as the Oscars or the The Adamson Awards were en- Grammys. dowed by the late Clarence Adamson, Started in 1981, the awards honor a mechanical engineer and a 1915 student writers for their work in fiction, graduate of the Carnegie Institute of poetry, screen writing and nonfiction. Technology. Adamson endowed scholar- Awards include the Pauline Adamson ships, the awards, a speaker series and Awards, the Academy of American an auditorium — the Adamson Wing Poets Prize, the Margaret Smith Cushing — in memory of his wife, Pauline. award and the Carnegie Mellon Univer- “He wanted to leave something to sity Press Prize. the English Department because she The 2007 Adamson Awards took was a glad reader, and he wanted to do place Friday, May 4, in the Adamson something for her,” said Richard Young, Wing of Baker Hall. This year’s guest professor emeritus of English and for- speaker was award-winning poet mer head of the English Department. Elizabeth Alexander, a professor of Notable award winners have in- received a National Endowment for the as the capstone for the annual Adamson African American Studies at Yale cluded Greg Marcks, whose first feature Arts Creative Writing Fellowship in Visiting Writers Series, and some of the University. Alexander has authored four film, “11:14,” starred Hilary Swank; Poetry and whose first poetry collec- nation’s premier writers have spoken at poetry collections, including “American Jon Parras, whose first novel, “Fire On tion, “Festival Bone,” was published by the event. Past speakers have included Sublime,” which was a finalist for the Mount Maggiore,” won the Peter Taylor Adastra Press. Raymond Carver, Tobias Wolff, Michael Pulitzer Prize. She has received two Prize; and Karen Rigby, who recently The Adamson Awards also serve Cunningham and Dennis Lehane.

Carnegie Mellon West, UC Berkeley Team-Up To Tackle Software as a Service

n Byron Spice officials still argue whether it’s a boon or Jim Morris, dean of Carnegie Mel- Dimeff, associate dean for external rela- an epithet. lon West, said the conference marks the tions and professional development at Definitions have a short life cycle in Such was the context for “The New beginning of a new relationship with Carnegie Mellon West. an industry as dynamic as the software Software Industry: Forces at Play, Busi- UC Berkeley, and particularly with the This inaugural conference addressed industry. Consider that software is no ness in Motion,” an April 30 conference Fisher IT Center at the Haas School the SaaS issue with such speakers as longer just a product; it’s increasingly in Mountain View, Calif., targeted at of Business, and Berkeley’s Service Timothy Chou, author of the influential a service. And service is no longer just Bay Area software professionals and

a helpful activity, but also a type of presented jointly by Carnegie Mellon “W e ’ r e i n t e r e st e d i n b e c o m i n g a n o b j e c t i v e p l a c e w h e r e t h e science. Open-source software is, well, West and the University of California, f u t u r e o f t h e i n d u st ry c a n b e d i s c u ss e d .” — D i a n e D i m e f f what it has always been, but industry Berkeley.

Science, Management and Engineering book “The End of Software”; Martin program. Carnegie Mellon and Berkeley Griss, associate dean for education at are two of the leading universities for Carnegie Mellon West; and Adam Blum, software engineering and management, vice president of engineering for Mobio and can offer professionals an enlight- Networks. ened, objective forum to discuss some Paul Maglio, senior manager of of the industry’s biggest issues. service systems research at IBM Almaden Software as a Service (SaaS), for Research Center, and John Zysman, a instance, “is all the rage here in Silicon political scientist at UC Berkeley, dis- Valley,” Morris said. Software was cussed the emerging discipline of service once released as a finished product, but science, while Carnegie Mellon Associ- now, thanks to the Internet, software ate Professor of Design Shelley Evenson producers can update and improve their explained her approach to designing for software continuously. And as more service. Other speakers included Ray

h y software is accessed online, such as Lane, general partner at Kleiner Perkins p Google Office, software often isn’t even Caufield & Byers and a Carnegie Mellon purchased any more. trustee, and Michael Cusumano of the “The Internet has been a continually MIT Sloan School of Management. growing force, and it’s changed the way “Carnegie Mellon and UC Berkeley lock Photogra B we do things,” Morris said. He noted are different types of organizations that

l o c k , that most SaaS conferences in Silicon bring different expertise to the table,” B Valley have been sponsored by vendors Dimeff said, with Carnegie Mellon’s or consultants, who each add their own emphasis on educating software develop- spin to the topic. ers and Berkeley’s on top-down issues

Photo by Jim “We’re interested in becoming an of software management. “This should T i m o t h y C h o u , a u t h o r o f t h e i n f l u e n t i a l b o o k “ T h e E n d o f S o f t w a r e ,” objective place where the future of the provide a unique format for industry w a s o n e o f t h e f e at u r e d s p e a k e r s at “ T h e N e w S o f t w a r e I n d u s t r y : industry can be discussed,” said Diane discussions.” T w e l v e F o r c e s at P l a y , B u s i n e s s i n M o t i o n ” c o n f e r e n c e i n M o u n ta i n V i e w , C a l i f .