) I .­r ~ '- r ~~ Fall 1997. Vol 1. Issue 1 '..--... EDITOR'S NOTES elcome to the inaugural issue of Cal Poly Carruth Goes to Washington"), in interviews of three Magazine, which replaces Cal Poly Today freshmen completing their first year ("Making the W with a new format and a fresh look at the Most of Year One: Bubba, Sarah and Matt on Their university's traditions, current pursuits, and future Own"), and in "University News" and "Alumni directions. News" stories. This first issue reexamines Cal Poly's special The magazine you hold is itself emblematic of approach to applied research, and highlights the Cal Poly's learn-by-doing credo. Not only has it been learn-by-doing experience that informs the studies printed by the student-operated University Graphic of all Cal Poly students. In our main feature, Systems, but our own staff has developed expertise "The Practical Scholar: Balancing Research and in new areas. Over many months we have planned, Learning," we report how students collect written, edited, and produced a publication that data for a California toll-road project, create attempts to blend the best of the past with a more 3-D videos in an art and design computer dynamic approach to campus news, resulting in a class, and act as marketing consultants for a variety of design innovations. local bicycle-touring company. "From the President," a column by President Hands-on learning is also the recurring motif Warren J. Baker, will run as an occasional feature, and in our open letter from a White House intern ("Ms. "View Across Time" has been modified into a more Editor's Notes continued on page 2 FROM OUR READERS 66. Look Back in Time" in Cal Poly Today's famous pilot). spring '97 issue featured Amelia Earhart's Jensen is now 83 and liVing in San Jose. When visit to Cal Poly in the summer of 1936. After the we contacted him about Earhart's visit, he recalled story appeared we received a phone call from John that her P-12 Boeing had "cracked up" and was at Dietrich (EL Cal Poly for repairs. He remembered occasionally '77), who seeing her "around the hangar." recognized one When Earhart's plane disappeared the follOWing of the students year, Jensen was "shocked about it." At the time, he pictured with was working in Burbank for Paul Mantz, who was Earhart as his also Earhart's technical adVisor. "Everyone made a friend Phil big noise when her plane disappeared," Jensen said. Jensen (AERO "Everyone was talking about it and looking for her." (36) (shown as He noted that Mantz himself tried to find her, once a student in going to identify wreckage falsely thought to be hers. our photo, left, After his time in Burbank, Jensen had a standing to successful career, first with Lockheed and then the left of the working : Photo: University Archives, Cal Poly From Our Readers continued on page 2 ON THE COVER " . I .; :' __-.-J..!.-LJ......_. -1- -!.--._-J~ 'I Santa Fe, N.M., artist Sandy Place provided by SBI finance, marketing, enjoys the benefits of Cal Poly's and accounting students. For the Small Business Institute (SBI) as she story - and a look at other ways in wheels along the blue Pacific of the which Cal Poly students are taking Central Coast. She is participating their learn-by-doing experiences into in a trip arranged by a local bike­ the real world - see pages 5-8. touring business owned by alumni (photo by Doug Allen) who have used consulting services CONT NT , I \, j A university Publication for Alumni .......Fa-II-199-7,-VOL tissue 1 --I' and Friends of Cal Poly. San Luis Obispo EDITOR'S NOTES FROM OUR READERS 12 OPEN HOUSE WELCOMES STUDENTS, ALUMNI, FRIENDS FROM THE PRESIDENT WASTEWA ER T EATMENT CAL POLY PLAN PDATE SYSTEM GENERA ES E ERGY 4 A LOOK BACK IS SPORTS ROUNDUP CHEMISTRY STUDIO/LA 5 THE PRACTICAL SCHOLAR 1996-970UTSTA ING Balancing Research and STUDENT EMPLO EE Learning 14 EXTRA CREDIT & COMMUTING TAKES ITS TOLL IS CAL POLY ARTS S OTLIGH S ., DIGITAL EFFECTS EXPLODE THE 1997-98 SEASON ON CAMPUS B INSTITUTE STEERS COMPANIES IN RIGHT DIRECTION S2 HOMECOMING '97: "SPIRIT UNDER CONSTRU ION" 9 MAKING THE MOST OF Nov. 13-16 YEAR ONE: Bubba, Sarah, and att ALUMNI NOTES on Their Own 55 ART ALUMS GAT ER FOR 16 MS. CARRUTH GOES INVITATIONAL EXHIBIT TO WASHINGT N CAL POLY UNI E SI IES CelEBRATE U IQUE TRADITION Rose floats lin p SO Y ars in a row 45-48 r J rl I Editor's Notes continued from inside front cover ~.i-!._~ ~.J.Y Cal Poly Magazine is published focused" A Look Back" into Cal delays in printing alumni and in for alumni and friends of Poly's history. memoriam information, we apolo­ California Polytechnic State Alumni milestones are now gize). We are exploring the pOSSi­ University, San Luis Obispo, listed under "Class Notes," and bility of taking outside advertising by the Communications Office our fall advancement section is to help defray production costs for with support from the Cal Poly presented on pages 17-30. Cal Poly Magazine and move Foundation. Finally, we are initiating toward more frequent publication. "From Our Readers" as a forum Meanwhile, we take a breath Please mail letters to the editor for readers' responses to articles, and launch this new effort. I hope or queries regarding advertising suggestions for future stories, or you enjoy it. And I encourage you to Cal Poly Magazine, Heron Hall, comments on the magazine itself to write in and let us know what Room 204, Cal Poly, San Luis (for information on how to mail you think so we can continue to Obispo, CA 93407 (phone in items, please see below). make Cal Poly Magazine better 805/756-7109; fax 805/756-6533). For this first year, we are pub­ with each new issue. Submit written "Class Notes" lishing fall 1997 and spring 1998 items to the same address or via issues only, enabling us to produce e-mail at: [email protected]. a magazine within the same bud­ Vicki Hanson get as Cal Poly Today's (for related Editor Mail address changes to: Advancement SerVices, Heron Hall, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, From Our Readers continued from inside front cover CA 93407. VICE PRESIDENT FOR fastest flight from Cleveland to UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT: Los Angeles. He later returned to William G. Boldt Lockheed, test flying planes dur­ ing World War II. Although he EDITOR: Vicki Hanson had stints at other companies, such as TWA, he remained part CONTRIBUTORS: Lisa Anacleto, of the Lockheed family for most Ben Beesley, Polly Harrigan, Brent Keetch, Yutaka Sugiyama, of his professional life. (D jason Sullivan, Lisa Woske DESIGN/PRODUCTION: Karlen Design WEBSITE PRODUCTION: Phil Jensen today Betty Holland PHOTOGRAPHY/ ARTWORK: Please write us c/o "From Our Readers," Cal Poly Magazine, Heron Hal/, Doug Allen, Cal Poly Rose Float Room 204, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 (fax 805/756-6533). Committee, Columbia Artists Submissions should be typed or written legibly. We reserve the right to Management Inc., joe johnston, edit for brevity. ~ Dawn Kalmar, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, University Archives, Maria Varni, The White House, Marcia Wright Also, visit our Website at http://www.calpoly.edu/-communic/cpm/cpmhome.htm. PRINTING: University Graphic Systems 2 CAL POLY MAGAZINE FALL 1997 "Learn by doing." situations they will find later in the workplace. This phrase, as most The requirement to move from theory to prac­ people know, emphasizes tice is one element in our students' education that Cal Poly's belief that our marks the special nature - and special value - of students must go beyond a Cal Poly diploma. the acquisition of theory It is fitting, then, that this first edition of the and apply their knowledge new Cal Poly Magazine emphasizes the university's in substantial and often central theme of "learn by doing." concrete ways. It should be noted, too, that this magazine is At the same time, of itself an application of Cal Poly's "learn by doing" course, our students also philosophy: it is produced by students using campus learn by reading, writing, equipment. reasoning, and debating. Cal Poly Magazine is providing a new "look" to For some of our students one way the university communicates with alumni - the literary critic, for and friends. We are working to find improvements, example, or the musician ­ to make sure that Cal Poly maintains its reputation the application of knowl­ for excellence. At the same time, however, we know edge may remain fairly we must remain true to our rich legacy that has abstract. But most students in our professional majors are taught to apply their ~p;2- learning to solve practical problems, addressing Warren]. Baker, President Cal poly Plan up ate ixteen new tenure-track the-art instructional technology completion of their degrees, add faculty members start work to supplemental workshops to institutional productiVity, and this fall as part of the university's and curriculum restructuring improve assessment procedures. efforts to address goals outlined to enhanced student advising Planning principles include by the Cal Poly Plan. systems. wide consultation among all The more than $1 million The Cal Poly Plan is the groups associated with Cal Poly. needed to support these new pro­ strategic initiative that will guide Governance of the process is fessors' positions comes from a the university into the next cen­ shared among faculty, students, $45-a-quarter Campus Academic tury. Its principles and goals were staff, and the administration Fee that students agreed to affirmed in a second student ref­ working as equal partners in charge themselves through a erendum last spring.