The Bridge - March 2003

1. Welcome

The Alumni E-Newsletter - At Last!
Here it is -- the electronic alumni newsletter you told us you wanted. Each month in The Bridge you will find the latest news at WPI, from groundbreaking research to great events you won’t want to miss. Through this newsletter I hope you’ll stay connected to our alma mater; I invite your ideas and suggestions to keep The Bridge useful and relevant. Send us your feedback at thebridge@wpi.edu

Happy reading,
Dusty Klauber ’67
President, WPI Alumni Association

2. News

Firefighter Safety System Attracts $1 Million

The tragic fire in the Worcester Cold Storage building four years ago served as inspiration for John Orr:
"As I stood on Grove Street watching the procession of firefighters honoring the men lost in the blaze, I thought that the problem of people being lost inside a building is something technology should be able to solve," says Orr, head of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at WPI. "I knew that we had all the basic pieces here to find a solution." Lawmakers agree: WPI is slated to receive $1 million in federal monies to build a prototype system. Read the full story

WPI Fire Expertise Sought After Rhode Island Nightclub Disaster

Following the horrible nightclub fire late last month in Warwick, Rhode Island, WPI fire protection engineering professors were called on by the media to help explain the causes and implications of the event. Director of the Center for Firesafety Studies David Lucht was interview by the Boston Herald, the Christian Science Monitor, WBUR public radio, the Associated Press, and New England Cable News. The February 26 Wall Street Journal interviewed Professor Jonathan Barnett on expected changes in nightclub building codes. Read Professor Lucht’s opinion piece on the matter, or listen to the WBUR interview

President Parrish on the Need for Tech Early-Ed Reform

The March 9 "Boston Sunday Globe" featured an article from WPI President Edward Alton Parrish touting the importance of K-12 math and science education to recruiting and retaining future generations of scientists and engineers. Read the full story

To comment on the article, visit a special Web site about this issue.

Two WPI Professors Awarded Fulbrights

Mikhail Dimentberg, a professor of mechanical engineering, and Karen A. Lemone, associate professor of computer science, have been awarded Fulbright Scholar grants. Professor Dimentberg will lecture and conduct research on nonlinear dynamics and vibrations at the University of Magedeburg, in Magedeburg, Germany. Professor Lemone lectured and conducted research on computer science and related fields at Kathmandu University in Kathmandu, Nepal. Read more

Who’ll Win the Goat’s Head Rivalry?

The famed freshman v. sophomore Goat’s Head Rivalry currently stands with the freshmen up by one. The next chance for the sophomores to tie it up will be at Traditions Day, April 10, when the Pennant Rush and other events will take place on the football field. If the sophomores tie it up, the rivalry will be decided on Saturday, April 12, at Quadfest. Local Alumni are welcome to drop by the events. For more info on the rivalry, the Goat's Head and the Student Alumni Society

3. Events: For Alumni

April 2-5: FIRST Robotic National Championships

April 10-12: Battle Cry. WPI and Mass Academy’s FIRST Robotics Team vies for top honors among a field of high-tech, 130-pound machines dueling in intense, high-energy contests modeled on competitive sports match-ups. Seattle, Wash.; National Championships: Houston, Texas. More information

April 17: Happy Hour. Calling all Boston-area alumni! Join your classmates for drinks and socializing at the Rhino Bar, 21 Broad Street, Boston, 5-7 p.m. E-mail regional-events@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5600.

April 23: It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who Knows You. An evening for New York City-area WPI alums with corporate veteran Alan Glou, President of Glou International. The Lotos Club, 5 East 66th St., New York, N.Y.; 6:30-8:30 p.m., $20 per person. CANCELLED.

There’s more going on -- view the full calendar.

Events: WPI Campus

March 29-30: WPI Glee Club Alumni Weekend. Celebrate the Glee Club’s 128th year with a weekend of music. Alden Memorial, 12:45-9 p.m. For a full schedule, e-mail mronn@alum.wpi.edu.

April 1: Baseball, WPI v. Clark, Alumni Field, 3-5 p.m. For more info, e-mail steveraz@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5328.

View the full calendar of campus events.

4. Travel

Interested in traveling with fellow WPI alumni?

The Lifelong Learning Committee, a division of the WPI Alumni Association, is looking into the possibility of re-establishing the WPI Alumni Travel Program. In order to develop a program that appeals to our alumni, we ask you to take a few minutes to answer a few questions. Complete the survey

China Forum Postponed

Given the global unrest, the prospect of war with Iraq, and now North Korea rattling sabers, many people are taking a "wait and see attitude" concerning travel outside the U.S. Therefore, WPI has decided to postpone Alumni Forum 2003: Doing Business in China. The new dates are Sept. 15-19, 2003. Information on the forum and check for updates

5. Sports

Wrestlers Go to Nationals; Coach Named to Hall of Fame

Last weekend, two WPI wrestlers went to the National Championships; both hold a lot of promise for next year. Phil Grebinar, WPI’s head wrestling coach for the past 31 years, will be inducted into the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stoneham, Mass., on Saturday, April 19. Read the full story

6. Did You Know...Class of 2007

More people are vying for freshman slots than ever before: WPI received a record 3,491 applications this year, 11 percent more than last year. International applications are up almost 13 percent. Domestically, there are increases in applications from students from Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Oregon, Colorado and California.

7. Bookmarks

Class Notes
Got something exciting to announce? Tell us about it!

Alumni Café
Keep in touch with other alums on our message boards!

Alumni Web Site
Your source for alumni information and events!

Alliance of International Students and Alumni at WPI

Transformations
Read the Winter '03 issue with Web-only features!

Giving to WPI
There are lots of ways to give back - including online!

We'd love to hear your suggestions or comments. Please send them to us at thebridge@wpi.edu.

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Last modified: Aug 11, 2006, 10:02 EDT