Student newspaper of the Illinois Institute of Technology since 1928

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OPINION 2

CAMPUS 3-4
A8E 6

SPORTS 7

 

Student, faculty, alumni success highlighted in local media

Utsav Gandhi
CAMPUS EDITOR

As one of the major technology in-
stitutes in the Chicagoland area and a primary
center of research, along with having a premier
law school, institute of design, college of archi-
tecture as well as a marketed school of busi-
ness, IIT is frequently spotlighted in the local
and national media for the accomplishments
of its current faculty, students and alumni. As
students we receive an email digest almost dai-
ly, delivered by IIT’s Office of Marketing and
Communications, called “IIT Today”. You can
check out their news archives at http://www.iit.
edu/news/iittoday/?cat=7 to read about these
accomplishments and get excited about at-
tending IIT!

Athletics is starting to gain more and
more coverage in the local media, especially
with the recent revival of the basketball team.
DNAinfo.com shared a story on February 22,
2013, “HT Men’s Hoops Center Relishes A
Second Chance to Play Varsity Ball,” that tells
the story of Scarlet Hawks center Ian Sisson, a
recent architecture graduate, who played as a
freshman and recently led the newly returned
basketball team in 2012—2013. Ian had previ-

ously helped create an IIT men’s basketball
club team, and six of those players became the
foundation of the collegiate squad.

One of the most prominent IIT
alumni of all time has been Martin Cooper,
the inventor of the cell phone. He worked with
Motorola after graduating with a degree in
Electrical Engineering in 1950, and made the
first ever phone call on a portable cell phone
forty years ago. News media around the world
marked the 40th anniversary of this historic
achievement on April 3, 2013. Other illustri-
ous IIT alumni include Dr. Susan Solomon,
who is credited with the discovery of the hole
in the ozone layer over Antarctica; and Leon
Lederman, a Physics Nobel Laureate/one-time
Director of FermiLab and founder of the Illi-
nois Math and Science Academy.

Crain’s Chicago Business also re-
cently previewed an upcoming story about IIT:
the “Fueling Innovation" capital campaign,
and the new directions the university has taken
over the past five years under President John
Anderson, on April 5, 2013. Incoming students
will more frequently hear about this campaign
during their time at IIT as it a major fundrais—
ing effort to attract more undergraduates and
to build a 100.000—square-foot innovation
center, which would be the first new academic
building on campus in 30 years. Several benefi-

ciaries have contributed thousands of dollars,
and their names can be seen enshrined on the
walls outside the ballroom in the McCormick
Tribune Campus Center. Furthermore, the
university is also undertaking the renovation
of two important academic buildings, Engi-
neering 1 and Life Sciences.

IIT also has a very active interest in
robotics, with an active student group (Illinois
Tech Robotics) as well as some groundbreak-
ing research being conducted by professors in
the Computer Science and Mechanical Engi-
neering Departments. The Perspectives/HT
Math 8: Science Academy robotics team, The
Iron Wolves, recently advanced to compete
at the FIRST Robotics Competition World
Championship earlier this year, and was pro-
filed in the Chicago Tribune on April 24, 2013.

[IT’S Architecture and Civil Engi-
neering Departments have also left physical
imprints on structures in the Chicagoland
area. Those familiar with the CTA Green Line
may have noticed the new CTA Morgan Sta-
tion, which opened last year. This station was
designed by IIT Architecture Adjunct Profes-
sor Carol Ross Barney’s Ross Barney Archi-
tects, for which his work was featured in the
‘Architect Magazine’ on April 25, 2013. CAEE
(Civil, Architectural and Environmental En-
gineering) Professor and Chair Gongkang Fu

is also approached frequently by the media to
discuss important developments in the indus-
try. He spoke with NBC 5 News about aging
bridge infrastructure following the collapse of
a Washington state freeway bridge on May 28,
2013.

IIT also has recently made a visible
pubic effort to support immigration reform
and has come out in support of undocumented
students. Tanya Cabrera, assistant director of
minority student outreach and diversity ini-
tiatives at IIT and chair of the Illinois Dream
Fund Commission, may have been one of the
admission counselors incoming students may
come across during their application process
to IIT. She recently spoke with Crain’s Chicago
Business about the difliculties in fundraising
to provide scholarships to children of undocu-
mented immigrants in Illinois.

Perhaps one of the most impressive
student accomplishments to be highlighted in
the media in recent times, a recent graduate
of the Law School and a resident of Plainfield,
IL, Iennifer Wood, was featured in the CBS 2
News story, “Mom of Seven Kids Celebrating
Mother’s Day With Law Degree.” IIT students
continue to shine and bring laurels to the uni—
versity, and keep the flag of school spirit flying
high.

First Year Experience Program implements new agenda

Ryan Kamphuis
EDITOR—lN-CHIEF

Coming to college is one of the
most exciting experiences that people Will
have. Between the newfound independence.
the huge number of new people to meet. the
numerous opportunities to get involved, and
all of this while living in the third largest city
in the country, an IIT student’s first year can
be just as intimidating as it is exciting.

This realization is what lead to
the Office of Campus Life (OCL) creating
and implementing the First Year Experience
(FYEl program in the fall of 20l2. “Our over
all goal for the program is to help people,” said
Director of Campus Life. Ryan Miller.

Stemming from research done on
other university's first year experience pro—
grams. llT’s FYE program was original com—
prised of three components. the Peer Mentor

program, Freshman 15 events, and Hawk lfll
lectures. The Peer Mentor program paired
each incoming student with an upperclass-
men to serve as a mentor that could help the
incoming student navigate and become confi

dent at IIT.

The Freshman 15 was a collection
of 15 events that were viewed by OCL and the
student body as essential events for students
to attend. Finally, the Hawk 101 lectures were
a series of workshops on student leadership
and other topics at IIT.

After a year of implementation,
OCL has taken the opportunity to step back
and evaluate the First Year Experience Pru~
gram, and they are making a few changes in
order to streamline the program and make it
more effective.

"We felt that we were very success-
ful considering this was the first year this pro-
gram was being implemented," said Miller.
“But we could still improve.”

One of the big steps being made to
improve the program is the elimination of the
Hawk 101 workshops.

" [he l'iawk 101 program atten
dance on the student side was pretty limited,"
said Alex Garrett, Coordinator of Campus
Life. “By eliminating the Hawk 101 program,
we can focus on using all of our resources to
make the Peer Mentor program a success."

The Peer Mentor program had
trouble with limited freshmen response in its
first year, and QC]. thinks by putting more
emphasis on the program and equipping it
with more resources, the Peer Mentors will
be able to do more with the program, making
the program more appealing for freshmen to
take part in. Another change being made to
the FYF. program this year is emphasizing the
Peer Mentor program during Welcome Week
and throughout the semester by planning a
few mandatory events.

This year, the Peer Mentor Meet

and Greet will be a mandatory pan of Wel-
come Week, and will be organized so that no
other events take place during that time pe~
nod. Last year the Meet and Greet was at the
same time as iPad distribution, causing many
to skip it. Steps are also being taken to ensure
that incoming students meet their Peer Mene
tors earlier and get to know them better.

“I think our big hope with this pro-
gram is that every incoming student will have
someone they can go to for help and who will
tell them who to talk to within administration
to get things done, ” said Miller.

With these changes the Office of
Campus Life is confident that the First Year
Experience program will be able to better get
first year students used to life at IIT.

Miller and Garrett have made it
clear that they will work hard to ensure the
success of the program so that all incoming
students will feel welcome and feel like they
are part of the IIT community from day one

SGA President welcomes new students to "T

Rani Shah
SGA PRESIDENT

Welcome and congratulations on be—
ing admitted to the Illinois Institute of Tech—
nology!

We’re not the average college experi—
ence - we’re better. The land of Scarlet Hawks
houses students who build farms on campus,
students who question the status quo, students
who lead world innovation, and students who
order Sarpinos pizza three times a week. Being
so fantastic all the time is exhausting though,
and in our downtime IIT students get creative.

Hackathons, carnivals, midnight

volleyball, public policy forums, touring the
city of Chicago, or just running around your
dorm floor while your RA chases you; get ex-
cited!

We are the IIT Student Government Asso-
ciation (SGA), the governing body of all IIT
students. In a nutshell, we approve new stu-
dent organizations, allot funding for student
groups, and most importantly, work on proj-
ects to improve IIT. Our library is now open
24 hours a day, five days a week after months
of SGA work.

Our efforts have also caused Span-
ish language courses, course evaluations for
all classes, and most importantly, the Illinois
Tech Harlem Shake to happen. More than just

projects, we bring school administration and
students together. 7

Have an issue with school policy or
just see room for improvement? Call SGA and
we’re on it!

Frequent meetings with President
Anderson and the rest of our amazing admin-
istrators, faculty,
and staff make change possible.

So drop by and say hi! You’ll see fel—
low SGA members lurking around our office in

the MTCC either working furiously to change I

bylaws and policies or looking for free food;
both of which are equally important. Come
out and run for Senator while you’re at it. Be a
rep. Fresh talent is what we thrive off of, under—

graduates and graduate students both. Engi—
neering, Architecture, Political Science, Math,
Shimer, Vandercook, Ioumalism, Computer
Science, or Life; whatever your major, you’re
encouraged to join the SGA!

Once again, congratulations on be—
ing accepted to what I believe is the most
unique university in the world. Welcome to
success, welcome to lifeelong friendships, wel-
come to innovation; welcome to the Illinois
Institute of Technology!

Sincerely,

Rani Shah

Chemical Engineering ‘14
Student Body President