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CORe Digest

February 16th 2007



It sure was pretty flippin' cold yesterday. It got so cold that I was able to ice skate. On the great lawn. No really, the snow was completely frozen over -- it was fantastic. You should try it some time! But anyway, enough about me. Let's talk about you!







Public Service Announcement: Contrary to popularly-held belief, the student pictured above, David Adam Wurtz, is in fact a full-time student at Olin College. Despite any first impressions you may have, he is not a Babson student. Don't worry ... he doesn't know you go to school here, either.



Now, on to something more serious (I mean, who would really believe David Wurtz isn't a Babson student?)!









CORe Calendar: In Outlook | Google Calendar | Olin Portal

Friday Feb 16:

Saturday Feb 17:

Sunday Feb 18:

Monday Feb 19:

Tuesday Feb 20:

Wednesday Feb 21:

Thursday Feb 22:



Oh, and one last thing ... let me give a big shoutout to one of Olin's prestigious Dodgeball players, Marc "the Shark" Sweetgall, a member of Team OHNO (Olin Has No Opposition). With that, enjoy the three-day weekend!

Sincerely,

Chris "Danger" Dellin

Your Vice President of Communication

Dining Program Changes for Academic Year 2007-08
We are pleased to announce a number of changes to the student dining program for next year. 
  1. The most significant change will be the introduction of a late night dining option on the Olin campus.  Preliminary plans are to offer the late night program separately from the regular dining program on Monday through Thursday nights from 8:00 PM to midnight.  George Butler and his colleagues have begun designing the program and plan to make it a different and fun option for you.  Further details will be provided in the future.
  2. We are continuing efforts to add new off-campus options and are currently in preliminary discussions with other restaurants, dry cleaners, grocery stores and other local businesses.
  3. Many students have complained about having to pay for Dining Dollars as part of the meal plan and then not being able to spend all of them, about not being able to carry over Dining Dollars from one semester to the next, and about the inconvenience of having to separately manage both Dining Dollars and Convenience Dollars accounts.  After consulting with various parties, including the student Dining Advisory Board, the decision has been made to combine everything into a single debit account.  Students and their parents will be able to deposit funds into their Olin Dollars debit account and use those funds for Olin vending machines, laundry machines, guest meals in the Dining Hall, the late night Olin dining, and at select off-campus dining and retail locations.  In addition, the Olin Dollar balances will carry over from semester to semester and year to year.  As you will see in the announcement of tuition and fees for next year, this change results in a decrease in the cost of the Blue Dining Plan while the cost of the Silver plan will remain steady.
  4. A summer student meal plan will be introduced this summer for the convenience of those students who will be living on campus.  It will provide students with breakfast lunch and dinner each day during the periods when the Lead America camps are on campus and lunch only during the remainder of the summer.  Pricing information will be available later in the semester.
________________________
Contact: George Butler
Tuition and Fees Approved for 2007-08
The Board of Trustees has approved the following rates for tuition and fees in 2007-08:
 
Tuition = $33,600 (4.67% increase; offset by Olin scholarship)
Per credit rate = $1,120 (for visiting \u2013 not exchange \u2013 students)
Room = $7,800 (4% increase)
Board:
  • Blue Plan = $4,000 (2.44% decrease)
  • Silver Plan = $3,750 (no increase)
Health Insurance = $682 (no increase; may be waived with evidence of comparable coverage)
Student Activities Fee = $175 (16.67% increase per CORe recommendation)
Laptop/Technology Fee = $2,500 (no increase)
Late Payment Fee = $150 (no increase)
 
Notes:
For a variety of reasons and after consultation with various groups including the Dining Services Advisory Group, the decision was made to remove "Dining Dollars" from the meal plans.  Substituting for "Dining Dollars" and replacing "Convenience Dollars," the new "Olin Dollars" will now provide a single debit account where students (and/or parents) may deposit funds to be used in Olin vending machines, laundry machines, and at designated off-campus food establishments.  Further, Dining Services intends to launch a new late night dining program next year.
 
The previously separate CATV fee has been eliminated.  It is now included in the room fee.
 
The Student Accounts & Records (StAR) Center will send your fall semester bill to you at your home address in early July and payment will be due by August 1.  Unless you have made special arrangements with Loretta Dinon, this will be your only billing statement.  In other words, separate statements are not sent your parents; the bill is your responsibility.
________________________
Contact: Rod Crafts
RSS, Blogs, and Olincasts -- Oh My!
If you've checked out www.olin.edu recently, you may have noticed the new RSS Olin Feeds capabilities. These allow RSS (Really Simple Syndication) subscriptions to Olin's news releases, media coverage, and feature stories. In addition, it includes the ability to subscribe to newer features, including the Admission student blog (http://studentblog.olin.edu) and Olincasts (http://olincasts.olin.edu), which will offer Olin videocasts and podcasts.
 
Olin's RSS functionality was built by Thomas Michon '09, while working for the IT department, under the direction of Javier Zapanta, Web Developer. Congrats and thanks to Thomas, and if you're using the new version of Firefox or IE 7 browsers (or running a RSS news aggregator), be sure to subscribe to Olin Feeds (http://feeds.olin.edu)!
________________________
Contact: Kim Round
Paid Lifeguard Position Available
The Aquatics Club is hiring a lifeguard for its Saturday water polo practice/scrimmages.  This position will be paid at the student rate based on employee's grade, and is open to all Olin Students.  Sessions will be held on Saturdays from 6-8 roughly, and the job will consist of no more than 10 hours of work for the duration of the semester.  If you are interested in the position, please contact Jessie Sullivan by Noon on Monday, February 19 with your motivations, qualifications, and availability.  You will be required to provide a copy of your up-to-date certification.
________________________
Contact: Jessie Sullivan
Olin College Policies on Weapons and Fireworks -- feedback requested
Rod Crafts discussed these policies with the CORe General Assembly last semester.  Since that discussion, he has amended the first policy to allow for use of martial arts and fencing equipment.  This is a final call for feedback before these polices appear in next year's Student Handbook.  Please send comments to rod.crafts@olin.edu or drop in to see Rod in the Office of Student Life.
 
Final Draft
 
Olin College strictly prohibits possession on campus of firearms (including blank pistols or replicas), explosives, swords or knives (other than those used for cooking or small pocket knives), and other weapons.  Practicing or performing with martial arts or fencing equipment is permitted by members of recognized student organizations; when not in use, such equipment should be stored securely.
[Also see Massachusetts General Laws:  Chapter 269, sections 10 and 14]
 
Possession of fireworks is also prohibited by the College.
[Also see Massachusetts General Laws:  Chapter 148, section 39]
________________________
Contact: Rod Crafts
SERV Gas Reimbursement Change on 3/1
Gas Reimbursement now $0.24 per mile
SERV has decided to change the rate that we reimburse for gas to better serve the community with our budget. We want to continue to encourage students to drive to community service projects and will continue to pay for the gas. However, the IRS mileage reimbursement rate (currently $0.485/mile) takes much more than gas expense into account. Starting on March 1st, 2007, any driving to community service events will be reimbursed at half the IRS rate (drivers will receive $0.24/mile).
 
Also, remember that Friday from 3-5 is Community Service Time!
________________________
Contact: Christie
2007 Babson Film Festival
Greetings Producers, Directors, and Actors of Olin College of Engineering
The Babson Video Production Club is planning the First Annual Babson Film Festival for April 12th.  We are reaching out to undergrad students who have made movies in the past or would like to create a new movie to submit to the Film Festival.  The festival is not only reaching out to the Babson Community, but other schools in the Boston area.  A panel of judges will award prizes, and the grand prize winner of the Babson Film Festival will receive an international distribution contract and be eligible to be shown on Comcast's upcoming short film channel launching this year! 
 
Important Information:
  • The Films need to be 6 minutes or less.
  • Film formats accepted are:  MOV, AVI, or SWF or on a DVD.
 
If you are interested in entering a film, please email Matt Mashburn (mmashburn1@babson.edu), for a submission form. The final films are due Thursday March 29th
 
Good Luck!
________________________
Contact: Matt Mashburn
Dinner with CSTB - February 20 7:00-8:00pm, Dining Hall
Of course, what could substitute a transfer from being bored?
Thinking of spending a semester away?  Taking a nifty summer course?  What of that special BBW course that will make your curricular design your own?  The CSTB (Course Substitution and Transfer Board) will have a general question and answer session on February 20 from 7:00-8:00pm in the upstairs section of the dining hall.   David Soo and I will be there to answer any and all CSTB questions, and outline how the process works. 
________________________
Contact: Burt Tilley
Attachment(s):
Engineering a Child's Toy
Hi -

I am a Needham resident.  A few years ago I "invented" a child's toy that I thought, and still feel, fulfills a need in the marketplace.  But, sigh, it needs work...mechanical engineering guidance.  I'm more of a marketer so when it comes to actually making the vision work I have problems.  I was wondering if the school would ever be interested in taking on my product as a project, and if so, who I would speak to directly about it.

Warmest regards,

Kate Maguire

781/910-7246 (cell)
________________________
Contact: Kate Maguire
Mentoring Opportunity for 6th Grade Needham Girl
Help with Science Fair project and other school work
The mother of a 6th grade Needham girl who is very interested in the maths and sciences is looking for an Olin student or two to mentor her daughter. (This is someone Caitrin knows.) The mother is willing to pay an Olin student for to help with a Science Fair Project and coach/mentor the girl on other school work. Please email her mother, Eleanor Reilly, to find out more information.
________________________
Contact: Eleanor Reilly
Student Volunteers Needed!
Ignite Clean Energy Competition to be Held at Olin on April 5th
Student volunteers are needed to help with the Ignite Clean Energy (ICE) competition which will be held at Olin on April 5th. Volunteer opportunities include: Hosting/serving as a guide to guests; providing room support during presentations; or videotaping some of the various presentations (which will be held from 3:00-7:00p.m.). If you are interested and available to volunteer, please contact Joanne Kossuth.
 
With just one Olin team currently scheduled to compete, we would also like to encourage additional students to enter! The idea behind the ICE is to build the clean energy business cluster in Massachusetts and regionally by working with entrepreneurs to crystallize their business concepts and helping them produce a compelling ten-minute investor pitch. By getting entrepreneurs in front of investors and others in the sector, the ten finalists get very broad exposure. In the first two years of the competition, there have been 79 teams to go through the competition and, of the top ten finalists, nine are still in business.
 
The process starts with a 3–5 page executive summary that must be submitted by March 5th. Contestants receive written feedback on their summaries from the judging committee. The top 30 teams are asked to develop a ten to fifteen minute pitch for the semifinals, which they give in private, individually, on April 5th. They then get about 15–20 minutes of verbal feedback from a judging panel (including investors, IP attorneys, etc.). The top ten of the semifinalists return on May 1st to give a public ten-minute investor pitch and five teams (one grand prize, plus second and third prizes for both student and professional teams) win awards that night. Mentors are provided to the teams, as is access to boot camps and seminars with lots of how-to content, and individual coaching to help them hone the best pitch possible.
________________________
Contact: Joanne Kossuth
Last Chance - Where's That Baby?
FWOP's First Scavenger Hunt Promotion for "The Importance of Being Earnest"
Registration for the "Where's That Baby" promotion has been extended noon today, so if you want to take part, grab three friends and sign up now! In anticipation of FWOP's upcoming production of "The Importance of Being Earnest," starting 8 PM at Sorenson Friday and Saturday during both Candidates' Weekends, the best theater group on campus will be holding a competition with elements related to the play. Baby John Moncrieff is missing somewhere in Boston, close to a T stop. Your task is to find him and return him to Olin College unharmed. In order to find him, you will be given challenges, which when completed will give you clues to his location, and the tools that you need to free him. Prizes will be awarded in three categories:
$50 for the first team to find Baby John

$25 for the team that completes the most challenges

Free show tickets for the most creative team
Rules have been attached, and the competition will take place from 8 PM tomorrow until 8 PM Saturday. Better hurry!
________________________
Contact: Andrew Bouchard
Attachment(s):
Post graduate Planning Announcements
Olin’s resource for internships, summer research, jobs, graduate school and more…
 
General
 
AIChE-Boston Career Search Workshop
Wednesday, March 7th from 6-9PM, Tufts University – Medford,MA
This event is free for students. For more information and to register, send email to Rich Shandross, Richard.Shandross@gdc4s.com, with full contact information, including phone number, college attending and major.
 
New Internships and Research Experiences Posted In EASE since the Last CORe Digest:
Summer Internships and Scholarships – U.S. Department of Energy
ORISE Educational and Research Experiences–Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
Internship– AeroAstro, Inc.
Summer Professional Internship Program, Budapest – Central European University
 
DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER IN EASE!
 
New Jobs Posted In Ease since the Last CORe Digest:
Junior Staff – Essential
Senior, Net engineer- New Dimensions in Technology, Inc. (NDT)
“Web 2.0” Java Developer - New Dimensions in Technology, Inc. (NDT)
Software Designer - New Dimensions in Technology, Inc. (NDT)
Various Career Opportunities for recent grads – athenahealth
Java Application Devloper, OnDemand Solutions – Art Technology Group, Inc.
Associate Technical Support Engineer - Art Technology Group, Inc.
Production Team Advisor – Schreiber Foods, Inc.
Assistant Product Manager – Medline Industries, Inc.
Operations Engineer – Medline Industries, Inc.
P.E., E.I.T. and Landscape Architect – Waterstreet Engineering
 
DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER IN EASE!
________________________
Contact: Suzanne Alcott
All activities that need to reach the entire Olin Community or the Student Body are encouraged to use this newsletter or the Link. Publication deadline is 10PM each Thursday. Submission form: \\fsvs01\StudentGroups\CORe\Communication\COReDigest\Forms\Digest-Item.xsn