Purdue News

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University students moving out at the end of this semester will have the chance to donate usable items to the eighth annual Project Move Out, which will distribute items to needy families in the area.

The event, sponsored by the Boiler Volunteer Network, will collect goods between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday (May 2-3) in the Purdue Armory.

Also, student volunteers will be out in West Lafayette’s New Chauncey neighborhood from 1-4 p.m. Saturday (May 3) to gather donations of usable household items that are left curbside for the collection and pick up trash throughout the area. Purdue Physical Facilities donated the use of four trucks for the event.

Students can donate items such as clothing, shoes, cleaning supplies, electronics, books, furniture, laundry soap, winter coats and luggage, said Harry Brown, assistant dean of students and director of the Boiler Volunteer Network.

Then, from 1-4 p.m. Sunday (May 4), low-income community members will have a chance to “shop” for free items they need.

For the first time, the Boiler Volunteer Network is working on Project Move Out with the Campus Community Partnership Committee, a group that serves to increase Purdue’s cooperation with and contributions to the surrounding community.

Volunteers are still needed to help with the program, and one-hour shifts are available, Brown said. To make arrangements or for information, contact the Boiler Volunteer Network at (765) 496-2450 or bvn@purdue.edu.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University will award degrees at five campuses and seven College of Technology locations throughout Indiana during commencement ceremonies in May.

Commencement at the West Lafayette campus is scheduled for May 9-11 at Elliott Hall of Music. An estimated 5,947 degrees will be presented in four ceremonies that weekend, including 4,560 undergraduate degrees, 229 professional degrees, 773 master’s degrees and 385 doctoral degrees.

Purdue President France A. Córdova will address graduates at each ceremony. The ceremonies will feature two large video screens above the Elliott Hall stage. The screens will display a close-up image of each graduate receiving his or her diploma.

A live feed of the ceremonies also will be available online at mms://video.dis.purdue.edu/graduation

This link will not become active until 48 hours before the first ceremony.

Each graduation candidate is guaranteed four tickets to the commencement. Candidates can request up to two additional tickets, however, extra tickets are not guaranteed. Doors open to guests 90 minutes prior to the ceremony.

The ceremonies for the West Lafayette campus are:

• May 9. 8 p.m. Colleges of Education and Engineering. Rebecca Lynn Hurst of Troy, Ohio, who will receive a bachelor’s degree from the College of Education, will provide the class response.
• May 10. 9:30 a.m. College of Consumer and Family Sciences, School of Management and College of Science. Elizabeth Anne Proctor of Libertyville, Ill., who will receive bachelor’s degrees from the colleges of Science and Liberal Arts, will provide the class response.
• May 10. 2:30 p.m. Colleges of Agriculture and Liberal Arts. Cody Elyse Cheetham of Zionsville, Ind., who will receive a bachelor’s degree from the College of Liberal Arts, will provide the class response.
• May 11. 9:30 a.m. College of Technology and schools of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences. Akshay Thomas of Chennai, India, who will receive a bachelor’s degree from the School of Health Sciences, will provide the class response.

Commencement videos for each school will be available. A DVD costs $30, and order forms are available at Stewart Center’s Loeb Playhouse box office or by calling (765) 494-3933. Order forms can be submitted both before and after each commencement ceremony.

Commencement times and locations at other Purdue campuses are:

• Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. 7 p.m. May 14 at the Memorial Coliseum and Exposition Center, where 420 Purdue degrees will be conferred.
• Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, where 963 Purdue degrees will be awarded on May 11 in two ceremonies in Halls A-B-C of the Indiana Convention Center. The first ceremony, at 10 a.m., will include the schools of Dentistry, Education, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Informatics, Law-Indianapolis, Medicine, Nursing, Physical Education, Tourism Management, Public and Environmental Affairs, Social Work and the University Graduate Schools. The second ceremony, at 3 p.m., will include the Kelley School of Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering and Technology, Herron School of Art and Design, Journalism, Liberal Arts, Library and Information Science, Jacobs School of Music, and Science.
• Purdue Calumet. 1:30 p.m. May 18 at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, where 687 Purdue degrees will be conferred.
• Purdue North Central. 7 p.m. May 19 in the Athletics-Recreation Center at Valparaiso University, where 285 degrees will be conferred.

College of Technology commencements at locations around the state are:

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A record number of students have enrolled in classes the past two semesters at the Purdue University College of Technology’s location at Lafayette, officials have reported.

Jon Aull, location director for the College of Technology at Indianapolis and Lafayette, said enrollments reached all-time highs in both the fall 2007 and spring 2008 semesters. In the fall, 268 students were enrolled, up 23 percent from fall 2006. This spring, 210 students were enrolled, up 14 percent from spring 2007.

Michele Summers, assistant director of the Lafayette location, said the increase in enrollment is due to increased marketing efforts in addition to strong partnerships with local employers.

“We are open to all students but are focused primarily on nontraditional students who are working but want to further their education,” she said. “We offer classes at night and at their workplaces, so we are making every effort to meet the needs of the people of Lafayette.”

The College of Technology at Lafayette is located at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive facility on Indiana 38 and also offers classes at Wabash National Corp., Fairfield Manufacturing Co. Inc., Caterpillar Inc. and in Frankfort.

The Lafayette location offers certificate programs, associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees in industrial technology and organizational leadership and supervision.

For more information about registration and degree programs offered at the College of Technology at Lafayette, call (765) 496-6886, e-mail techlafayette@purdue.edu or visit http://www.tech.purdue.edu/lafayette/

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Football season ticket applications for faculty and staff have been mailed to campus addresses, and the deadline for priority seating is coming up on May 1.

The 2008 Boilermaker football season features seven home games in Ross-Ade Stadium.

Faculty and staff can get two tickets at the discounted price of $207 each. Additional faculty/staff tickets and public season tickets are $259 each. In addition, faculty and staff can opt to have the cost of their tickets paid through payroll deduction over the course of five months — July through November.

There also are alternate season ticket options for 2008.

The Boiler Bundle season ticket features four tickets in the north end zone for $600. Additional tickets in the Boiler Bundle are $150 each. South end zone season tickets are $140 each.

For ticket applications, go to www.purdue.edu/athletics/facilities/FB_fac_staff_season_app.pdf.
Or call or stop by the Athletic Ticket Office in the Intercollegiate Athletic Facility, 765-494-3194.

The 2008 Purdue football home schedule

• Sept. 6 Northern Colorado
• Sept. 13 Oregon
• Sept. 20 Central Michigan
• Oct. 4 Penn State
• Oct. 25 Minnesota
• Nov. 1 Michigan
• Nov. 22 Indiana

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue police Chief Gary Evans is leaving his position of four years to become director of grounds for Purdue Physical Facilities, and John Cox has been named interim police chief, university officials announced Friday (April 25).

Evans, who has spent 24 years in law enforcement, became Purdue’s police chief in March 2004 after 16 years with the Valparaiso (Ind.) Police Department. He will assume his new duties May 1.

He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1984-88. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind., and a master’s degree from Valparaiso (Ind.) University.

“I have truly enjoyed my four years as Purdue’s police chief and will miss the people at the police department,” Evans said. “I have never worked with a better group of people.

“I also am excited about the opportunities this move presents and am looking forward to working with the dedicated staff who do an excellent job at Grounds. I believe in the benefits of helping increase sustainability at Purdue and hope to continue building upon the university’s recycling and sustainability efforts.”

As director of grounds, Evans will report to senior director for buildings and grounds Martha May and develop organizational and operational policies, procedures and goals for the department. He will evaluate new construction, landscaping and irrigation systems and oversee the department refuse, recycling and topsoil programs on campus, among other duties.

“Maintaining and improving campus grounds is an important goal for Purdue, and our search process confirmed that Gary is the best person to lead this department,” May said. “He has strong leadership and management skills as evidenced by the police department’s many accomplishments during his years as chief.”

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Below is a listing of events happening today and this weekend, April 25-27 at the West Lafayette campus of Purdue University.

Friday, April 25

– Computer and Information Technology departmental open house. College of Technology. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Second floor, Knoy Hall.

– “Last Blast! A Double Shot of Comedy: Stephen Lynch & Charlie Murphy.” Student Concert Committee. Language advisory/adult language. 8 p.m. Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets: public, $32; Purdue and Ivy Tech students, $27; limit six tickets.

– Through April 29. “Chronicling Women’s History at Purdue: Selections from the Susan Bulkeley Butler Women’s Archives.” Artifacts, documents and photographs highlighting the history of University women. The exhibit includes collections on the “Queen of American Agriculture,” the “Mother of Modern Management,” Amelia Earhart and more. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Room 279, STEW. www.lib.purdue.edu/spcol.

– Fine Arts Senior Exhibition. Annual exhibition of artworks from seniors majoring in the fine arts including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and metals. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Patti and Rusty Rueff Galleries, Pao Hall. Through April 25.

– John Purdue Room Lunch Special. This week, the featured specials are Gazpacho & Seared Pork with Pineapple Salsa. To access the menu: www.cfs.purdue.edu/htm/about/restaurants.shtml.

Friday through Sunday, April 25-27

– Women’s tennis. Big Ten Championships. All day. Schwartz Tennis Center.

Friday and Saturday, April 25-26

– Softball vs. Iowa. Friday: 4 p.m. Saturday: Noon. Varsity Softball Complex. Tickets: public, $5; students, $2.

– Purdue Repertory Dance Company. Spring Dance Works. Friday: 7:30 p.m. Saturday: 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Hansen Theatre, Pao Hall. Tickets: adults, $12; students, $10; children under age 12, $6.

– Baseball vs. Minnesota. Friday: 4 p.m. Saturday: 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday: Noon. Lambert Field. Tickets: public, $5; students, $2.

Saturday, April 26

– Last day of classes for spring semester. Final exams will begin Monday.

Sunday, April 27

– Softball vs. Illinois. Noon and 2 p.m. Varsity Softball Complex. Tickets: public, $5; students, $2.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Due to decreasing sales, reserve funds and student interest, the student executive board of the Debris has decided the 2007-08 edition will be Purdue’s last traditional yearbook.

The staff of the Debris has been working with administrators across campus during the past year on strategies to revive the publication, but the group decided to stop producing a yearbook after this edition, said Kayla Gregory, Debris adviser. She said the group will consider alternative publication formats to record the Purdue student experience.

According to incoming editor in chief Emily Heiser, sales of the Debris have been going down during the last 10 years, a trend seen with many other university yearbooks. The organization has been ordering less than 1,000 copies a year during the last few years, she said.

“The student staff is incredibly proud of their work on the 2007-08 Debris,” Gregory said. “It is without a doubt one of the finest publications the organization has ever produced. The students are honored to have this last publication be one of such high quality and in accordance with the organization’s rich tradition.”

The 2007-08 Debris is made up of more than 340 full-color, hardbound pages. It includes coverage of student life, housing, academics, athletics and the senior album. The Debris also includes a DVD supplement, a special edition of the student-produced news magazine “Fast Track News” from the College of Liberal Arts.

Named for an obscure definition of the term debris, a collection of works, the Debris was first published in 1889. From its beginning, the size of the staff has ranged from more than 50 students to less than 10; its current staff is made up of 15 students.

“I am proud to say that we have produced an outstanding book that will be a great way to end a long tradition,” said editor in chief Kari Whisler, a senior in the College of Consumer and Family Sciences from Danville, Ind. “I am faithful that the future of the Debris yearbook will be very successful. This is a new beginning that will lead to great things.”

The Debris will remain as a recognized student organization to handle student and parent inquiries and to oversee the delivery of the 2007-08 yearbook in late August. A small amount of money will remain in the Debris reserve account, and income from the archive editions will continue to go to the organization, Gregory said.

Heiser, a junior in the College of Liberal Arts from Vernon Hills, Ill., said she plans to use the fall 2008 semester to rebuild the student organization and develop strategies for alternative publication formats.

“After this book’s completion, the staff will take time to talk to people around Purdue,” she said. “We’ll talk to alumni, faculty, staff and, most importantly, students, to decide how these groups want the memories of Purdue to be saved. By spring 2009, I hope we will have a concept for a new publication that all Boilermakers can be proud to have and share. We do not want even one year of memories to slip away.”

If the income builds to the amount needed to cover printing costs, the organization will have the option to resume publishing a traditional yearbook, Gregory said.

The 2008 Debris is $55, with the DVD supplement available for an extra $5, and is available for purchase at http://www.purdue.edu/yearbook through the end of the semester. The yearbook will be delivered in late August and will be shipped directly to the address provided on the order form.
For information about the 2007-08 Debris, contact the staff at purduedebris@gmail.com.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Someone has absconded with more than half a mile of copper wire from a campus construction storage area, and the Purdue police would like to know who.

Purdue police on Thursday (April 24) are looking for information about the theft of approximately $44,000 worth of insulated copper wire from a construction storage area on campus during the past three weeks.

A Purdue employee told police approximately 2,800 feet of stranded copper wire, ranging in thickness from one-fourth of an inch to one inch in diameter, was taken at some point after April 4. The insulated copper wire was taken from a construction storage area near the Physical Facilities service building, said Lt. Fred Davis.

Davis said the wire, which is used for electrical construction and remodeling projects at the university, may have been taken, stripped of its plastic coating, and then sold to a salvage company.

The person or people responsible for the theft may have had to make multiple trips to haul the copper wire away since such a large amount was taken, Davis said.

Theft is a Class D felony punishable by up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to call the Purdue Police Department at (765) 494-8221 or the anonymous crime tip line at (765) 496-3784.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A gas line that leaked after being hit by a backhoe operator, closing the intersection of Stadium Avenue and University Street for about one hour Thursday (April 24) morning, has been repaired.

Dan Pusey, senior director of engineering, utilities and construction for Purdue University’s Physical Facilities, said Vectren Corp. made all necessary repairs and gas service was returned at about 11 a.m. to the four affected buildings: Forney Hall of Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering Building, Materials and Electrical Engineering Building and Forney Hall of Chemical Engineering.

The incident happened around 7:45 a.m., according to Purdue fire chief Kevin Ply. The Purdue fire and police departments responded and closed the intersection. Vectren workers shut the gas off. Purdue Utilities also was on scene and checked for gas in the utility tunnels.

The two-inch gas line that was hit feeds laboratories in the four Purdue buildings. Those laboratories remained open.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — In an effort to reduce costs for student organizations and the university and be more environmentally friendly, Purdue is issuing a new policy that will eliminate posting fliers on campus sidewalks.

A committee that included Purdue students, faculty and staff made the recommendation and is working on more cost-effective and efficient options for communicating with students about campus activities.

Upgrades to the student system, Purdue-Board, will provide opportunities for recognized student organizations to communicate with Purdue students, said Pablo Malavenda, associate dean of students. Additional options for these organizations will include the free use of RSS feeds to push information out to students, virtual bulletin boards, campus kiosks, flat screens and the Boiler Television Network (BTV).

With the exception of sidewalk fliers, all other promotional methods currently used by organizations, such as posting fliers on kiosks and bulletin boards, will be allowed under the new policy. A complete list of the accepted promotional methods and opportunities will be made available in August, Malavenda said.

The new policy will be implemented in August, with a transition period spanning the fall semester.

The steering committee for this initiative began meeting in December. The committee included Purdue students and faculty with representatives from student government, graduate student government, Dean of Students Office, Office of Information Technology, grounds department and the Purdue Memorial Union.