Forum details Campaign 2004
The Department of Political Science sponsored the first in a series of discussions focused on Campaign 2004 last week. The forum featured Stearns Trustee Professor Barry Bluestone, part of an informal economic advising committee to the Kerry/Edwards campaign. The forum, held on Sept. 15, discussed Iraq and the upcoming congressional races, with Bluestone providing insight into the economy. Department Chair John Portz said, “[The events] are intended to provide information on the election and an opportunity for students to have discussion.” Laura Belcher, a middler political science major, said she felt the presentation was good, “but more on the democratic side.” Belcher also said, “I am sick of hearing where we are [in politics], instead of where we are going.” The next forum, a panel on the presidential election, will feature, among others, professor and 1988 democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis. It will be held on Sept. 29 at noon in 135 Shillman Hall.
IS warns of computer viruses
Computer viruses are in full force this month due to the return of students to residence halls, and ResNet is trying to get the problem under control. “Over a weekend, roughly 7,000 workstations that haven’t been on campus come on campus and they plug in and some percentage of them are infected,” said Bob Weir, vice president for information services. Weir said this year about 5 to 10 percent of the machines that came on campus were infected, a total of about 350 to 700 machines. Weir said in addition to working with the students who ask for help, ResNet is also contacting students who they think may be infected. “We don’t monitor content. We can, from the network sites, spot systems that likely are infected and in some cases the students don’t even know it,” Weir said. Self-help tables will be set up in the residence halls to help students understand the steps they need to take to protect their machines, said Gisele Nedeau, assistant director of faculty staff services. For more information, visit www.help.neu.edu.
“Letters and Leis” kicks off Rush week
Campus sororities began their recruitment process last week with an informal event called “Letters and Leis” held in the Krentzman Quad. “Letters and Leis” gives the freshmen and anyone who’s interested in joining Greek life an opportunity to come and meet everyone on a more informal level before they go through recruitment week, said Jennifer Gauthier, president of Panhellenic Council. During recruitment, participants will visit different rooms in the Curry Student Center where they can get to know all the sororities. “We give the girls an opportunity to meet everyone before they make a decision about which chapter they would want to join,” Gauthier said. Information night for sorority recruitment will be held Sept. 26 in the CSC Ballroom at 6 p.m. Recruitment for campus fraternities began last week and will continue until Friday.
New vice provosts take office
Two desks in the Office of the Provost have new officials sitting behind them. Vice Provost for Research Srinivas Sridhar, who is also a physics professor. will take the position of Ronald Hedlund, who stepped down to work on research at Rice University. The new Vice Provost for Graduate Education Luis Falcon formerly worked in the College of Arts and Sciences as the associate dean of faculty affairs and director of the graduate school. Falcon fills the position of former Vice Provost John Cipolla. Besides the new vice provosts, the faculty and staff has been increased with the addition of 21 new tenured professors, several advisors and other staff members in three colleges.
Handball team shows off its moves
The New England Freeze, a club handball team that travels and competes regionally and nationally, paid the Marino Center a visit Sept. 18. The team has players ranging in age from 17 to 45 and came to Northeastern in an attempt to get people interested in starting a club handball team on campus. “We want to put together some eclectic offerings for NU students,” said Facilities
