Around Campus: Week of October 1, 2001

Open Forum: Profiling and Civil Liberties
Rensselaer is continuing discussions surrounding the tragic events of Sept. 11. An open forum will take place Monday, Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. on the second floor gallery in the Greene Building. This forum will build on the outcomes of a Sept. 26 meeting titled "Profiling and Civil Liberties After 9-11-01: An Open Dialogue on Issues and Responsibilities." About 80 students, faculty, and staff attended

"This is a good opportunity to do what we feel the university does best … to open up a space for questions, dialogue, and hopefully for thinking," says Michael Fortun, assistant professor of science and technology studies, who moderated the Sept. 26 forum. The forum was co-sponsored by a number of campus organizations, including the Center for Ethics and Complex Systems, the Muslim Students Association, the Indian Students Association, the STS Graduate Students Association, Rensselaer Student Senate, the WRPI News and Public Affairs Department, and the Arts Department.

A listserv is being set up for continued discussion. For more information, go to cecs.sts.rpi.edu. 10/1/01

Planning Commission Reschedules Public Hearing for Oct. 2
The Troy City Planning Commission has rescheduled the public hearing on the Institute's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The hearing was originally scheduled for Sept. 11.

The DEIS--which addresses environmental impacts that may result from Rensselaer's proposed construction of the biotechnology research center, the electronic media and performing arts center, a 500-car parking garage along College Avenue, a boiler plant, an electrical substation, and a chiller facility—was submitted by Rensselaer to the city as part of the State Environmental Quality Review. The Planning Commission also established a period for public comment, which has been extended to Oct. 15.

Members of the Rensselaer community are encouraged to review the document and present comments at the public hearing or in writing to the Planning Department at City Hall. A copy is available for review at the following places:

Troy City Hall Planning Office, 3rd floor
Troy City Clerk's Office, City Hall
Troy Public Library
Campus Planning Office
Folsom Library
Visitors Information Center 9/24/01

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Union Speakers Forum
The 2001-2002 Rensselaer Union Speakers Forum will kick off Thursday, Oct. 4, with Aimee Mullins. Mullins, a handicapped NCCA Division I track athlete and model, will talk about "Succeeding in a Perfect World."

Other speakers throughout the academic year include Mike Reiss, Emmy-winning producer for The Simpsons, who will discuss "How To Write for TV (and other bad ideas)" on Nov. 15; John Douglas, former head of the FBI's Investigative Support Unit, who will discuss "Mind Hunter: The Real Life Silence of the Lambs," Feb. 14; and Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, who will present "An Evening of Entrepreneurial Spirit, Social Responsibility, and Radical Business Philosophy" on April 5,

The Mullins lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. The remaining lectures begin at 7:00 p.m. All lectures will take place in the Darrin Communications Center, room 318, and are free and open to the public. In its fourth year, the Union Speakers Forum is meant to encourage lively discussion outside the classroom. Speakers focus on relevant, topical subjects of interest to a broad audience, according to Cameron Reid McLean, coordinator of student activities programs. For speakers, topics, and other information, check the Campus.News calendar weekly or contact the Rensselaer Union at ext. 6505. 9/24/01

Symposium on "Biophysics With Nanotechnology"
A symposium co-organized by Rensselaer, on "BioPhysics With NanoTechnology," will be held at the University at Albany, on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-27. Details of the agenda can be found at http://www.aps.org/NYSS/meetings.html.

The symposium features three sessions: "From DNA to Cells," "BioPhotonics," and "MEMS and BioEngineering." Presentations will be aimed at a broad audience.

In addition, there will be a public lecture on Friday evening by Mike Fortun, assistant professor of science and technology studies at Rensselaer, on "Ethical Implications of Genomics: Learning From Iceland."

For more information, contact Jim Napolitano, interim vice provost for information technology and professor of physics, at napolj@rpi.edu. 9/24/01

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