* SENATE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE FAILS

A last-ditch effort to secure faculty representation on the University Senate failed Oct. 6, when less than two-thirds of the senate constituency voted to support a constitutional change opening the constituency to union members.

The Board of Control has final authority over the senate constitution, and on Oct. 7 senate President Terry Monson asked the board to allow the senate to function as-is until the issue is resolved. However, the board declined to intervene in the matter, saying it was not familiar enough with the issues to take informed action. As it stands, most faculty will be eliminated from the senate in about a week.

The senate advises the administration and the Board of Control on a wide variety of issues, ranging from degree programs and the academic calendar to administrative titles and grading policies. About 10 years ago, the all-faculty senate expanded its membership to include professional staff. At the time, the constitution limited senate membership to nonunion MTU employees, in part because the senate occasionally addressed issues that would have infringed upon the purview of unions, such as conditions of employment.

However, on Sept. 28-29, tenured and tenure-track faculty voted to form a bargaining unit under the auspices of the American Association of University Professors, precipitating the senate’s constituency crisis. Shortly thereafter, the University Senate approved a constitutional amendment to allow unionized faculty to remain as part of its constituency.

As required, the senate then sent the proposal to its entire constituency for its approval. A total of 286 voted yes with 166 voting no, falling 16 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution.

Thus, when the AAUP union vote is ratified, tenured and tenure-track faculty will be excluded from the senate constituency. The Michigan Employment Relations Commission is expected to ratify the election results in about a week.

In asking for board intervention, Monson said that the senate is working on a number of proposals that should be addressed quickly, including some degree programs and changes to the sabbatical leave policy.

Board Member David Brule noted that the administration could bring such measures to the board for approval. “It’s not my intention to hold the university in limbo,” he said. However, the board does not want to take action that could be subject to a legal challenge.

As to why the vote failed, Monson speculated in a letter to senators that constituents might not have had enough time to reflect on the measure. Also, some ballots might not have been delivered in time for all constituents to vote.

“I do believe that the senate can reconsider the election and call for a re-vote,” he said. “However, since the collective bargaining election will most likely be certified next week, eligible voters following this certification will consist of professional staff and non-tenurable faculty. Given sufficient time to reflect on the problem, I believe that this constituency will agree to allow tenured and tenure-track faculty back into the senate.”

Because any constitutional change will require Board of Control approval, the senate will not be able to act on any proposals until December, he said.

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** BOARD TO OFFER MROZ TWO-YEAR CONTRACT

The Board of Control voted unanimously Oct. 7 to negotiate a two-year contract with MTU President Glenn Mroz.

Board Vice Chair Mike Henricksen moved to negotiate the agreement, noting that Mroz had served as president since March 26 without a contract. Board Member David Brule called Mroz a “top-flight employee,” adding, “To expect him to continue without a contract is unreasonable.”

A committee of the board including Brule, Henricksen, Board Member Russell Gronevelt and Board Chair Rodger Kershner will negotiate a contract with Mroz. The contract will then be submitted to the full board for its approval.

The board will also continue its national search for a new president. Brule, who chaired a committee responsible for researching search firms, said his group had so far narrowed the group to four: Korn/Ferry International; Isaacson, Miller; Greenwood & Associates, Inc.; and A. T. Kearney. All the firms have experience with research universities and are familier with Michigan’s higher education system, Brule said. He will present more information to the board after reviewing references and interviewing company representatives.

At the suggestion of Board Member Norman Rautiola, the board also agreed to combine the two committees formed in March to spearhead the presidential search process. The committee designated to develop a search process, which was chaired by Rautiola, will merge with the search firm committee. Brule will chair the new group, which will include Rautiola, Henricksen and Board Member Kathryn Clark.

In other business, the board

* voted to waive the $40 application fee for prospective students who apply to Michigan Tech online or use “smart apps.” Smart applications are filled out by the university in advance and mailed to prospective students. The university uses information students provide when they take precollege tests such as the ACT. The number of applications has increased 40 percent since the university instituted the two streamlined application processes, Vice Provost for Student Affairs Les Cook said.

* tabled a proposal by Kershner to hire a staff legal counsel. The matter is expected to be taken up by the board at its next meeting, in December.

* voted to award former congressman Philip Ruppe an Honorary Doctorate of Forest Resources and Environmental Science. Ruppe will be delivering the commencement address at Midyear Commencement, in December.

* went into closed session for about one and a half hours to discuss union negotiations. Afterward, the board voted to form a presidential advisory committee, including Brule, Gronevelt, Henrickson and Board Member Ruth Reck.

1. TECH RESEARCHER EARNS NASA GRANT

A researcher at Michigan Tech has received a $255,000 grant from NASA. His work in developing computer models for tiny materials could result in stronger, lighter aircraft. Greg Odegard, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, creates these models to predict the strength of nanomaterials. One nanometer is equal to one-billionth of a meter.

"The materials we use, called nanotubes, are so small that we must rely on computer models to determine their stiffness and strength," Odegard said. "It is very expensive to do this through experimentation."

Scientists typically add these small nano-particles to other materials to take advantage of a specific property, such as strength or resistance to corrosion.

Odegard focuses on polymers--or plastics--that are extremely lightweight, yet can be combined with other materials to add strength.

"These nanotubes are carbon, and they are extremely strong," he said. "They are stronger and stiffer than diamonds."

Potential benefits of this research include improved structural components of aircraft, such as the outer skin and support structure of wings and the outer surface of the fuselage.

He also is looking at ways to develop advanced materials that neutralize the threat of projectile impacts and those that can measure aircraft damage to report it to the pilot.

Odegard started his computer modeling work four years ago as a scientist at NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia. He joined the Michigan Tech faculty this past August.

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2. CONSTITUTION CHANGE PROPOSED BY SENATE

The University Senate has approved a change to its constitution to allow unionized faculty to remain as part of its constituency. As currently written, the constitution specifically excludes union members from the senate.

The proposed change removes the clause in the constitution that refers to collective bargaining units. The proposal also shifts the definition of "professional staff" from the constitution to the by-laws, which are easier to change.

The senate must approve constitution changes at two separate meetings, send the proposal to the entire senate constituency for ratification, and then send it to the Board of Control for its approval. By-law changes can be done by a two-thirds vote of the senate at just one meeting.

Both faculty and professional staff are members of the senate. Senate President Terry Monson (SBE) said the collective bargaining clause was originally included in the constitution as a way to define the professional staff portion of the constituency.

The senate approved the constitution changes at meetings on Sept. 30 and Oct. 4. A constituency vote is underway and will be completed on Oct. 6. Ratification requires a two-thirds vote of the constituency. If the proposal is ratified, Monson plans to seek Board of Control approval at the Oct. 7 board meeting.

The senate unanimously approved the bylaws change that defines "professional staff," contingent on approval of the constitution change. The revised bylaws would state, "The Senate's professional staff constituency consists of those persons so defined by the Senate Executive Committee, in consultation with the University's Office of Human Resources."

Monson also said the senate will meet Oct. 13 and discuss the future role of the professional staff.

In an open letter to the campus community, Monson said, "Most senators believe that the professional staff plays an important role in the senate." He urged staff members to attend the meeting or to "discuss their perceptions of their senate role with either (or both) faculty or staff senators."

All senate meetings begin at 5:30 pm and are held in room B45 of the Electrical Energy Resources Center.

Copies of the proposed constitution and bylaws changes, as well as meeting agendas, minutes and other documents, are available at http://www.sas.it.mtu.edu/usenate/

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3. LECTURE SERIES SWITCHES GEARS, YIELDS RESULTS

by Britta Vande Hei, Tech Topics editorial assistant

To combat an ever-decreasing budget, University Cultural Enrichment/Great Events series office got creative, and their results are paying off.

Supported by grants and endowments, the Great Events series has taken a financial hit, and this year they are turning to lesser-known, but well respected and proven speakers recommended by Tech faculty who may have heard them speak at a conference or a meeting. Quite often keynote speakers are good candidates.

In previous years, the lectures included easily recognizable names such as Robert Kennedy, Jr., Kurt Vonnegut, Cokie Roberts, Ralph Nader, Patricia Schroeder and others who were booked through national lecture agencies. These big names brought in huge crowds, but they also carried huge pricetags for fees and sometimes first-class travel.

"We are hoping to draw just as well as for the big names, and we are hoping that faculty will encourage students to attend," said Valerie Pegg, director of University Cultural Enrichment/Great Events.

A direct invitation to a speaker is considerably less expensive than an agency booking. Quite often he or she will look at the map and be intrigued and interested in visiting the area, and will come for a modest fee or for expenses only.

The first lecture this season was Peter Kershaw's talk titled "Global Warming: Is Nature's Freezer Set to Defrost?" on Sept. 20, that brought in about 500 people. Kershaw's visit was proposed by Pat Martin (Social Sciences).

On Jan. 25, Kenneth Libbrecht will visit on the recommendation of John Jaszczak (Physics) who had seen his outstanding book, “The Snowflake, Winter's Secret Beauty.” Libbrecht is head of the physics department at Caltech. The lecture, titled "The Many Facets of Snowflakes: A Close Look at the Genesis of Pattern and Form," will be illustrated by superb snowflake images.

On April 4, Jon Erickson (Computer Science, ’00) will present "The Oldest Trick in the Book: Computer Security and Buffer Overflows." Erickson, who was recommended by Steve Seidel (Computer Science) and now works as a vulnerability researcher in northern California for nCircle, a leading enterprise vulnerability management company.

The criteria for choosing speakers are that they are good speakers and can address an audience on a topic that has broad appeal. They should also possess the ability to present subject matter that might be complex and technical in a way that is easily understood.
Anyone who is aware of an individual who would meet the above criteria should contact Pegg at vepegg@mtu.edu.

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4. FIRST BLUELINE CLUB/COACHES CORNER CLUB LUNCHEON FRIDAY

The first Blueline Club/Coaches Corner Luncheon of the 2004-05 season is set for Friday, Oct. 8, at noon on the seventh floor of the Best Western Franklin Square Inn in downtown Houghton.

Featured speakers include Michigan Tech hockey coach Jamie Russell, Huskies football coach Bernie Anderson and Lakehead hockey coach Pete Belliveau.

Cost for the buffet luncheon, which includes tax, tip and beverage, is $7.50 per person. Blueline Club members receive a 50-cent discount. All are welcome.

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5. DOW FOUNDATION PROVIDES MAJOR GIFT FOR MTU’S “YES EXPO”

Michigan Tech has received a $100,000 grant from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation to help fund the upcoming Michigan YES Expo (Youth Engineering and Science).

Michigan Tech is sponsoring the YES Expo, which will allow an estimated 20,000 high school and middle school students to learn about careers in science and engineering. The expo will take place Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor. The event will feature a multi-media show and exhibits from 30 companies and 15 universities.

That same day, Michigan Tech's football team will square off against Grand Valley State in the Bash at the Big House, an attempt to break the NCAA Division II attendance record.

The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation is the lead underwriter for the professional multi-media program at the expo. The foundation’s goals are to improve the educational, religious, economic and cultural lives of Michigan residents.

“The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation's contribution will have a major impact on teenagers who are interested in science and engineering," said President Glenn Mroz. "This is a pivotal time for science and engineering education because there is an unmet demand for engineers and scientists and, without intervention, that gap is expected to widen.”

Tickets for the YES Expo and the Bash at the Big House football game are available at http://www.bashatthebighouse.com or by calling 1-888-642-4832.

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6. FLU SHOT CLINICS CANCELLED

Due to a severe shortage of flu vaccine, the Flu Shot Clinics scheduled for late October at MTU have been cancelled.

Shot providers are following CDC recommendations in offering the vaccine to high risk groups only. The high risk groups are babies and toddlers aged 6 months-23 months, the elderly (65+), anyone with chronic conditions such as heart or lung disease, and pregnant women.

If any students, faculty or staff fall in to one of those categories they are advised to contact the Western UP District Health Department or a local/family physician regarding a flu shot.

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7. MICHIGAN TECH RECEIVES TWO "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND" GRANTS 

Michigan Tech educators have received two $183,000 grants to fund two innovative teacher education institutes.

The grants were awarded by the Michigan Department of Education No Child Left Behind Improving Teacher Quality Competitive Grant Program. They support the Educators’ Science and Mathematics Institutes Series, which will be directed by Educational Opportunity and the Department of Education. Co-principal investigators on the grants are Chris Anderson, executive director of educational opportunity and special assistant to the president for institutional diversity, and Brad Baltensperger, chair of the Department of Education. The two institutes, one in applied science and the other in applied mathematics, are geared toward secondary school teachers. 

The two intensive, graduate-level summer institutes include four workshops during the academic school year, a web-based course and a spring practicum. The spring practicum is designed to provide secondary teachers with the tools to assist them in improving science and mathematics education in a diverse classroom setting. 

“This program connects the needs of schools and teachers to the strength of the university in order to improve teaching and learning,” said Baltensperger. 

The institutes will work with teachers from school districts in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Pontiac and Calumet.

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8. LAST DAY TO DROP FALL CLASSES FRIDAY OCT. 22

The last day to drop full term fall semester classes is Friday, Oct. 22, by 5 p.m. According to the University policy on late drops “After the eighth week of the semester, a student may request a late drop from the Office of Student Affairs, which will consider those requests that involve circumstances beyond the student’s control.” Extenuating circumstances considered are prolonged illness, serious accidents and death in the immediate family or of a close friend, or similar situations beyond the student’s control. All requests must be made in writing. Instructions for late drops are available in the First-Year Programs Office (Douglass Houghton Hall G44) or the Office of Student Affairs (Administration Building 170). No late drops will be granted to avoid poor grades.

The last day to drop track B classes (those classes that begin on Oct. 18) with a refund is Thursday, Oct. 21, with no grade is Wednesday, Oct. 27 and with a "W" grade is Friday, Nov 12,

All drops must be done in person in Student Records & Registration. Drops cannot be done via the web.

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9. TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR AGATE BALL

The Seaman Mineral Museum Society would like you to know you can still get tickets for the Agate Ball, which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 9. There will be a social hour with a cash bar at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. A presentation of the Charles A Salotti Earth Science Education Award will be at 8:15 p.m. and guest speaker Don Kelman's presentation on agates will follow at 8:30 p.m. The special live auction will be at 8:45 p.m. There will also be a Silent Auction to benefit the Seaman Mineral Museum which runs from 6 p.m. till 9 p.m. There will be dancing with the Keweenaw Swing Band from 9 p.m. to midnight. Dress is semi-formal, black tie optional. Tickets are available until Thursday, Oct. 7, by contacting John Jaszczak at 487-2255, jaszczak@mtu.edu, or Marg Rohrer at 487-2086, mmrohrer@mtu.edu.

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10. TEACHING AT TECH--LEARNING BY GAMING: AN UPDATE

by William Kennedy, director of the Center for Teaching, Learning and Faculty Development

Perhaps wisdom may be most effectively imparted one-on-one as the wise teacher carefully and patiently mentors her/his intellectual apprentice, the willing student. Though arguably ideal, the academy quickly moved away from individual mentoring to mass instruction. Mass instruction grew out of the perceived need to convey the relatively scarce intellectual reserves of humankind to large numbers of students efficiently and affordably.

Present day advocates for educational change argue that sophisticated and affordable computer software and hardware may soon allow for the creation of virtual environments which emulate the very sort of variable stimulation and immediate feedback associated with the individualized mentoring of the educational days of yore. These innovators suggest that emerging computerized learning applications may effectively eliminate the scarcity that drove us to mass methods in the first place. These computer applications and the robust platforms to support them will provide students with the kinds of rich and varied stimulation to more effectively engage their intellects and their emotions, according to proponents. This vivid and highly variable stimulation will greatly increase the pace of students' learning and provide them with the kind of educational experiences that are genuinely thought to foster long term retention and encourage lifelong learning.

It is perhaps unfortunate that the popular press and some software designers continue to refer to these advanced applications as "computer games"; a term that, for my generation, revives images of Pacman, Donkey Kong, Dungeons and Dragons, and a host of time-consuming shoot-em-up diversions. Emerging applications engage students and encourage them to grapple with complex and ambiguous problems and provide them with immediate feedback that directly impacts their senses, intellects and emotions. Compare this experience and its potential effects on deep and durable learning against struggling to stay awake in a lecture hall or waiting 10 days to find out if your answer on the exam passed muster.

Professor James Paul Gee, UW-Madison, says these educational videogames represent "worlds in a box";* virtual environments that allow learners to assume an active role in exploring their surroundings, making choices and seeing the results. Others say that functioning in imaginatively crafted computer worlds encourages students to eventually come to understand the rules that operate in that new world by discovery rather than by rote learning. Interweaving inductive learning along with timely provision of the explicit rules and principles needed to navigate the new world provides richness to the learning experience, according to these designers.

Picturing a pasty-faced nerd locked in his basement with bloodshot eyes endlessly staring into the glow of his flat panel display madly clicking and poking at a game controller? Not with these applications, designers say. Many emerging applications require players to interact with a community of participants. Explorers in these virtual worlds are required to seek information from outside sources and to interact and cooperate with other players to achieve their related but non-identical goals. Such multi-participant applications foster cooperation and competition in some very interesting ways. Like real-world teams, some games require players to acquire and employ knowledge from different domains to meet the individualized challenges presented to various players. Laggards show up immediately and are compelled by the group to play the game or get out of town.

These next-generation computer applications also allow students to ask "what if" questions and to receive immediate feedback in ways that staring at a page of problems at the end of the chapter probably does not. Teams of medical students, for example, might repeatedly test out various scenarios to arrive at a simulated patient's final diagnosis. Engineering students might test out their intuitions by deducing solutions to problems posed by the computer application and then modeled in real time. Business students might manage simulated portfolios in accelerated marketplaces designed to follow real-world rules and probabilities.

Proponents of these new learning tools argue that immersion in computer worlds may encourage learning in much the same way that traveling to another country supercharges and solidifies the learning of a foreign language. Stay tuned.
*Educause, Sept/Oct 2004, pp. 50-66.

ENTERTAINMENT AND ENRICHMENT News  |  Entertainment & Enrichment  |  Regular Features  |  Calendar

11. INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ORCHESTRA AT THE ROZSA

Quite often the Rozsa staff makes the claim that a visiting group of performers is “one of the leading ensembles of its kind,” and of course that claim is perfectly true according to reviewers and critics. They are careful with the description “the best ensemble of its kind,” keeping it in reserve for those rare occasions when it too is actually the case. Acclaimed by critics and reviewers around the world as America’s number one chamber orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra does fall into this category, as those who attended their perfect performance at the Rozsa two years ago will remember. The orchestra, conducted by concertmaster Steven Copes, returns to Houghton on Thursday, Oct. 7, for a 7:30 p.m. performance at the Rozsa. The concert will be preceded by an introductory talk at 6:30 p.m. by Layton James who is well known to Twin Cities audiences for his lively and tremendously popular Fanfare pre-concert talks before SPCO Basically Baroque and Morning Coffee concerts. James is the principal keyboardist with the SPCO and plays the harpsichord, piano, organ, celesta and synthesizer. The talk is highly recommended and is guaranteed to enhance everyone’s enjoyment of the concert.
Tickets are on sale at the Rozsa Center Box Office (487-3200, Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. or online at http://tickets.mtu.edu.)

The major feature of the SPCO’s program at the Rozsa will be a performance by cellist Wendy Warner, who will perform Haydn’s D major Cello Concerto. In 1990, Warner won the prestigious Rostropovich competition. Mstislav Rostropovich, one of the greatest cello virtuosi of all time, immediately took her on as his protégé. She later toured North America with Rostropovich and the National Symphony Orchestra. With critically acclaimed concerts from New York’s Carnegie Hall to Boston’s Symphony Hall, and from Paris’s Salle Pleyel to Berlin’s Philharmonie, Warner is now firmly established as a star on the international concert stage. Winning standing ovations, immediate reengagements, and rave reviews from the world’s leading newspapers, critics describe her playing as “miraculous,” “flawless” and “exquisite.”

Also on the program are several other appealing works, including the Concerto Grosso in F by Handel, the Divertimento No. 11 in D by Mozart, and a unique piece by the Russian composer Alfred Schnittke. His Moz-Art à la Haydn is an homage to the two great composers and combines Mozart-flavored melodies with 20th-century harmonies. The work is highlighted by solo performances by violinists Ruggero Allifranchini and Nina Tso-Ning Fan. Schnittke’s score specifies that the performance begin in darkness, that the musicians change places midway through, and that they gradually exit the stage, leaving only the bass player and conductor at the end. This last bit is lifted directly from the finale of Haydn’s “Farewell” Symphony (No. 45).

Recognizing the very special nature of this event at the Rozsa, the orchestra’s visit is underwritten by TIAA-CREF and the Katherine M. Bosch Endowment. This presentation is supported by the Heartland Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from the General Mills Foundation, Land O’Lakes Foundation, Sprint Corporation and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. For further information contact the MTU Great Events Series Office (487-2844).

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12. FLAMENCO DINNER CONCERT AT MTU OCT. 15

Guitarist and vocalist AnnaMaria will perform a concert of classical flamenco music on Friday, Oct. 15, 7:30-9 p.m., in the Memorial Union.

The event includes a tapas dinner buffet catered by the Memorial Union and featuring a variety of the savory dishes typical of Spain. The tapas tradition is as important for conversation and company as for the delicious food.

AnnaMaria, of Santa Fe, N.M., has played professionally since the age of 13, recording her first album at 15 and establishing her own label, Jusica Mundia Productions.

Her talent has brought her concert and recital engagements worldwide, including a recital at the Kennedy Center and performances for the prince of Spain. As a vocalist, she has performed with the Santa Fe Opera.

In addition to her music, AnnaMaria has pursued her education. By the time she was 25, she had completed her doctoral dissertation at the University of Notre Dame, earning a PhD in Theology with an emphasis in Latino studies.

Tickets for the dinner and the performance are $15 for adults and students high school age and older, $5 for children. Tickets for the performance only are $10 for adults, free for children. If you plan to attend the dinner, contact Educational Opportunity, 487-2920, in advance to order your tickets.

Contact Madeline Mercado Voelker at mmercado@mtu.edu or 487-2920 for more information.

AnnaMaria’s concert is part of the university’s Hispanic Heritage Month festivities and is sponsored by Educational Opportunity and its Outreach and Multiethnic Programs Division, Hispanic/Latino Outreach, MTU’s Hispanic Student Organization, Nosotros and the General Motors Foundation.

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13. TOUR LATIN AMERICA ON YOUR LUNCH HOUR NEXT WEEK

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Latin American students at Michigan Tech will talk about their native countries during “Tour of the Americas and the Carribean” lunch-n-learns Monday-Thursday, Oct. 11-14, from noon to 1 p.m. in Memorial Union Ballroom B.

Everyone is invited to come and learn about Paraguay, Cuba, the Domenican Republic, Mexico and more. BYO lunch; dessert will be provided.

Contact Madeline Mercado Voelker at mmercado@mtu.edu or 487-2920 for more information.

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14. UNIVERSITY THEATRE PRESENTS “RADIANCE”

University Theatre presents the award-winning play "Radiance of a Thousand Suns: The Hiroshima Project" on Oct. 8-9 and 15-16, at 7:30 p.m., in McArdle Theatre. First produced in 1995 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, "Radiance" has been performed world-wide. In conjunction with the performances, a special poster exhibit of historic photographs on loan from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum will also be displayed in and near McArdle Theatre Oct. 7-16.

Combining words, music and pictures, "Radiance of a Thousand Suns" weaves together stories of real people who played important roles in Hiroshima's recent history. The central story concerns a physicist who worked on the team developing the atomic bomb and later visited Hiroshima to assess its effects. The second follows the lifelong friendship of two women, one Scottish and one Japanese, from their childhood in Japan until they reunite long after the war. The third story focuses on an American-trained Japanese clergyman who devoted his life to the "hibakusha" (those exposed to the radiation of the bomb blast) after the war.

The ensemble cast, all Michigan Tech students, also play well-known figures from the World War II era, from Einstein and Oppenheimer to Roosevelt and Truman. The play culminates in the recent controversy over the proposed exhibit of the "Enola Gay," the airplane used to drop the bomb, at the Smithsonian Institution's Air and Space Museum. Director Sue Stephens notes that "Radiance" is famous for touching the complex feelings every person has about Hiroshima and the larger issues of war, peace, and technology, with compelling honesty and respect.

Student designers include Kyle Erickson (music), Eric Lindahl (lighting) and Rebecca Garlock (costumes). Faculty members Mary Carol Friedrich and Christopher Plummer designed the set and sound effects for the play.

Tickets for "Radiance of a Thousand Suns" are available from the Rozsa Center Box Office, 487-3200 and http://www.tickets.mtu.edu, other Michigan Tech ticket outlets, and at the door for $8 general, $4 students.

The poster exhibit featuring historic photographs of Hiroshima is free and open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays beginning Thursday, Oct.7, through Friday, Oct. 15. The exhibit will also be open one hour before each performance for those attending the play. The pictures, displayed in McArdle Theatre and the adjacent lobby, help to visualize the history of Hiroshima before and after August 6, 1945.

More information is available from the Department of Fine Arts, 487-2067