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August 15, 1997

JOURNALISTS: Here are some newsworthy Purdue events during the next two weeks.

Engineering students get an early start

About 35 incoming mechanical engineering students will get their first taste of what it means to be a mechanical engineer next week when they take apart and reassemble washing machines and lawnmower engines. One team of students takes a machine apart and writes down how they did it, and another team has to use those instructions to put the equipment back together. The activity is part of a short course offered for the second year by the School of Mechanical Engineering, where sophomores get a chance to become acquainted with faculty and the other new students in the school, as well as get their hands dirty in the lab. On Thursday (8/21) students will be in Room 140, Mechanical Engineering Building, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They will be at Herrick Labs Friday (8/22) from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday (8/23) from 8 a.m. to noon. CONTACT: Ray Cipra, associate professor of mechanical engineering, (765) 494-5724.

African engineers to learn about U.S. utilities

Ten delegates from utility companies in eight African nations will be on campus from Tuesday (8/19) through Sept. 3 to learn how U.S. utilities operate -- from economics and trade issues to how American utilities cooperate to reduce costs. The goal is to help foster greater cooperation among the national utilities in the African countries. Faculty from Purdue's Schools of Engineering and Agriculture will provide training courses for the delegates, explaining how Indiana coordinates its electric utilities and helping the Africans develop models for electricity trade among their home countries. Delegates also will visit several utility companies and meet with representatives of the Department of Energy. CONTACT: Tom Sparrow, director, State Utility Forecasting Group, (765) 494-7043.

Events

Aug. 22.
The Purdue "All-American" Marching Band will crown this year's featured twirlers, including the famous Golden Girl. Auditions begin at 4 p.m. at the band practice field on Third Street across from the residence halls. Judges will choose the Golden Girl, Girl in Black and Silver Twins for the 1997-98 school year. Announcement of winners will be made between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Room 15, Elliott Hall of Music. Winners will be available for interviews with journalists immediately after the announcement. CONTACT: Jenny Tucker, publicist, Purdue bands. (765) 496-2697.

Aug. 23
. Welcoming parade from the Windsor Residence Halls to Elliott Hall of Music. 6:15 p.m. First-year students will join Purdue's "All-American" Marching Band, the Boilermaker Special, Purdue Pete and Purdue President Steven C. Beering in the parade. Then, students and their parents will attend the President's Gala to Welcome New Students at 7 p.m. in Elliott Hall of Music. CONTACT: Mike Willis, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-0371.

Aug. 25
. Fall semester begins. Classes resume at 7:30 a.m. New students who signed up for the Gold Rush orientation program will move into residence halls Aug. 17, but most students are expected to move in Aug. 22. CONTACT: Mike Willis, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-0371.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu

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