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January 30, 1998

JOURNALISTS: Here are ideas about upcoming news stories and a list of Purdue events during the next two weeks.

Rube Goldberg Contest is Feb. 7

Purdue students will be building contraptions to turn off an alarm clock at the 16th annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contest on Saturday, Feb. 7. The contest, free and open to the public, begins at 11:30 a.m. in Purdue's Elliott Hall of Music. The event honors the late cartoonist Rube Goldberg, who specialized in drawing whimsical machines with complex mechanisms to perform simple tasks. The competitors are challenged to build a contraption that uses at least 20 steps to turn off an alarm clock. Machines must complete that task without human intervention, and they also will be judged and awarded points based on the creative use of materials and use of related themes. Purdue will provide pool video and photo coverage during the event, and journalists are welcome on stage before and after the contest. There is also an ISDN line available for radio interviews of participants. Student organizers of the contest maintain a World Wide Web page at http://expert.cc.purdue.edu/~thetatau/RUBE/ CONTACT: Chad Goze, contest chairman, (765) 743-2461; e-mail, goze@purdue.edu

Indiana financial aid deadline approaching quickly

Indiana parents, college students and high school seniors already need to be thinking about the 1998-99 school year, or at least how they are going to pay for it. Hoosiers must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by March 2 in order to be eligible for state, college and university need-based financial aid for the 1998-99 school year. "You would be amazed at how many students miss this deadline every year," Purdue's Joyce Hall says. "If forms are turned in late, students will still be eligible for federal Pell Grants, if they are determined to be eligible, and student loans. But, in order to have a chance at gift assistance, the March 2 deadline must be met. Financial aid is really a first-come, first-served situation." High school students can pick up forms from their guidance office. College students who have been awarded aid in previous years receive renewal forms from the federal government processing center. College students who have not received aid before can pick forms up their school's financial aid office or can access an Internet version at http://www.purdue.edu/DFA/ Last year's income tax figures are needed on the forms, so Hall recommends getting taxes done as early as possible. CONTACT: Hall, the director of Purdue's division of financial aid, (765) 494-5090; e-mail, jhall@dfa.purdue.edu

Events

Wednesday, Feb. 4.
"They Came Before Columbus," a Black History Month keynote lecture. 7 p.m. Room 206, Stewart Center. Ivan Van Sertima, lecturer, teacher, literary critic, cultural linguist and anthropologist, will provide his insights on the cultural background of African-Americans. Part of Black History Month and the Black Cultural Center Spring Cultural Arts Series. CONTACT: Renee Thomas, BCC director, (765) 494-3091; e-mail, rathomas@hfs.purdue.edu

Thursday, Feb. 5.
"Establishing Peace Between Israel and Its Neighbors: Moral and Educational Implications," a lecture by Professor Haim Gordon, School of Education, Beer-Sheva University in the Negev. 4:30 p.m. Krannert Auditorium, Krannert Building. Co-sponsored by Purdue's Jewish Studies Program, Department of Philosophy, and Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship. CONTACT: Marilyn Fleeter, Jewish Studies administrative assistant, (765) 494-7965; e-mail, mfleeter@sla.purdue.edu

Friday, Feb. 6.
"The Consumer of the 21st Century," a Krannert Executive Forum lecture by Charlotte R. Otto, senior vice president of public affairs, Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati. 11:30 a.m. Krannert Auditorium, Krannert Building. Reporters are welcome, but are asked to refrain from asking questions during the lecture. Videotaping and taking photographs are not allowed during the formal part of the lecture, but are allowed during the student question-and-answer sessions. Interviews with Otto can be prearranged through Tamyra Gibson, director of public relations, Krannert Graduate School of Management, (765) 494-4392; e-mail, gibson@mgmt.purdue.edu

Friday, Feb. 6.
Board of Trustees meeting. 1:30 p.m. Room 304 (Anniversary Drawing Room), Purdue Memorial Union. President Steven C. Beering and members of the Purdue Board of Trustees will be available in Purdue Memorial Union Room 256 immediately following the meeting to answer questions from journalists. CONTACTS: Jeanne V. Norberg, director, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-2084; e-mail, jeanne_norberg@purdue.edu, or Joseph L. Bennett, vice president for University Relations, (765) 494-2082; e-mail, joe_bennett@purdue.edu

Tuesday, Feb. 10.
The Department of Consumer Sciences and Retailing hosts its annual Retail Management Career Conference. Includes a career fair from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom. More than 30 leading retailers will participate. Scott Ternes, divisional merchandise manager of Filenes, will be keynote speaker for a luncheon starting at 12:30 p.m. in the Purdue Memorial Union North Ballroom. The afternoon session in Stewart Center will include panel presentations on job search skills and career advice from alumni. CONTACT: Sally Harmon, conference director, (765) 494-8317.

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

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