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March 27, 1998 JOURNALISTS: Here are ideas about upcoming news stories and a list of Purdue events during the next two weeks. National Rube Goldberg Contest is April 4 Students from eight colleges and universities around the country will be building contraptions to turn off an alarm clock at the 10th annual National Rube Goldberg Machine Contest on Saturday, April 4. The contest begins at 11:30 a.m. in Purdue's Elliott Hall of Music. The challenge is to build a machine that uses at least 20 steps to complete that task without human intervention. The judges also award points for 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. An ISDN line is available for radio interviews of participants. Video b-roll, photos and a news release will be available the afternoon of the event. Satellite assistance is available. Student organizers of the contest maintain a World Wide Web page at http://expert.cc.purdue.edu/~thetatau/RUBE/ CONTACT: Grady Jones, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-2079; e-mail, grady_jones@purdue.edu Jordanian ambassador to U.S. to speak at Purdue Marwan Muasher, Jordan's ambassador to the United States and a Purdue alumnus, will give a public lecture on the Middle East peace process Wednesday (4/1) evening. Muasher's presentation, "Peace and the Jordan Model," begins at 7:30 p.m. in Loeb Playhouse in Stewart Center, followed by a reception in the Anniversary Drawing Room in the Purdue Memorial Union. Muasher earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from Purdue. Muasher's talk is co-sponsored by the Organization of Arab Students and the Office of International Programs. To arrange an interview with Muasher, call Katy Ibrahim, International Programs, (765) 494-8462. Head of Purdue's medical school connection retires Dr. Lindley Wagner retires March 31 as head of the Lafayette Center for Medical Education at Purdue. Wagner helped form the program, which is now in its 28th year. The cooperative effort with Indiana University School of Medicine began as a means of increasing the number of medical doctors trained in Indiana. It allows IU medical students in their first two years to take classes at Purdue and other sites around the state. "As a testimony to the program's effectiveness, the number of medical students trained each year has grown from 175 in 1970 to 280 students at present," says Wagner. He began practicing medicine in Lafayette in 1963, specializing in internal medicine. CONTACT: Wagner, (765) 494-8591; e-mail, LhWag@aol.com Events Tuesday, March 31. School of Liberal Arts celebrates 25 years of the Learning Center. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. East Foyer, Stewart Center. The celebration will consist of speakers, various booths and workshops with handouts and folders for students, and presentation of awards/certificates. The Learning Center has a staff of seven instructors who provide academic assistance to more than 7,000 students each year. The free services, available to all students campuswide, include workshops, classes, drop-in counseling and one-on-one tutorials. CONTACT: Kathleen Thayer, director, (765) 494-5569. Saturday, April 4. Investing in Your Tomorrow. 8:30 a.m. Room 214, Stewart Center. A conference for all women students and faculty in Purdue's Schools of Science, Engineering and Technology. The day will be filled with motivational speeches and breakout sessions on a variety of topics. Sponsored by Women in Science and Women in Engineering programs. CONTACT: Barb Clark, (765) 494-1771; e-mail, clark@science.purdue.edu Saturday-Sunday, April 4-5. 13th Annual Cat Show, sponsored by the Central Indiana Purr-fect Cat Fanciers. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. both days. Purdue Armory. More than 100 cats representing many breeds will be judged. CONTACT: Judy Miley, cat show coordinator, (765) 447-4384. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page