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March 2007

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U of M pre-architecture students use buildings as inspiration to make jackets out of paper
- Paper jackets are stylish enough for the runway -
March 30, 2007

University of Minnesota College of Design associate professor Leslie Van Duzer has put her pre-architecture students to the test in her latest assignment. In the class Design Fundamentals, she required students to do a case study analysis of a building skin they found interesting, but the assignment didn’t end there. After studying their particular building, they had to take the principles of those skins and translate them to a design of a shirt or jacket made of paper.

That’s right. They could use paper of their choice and, only that paper, even for fasteners or thread to hold their new creation together. Under the rules, they could not use adhesives or tape either.

The assignment results are on exhibit in Rapson Hall, 89 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis and believe it or not, some jackets or shirts are fashionable enough to take off the hangers and wear for a night out on the town. This includes a double breasted jacket made of paper; a jacket made of wallpaper; a shirt made out of Gap shopping bags; a jacket formed out of a daily newspaper and a shirt filled with the pages of National Geographic magazine. Students used nearly every type of paper including wax paper; meat wrap paper; notebook paper; a MTC bus schedule pamphlet; paper towels; grocery bags; gift wrap; tissue paper and round paper doilies.

To interview Van Durzer, contact Patty Mattern, University News Service, (612) 624-2801.

Media note: To interview students, the class meets 10 a.m. to noon, Friday, March 30, Monday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 4.

Surge of returning veterans focus of new U of M faculty, staff training
March 22, 2007

In the next six months, thousands of combat veterans will be returning to Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota is preparing faculty and staff on how they can assist veterans and their families during this time of transition. From 1 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, a training session on veteran re-integration will be held for as many as 200 university faculty and staff at the Bell Museum Auditorium, 10 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis.

“These returning veterans are our students, co-workers, friends and neighbors,” said Mary Koskan, director of the university’s One Stop Student Services. “These presentations will focus on addressing the needs of returning combat veterans and the difficulties they may face. We have a responsibility to help these veterans come back to school and succeed.”

The workshop will include a presentation by Chaplain Major John Morris, a two-war combat veteran currently serving as a full-time chaplain in the Minnesota National Guard, a discussion of the family experience and a panel of student veterans.

University faculty and staff should RSVP by March 23 to veterans@umn.edu. Media wishing to attend the event or conduct pre-interviews should contact Drew Swain at (612) 625-8962.

U of M techie invents Web site to help prevent Daylight Saving Time computer problems
March 9, 2007

Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins this Sunday, March 11, three weeks earlier than previous years as a result of a federal law passed in 2005. Many computers are programmed to automatically switch to DST, but computer programs developed before the law change could cause havoc for computer users. In fact, some techies are calling this the “Y2K” of 2007.

University of Minnesota College of Design network administrator Jeff Williams has invented a Web page that will help people prevent problems associated with the early DST. Williams, a self-described “tech geek,” developed the site to help staff in the College of Design with the issue, but the Web site can help everyone. A user can go to the Web site at http://dst.cdes.umn.edu/ and it will automatically test their computer system, Williams said.

“I made the Web site friendly for your average computer users (aka “end users),” Williams said. “It can test Windows or Apple operating systems.

He said Windows systems will probably face more difficulty than Apple ones. If a person’s computer isn’t ready, the Web site directs them to where they can get the patch for their system and then they should return to his Web site to test their system after patching and restarting.

Williams advises people to check their computers soon, so they don’t have to scramble at the last minute.

And, don’t stop at your desktop or laptop computer, he says.

“The traditional computers are just the tip of the iceberg,” Williams said. “The cool new phones and other handheld devices need the fixes as well.”

To interview Williams about DST and helping average computer users prepare for the early DST, contact Patty Mattern at (612) 624-2801.

Electric “golf cart on steroids” serves U of M’s classroom needs
March 8, 2007

With the bulky appearance of a Humvee but the efficiency of a hybrid, the University of Minnesota’s new “Classroom Emergency Response Vehicle” will be used to monitor university classrooms and respond to urgent technology problems. Managed by the Office of Classroom Management, it is the first of its type on campus and one of the few operating in the state.

“Oftentimes, professors will have problems with the technology in classrooms and be forced to continue class without added media,” said Larry Gilbertson who oversees the vehicle’s operations. “Now, within seven minutes, this vehicle can reach any of the university’s 300 central classrooms in Minneapolis or St. Paul to save precious teaching time.”

Classified as a “Neighborhood Emergency Vehicle” (NEV) under a new law by the last legislative session, it has all the mobility and access advantages of carts but is now allowed to run on local streets that are posted up to 30 mph. As a plug-in, rechargeable, electric cart, it is both green and cost effective.

You can download an image of the vehicle here: http://www1.umn.edu/urelate/newsservice/downloads/CERV.jpg

To interview Gilbertson about the new vehicle, contact Drew Swain at (612) 625-8962, dswain@umn.edu or Asim Dorovic at (612) 624-0214, dorovic@umn.edu.