Carnegie Mellon University - Thistle Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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tuner icon society of civil engineering Those students pursuing a career in civil engineering are eligible for student membership in the American Society of Civil Engineers. The purpose of the society is to stimulate interest in the profession, to improve student-faculty relations, and to unite the civil engineering students in professional and social activities. These purposes are accomplished by inviting representatives of the engineering profession to discuss problems met in industry, by planning field trips which afford the members the opportunity to see the men of their profession at work, by holding such social events as smokers and picnics, and by participating in athletic events. In addition to these activities, the members publish a monthly magazine. The A.S.C.E. Contour Lines. In order to give the public an idea of what the students arc doing, the members of the A.S.C.E. sponsor an open house, in which they act as guides and display the exhibits they have prepared. These activities arc carried on under the leadership of John McElhenny, president of the student chapter. Last year and ever)' year since 1946 the group has received commendation from the national society in recognition of its outstanding accomplishments. P. Innocenti, K. Zeilfelder, E. Kerr, E. Santaella T. D’Agostino, ]. McElhenny Destructive test to determine compressive strength of concrete

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Recording data on erosive velocity of water on a sand bottom FREDERICK T. MAVIS Department Head department of civil engineering In its academic study the Civil Department emphasizes structural engineering, hydraulic engineering, and applied mechanics. At all levels there is project-work that is discussed in large groups and then studied in detail by squads. Each squad does its part of an assignment and reports orally and in writing to the whole class. This allows each student to fit his work into a larger plan. In so doing he not only learns his part of the work but also is given a chance to benefit by the accomplishments of his fellow students. This plan of organized teamwork helps to prepare the students for graduate study, research, industry, or professional practice. Dr. F. T. Mavis, head of the Civil Engineering Department, in an article entitled “Who’s Cheating in Examinations, published in Engineering News-Record, stated his views on this plan of instruction. He believes that “The biggest job a teacher has is to help a student learn to think and speak for himself—individually; and to help students to work together. In order to achieve this he states: “I would urge being resourceful and sincere—(1) in helping each student to learn to think and speak for himself; (2) in helping students work together in teams; (3) in removing the burden of memory during examinations by opening books and notes freely tc anyone; (4) in trying to find out how the future engineer uses his mind under pressure free from panic—and to help him use it better.” This policy of the Civil Engineering Department has attained a high degree of success as proven by the recognition received by the department’s graduates.

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eta kappa mi department af B. Updike, R. Knepper, ). Ransil, D. Loop, C. DeSalvo, G. Rreakey american institute of electrica I engineers The student branches of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Institute of Radio Engineers are combined under common student officers and have common activities. The main portion of their program consists of monthly technical meetings on a student level which are planned to help the members in their profession. A meeting typical of those held this year incorporated a talk on automatic train control by Mr. Baughman of the Union Switch and Signal and two related movies. Afterwards the meeting was transformed as usual into a social gathering with refreshments. Other projects during the year included a plant trip and the department picnic. J. Strauss, G. Breakey, G. Royer, T. Tepelidis, R. Lynch, J. Rarick A national electrical engineering honorary, Eta Kappa Nu is primarily a society which recognizes men in the profession of electrical engineering who have distinguished themselves in college or in practice. This year the organization continued to operate the faculty-student liaison committee within the department, and started several new projects. One of the pledge projects is the systematic classification and filing of vacuum tubes in the Electronics Laboratory. Eta Kappa Nu has undertaken the maintenance of the Senior Book, a directory of recent Electrical Engineering graduates from CIT. This project was started by the 1951 graduating class, and if sufficient interest is shown, it will become a permanent project. Copies will be given to each graduate and correction sheets sent to alumni. That maze is part of the main power panel in E.E. lab