James Tedrick
Hi, I’m James Tedrick, the new editor. Let me introduce myself. I’m a freshman from the Washington, D.C. suburbs, and I’m also involved in SGA and The Thorn.
I plan on continuing former editors Jerry Milliman and Chuck Spivey’s efforts to improve The Moment and I hope to add part of myself into this publication. I encourage everyone to donate articles, and hope you will see The Moment as a way of being able to express your thoughts, opinions, and ideas. I appreciate all your efforts, and endeavor to get them all published. Without your contributions, there would, literally, be no Moment. I would also like to specifically thank Kathy Nicoson, the civil office’s secretary, for her time and typing ability, and Jerry Milliman, Brent Nemeth, and Gary Pool, for their help in getting your articles.
In addition to the Moment in particular, I would encourage everyone to participate in any ASCE event they can, be it attending a speaker’s lecture, or helping a community service project.
In this issue, we have several things I would like to direct to your attention. This past winter, we had our most successful Christmas Basket charity drive ever. At the back, Tate Jacobitz & Co. have written up a report on a disaster we should all try to avoid- miscommunication. Also, we get an answer to one of life’s most baffling questions: Why come here, to Rose-Hulman?
Brent Nemeth
As I sat and conversed some up and coming ASCE business with Dr. Lobo during one of our usual afternoon discussions, I was reminded of a young, blond haired sophomore attending the 1995 fall picnic, whom Dr. Lobo had never seen before. That is because this was the first ASCE event that I had appeared at since coming to Rose-Hulman. I just didn’t end up at that event on my own, but a few upperclassmen approached me and encouraged me to go. It was in this same manner that I also ended up at subsequent ASCE events. But there also must have been something besides peer pressure which caused me to frequent these succeeding chapter activities. The truth of the matter is that I really enjoyed becoming involved in the student chapter. I realized that becoming a member was not only an enjoyable manner of interacting with my fellow civil engineering students, but more importantly, through the field trips, speakers, and such, a way in which to extend my education beyond the classroom. That is why I went on to become the 1996 treasurer and why I am now the 1997 student chapter president.
The Rose-Hulman student chapter witnessed a very successful year in 1996 under the leadership of Tate Jacobitz, when we were designated as one of the nine Robert Ridgway award finalists. So, this puts the 1997 student chapter in a position to fill some very large shoes. To attain more achievement than the ‘96 chapter will require a great deal of labor, but I am confident that, with the ability of the other 1997 officers, Pete Haug, Ben Merkling, Brad Schnarr, and James Tedrick, and the proficiency of all the members, this year will bring an even better national ranking than number nine.
Recently, I and the other officers attended the Zone II ASCE Workshop for Student Leaders in Orlando, Florida. This weekend conference provided an opportunity for the new officers to meet with representatives from other chapters, interchange ideas, and also hear from professional civil engineers from across the country. I am very proud to say that the Rose-Hulman delegates arose as some of the primary leaders of the conference. I recall what seemed to be an endless amount of students and chapter advisors from other schools approaching and notifying me on what an excellent chapter they though we had. This is because our chapter really stood out amongst all of the others. With all that we are involved in - community service projects, the publication of The Moment, field trips, speakers, high school presentations, the steel bridge competition, fund-raisers, and so on, there is no question as to why our chapter would serve as a model to others. But I am also confident that any one of the Rose-Hulman ASCE student chapter members could have filled in for me and the other officers at the convention and done just as good of a job. That is because every one of our members possesses a great deal of leadership and talent. And that is the reason why our chapter is able to boast such great success year after year.
Boosting our financial status, year after year, requires originality to come with new, fresh ways to earn money. One fundraising event I would like to hold is a raffling off of power tools; maybe a cordless drill and a circular saw (what better prize for civil engineers to raffle off?). Books of tickets would be printed and handed out to all members interested in assisting with the sales. The proceeds would go to the chapter in order to fund a community service project such as the building of the handicapped wheel-chair ramp which we built this fall. I am in the process of procuring sponsorship for this event by a charity organization, possibly the American Red Cross, here in Terre Haute. Again, if anyone would have any suggestions or an interest to help, feel free to call me at 877-1575 ext. 248.
I would like to make the main focus for the 1997 year the motivation of present members and the recruitment of new members. No, I am not asserting that the chapter is in any danger of a lack of interest amongst its members or a shortage of associates, but there always remains room for improvement. An organization obtains strength through the amount of effort that the members are willing to provide. And it is only with more involvement and additional members that we can gain the added effort which will permit the chapter to move up in the rankings from number nine to the Ridgway Award winner. Therefore, the center of my attention will be on the freshmen. ASCE interest among freshmen in the past years has been slim to none. And I am able to make this statement from my own experience. As freshmen, students are not really exposed to the doings of the ASCE chapter, due to the fact that in the civil engineering curriculum, freshmen are not subjected to their first "civil" classes until the spring quarter. This is why I am arranging a slide presentation for freshmen who have declared a "civil" major, to be given by myself and the other officers. The demonstration will be held in conjunction with the freshman Statics class in the hopes of conveying awareness to the students of the activities of our chapter and also in what ways can benefit by becoming student members, as well as professional members after graduation.
It is only with the participation and cooperation that we can achieve our goal of being the best student chapter in the nation. Believe me when I tell you that involvement in ASCE is both educational and enjoyable. I look forward to working with all of you in the months to come.
Hello ! My name is Brad Schnarr and I am the newly elected vice president of our ASCE student chapter. I am a junior from Jasper, Indiana. I am involved in various clubs and organizations here at Rose-Hulman and very proud to be a leader of our outstanding chapter.
I believe this year will be a very exciting and productive year for our chapter. Our new leaders have several excellent new ideas and are ready to put Rose-Hulman ASCE on top. As vice president, I hope to greatly increase the overall involvement of the chapter. As stressed by our professors, classroom learning is only a portion of the knowledge to be gained here at Rose- Hulman. A strong program to increase your learning is available to you through our speakers, field trips, and projects. We hope to implement some new activities to increase our participation in the upcoming year.
The main projects I will be responsible for will be the spring and fall picnics and the Christmas basket collection and banquet. If anyone has any question, concerns, or new ideas for these activities please let me know. I wish everyone good luck with the rest of the year.
Hello, my name is Pete Haug. As the secretary of ASCE, my position is to send flyers and write the year end report. I am a Junior from Depauw – no, not the university but rather the seventy person town in southern Indiana. When not deluged by homework and research papers, I enjoy bicycle touring (Ontario, Michigan, Tennessee), beekeeping (for real!), and photographing rural scenes (old barns, rock walls, "hollers").
Ben Merkling, our sophomore treasurer, hails from snowy Eagle, Colorado. As treasurer, his responsibilities include the planning and execution of fundraisers, and taking care of the finances of the Chapter. Aside from ASCE, Ben is an active member of Alpha Tau Omega and Habitat for Humanity.