We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and wish your family a safe and happy Fourth of July Weekend!!

 

P.S. If you were thinking about buying a computer during the holiday sales, you might want to check out the Student Computer Recommendations on IIT's Office of Technology Services website.

In my experience, most of our students do have credit and/or debit cards. I imagine that some have cards that are linked to their parents’ accounts, but know that some others have their own accounts. Similarly, some students probably have parents manage their accounts from home, and other students have accounts here in the city.

If you are thinking about opening an account with a new bank in Chicago, the following information may be helpful. The bank nearest to IIT is National City Bank, which is immediately south of campus, next to a Starbucks Coffee, Jimmy Johns' sandwich shop, and a couple of small businesses. There are also two banks a few blocks east of National City on 35^th Street. One of these is Chase, which has ATMs in every Chicago Walgreens pharmacy (though there aren't many Walgreens in our neighborhood) plus an ATM on-campus. There is a Washington Mutual across the street from Chase. Of course, downtown with its manymany banks is only a short train ride away, but as such obviously not as convenient as directly off-campus.

My caveat is that, in the age of online banking, I realize that physical proximity may be considered irrelevant…

And please note that I am not advertising for one bank or another; that these are simply those in plain view and nearest campus. As with anything, shop around to find what would be the best fit for you!

Click on her blog's link to the right, or right here. 

Of course, often when I'm on campus I seek out IIT's own libraries. I have posted pictures of the College of Architecture’s Graham Resource Center in the gallery before, but not so many of the main campus library, the Paul V. Galvin Library. Only a stone’s throw from my office, its periodicals section – and, heck, even the books I can’t finish in a lunch period – provides a nice midday work break.

Wherever you go to school, I’m sure you will utilize your university library system, for researching if not for studying. If you are attending IIT in the fall, or are thinking about applying to IIT for next year, I recommend you peruse the shots in the gallery to the right to learn a little more about what kinds of resources will be readily available to you.

Among what you cannot see here are extensive digital collections. For full details on IIT’s libraries’ holdings, please visit the Galvin Library online.

I am assisting with the assembly of high temperature heat treating furnaces and performing heat treatment surveys. As part of the research I am re-building a couple of furnaces and replacing the heating elements. I will be designing my own series of experiments and performing furnace surveys to characterize the thermal gradients. Also, I will be learning about measurement error and uncertainty.

Back to where I was…. So I was kinda nervous on the first day, but it wasn’t bad at all. I really did felt like a butcher the first couple of days, because I had to wear the long apron and the mask and the safety glasses and the gloves…(u get the idea) I was cutting bricks for the furnace and well it was really dusty. I had to take of the thermal plates and replace them with new ones. Well, it was interesting and fun for sure! I am finally done with one of the furnace so I’m going to start doing the heating surveys in the different corners to get some data and then do the “fun part”( not really), writing the report about what I found. So it not bad at all.

Make sure to check back throughout the summer—I will try to keep you updated with the progress of my research!

-Kinjal Tailor

Obama exits Hermann Hall. Photograph by Bridget Bond.

Last Wednesday, June 11, Senator and presidential hopeful Barack Obama (D-IL) hosted a roundtable discussion on the economy in IIT’s Hermann Hall Ballroom. He was joined by Harvard’s Leo Gottlieb Professor of Law Elizabeth Warren and three local residents, Rosa Figueroa, Marvin Weatherspoon, and Ola Horton. The group discussed the controversial practices of the credit industry and shared real stories of economic hardship as a result of recent predatory lending practices. Senator Obama presented several proposals designed to protect consumers from predatory lending in the future. A transcript of Obama's remarks is available online here.

Obama speaks with local residents; catches up with IIT President John L. Anderson. Photographs by Mindy Sherman.

My favorite part of this story is what happened next: Obama gave an impromptu inspirational address at the graduation of the Young Women’s Leadership Charter School’s eighth grade graduation, which was also being held on IIT’s campus. The students and their families were thrilled by the presence of this very special surprise guest. Senator Obama advised the young graduates to “dream big dreams” and prepare for high school in the fall by hitting the books instead of watching TV.

Friends and family of YWLCS graduates show their appreciation for this honor. Photograph by Mindy Sherman.

More photos from the IIT-Obama event can be viewed here. I’d post pictures from my vacation, too, but they are nowhere near as exciting as these.

On the following forms for incoming freshman and transfer students, we invite you to submit the names of one or two exceptional educators who have impacted your recent academic life, with a few words as to how each has helped you grow into a successful student, and what you have learned from them that will resonate with you throughout your adult life. Nomination materials should be submitted to our office no later than August 1, 2008.

We thank you in advance for allowing us to help you honor those who deserve it most. We look forward to this fall, and to witnessing the next stage of your education.

If you're antsy with waiting, or if your summer schedule prevents you from joining us before August, feel free to visit the following Facebook sites, started by current and incoming students to make some new friends:

• Accepted: IIT Class of 2012
  
• IIT Orientation Team
• Welcome to IIT
  

Enjoy the digital meet'n'greet, and we'll check in again soon.

We have received some calls and emails this week from you and your families inquiring as to when you will receive your housing assignment from IIT, so I thought I'd write to tell you the news. By now, two weeks after finals, our students have evacuated the residence halls to embark on their summer plans, allowing our Housing and Residence Life staff to work full-time on approaching next year. They announced today that housing assignments - including address, hall, and roommate(s) - will be mailed to incoming students the week of July 7.

I hope this helps you plan accordingly and, as always, let my colleagues and me know if you have questions about the enrollment process.