Stetson Commons 1993-4-2

Commons A Newsletter for Parents of Stetson Students Winter 1993 Volume IV No. 2 Held honored for physics work 6 Senior physics major Ruediger "Rudy" Held saw a need in the physics department and proceeded to build some equipment to meet it -- essentially from spare parts and surplus equipment. It took two years, but he has constructed a research-quality torque magnetometer for Stetson's thin film magnetism laboratory. The Southeast Section of the American Physical Society recognized Held's achievement by naming his paper, Construction of an Inexpensive Torque Magnetometer for Magnetic Thin Film Research, the best student paper during a recent meeting in Oak Ridge, TN. The paper also may be published in the Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics. Messy but good "It looks messy, but I'm proud of it," said Held of his torque magnetometer. "We made things with great difficulty that we could have bought, but we didn't have the money. We tried to use our ingenuity." The work was partially supported by a Joseph H. DeFrees grant awarded through the Research Corporation, which funded Held's salary for two summers of full-time work. "He's one of our top students," said Dr. Kevin Riggs of Stetson's physics department, whose own research involves thin film magnetics. "His machine is nearly all surplus parts, except for the computer, which gets borrowed for other uses." Held says he retrieved most of the parts from obsolete machines or surplus equipment in Stetson labs. He spent less than $1,000 on new parts; a commercial unit would have cost at least $10,000. Originally from Wesel, Germany, Held graduated from high school as an exchange student in Idaho, and chose Stetson because it offered small classes and personal attention. He will graduate in May, as a physics major with a minor in math/computer science, and is applying to graduate schools in physics. His ultimate goal is his own scientific instrumentation company, after working a few years in industry. What's he doing now? Building a vibrating sample magnetometer, also for use in magnetic thin film research. Dr. Riggs says he'll miss him when he graduates. Senior physics major Rudy Held sits at the research-quality torque magnetometer he built. The magnetometer encompasses the computer behind him and all the equipment on the table on the right. "It doesn't look like much, but it's very, very sensitive," said physics professor Kevin Riggs. — Photo by Chris Carlson For your calendar Spring 1993 Semester CLASTTestFeb.20 Spring Break March 15-19 Reunion Weekend Apr. 16-18 Summer, Fall Registration Apr. 13-15 Senior Art Exhibit April 30-May 15 Classes end May 6 Final Exams May 8-13 Senior Recital May 15 Spring Commencement May 16 CLAST Test June 5 Summer Term June 8-July 27 Summer Commencement July 31 Fall 1993 Semester Classes begin Sept. 1, end Dec. 3 Convocation Sept. 1 Thanksgiving Holiday Nov. 25-6 Winter Commencement Dec. 12 Christmas Break Dec. 11 to Jan. 3,1994 Calendar crammed, Broder to speak Stetson's spring calendar is packed full, right up to Baccalaureate and Commencement. Some 400 graduates will hear Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and assistant editor of The Washington Post David Broder during the 1:15 p.m. graduation ceremony May 16. Also on the Commencement calendar the President's Reception and Senior Recital May 15 and a graduation brunch May 16. Among other spring events: February is African-American History Month, with a film series Feb. 7-9,14, and 21; a visit Feb. 17 from Father Rudi Cleare, an Orlando priest who works with Haitian refugees; "Talk Black to Me" by the Lake- Sumter Community College Players Feb. 18; a showing of Darryl Van Leer's "Rated: Malcolm X" Feb. 19; a Gospel Extravaganza musical program Feb. 21; and a South African Symposium Feb. 22-23 featuring Dr. Peter Walshe of the University of Notre Dame and South African journalist and author Mark Mathabane. March 3, Students Together Against Sexual Assault (STASA) will sponsor a "Take Back the Night" march and rally; March 4, Jeff Desjarlais of Real World Productions of Colorado will give a multi-media talk, "Cocktails and Condoms," exploring issues of alcohol and intimacy in an AIDS education program; April 7, Dr. Mark Young of the counseling center will discuss yoga, meditation, and wellness; and April 21, students will celebrate Earth Day with a Florida Audubon Society program on "Birds of Prey." Cultural highlights Spring music highlights: A concert Feb. 13 featuring women composers; a University Orchestra concert March 5, showcasing faculty members' works and performances by student Concerto Contest winners; the student-produced "Broadway Revue" March 26; an April 2 preview by faculty members Stephen Robinson, Routa Kroumovitch, and Alvaro Gomez (Trio Tiento!) of their April 17 New York debut program; an April 16 Jazz Ensemble concert; April 30, the final University Orchestra concert of the year; and May 7, a Children's Choir concert. Duncan Gallery of Art is showing, Feb. 15 to March 26, black and white photography by Wallace Wilson. April 9-23, the gallery will show student work in a competitive and juried show; and April 30 to May 15 the work of graduating art seniors will be on display. Stover Theatre has two spring productions: the premier Feb. 25-28 of "The Bonita Belles," an original script by Michael David of Los Angeles; and Moliere's "The Doctor in Spite of Himself," April 22-25.