Please send information to communication@olin.edu for inclusion in the next issue of The Link, which will be distributed in two weeks (March 19).

News You Can Use
Task Force on Academic Degrees Issues Progress Report
The progress report from the Task Force on Academic Degrees (TFAD) on the issue of one degree or three is available for review. This is not the final report, but provides a first installment on the fact-finding tasks outlined in initial message sent to the community about one month ago. The TFAD has made significant progress in several key areas and is distributing the progress report to keep everyone informed as this effort proceeds.

Update from the Board
A brief summary of the February Board of Trustees meeting is available for review. The February 10 meeting of the Board of Trustees was held at the F.W. Olin Foundation office in Sarasota, FL. The agenda was very full, and included several resolutions that are described in this summary report.

NEASC Accreditation Visit Starts Sunday, March 7
Yes, right on the heels of Candidates' Weekend(s) comes the visit from NEASC! You've received several emails already, but if you haven't had a chance to look over the information on our visitors, their task and their schedule, take a few minutes to check out the schedule and visitor summaries. Or if you really want to treat yourself you can read the Self Study on good old-fashioned paper! Copies are available in several locations on campus, including lounge areas in AC, second and third floor of OC and in the Office of Student Life. Please help welcome these important visitors to our campus.

FWOP Presents Tiger at the Gates
The Franklin W. Olin Players will present a second round of their full stage production, Tiger at the Gates. The performance will be held at the Sorenson Center on March 6 at 8:00 p.m. Admission for students and seniors is $5, adults $8 and children under 6 are free. Tickets will be available at the door. Email FWOP@clubs.olin.edu for more information.

Outlook II and Excel II Courses Offered
The following computer training courses for Babson and Olin employees are brought to you by the Training and Development Office in the HR Department.

> Outlook II: March 17 and 24, 9:00 a.m. – noon.
> Excel II: March 17 and 24, 1-- 4:00 p.m.
You must attend class on both days. To register contact Beth Schirick.

In addition to the information on computer training courses being offered, the Olin/HR training update also includes information on the 7th International Symposium on Spirituality and Business, a Women Building Businesses seminar and an update from the Glavin Family Chapel.

Final Exam Schedule to be Posted on Blackboard
The final exam schedule will be posted to Blackboard early next week at My Organizations/Olin Community/Academic Information/Registration Booklets and Semester Final Exam Schedules. Please contact Linda Canavan with questions.

Next “Big Conversation” Announced
The Big Conversations speaker series announced that the Founder and Chairman of Boston Scientific Corporation, John Abele, will be on campus on March 31 for a day of reflection and discussion about “what's important.” The goal of Big Conversations is to bring the Olin community together for a discussion with a guest speaker who has made an impact on the world through science and technology. Mr. Abele is known worldwide as a pioneer in the field of less invasive medicine. He helped pioneer the development of the "steerable" catheter. He holds numerous patents and has published and lectured extensively on the technology of various medical devices as well as the technical, social, economic and political trends and issues affecting healthcare.

• Click Community Calendar for the calendar on upcoming community-wide events:
• Click CORe Public Calendar for the calendar on upcoming student activities.
  Both can also be found in Outlook under Public Folders > Calendars

Friday, March 12: Brian S. Bingham, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Investigator, Deep Submergence Laboratory, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution – Candidate for Mechanical Engineering

Monday, March 22: Martha Easton, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Carleton College – Candidate for Humanities and Social Sciences

Wednesday, March 24: Nancy L. Deutsch, Human Development and Social Policy, Northwestern University – Candidate for Humanities and Social Sciences

Friday, March 26: Claire Calcagno, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Dibner Institute for the History of Science and Technology – Candidate for Humanities and Social Sciences

Monday, March 29: Caitrin Lynch, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, Drew University – Candidate for Humanities and Social Sciences

F.I.L.M. to Present German Movie
What if you had 20 minutes to come up with a small fortune to save your significant other's life? That's the premise of “Run Lola Run,” a 90-minute tour-de-force that one critic called "a visual blitzkrieg yielding a totally insane and perfectly legal rush." It's the next F.I.L.M presentation, Thursday, March 11, co-sponsored by the German Co-Curricular and the International Club. Plan to attend and sample German snacks and Black Forest cake.

Reminder From Dining Services
Please remember that taking food from the Dining Hall is not permitted. The balcony is available for groups to have lunch meetings.

Peer Tutors in Writing Available for Students
The first group of writing tutors has been formed and is now available to help with all student writing needs, from technical reports to research papers. Come to us with matters large and small and at any stage of the process. Open hours are in the back of the library on Sunday, Monday and Thursday from 7:30-10 p.m. Students can also request personal time with a tutor by e-mailing the group at writingtutor@lists.olin.edu.

Come and Celebrate a Month of Diversity in Culture
The March Multicultural Month, “Kaleidoscope of Colors” is sponsored by organizations from both Olin and Babson College. Events will be held on both campuses and will culminate with a Multicultural Carnival (March 28) to be held in Knight Auditorium. Events throughout the month will include, a South-East Asian Performance (March 5), an African Drumming Class (March 24), a Hawaiian Luau (March 26), and a Korean/Japanese Karaoke Night (April 1), just to name a few.  See the calendar of events for full details. All events were organized by students representing the cultural clubs on the two campuses.

Spring Luau Dinner
The Hawaii Club, SAC and the Olin Dining Hall invite the entire community to a Spring Luau Dinner on March 26. The dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. Please feel free to invite students from other schools, especially Babson, Wellesley and Brandeis.

Faculty, Staff, their children and other guests, please RSVP to Rea Choy by March 19. Olin students eat free (as part of their meal plan), $7.50 for all other guests.

The Luau menu includes Kalua pig, chicken long rice, teriyaki chicken, tofu stir fry, rice, Lomi salmon, sweet potato, fried noodles, salad with papaya-seed dressing, pineapple, Haupia (coconut pudding), Chichi dango (mochi), and passion orange guava juice.

While at the Luau, hear Hawaiian chants, take pictures “at the beach,” and sit down to tropical flowers and ki. The event will also include hula dancers swaying to Kawailele O Nu'uanu (The Waterfall of Nu'uanu) and Ekahi, Ekolu, Elua, Eha (One, Two, Three, Four). Attendees can also learn to do a little hula, play the Hawaii vs. Mainland trivia game and win local kine stuff (read as: “cool prizes”), and learn some Hawaiian words. If you like, stay a while longer and dance to Hawaiian, Reggae and Hip-Hop tunes. The Hawaii Club extends a special thanks to George Butler.

Hawaii Club Seeks Volunteers for Luau
If you want to get involved in the Luau, the Hawaii Club could use help with basic cooking, set-up, greetings, dancers and clean-up. Volunteer helpers will receive free entrance. Contact Rae Choy for information.

Does Your Group Need Photos?
If your department or organization needs photos taken at an upcoming event or performance please contact Joe Hunter to arrange for Michael Maloney to take photos. Additionally, please contact Joe if your department or organization needs photographs for an upcoming publication.

Enjoy Indian Dance and Cuisine
Babson's AMAN group is pleased to announce ticket prices to “Jhoom” have been dropped to $5 for Babson and Olin students, staff, faculty and family. Don't miss the chance to see a cultural dance show and enjoy a full Indian dinner afterwards.

The March 5 event begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Sorenson Theater, Babson College. Contact aman@babson.edu for more information. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance in the Reynolds Dining area. The dinner following the dance will include samosas, chicken makhani, chicken vindaloo, saag paneer, chana masala, chawal, roti, raita, chutney and beverages.

Olin trivia buffs, do you know…

Q: Why is 1997 considered the founding date of Olin College.