The University of Minnesota is lucky to have a very active student chapter of the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery). Activities support student success and professionalism and encourage interaction among students and faculty as well as provide a forum for students to meet each other.

Once each semester the ACM hosts a "Meet the Faculty Luncheon." A wonderful buffet of food is provided, and faculty and students eat lunch and discuss classes and research. The chapter provides free introductory Unix classes for students at the beginning of each semester. ACM has its own network which the students administer themselves, its own library with books donated by companies, and a study area, and it sell snacks to members for no profit. ACM has a computer lab, in which there are representative work stations from Sun, SGI, Intel, Apple, etc.

Lectures are sponsored this year. Northstar Financial Group sent a speaker to talk about investing strategies. Unisys sent a speaker who discussed new Intel/Windows enterprise technologies, and Intel sent a speaker who talked about microprocessor manufacturing.

At general meetings, which occur about twice a semester, topics of interest to the members are discussed ranging from events that are upcoming, financial and administrative issues of the Chapter, and what training events are available to students. Pizza is available. Social life is not ignored; two ice cream social/game nights are sponsored each year.

New officers for 2001-2002 are: John Hickey, President; Robert Myers, Vice President; Megan Carney, Membership Officer; Jacob Larson, Treasurer; and Jason Julkowski, Secretary. Membership in the ACM student Chapter is open to everyone: undergrads, grads, and even non-students. Please contact Megan Carney for membership information at officers@acm.cs.umn.edu.

-Bobbie Othmer