The Michigan Daily - Monday, June 5, 2000 - 3
IBM donates $117,000 for Media Union computers
By Stephen Daniel Burlingame
For the Daily
The University announced last week that IBM
donated appr xniately Si 17,000 in computer
equipment to the Media Union on North Campus
earlier this year.
The equipmren was used to set up a new Faculty
Studio and additional funds are currently being used
to replace the trairing room.
While equipment tn the new Faculty Studio has
already been placed and is ready for use, tech team
members must wait until August to replace the 56 per-
sonal computers in the training room.
Charles Severance, associate director for
advanced technology at the Media Union, said stu-
dent use of the training room stays the same
throughout the summer semesters. This constant
activity makes it difficult to enter the facility to set
up the new computers.
Severance said that the new computer equipment,
along with its specialized software, will allow faculty
to "add audio and video clips to their classes, place
whole lectures on the web, and create interactive tools
that students can use to explore."
"IBM donated enough equipment to complete-
ly replace our training room," Severance said.
"Working with IBM has been a very positive
experience. The equipment arrived early, commu-
nications were excellent, and operations ran very
efficiently. I would say that our dealings with
IBM have been well above average."
Severance also stressed the University and IBM
have had a long relationship of corporate giving,
which added to the ease of the dealings.
Through the IBM Matching Grants Program,
IBM matches the monetary donations of
University alumni who are employees or retirees
of IBM. For example, if an alumni decides to give
$5,000 to the University, IBM will match that
donation by giving an additional $5,000 or they
will donate approximately three times that amount
in computer equipment. Thus, alumni have given
nearly S40,000 for IBM to participate in the cur-
rent contribution.
"The arrangements through the Matching Grants
Program supports the University's commitment to
enhance teaching and learning at the University of
Michigan," said University Chief Information Officer
Jose-Marie Griffiths.
"We are very grateful to our alumni and to IBM for
these donations through which our faculty and stu- NM
dents can continue to learn, create and grow," she Richard Session, an LSA junior, works on an IBM computer on Saturday. IBM donated $1
said. In computer equipment to the University.
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763-2459
Ann Arbor resident Rob Marshke stands in the studio where he filmed his commercial,
which took first place in the Humor category of the ZDTV film festival.
A2 man wins ZDTV fil
By Seva Gunitskiy
Daily Staff Reporter
When Rob Marshke went to the gym
with a digital camera to shoot an ama-
teur commercial for Nike, he did not
expect to win a film contest. But a few
weeks ago, the black-and-white movie
titled "Perseverance is Everything" won
the ZDTV Film Festival in the Humor
category.
For the Ann Arbor resident, the idea
came from sudden inspiration.
"I was over at a friend's house eating
and the idea just hit me, Marshke said.
"I didn't expect to win."
After making the two minute film
about a man struggling to exercise,
Marshkc contacted Nike in Oregon.
Two days later, he received a response
and fleas out to company headquarters
for a screening.
"Nike is interested in this whole con-
cept, and nothing like it has been done
before,' Marshke said. "But they said
the amateur angle needed to be a bit
more clear."
While talking to Nike, Marshke also
sent a copy of the movie to the ZDTV
Film Festival. On May 17 he accepted
his award via a live net-cam broadcast
in ZDTV's San Fransisco studio.
"Film has always been my passion,
and now I am finally starting to pursue
it," Marshke said.
The second annual contest featured
over 300 entries, all on digital cameras
and all two minutes in length. Winners
in the Best of Show and College
Cinema categories were chosen by a
panel of judges that included Barry
Levinson, director of "Rain Man" and
"Wag the Dog" and Jay Roach, director
of "Austin Powers". In the tradition of
N6,RMAN NG/Daily
titled "Perseverance is Everything,"
n festival Amenr
Ainteractive participation, ZDTV view-
ers chose the winners in the Hutnor,
Special Effects, Fiction, Documentary,
and ZDTV Promo categories.
"The film festival underscores our M u It i p I e
network's focus on viewer interactivity
as the most effective means of explor- June 2-AUg
ing technology's creative potential,"
said Greg Drebin, ZDTV's senior vice
president of programming and produc- June 9
tion in a press release. "We are delight- City Mingler
ed by the viewer response to this year's 6-9 P.M., Green Room
awards event, and we're equally proud It's GroovylJoin the City
of the creative talents exhibited by our Toledo Museum of Art fo
viewers." Come after work, meet y
"We are in the middle of a tremen- cash har will be proeidec
dous time for filmmakers," Marshke freetickettoGreatAmeri
said, reflecting on the trend. "Anyone 6o's attire is optional.
can do anything, and it really looks
good. Years from now, we'll be sitting
around and laughing at the old times
when we actually used film."
Tuesday-
HASPRTST C Saturday
PRGASI H RS 49-255-
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s of the Sixties
;ust 13, 2000
Paper and the
r a great party.
your friendsvor
nunchies, and a
,along with a
icn PopArt Store.
* ,
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-Thursday 1A.M.-4 P.M., Friday n A.oM.-1o P.M.
1oA.M.-4P.M.,SundayntA.M.-5P.M.,Closed Mondays
8ooo for more information.www.toledomuseum.org