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. BORED? COME WRITE NEWS FOR THE DAILY 420 MAYNARD ST. 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- r4 < S S 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. * , * *, * * * * > * , * *l a -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