Retraction

On Friday, Jan. 19, the Exponent ran a series titled, "Need a good place to stay?" on Pages 12 and 13.

A photo was run alongside a story with the headline "Apartment experience proves unpredictable." Within that story were quotes from someone who indicated problems with a landlord related to cleanliness and broken items. The photo accompanying that story was of an apartment complex not related to that story.

There was no intent on behalf of the Exponent to indicate the apartment complex in the photo, Crestview Apartments, was the subject of any problems. The Exponent did not intend to imply Crestview Apartments in any way was the subject of the complaints in the story.

The Exponent apologizes to Crestview Apartments, its tenants and potential tenants for the confusion.

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Ford donates money to Purdue

By Kurt Esposito
Assistant Campus Editor

Ford Motor Co. is donating $5 million to Purdue University.

At a press conference Wednesday morning in the Herrick Laboratories, Wayne Booker, Ford Motor Co. vice chairman, presented Purdue president Martin Jischke with a check for $5 million.

The money will be divided in two ways — $3.5 million will go toward a new laboratory in perception-based engineering and $1.5 million will go toward research in robotics.

Booker said, "Ford Motor Co. is strongly committed to being the global consumer company of the future. Education and experience are the two best tools for preparation."

Patricia Davies, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, said the new perception-based engineering laboratory would be built as a new wing of the Herrick Laboratories.

The lab would be able to simulate realistic environments that test human reactions to stimuli, and test how different conditions influence different reactions to the same stimuli. The lab would also work in correlation with the departments of psychological sciences and audiology and speech sciences.

The research conducted in the lab would aid engineers in designing environments for cars and offices that would be more comfortable for the consumers.

For example, in a demonstration Booker sat in a "sensing chair" that featured pressure sensors that collected information to be sent to a computer to interpret and determine his sitting position.

Avinash Kak, a professor of electrical engineering, said the robotic research would be used to help fund the Robotic Vision Lab. The lab is working on research to develop assembly-line robots that can work on cars while the cars are on an assembly line rather than while the cars are stationary.

Kak said the donation is important because this research is at the forefront of robotics and the donation would aid in the continuance of that work.

Jischke said the continued research by Purdue in still-emerging fields will be key to the future of the University.

The money will also be used to fund scholarships and fellowships in the areas of perception-based engineering and robotics studies.

Jischke presented Booker, a 1956 Purdue graduate, with an autographed Purdue Rose Bowl football.

"Like our football team, Ford is a team of champions that we are very happy to be associated with," said Jischke.

Previously the Ford Motor Co. donated money to Purdue that went toward the Krannert expansion and minority scholarships.

Ford donates money to Purdue

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CAMPUS DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 253

Campus editor: Laura Pelner

Assistant campus editors: Kurt Esposito, Dave Stephens

To send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org