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Student Branches of the AIEE D . D . E W I N G
F E L L O W A I E E
Τ Π Η Ε S T U D E N T b r a n c h e s of t h e I n s t i tu te a n d the i r a c
tivities h a v e t o d a y r e a c h e d t h e p o i n t w h e r e t h e y c o n s t i tu te a ser ious subjec t for cons ide ra t ion . Fifty years a g o , t h e r e w e r e some 15 B r a n c h e s . As of M a y 1,
T h e grea t i n c r e a s e in t h e n u m b e r of A I E E S t u d e n t B r a n c h e s d u r i n g t h e pas t 50 y e a r s n a t u r a l l y h a s b r o u g h t a b o u t a n i n c r e a s e i n t h e p r o b l e m s i n v o l v e d , p r o b l e m s of l e a d e r s h i p a n d a t t e n d a n c e , of f u n d s a n d p r o g r a m s . T h e Ins t i tute is v e r y m u c h i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of s t u d e n t act iv i t ies , h o w e v e r , par t i cu lar ly as t h e B r a n c h e s cons t i tu te o u r larges t s ing le
source of n e w m e m b e r s .
As these B r a n c h e s a n d as univers i t ies
a r e a r e
1952, t h e r e w e r e 132 S t u d e n t B r a n c h e s of t h e A I E E w i t h a to ta l m e m b e r s h i p of 8,857. loca ted a t va r ious univers i t ies , all s o m e w h a t different , n a t u r a l l y t h e p r o b l e m s invo lved in t h e different B r a n c h e s differ also. Before discussing this s u b j e c t howeve r , it m i g h t be wel l t o p r e sen t a br ief desc r ip t ion of t h e b a c k g r o u n d a n d a i m s of t h e A I E E .
I N S T I T U T E B A C K G R O U N D
T ^ H E INSTITUTE w a s f o u n d e d in 1884 b y a g r o u p of m e n JL w h o a t t h a t t i m e ca l l ed themse lves e lec t r ic ians . O n
t h e list of founders w e r e s u c h f amous n a m e s as A l e x a n d e r G r a h a m Bell, T h o m a s A . Ed i son , E l i h u T h o m s o n , a n d E d w a r d W e s t o n . T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l m e e t i n g w a s h e l d on M a y 13 , 1884, a n d t h e r e w e r e 71 c h a r t e r m e m b e r s . A speech b y D r . R o w l a n d of J o h n s H o p k i n s U n i v e r s i t y before a n a t i o n a l conference of e lec t r ic ians t h a t y e a r m a y h a v e b e e n p a r t l y respons ib le for t h e k e e n in te res t in t h e o r ig ina l d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e A I E E . D r . R o w l a n d s a i d : " L e t phys ica l l abo ra to r i e s arise—^let t e chn ica l schools b e f o u n d e d — i t is n o t t e l e g r a p h o p e r a t o r s b u t e lec t r ica l eng inee r s t h a t t h e fu tu re d e m a n d s . "
T h e m a j o r e lec t r ica l w o r k of those d a y s was , of course , in t h e field of t e l e g r a p h y .
W h a t is t h e s i tua t ion now? T h e A I E E h a d as of M a y 1, in a d d i t i o n t o t h e 8,857 S t u d e n t m e m b e r s p rev ious ly n o t e d , 42 ,220 m e m b e r s i n c l u d i n g 6 H o n o r a r y M e m bers , 1,512 Fel lows, 10,314 M e m b e r s , 30 ,313 Associa te M e m b e r s , a n d 75 Affiliate M e m b e r s . T h i s a d d s u p t o a to ta l m e m b e r s h i p of 51 ,077, a n d a cons ide rab l e n u m b e r of n e w m e m b e r s h a v e b e e n e lec ted since.
T h e w o r k of t h e I n s t i t u t e n o w involves a n o p e r a t i n g b u d g e t of a p p r o x i m a t e l y $1,000,000 a y e a r a n d is c a r r i e d o n t h r o u g h t h e act ivi t ies of 96 Sect ions , 50 Subsec t ions , a n d t h e 132 S t u d e n t B r a n c h e s . T h e v o l u m e of pub l i shed m a t e r i a l is l a r g e ; d u r i n g 1951 , 3,383 p a g e s of t e chn ica l m a t e r i a l w e r e p u b l i s h e d . F o r o p e r a t i n g pu rpose s . N o r t h A m e r i c a is d iv ided i n t o t en g e o g r a p h i c a l Dis t r ic ts , all of w h i c h He w i t h i n c o n t i n e n t a l U n i t e d S ta te s excep t for a
Revised text of an address, "Student Branches and Their Activities," presented at the Student Activities Committee Banquet held at the University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, October 31, 1952. D . D . Ewing is Head, School of Electrical Engineering, Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind., and an AIEE Director.
p o r t i o n of Dis t r i c t 7 w h i c h is in M e x i c o a n d of D i s t r ic t 10 w h i c h is in C a n a d a . E a c h of t h e Dis t r ic t s is p r e s ided ove r b y a v ice-pres i d e n t , a n d i n t h e g o v e r n ing o r g a n i z a t i o n , in a d d i t ion t o t he se t e n v i c e -p res iden t s , t h e r e a r e t w e l v e d i r ec to r s , t h e t w o m o s t r e c e n t pas t p res iden t s , t h e t r e a s u r e r ,
t h e s ec re t a ry , a n d , h e a d i n g t h e w h o l e o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e p r e s iden t . E a c h of t h e Sect ions , Subsec t ions , a n d B r a n c h e s has its a p p r o p r i a t e officers. T h e A I E E is a l a r g e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d o n e of t h e m o s t d e m o c r a t i c professional t e c h n i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s in ex is tence . T h e t echn ica l a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e w o r k of t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n is h a n d l e d b y a p p r o x i m a t e l y 300 c o m m i t t e e s w i t h m o r e t h a n 5,000 m e m b e r s . N o t i n c l u d e d i n this t o t a l a r e t h e c o m m i t t e e s found in t h e g e o g r a p h i c a l Dis t r ic t s , Sect ions , Subsec t ions , a n d B r a n c h e s .
T h e I n s t i t u t e w a s n o t a lways so s u b d i v i d e d . F o r a n u m b e r of yea r s its act ivi t ies w e r e all c e n t e r e d in N e w Y o r k C i t y a n d n o m e e t i n g s w e r e he ld e l sewhere . Before 1900 t h e m a t t e r of Dis t r i c t o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a d b e e n discussed m o r e or less casua l ly b u t n o t h i n g m u c h w a s d o n e a b o u t it . D r . C h a r l e s F . Scot t , p r e s i d e n t of t h e I n s t i t u t e in 1 9 0 2 - 0 3 , w r o t e a v e r y in t e re s t ing set of r emin i scences r e l a t i ve to e lec t r ica l e n g i n e e r i n g in g e n e r a l , a n d t h e A I E E in p a r t i cu la r , for t h e 50 th a n n i v e r s a r y issue of Electrical Engineering, w h i c h was p u b l i s h e d in M a y 1934.^ I n a discussion of t h e A I E E , D r . Sco t t sa id t h a t his p redecessor , t h e G e n e r a l E lec t r i c C o m p a n y ' s f a m e d C h a r l e s P . S t e i n m e t z , h a d set s u c h a h i g h s t a n d a r d of p e r f o r m a n c e t h a t h e was a b i t a t loss as t o w h a t t o d o t o k e e p u p t h e s t a n d a r d . W h a t h e d i d d o is i n d i c a t e d b y t h e fol lowing ab s t r ac t s f rom his a r t i c l e :
W h e n pres iden t -e lec t , I asked T . C . M a r t i n w h a t t h e I n s t i t u t e o u g h t t o b e a n d to d o . H e w a s a pas t p r e s iden t , ed i t o r of Electrical World, a n d as a specia l a g e n t of t h e U n i t e d S ta te s Census w a s j u s t c o m p l e t i n g t h e first census r e p o r t o n t h e e lec t r ica l i n d u s t r y (1902) . H e sa id " I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t t h e e lec t r ica l i n d u s t r y is g o i n g to b e in t h e fu tu re , b u t in t h e p a s t it h a s b e e n d o u b l i n g eve ry 5 y e a r s . " I w a s s t u n n e d ; h o w c o u l d w e use tw ice as m u c h e lec t r ic p o w e r , a n d so s o o n ! T h e o r ig ina l N i a g a r a Fal ls p o w e r h o u s e s w e r e b e i n g c o m p l e t e d , t h e e l e v a t e d r a i l w a y in N e w Y o r k was electr if ied, t h e s u b w a y w a s soon to s ta r t , t h e p u b l i c uti l i t ies w e r e p u t t i n g in b i g g e n e r a t o r s ; b u t if t h e c u r v e w e r e to c o n t i n u e u p , w h e r e w e r e t h e m e n to c o m e f rom to o p e r a t e t h e a c c e l e r a t i n g i n d u s t r y — m e n c o m p e t e n t t o m e e t t h e e x a c t i n g a n d i nc r ea s ing responsibiHties of e lec t r ic
28 Ewing—Student Branches of the AIEE E L E C T R I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G
s e r v i c e — m o r e m e n , b e t t e r m e n , I h a d t a k e n i t for g r a n t e d t h a t t h e I n s t i t u t e w a s t o p r o m o t e t h e a r t s a n d sciences r e l a t ed to t h e u t i l i za t ion of e lec t r ic i ty b y a d d i n g to k n o w l e d g e t h r o u g h p a p e r s , b y the i r discussion a n d p u b l i c a t i o n . H e r e was a n e w n e e d — m e n . S h o u l d n o t t h e I n s t i t u t e deve lop m e n as well as ideas? I h a d b e e n in te res ted in t h e t r a i n i n g of col lege g r a d u a t e s for o n e c o m p a n y . H e r e w a s a universa l n e e d for b e t t e r g r a d u a t e s . T h e fu ture m e n of t h e i n d u s t r y w e r e in t h e colleges b e i n g t r a i n e d in t h e o r y . W h y shou ld n o t t h e I n s t i t u t e give t h e m a n ins ight i n t o t h e p r o b l e m s a n d p rac t i ce s of t h e profession, w i t h o u t wa i t i ng for a s u d d e n p l u n g e f rom t h e o r y to p r a c t i c e o n g r a d u a t i o n ? So I asked several of m y professor f r i ends ; they a g r e e d ; Professor R y a n a t Co rne l l w r o t e ( condensed ) "Bul ly i d e a ; w e ' v e a l r e a d y s t a r t e d . "
A t a n o t h e r p o i n t in t h e a r t i c le , in a discussion of h o w Sect ions a n d B r a n c h e s s t a r t ed , h e s a i d :
T h e c o m m i t t e e o n loca l o r g a n i z a t i o n s a m o n g m e m b e r s a n d a m o n g s tuden t s h a d as c h a i r m a n C a l v i n W . R i c e . H e u n d e r t o o k to p r e p a r e a s t a t e m e n t w i t h ru les for o r g a n i za t i on a n d p r o c e d u r e ; b u t h e d i d n ' t h a v e it r e a d y , so I u n d e r t o o k to show h i m h o w o n t h e e v e n i n g before c o p y for t h e O c t o b e r a n n o u n c e m e n t h a d to b e r e a d y . U n t i l m i d n i g h t w e s imply devised ques t ions w i t h o u t ge t t ing answers . W h a t shou ld b e t h e I n s t i t u t e r e g u l a t i o n s a n d t h e local bylaws? W h a t h e a d q u a r t e r s superv i s ion a n d w h a t t h e local a u t h o r i t y ? S h o u l d I n s t i t u t e p a p e r s b e p resen ted local ly o r shou ld t h e r e b e loca l p a p e r s , a n d w h a t shou ld b e the i r s ta tus? F i n a n c e s — s h o u l d t h e r e b e dues? Every s i t ua t ion t h a t w e t h o u g h t of e n d e d in a n i n t e r r o ga t ion m a r k . T h e s t u d e n t en t e rp r i s e w a s e v e n m o r e difficult to precrys ta l l i ze . O n e a l t e r n a t i v e w a s to t a k e m o n t h s to m a k e b y l a w s ; t h e o t h e r w a s to s t a r t . So w e asked m e m b e r s to ge t t o g e t h e r in va r ious p l aces a n d s t a r t meet ings , w e asked professors t o h a v e s t u d e n t m e e t i n g s ; a n d they d id . Yea r s l a t e r t h e expe r i ences g a i n e d w e r e a basis for by laws . W e d i d n o t k n o w t h e n w h a t I d i scovered very recen t ly t h a t t w o pages of fine p r i n t ru les for local mee t ings h a d b e e n es tab l i shed m a n y years ear l ie r , a n d it was lucky w e d i d n ' t for ac t ive effort to m e e t v a r y i n g c o n d i tions is be t t e r t h a n passive c o m p l i a n c e w i t h p r e c o n c e i v e d a n d restr ic t ive rules .
T h e first q u o t a t i o n w a s c o n c e r n e d w i t h w h a t w e t o d a y cal l S t u d e n t B r a n c h e s ; t h e s e c o n d w i t h Sec t ions , a l t h o u g h they too w e r e ca l led B r a n c h e s i n those days . By M a y 1904, t he r e w e r e 15 r ecogn i zed S t u d e n t B r a n c h e s s ca t t e r ed over t h e c o u n t r y .
T h e object ives of t h e I n s t i t u t e as set for th in t h e C o n s t i tu t ion a r e : " I t s objec t shal l b e t h e a d v a n c e m e n t of t h e t heo ry a n d p r a c t i c e of E lec t r i ca l E n g i n e e r i n g a n d of t h e al l ied Ar t s a n d Sciences a n d t h e m a i n t e n a n c e of a h i g h professional s t a n d i n g a m o n g its m e m b e r s . " N a t u r a l l y t h e objectives of t h e S t u d e n t B r a n c h shou ld b e of a s imi la r n a t u r e . T o s tuden t s w h o ques t i on t h e v a l u e of A I E E S t u d e n t m e m b e r s h i p , o n e m i g h t give t h e fol lowing a n s w e r :
W h y shou ld y o u j o i n t h e A I E E ? Jus t to h a v e y o u r n a m e in the Y e a r Book a l o n g w i t h t h e 42 ,220 o t h e r m e m b e r s of this g r e a t o rgan i za t i on? T h a t is a n i m p o r t a n t r e a s o n b u t no t t h e mos t s ignif icant o n e . I t is a n i m p o r t a n t r e a s o n
b e c a u s e i t p l aces y o u r n a m e , y o u r c o m p a n y affiliation, t h e n a t u r e of y o u r w o r k , a n d y o u r a d d r e s s in a p e r m a n e n t r e c o r d — a r e c o r d m u c h used b y those w h o a r e looking for m e n w i t h specia l skills a n d specia l k n o w l e d g e or for possible c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s , o r possible co l l abo ra to r s in a g iven field of e lec t r ica l e n g i n e e r i n g . T h e A I E E is t h e larges t e n g i n e e r i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n in t h e wor ld , a n d it is d e c i d e d l y w o r t h w h i l e t o h a v e y o u r n a m e in its Y e a r Book. As a s t u d e n t , of cour se , y o u will n o t b e l isted, b u t b y b e c o m i n g a S t u d e n t m e m b e r y o u wi l l h a v e m a d e t h e p r o p e r s t a r t t o w a r d e v e n t u a l inc lus ion w h e n y o u h a v e r e a c h e d t h e s t a tus of Associa te M e m b e r .
T h e rea l ly i m p o r t a n t r ea son , h o w e v e r , is t h e o p p o r t u n i t y for professional g r o w t h t h a t t h e I n s t i t u t e affords t h e en g i n ee r . E a c h y e a r Sec t ion , Dis t r ic t , a n d n a t i o n a l g e n e r a l m e e t i n g s p r o v i d e fo rums a t w h i c h h u n d r e d s of p a p e r s d e a l i n g w i t h t h e la tes t d e v e l o p m e n t s in e lec t r ica l e n g i n e e r i n g a r e p r e s e n t e d a n d discussed. A t these m e e t ings y o u c a n k e e p u p to d a t e in k n o w l e d g e , m e e t fellow m e m b e r s of y o u r profession, discuss p r o b l e m s of m u t u a l in te res t , a n d b r o a d e n y o u r professional a c q u a i n t a n c e s h i p w i t h o t h e r e lec t r ica l eng inee r s a n d w i t h y o u r ve ry p r o fession itself.
S t u d e n t B r a n c h e s of t h e I n s t i t u t e afford o p p o r t u n i t i e s for a c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t of i n d e p e n d e n t ac t iv i ty a n d in i t i a t ive o n t h e p a r t of s t u d e n t s for c u l t i v a t i n g those qua l i t i e s n e e d e d b y t h e e n g i n e e r b u t n o t usua l ly a c q u i r e d in t h e c lass room. T h e s e qua l i t i e s m a y b e d e v e l o p e d t h r o u g h t h e t e c h n i c a l , social , a n d l i t e r a r y act ivi t ies of B r a n c h w o r k .
O n l y a smal l a n n u a l fee is r e q u i r e d of s t u d e n t s a n d o n e of t h e t a n g i b l e th ings w h i c h t h e y r ece ive in r e t u r n is t h e m o n t h l y m a g a z i n e . Electrical Engineering. T h i s m a g a z i n e c o n t a i n s m a n y p a g e s in e a c h issue d e v o t e d t o t e chn ica l ar t ic les in easi ly r e a d a b l e fo rm, as wel l as t h e c u r r e n t n ew s of t h e profession. A n o t h e r t a n g i b l e r e t u r n is t h e remiss ion of e n t r a n c e fees w h e n t h e S t u d e n t m e m b e r m a k e s a p p l i c a t i o n for t h e n e x t h i g h e r g r a d e of m e m b e r s h i p .
All of t h e B r a n c h Counse lo r s a n d s t u d e n t officers rece ive r e g u l a r l y e a c h y e a r p u b l i s h e d i n f o r m a t i o n re l a t ive t o S t u d e n t B r a n c h e s a n d t he i r act iv i t ies , a n d u n d o u b t e d l y al l of t h e o lde r profess ional eng inee r s in t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a r e g r e a t l y i n t e re s t ed i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of s t u d e n t act iv i t ies . T h e B o a r d of D i r e c t o r s ha s set u p a n a t i o n a l c o m m i t t e e d e a l i n g w i t h S t u d e n t B r a n c h e s a n d t h e B o a r d devo te s c o n s i d e r a b l e t i m e to d iscuss ing S t u d e n t B r a n c h m a t t e r s . N e a r l y ha l f of t h e session t i m e a t t h e m e e t i n g of t h e B o a r d in J u n e in M i n n e a p o l i s , M i n n . , w a s g iven to this subjec t , a n d i t w a s discussed a g a i n a t t h e P h o e n i x , Ar iz . , m e e t i n g in A u g u s t 1952 . As a resul t , t h e fol lowing ac t i on w a s t a k e n b y t h e B o a r d a t t h e P h o e n i x m e e t i n g :
VOTED t h a t t h e a c t i o n of t h e B o a r d of D i rec to r s , o n J u n e 26 , e s t ab l i sh ing a n e w p l a n for S t u d e n t B r a n c h a p p r o p r i a t i o n s , be i n t e r p r e t e d as p r o v i d i n g t h a t t h e n u m b e r of S t u d e n t m e m b e r s in e a c h B r a n c h b e those in g o o d s t a n d i n g o n N o v e m b e r 1 p lus t h e n u m b e r of app l i ca t i ons , a c c o m p a n i e d b y fees, o n file a t A I E E h e a d q u a r t e r s as of N o v e m b e r 1 ; t h a t one -ha l f of t h e $1 p e r m e m b e r po r t i on be sen t as soon as p r a c t i c a b l e after N o v e m b e r 1, a n d t h e
J A N U A R Y 1953 Ewing—Student Branches of the AIEE 29
second half b e sen t b y F e b r u a r y 1 5 ; a n d t h a t a s t u d e n t whose a p p l i c a t i o n a n d fee h a v e b e e n r e c e i v e d a t h e a d q u a r t e r s b e el igible for p r i z e c o m p e t i t i o n .
Y o u will n o t e t h a t this ac t ion p rov ides " s i n e w s of w a r " for t h e S t u d e n t B r a n c h e s . I t s hou ld inc i t e S t u d e n t B r a n c h officers a n d the i i Counse lo r s t o p u t o n v igorous m e m b e r sh ip c a m p a i g n s w h i c h shou ld enro l l a l a r g e r n u m b e r of s t uden t s ea r l i e r in t h e school y e a r . Y o u wil l n o t e also t h a t it gives a def ini t ion for t h e officially en ro l l ed s t u d e n t , a def ini t ion w h i c h prev ious ly h a d b e e n l ack ing . T h e B o a r d of Di rec to r s , t h e v ice-pres idents , a n d o t h e r Dis t r i c t officers h a v e t h e welfare of e a c h S t u d e n t B r a n c h ve ry m u c h in m i n d . T h e r e is possibly a selfish r e a s o n in this b e c a u s e t h e Associate M e m b e r , t h e M e m b e r , a n d t h e Fe l low of t o m o r r o w is t o d a y in s o m e o n e of t h e S t u d e n t B r a n c h e s in t h e c o u n t r y . T h e s e B r a n c h e s a r e t h e la rges t s ingle source of n e w m e m b e r s .
U N I V E R S I T Y B A C K G R O U N D
EVEN BEFORE t h e r e w e r e S t u d e n t B r a n c h e s m a n y of t h e schools a n d d e p a r t m e n t s of e lec t r ica l e n g i n e e r i n g in
t h e colleges a n d univers i t ies of t h e c o u n t r y a l r e a d y h a d o rgan i zed g r o u p s or electr ical e n g i n e e r i n g societies of a local c h a r a c t e r . W h e n t h e I n s t i t u t e m a d e it possible for these societies to b e c o m e a n i n t eg ra l p a r t of t h e I n s t i t u t e , t h e r eac t i on of t h e e lectr ical e n g i n e e r i n g facult ies was en thus ias t i ca l ly f avorab le a n d it ha s a lways r e m a i n e d t h u s . H o w e v e r , the p r o b l e m s invo lved in B r a n c h o p e r a t i o n a r e \ e r y different in 1952 t h a n t h e y w e r e in 1902.
I n 1902 a u t o m o b i l e s w e r e few a n d far b e t w e e n a n d w e r e t h e p l ay th ings of t he r i ch . T h e r e w e r e n o good r o a d s . M o v i n g p i c t u r e shows w e r e conf ined to t h e o l d - t i m e n icke lod ians w h e r e t h e q u a l i t y of t h e p ic tu res was so p o o r t h a t o n e cou ld n o t gaze a t t h e m l o n g w i t h o u t severe eye s t ra in . T h e r e was n o television, n o r a d i o ; even t h e n e w s p a p e r s , excep t in m e t r o p o l i t a n a reas a n d l a rge r cit ies, w e r e pub l i shed b iweekly o r on a twice -a -week basis. Un ive r s i t y a th le t ics w e r e n o t in t h e b ig business class as t h e y a r e n o w . F ra te rn i t i e s a n d s imi la r o r g a n i z a t i o n s w e r e n o t c o m m o n on t h e c a m p u s e s , a n d so t h e s t uden t s h a d t ime to s p e n d o n such w o r k as was i nvo lved in t h e o p e r a t i o n a n d p l a n n i n g of In s t i t u t e B r a n c h p r o g r a m s . T h e cond i t ions of t o d a y a r e v e r y different a n d t h e n u m b e r of e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r act ivi t ies ha s g r o w n so g rea t l y t h a t s tuden t s d o n o t find e n o u g h t i m e to s p e n d t h e a m o u n t of w o r k on the i r class exercises t h a t t h e y shou ld . B r a n c h w o r k t o d a y has m a n y compe t i t o r s a n d a t t e n d a n c e con s t i tu tes o n e of t h e m a j o r B r a n c h p r o b l e m s .
Obv ious ly , B r a n c h p r o b l e m s involve b o t h t h e B r a n c h Counse lo r a n d his associates o n t h e facul ty, t h e B r a n c h officials, a n d t h e B r a n c h S t u d e n t m e m b e r s h i p . T h e counse lors h a v e to be advisers a n d d i p l o m a t s . I t is also obvious t h a t t h e p r o p e r m e n shou ld b e e lec ted to t h e official posi t ions in t h e B r a n c h . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e s t u d e n t c a n elect a p o p u l a r s t u d e n t to m a n y offices. T h e m a n w h o is a good B r a n c h c h a i r m a n or p r e s iden t is possibly also good m a t e r i a l for t h e p re s idency of T a u Be ta Pi , E t a K a p p a N u , his social f ra te rn i ty , o r for a s imi la r pos i t ion in a r e s idence ha l l . Possibly also h e m a y be p r o p e r m a t e r i a l for t h e ed i to r sh ip of a s t u d e n t d a i l y p a p e r o r a
s t u d e n t e n g i n e e r i n g p a p e r . C e r t a i n l y h e c a n n o t d o a l l of these th ings a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e successfully c a r r y o n h is class w o r k as a s t u d e n t . M a n y univers i t ies , of c o u r s e , h a v e r e g u l a t i o n s l im i t i ng t h e n u m b e r of s t u d e n t ac t iv i t ies in w h i c h a s t u d e n t m a y b e e n g a g e d a t a n y o n e t i m e . O n e of t h e p r o b l e m s of a B r a n c h C o u n s e l o r is d i p l o m a t i c a l l y t o discuss e lec t ion m a t t e r s w i t h s t u d e n t s a n d t h u s a t leas t a t t e m p t t o s ecu re t he e lec t ion of p r o p e r l y quah f i ed s t u d e n t s a n d those w h o a r e n o t o v e r l o a d e d w i t h o t h e r ac t iv i t i e s ; t h a t is, to s ecu re p r o p e r s p r e a d i n g of t h e w o r k a m o n g qual i f ied s t u d e n t s . T h i s w h o l e p r o b l e m , of cour se , involves s t u d e n t poli t ics, a n d l ike poli t ics e v e r y w h e r e , t h e m a t t e r m u s t b e h a n d l e d w i t h g r e a t d i p l o m a c y .
H o w e v e r , o n c e a g r o u p of officials is e lec ted , t h e n t h e sponsor has t h e p r o b l e m of t r y i n g to insp i re these y o u n g m e n a n d to bu i ld u p t h e i r e n t h u s i a s m for B r a n c h w o r k , a n d for I n s t i t u t e w o r k i n g e n e r a l . H e r e h e m u s t exercise his t a len t s as a r e a l t e a c h e r , a n d h e s h o u l d b e t h o r o u g h l y fami l ia r w i t h I n s t i t u t e r e g u l a t i o n s p e r t a i n i n g to S t u d e n t B r a n c h e s . H e m u s t b e a sou rce of i n sp i r a t i on w h e n it comes to such m a t t e r s as p r o g r a m a r r a n g e m e n t a n d e v e n p r o g r a m schedu l ing . I n mos t colleges a n d univers i t ies t h e r e a r e m a n y act ivi t ies in w h i c h s u c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s as A I E E B r a n c h e s m a y e n g a g e , a n d m a n y of these ac t iv i t ies c o n c e r n t h e e v e r y d a y life of a c a m p u s c o m m u n i t y . I n t h e pas t t h e funds a v a i l a b l e f rom t h e I n s t i t u t e h e a d q u a r t e r s h a v e b e e n so smal l t h a t B r a n c h officials a n d m e m b e r s h a v e b e e n p r o n e to set u p m o n e y - m a k i n g act ivi t ies v e r y m u c h l ike those of w o m e n ' s c h u r c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s . S o m e of these act ivi t ies c e r t a i n l y h a v e n o t b e e n professionally w o r t h wh i l e , a n d t h e r e c e n t a c t i on of t h e B o a r d of D i r ec to r s in p r o v i d i n g a g r e a t e r a l l o w a n c e for B r a n c h act ivi t ies shou ld b e v e r y helpful in this r e spec t .
O n e of t h e m a j o r p r o b l e m s of a facu l ty sponsor is t h e e v e r - c h a n g i n g p e r s o n n e l of s t u d e n t officials a n d m e m b e r s . T h e B r a n c h v e r y closely follows t h e classes. E a c h y e a r t h e sponsor m u s t s t a r t in w i t h a n e w g r o u p a n d g u i d e t h e m a l o n g t h e p r o p e r p a t h w a y of k n o w l e d g e a n d efficiency.
If a B r a n c h facul ty C o u n s e l o r h a s his p r o b l e m s , so also d o t h e B r a n c h s t u d e n t officers. T h e I n s t i t u t e r e g u l a t i o n s a r e v e r y d e m o c r a t i c as far as these officials a r e c o n c e r n e d a n d t h e B r a n c h e s c a n h a v e as m a n y officers o r as few as t h e y wish . U s u a l l y t h e r e is a c h a i r m a n , a s ec re t a ry , w h o also poss ib ly d o u b l e s as a t r ea su re r , a n d a p r o g r a m c o m m i t t e e c h a i r m a n . Of t en t h e r e a r e a n u m b e r of o t h e r m e m b e r s of t h e officialdom of t h e B r a n c h . All of these p e o p l e h a v e s o m e n e w th ings t o l e a r n . Usua l ly , t h e c h a i r m a n a n d o t h e r t o p officials h a v e s t a r t e d in t he i r ea r l i e r yea r s in col lege as m i n o r officials a n d a l r e a d y k n o w s o m e t h i n g a b o u t B r a n c h o p e r a t i o n s ; b u t w h e n e lec ted to a n e w j o b t h e y m u s t l e a r n t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s of t h a t pos i t ion . O f course , it is u p t o t h e B r a n c h officers to b u i l d u p s t u d e n t e n t h u s i a s m . I n s o m e a r ea s of w o r k this is fa ir ly easy . I n o t h e r a r ea s it is no t . I n a n y case , t h e r e a r e c e r t a i n fields w h i c h for a t i m e h a v e a n a u r a of g l a m o u r . C u r r e n t l y t h e m o s t g l a m o r o u s fields s e e m to b e te levis ion, s e r v o m e c h a n i s m s , a n d c o m p u t o r s , closely fol lowed b y r a d a r a n d i ndus t r i a l e lec t ron ics .
A n o t h e r s t u d e n t p r o b l e m is t h a t of p r o g r a m s . F o r best resul ts it w o u l d seem t h a t t h e p r o g r a m s s h o u l d b e
30 Ewing—Student Branches of the AIEE E L E C T R I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G
given by t h e s tuden t s themse lves , b u t t h e r e is also t h e des i ra bil i ty of h a v i n g c e r t a i n p r o g r a m s p r e s e n t e d b y ou t s ide speakers. Also, first-class m o t i o n p i c tu re s of i ndus t r i a l o p e r a t i o n s a r e des i rab le . N o t t h e least of t h e t r o u b l e of s o m e of t h e Branches is t h a t of se lec t ing a p r o p e r m e e t i n g p l a c e . Gene ra l l y i t is possible for S t u d e n t B r a n c h m e e t i n g s to b e he ld in the e lect r ica l e n g i n e e r i n g b u i l d i n g o r o t h e r q u a r t e r s occup ied b y t h e school o r d e p a r t m e n t of e lec t r ica l eng i nee r ing . H o w e v e r , in s o m e cases t h e r e a r e c e r t a i n difficult ies in the w a y of f inding des i r ab l e m e e t i n g p laces o r facilities w h e r e l a n t e r n slides o r m o t i o n p i c t u r e facilities a r e ava i l ab le , or possibly w h e r e a d e m o n s t r a t i o n l e c t u r e c a n be m a d e p a r t of t h e p r o g r a m .
A n o t h e r p r o b l e m for t h e s t u d e n t s is t h a t of l iv ing u p to A I E E regu la t ions re la t ive to B r a n c h e s a n d a t t h e s a m e
t i m e l iv ing u p to c a m p u s r e g u l a t i o n s r e l a t ive to s t u d e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s . O n s o m e c a m p u s e s t h e r e is a t e n d e n c y to obse rve a fair ly s t r ic t c o n t r o l o v e r s t u d e n t o p e r a t i o n s of a n y k i n d p a r t i c u l a r l y w h e r e ou t -o f - town speakers o r m o n e y , o r b o t h , a r e invo lved .
All of these p r o b l e m s m u s t b e fami l ia r to t h e Counse lo r s a n d s t u d e n t officers of o u r B r a n c h e s ; o r poss ibly t h e y a r e con f ron ted w i t h o t h e r s e q u a l l y as difficult. T h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g , h o w e v e r , is t h a t o u r p r o b l e m s a r e c o n t i n u a l l y b e i n g solved, as e v i d e n c e d b y t h e g r o w t h r e c o r d of t h e A I E E S t u d e n t Branches—^fi^om b u t 15 in 1902 t o 132 j u s t a ha l f c e n t u r y l a t e r .
R E F E R E N C E
1. The Institute*8 First Half Century, C F. Scott. Electrical Engineering, May 1934, pages 645-70.
Electric Glass Welding M . R . S H A W M E M B E R A I E E
Γ - Γ Ί Ι Η Ε E L E C T R I C w e l d -1 i n g of m e t a l is a r e l a
t ively n e w a n d r a p i d l y g r o w i n g process in t h e m e t a l fabr ica t ion indus t r i es . E v e n n e w e r a n d c u r r e n t l y en joy ing a m o r e r a p i d e x p a n s i o n is t h e e lectr ic w e l d i n g of glass. W h i l e t h e r e is s o m e s imi la r i ty b e t w e e n t h e t e c h n i q u e s e m p l o y e d , t h e wide ly differ ing phys ica l p r o p e r t i e s of t h e t w o ma te r i a l s m a k e t h e e lec t r ica l r e q u i r e m e n t s q u i t e dis t inct .
T Y P E O F E L E C T R I C H E A T U S E D
IT MAY B E SAID t h a t all forms of e lec t r ic heat^"^ h a v e b e e n used in w e l d i n g glass. P r o b a b l y t h e mos t expens ive
t y p e of electr ic e n e r g y is t h a t in t h e u l t r a h i g h - f r e q u e n c y po r t i on of t h e s p e c t r u m . E lec t r i c e n e r g y a t this f r e q u e n c y h a s t he ab i l i ty to p r o d u c e a p p r e c i a b l e h e a t in m o s t d i electr ics a n d h a s b e e n so u s e d o n glass u n d e r c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s . T h e h a r d e r glasses m a i n t a i n t he i r d ie lec t r i c charac te r i s t i cs u p t o m o d e r a t e l y h i g h t e m p e r a t u r e s . I t is in this r eg ion t h a t d ie lec t r ic loss m e t h o d s of h e a t i n g m a y b e used as p a r t of a n e lec t r ic w e l d i n g process . Rad io - f r e q u e n c y e n e r g y also m a y b e used for m a g n e t i c i n d u c t i o n h e a t i n g of m a t e r i a l s h a v i n g fair c o n d u c t i v i t y . S ince glass a t ve ry h i g h t e m p e r a t u r e h a s m o d e r a t e c o n d u c t i v i t y i t
Full text of paper 52-320, "Electric Glass Welding," recommended by the AIEE Committee on Electric Welding and approved by the AIEE Committee on Technical Operations for presentation at the AIEE Middle Eastern District Meeting, Toledo, Ohio, October 28-30, 1952. Scheduled for publication in AIEE Transactions, volume 71, 1952.
M. R. Shaw is with Corning Glass Works, Corning, N. Y.
A h u g e n e w a r e a h a s b e e n a d d e d to t h e e l e c trical ar t t h r o u g h t h e e x t e n s i o n o f t h e e lectr ic w e l d i n g p r o c e s s to g lass . T h e m a s s m a r k e t c a n b e r e a c h e d as i t is u n n e c e s s a r y to h a v e h i g h l y sk i l l ed p e r s o n n e l , a n d b e t t e r q u a l i t y
re su l t s w i t h m o r e a c c u r a t e h e a t contro l .
m a y b e h e a t e d for w e l d i n g b y t h e h i g h - f r e q u e n c y i n d u c t i o n m e t h o d . G e n e r a l l y , h o w e v e r , un less t h e d ie lec t r i c loss o r i n d u c t i o n h e a t i n g m e t h o d is u n i q u e l y su i t ed for t h e app l i ca t i o n , o t h e r t y p e s of e lect r ic h e a t i n g wi l l b e m o r e p rac t i ca l .
T h e k ind of e lec t r ic h e a t i n g f o u n d m o s t useful for glass w e l d i n g o n a p r o d u c t i o n basis is t h e s i m p l e res i s tance loss a c c o m p a n y i n g t h e pas sage of c u r r e n t t h r o u g h t h e glass b e t w e e n o p p o s e d e l ec t rodes . T h e sou rce of e n e r g y for th is t y p e of res i s t ance h e a t i n g m a y b e t h e 60-cycle p o w e r Une or , u n d e r c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s , a h i g h - f r e q u e n c y g e n e r a tor . U n d o u b t e d l y t i m e wil l see t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of e n e r g y sources for d ie lec t r i c a n d i n d u c t i o n h e a t i n g w h i c h wil l g r ea t l y c h a n g e t h e i r e c o n o m i c s . F o r t h e p re sen t , good use is b e i n g m a d e of t h e s i m p l e r m e t h o d w h i c h is t h e s u b j e c t of t h e r e m a i n d e r of th i s a r t i c l e .
R E S I S T A N C E H E A T I N G I N G L A S S
SINCE RESISTANCE HEATING is to b c e x a m i n e d closely,
it is a p p r o p r i a t e t h a t t h e e lec t r i ca l p r o p e r t i e s of glass b e k n o w n . A r e s i s t i v i t y - t e m p e r a t u r e c u r v e for a b o r o -si l icate glass is s h o w n in F i g u r e 1. T h i s g r a p h covers t h e i n t e r v a l of r o o m t e m p e r a t u r e t o 1,500 deg ree s c e n t i g r a d e , w h i c h is a p p r o x i m a t e l y t h e s a m e as t h a t invo lved in w e l d i n g this p a r t i c u l a r glass. T h e e x t r e m e r a n g e of resis t ivi ty is i m m e d i a t e l y e v i d e n t . T h e res i s t ance of a g iven p a t h wi l l d e c r e a s e b y a factor of 10^* as t h e t e m p e r a t u r e increases d u r i n g t h e w e l d i n g cyc le f rom t h e r o o m t e m p e r a t u r e v a l u e
J A N U A R Y 1953 Shaw—Electric Glass Welding 31