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