Daily Staff Writer

Engineers’ Week 2002 will provide students and faculty in the College of Engineering a chance to network and make new friends while partaking in food, sports and music.

The band Keepers of the Carpet will perform at the Maintenance Shop in the Memorial Union on Friday night.

“In the past there hasn’t been any Friday events but we wanted to keep the week going and provide a chance for students to come after class and take a load off of the busy week,” said Mike Hazel, E-Week co-chairman.

Hazel, senior in construction engineering, said the Engineers’ Week committee expects a high turnout.

“Participation has been good every year,” he said. “So far, we’re expecting 600 people for the Engineers’ Ball on Saturday . .”

Every engineering student has something to gain from participating in the week’s events, Hazel said.

“For younger students, this is a great opportunity to interact with peers from class and understand the engineering program a little bit better,” he said.

It’s a good chance to interact with professors, students and recruiters, Hazel said, because they need to start developing networks to plan for the future.

The Engineers’ Career Fair is an important part of the week, said Andy Malin, committee member.

“The main thing about Engineers’ Week, from a student perspective, is that it provides a great opportunity for employment in a competitive market,” said Malin, senior industrial engineering.

The fair will host 210 companies this year, down from last year’s turnout of 270. The fair will fit into Hilton Coliseum, improving convenience for students with a limited amount of time, he said.

By Kari Harapat

Daily correspondent

Business students have a packed week full of job opportunities and networking.

Saturday marked the beginning of the seventh annual Business Week with a tailgate for students and faculty. The week’s events also include a kick-off luncheon, an etiquette dinner and a barbecue.

“All of our activities are put on for the students by the students,” said Jen Sohl, co-chairwoman of the Business Week 2002 committee. “Faculty and staff are invited to the events as well, so it is a good way for students to meet and mingle with them outside of class.”

Sohl, junior in management, said “the more interaction we can have between students and faculty, the better.

“I think the more we can make the College of Business personalized for our students, the more they will enjoy their time here,” she said. “And hopefully prospective students see this as well.”

On Monday, College of Business alumnus Chaunci Hall will be speaking at a kickoff luncheon. Hall is vice president of Bankers Trust in Des Moines. Tickets to see the speech, which begins at 11:50 a.m. in the Memorial Union Great Hall, are available in the Carver Hall lobby on Monday morning.

A new addition to Business Week this year is an etiquette dinner.

“Every person – not just college students – should attend something like this,” said Karen Terpstra, adviser to the Business Week planning committee.

The event will acquaint business students with proper etiquette needed for interviews conducted over meals.

Other events for the week include a softball game, High School Visitation Day and barbecue and a Golf Tournament. The business college and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are also hosting a career fair on Wednesday.