[15125] in APO News
Re: Big Screw Awards - some history
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (hale bradt)
Tue May 8 08:24:47 2012
Cc: Daniel R Grazian <dgrazian@mit.edu>,
"big-screw@mit.edu" <big-screw@mit.edu>,
"big-screw-interested@mit.edu" <big-screw-interested@mit.edu>
From: hale bradt <bradt@MIT.EDU>
To: W Craig Carter <ccarter@mit.edu>, kaashoek@csail.mit.edu, nickolai@mit.edu,
hrm@math.mit.edu
In-Reply-To: <52B24BF82F957447A744E740133E494303DEB0@OC11EXPO25.exchange.mit.edu>
Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 08:24:31 -0400
As a former Big Screw winner (2001), I congratulate each of the
finalists. I am sure that each and possibly all of you rank high
because your students have an affection for you and appreciate your
efforts. That screw makes a wonderful desk ornament and conversation
starter for the year you have it. It sits tall and upright on its
base, the flat head of the screw.
A story: there was some controversy among some Physics faculty as to
whether it was in good taste or good PR for Physics for me to actively
seek the BS award. It was my last year before retirement and in
lecturing 8.02, so I went with the game. After winning, totally
corruptly, I debated taking the screw to a large physics dept.
retirement dinner for me and three other faculty at the Marriott in
Kendall Square and proudly exhibiting it on the table I was at.
However I decided not to do so. It was a good thing I didn't because
the Marriott was crawling with secret service agents looking after
Laura Bush who was speaking at an affair in the adjacent ballroom. I
am sure a four-foot left-handed aluminum wood screw would have
attracted a lot of attention (this was a few weeks after 9/11!) and
could well have been confiscated.
Again congratulations and thanks to the students who work hard to keep
this tradition alive.
Hale Bradt
__________________
Hale Bradt
11 Church St. Unit 201
Salem MA 01970-3753
1-978-744-4322
bradt@mit.edu
On May 8, 2012, at 12:10 AM, Daniel R Grazian wrote:
> Hi everybody,
>
> My apologies for the error in my previous email. The awards ceremony
> will be this Wednesday, 5/9, at 6pm in 1-135. My previous email
> incorrectly stated Wednesday, 5/7, a date which does not exist (this
> year at least.)
>
> I hope you can all make it! And congratulations again.
>
> Best,
>
> Daniel Grazian
> APO Big Screw Project Coordinator
>
>
>> Dear Professors Carter, Kaashoek and Zeldovich, and Miller,
>>
>> Congratulations, you're among the top three finishers in this year's
>> Big Screw competition! We'd like to invite you to attend the awards
>> ceremony, this Wednesday, 5/7 at 6pm in 1-135.
>>
>> The winner will be awarded the Big Screw traveling trophy, a four-
>> foot
>> aluminum wood screw engraved with the winners' names. Runners-up will
>> also be awarded prizes. Refreshments will be provided.
>>
>> If you can't attend, we encourage you to send someone in your place
>> as
>> a delegate.
>>
>> We hope to see you on Wednesday!
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Daniel Grazian
>> APO Big Screw project coordinator
