d’ARTE MAGAZINE
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NO.
COME
ONE! COME ALL!
into our world
ABA N D ON TH E E XPE CTE D
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d’ARTE MAGAZINE EDITORIA L TEA M
brier avil
anh bui
hanah ho
victor ng
efi turkson
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING urna biswas C ONTRIBUTERS Stylist: peter dolkas Costume Designer: kim o’callaghan Make–up Artist: mimi gianopulos, yun lee Assisstant Stylist (Lunar Gala): jennifer hwang Prop Stylist: isabella scannone Prop Assistant: molly hellring
SPECIA L THA NKS TO: boris brenman, josh debner, carolyn johnson great escape cast: amanda thorp, curtis gillen, catherine urbanek, dylan putas, stephen tonti, rodney jackson, denver milord, josh wilder, ava deluca verley, grey henson, cameron margeson, ginna le vine, jessie shelton, margaret bridges, dylan shwarz wallach lauren beckwith, joanne ong cream of the crop cast: libby adams, melody lee e.b. pepper 5411 walnut street pittsburgh, pa 15232 412.683.3815 max alto 5429 1/2 walnut st. pittsburgh, pa 15232 412-683-0508 www.maxaltofashion.com
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d’ARTE
>ISSUE NUMBER THREE SPRING 2011
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cream of the crop
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long exposure
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black & yellow and everything in between
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a day in the life of...
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the great escape
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mythbusters
magazine
senior art major reflects on his four years
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the best of this years lunar gala a semester abroad in a world away how well do we really know each other cmu’s only female army cadet spring carnival like you’ve never seen it race to the moon
team letter
photo: joanne ong
greetings
P
eople can surprise you; a sentiment I’m sure
We ask cmu students to discuss this; why at a school so diverse,
we can all agree on. Our third issue focuses
students choose to segregate themselves; content to remain in
on exploration, searching for the unexpected
seemingly exclusive groups rather than explore foreign cultures.
in people we think we’ve got figured out. We
We’ve changed things up for this issue, revamping and
all have something within us that would surprise others, so why
experimenting with the content we put in our issues. We want to
are we shocked when others are the same? Take Carolyn Johnson,
give you more than beautiful photographs, but amazing stories.
the gorgeous cheerleading, sorority girl, one glance at her and we
Stories about people who explore new and different worlds, eager to
think we know who she is. But Carolyn is a cadet in the Army rotc
find out what else they can become by stepping outside of what they
program, set to work for the US Army as engineer after graduation.
know. Our stylist, Peter Dolkas and cover girl, Amanda Thorpe,
Or Josh Debner, the engineer who moonlights as a photographer
interpret this in “The Great Escape”; a photo story featuring a
and videographer, documenting his journey in Peru for the One
socialite who lives every child’s fantasy, running away to join the
Laptop per Child organization through stunning photographs. We
circus. Abandoning societal conventions and expectations to enter
are all guilty of it, defining ourselves and others by what we do. The
a thrilling world filled with “carnies” and clowns, finding happiness
first question we ask when we meet someone is “What’s your major?” among kindred spirits. attempting to size them up by their response. However, we are all more than the degree we will receive after our time here is up.
But enough with the profound musings on exploration and abandoning expectations. We are a fashion magazine and of course
They say stereotypes are based on a grain of truth; but blown out of
we are always going to give you just that, fashion! Be sure to check
proportion, used to generalize an entire group of people. At a school
out our Lunar Gala photo spread, featuring some of the best looks
so diverse stereotypes run rampant, with students stereotyping
from the runway and two amazing models from the show! And our
fellow students based on hasty observations. In this issue we explore “Great Escape” shoot, which isn’t just above exploring something these stereotypes, and how they relate to the touchy subject of race.
different, but also about fashion and fun. Hey it’s a Carnival! d’ a r t e m a g a z i n e
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UNTITLED AS SENIOR ART MAJOR BORIS BRENMAN PREPARES TO GRADUATE, HE REFLECTS ON HIS FOUR NEARLY SILENT YEARS AT CARNEGIE MELLON PHOTOGRAPHY AND ST O RY B Y VICT O R NG
boris brenman is a quiet guy.
I wheel my camera equipment
in as light floods in from his studio skylights. He inspects one of his larger-than-life paintings hanging from the wall: a man and a woman pleasuring each other under an expansive picture window (During the Announcement.) In each of his paintings, it is these windows that take the viewer into a world larger and more real than reality itself. His work speaks about a struggle for acceptance in a world defined by paradoxical standards. As an artist, Brenman attempts to understand the world through his work. But it is the words we speak that Brenman struggles to understand. He was born with degenerative hearing impairment that has significantly shaped the way he perceives the visual world.
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SO CIA LIS T R ALLY ON HI L L , 2 0 1 0 : The figures inside the blue box represent political figures that live in an alternate universe.
We began our portrait session by quietly moving some tables
into the public school system was not an easy transition. Brenman
to the side so Brenman’s work could be better showcased. The
relied heavily on lip-reading to understand the conversations
loudness of his paintings was only punctuated by the gentle way
going on around him, picking up some audible words through
in which he handled them. Like many artists, Brenman found an
his hearing aid. His hearing continued to worsen and he was
expressive outlet through making things. The music he creates with
confronted with a choice. Learn sign language and give up on
every brush stroke, shutter release, and carved figure sings to the universal search for a unique identity in the world.
“oralist” traditions, officially termed being Deaf, or continue to make use of his observational skills, reading lips, to understand the world, being termed “deaf.” While his sister leaned towards
a s a c h i l d , b r e n m a n w a s a r t i s t i c a l ly i n c l i n e d .
Born
the former, Brenman decided to rely on his eyes to understand
in Ukraine to parents with normal hearing, Brenman and his
the world. This division, which remains a decision made by many
sister Victoria, who is also deaf, were encouraged to communicate
deaf and Deaf people, became the seed of a thesis that Brenman
with lip-reading and traditional speech. His parents put him in
explored in his artwork.
art classes when he was four. What he learned in those classes served as the foundation to skills he later use to express his feelings.
Arriving at the yellow-bricked landscape that is Carnegie Mellon
Brenman and Victoria grew up speaking English and Russian
is intimidating for most freshmen. The fanfare of House Wars and
fluently, requiring very little use of sign language. But integration
the raucous nature of Playfair are hyped up throughout Orientation
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“A NGER ERUPTED INSIDE OF ME. I COULDN’T BELONG. EVERYTHING WAS GOING WRONG.” week. That experience is much different without sound. Awkward handshakes followed by the obligatory “So what is your major?” proved a challenge for Brenman. “Somewhere during this time, anger erupted inside of me. I couldn’t belong. Everything was going wrong.” Living alone in a single dorm room, he became more distant from potential friends and even the fraternity he was pledging. Brenman turned to what he knew best – art. He channeled his frustration onto the canvas and into clay, producing several works directly related to his deafness. The work received little positive feedback from his professors. One piece in particular, a sculpture depicting ears in place of eyes, received criticism for being too literal. Feeling that deafness was not a subject matter that was well understood, Brenman decided to move away from work that expressed his condition. Yet there was still a strong desire to depict his struggle for acceptance, but in a less literal way. What resulted was a series of works Brenman collectively calls The Obamats. n
“i
n
n
f o u n d a w ay t o p r o j e c t m y o w n f e e l i n g s
CITY OF LOA, 2010
and acknowledged. And attention was received. This body of work, which is ongoing, has been met with much more positive reviews. As viewers enter these Lilliputian worlds, they come to appreciate the humanity in these creatures.
into the
subjects and portray a world where the subject is isolated and ‘different’ from the general population.” These tiny figures, with their necks extended far above their bodies, resemble humans in form but are undoubtedly from another world. And so Brenman began to explore issues of isolation, cultural taboos, and acceptance. By removing his relationship with the subject, he is able to make a statement about the pressures society places to conform. “For most hearing people, it is difficult to understand how it is like to be in a deaf person’s shoes, even less so in mine.” The viewer may begin to sympathize with the struggles of the Obamats in their quest for “normalcy” – their necks straining, in a way, to be seen
Naturally, photography was a medium that Brenman could easily transition into. With a camera kit in one hand and a tripod in another, his eyes are constantly scouring the environment – looking for candid and often voyeuristic moments to capture. “I do not know the dozens of conversations that are happening around me. I cannot just listen to a stranger speak behind my back.” But through a lens, he is able to mediate the disconnect he feels with strangers: a photo of a man at an atm or a woman leaving her car. The tip of someone’s leg as they watch tv in bed. In a strange way, Brenman feels more connected the farther he removes himself from the subject. Because “no matter how connected we stay or how deaf we d’ a r t e m a g a z i n e
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“NO MATTER HOW CONNECTED WE STAY OR HOW DEAF WE ARE, WE STILL MANAGE TO FEEL A DISCONNECTION FROM OTHERS.”
DURING THE A N N O U N C E M E N T:
2010
B O RI S: In his studio
are, we still manage to feel a disconnection from others.” And in this
carrying on a normal conversation through these devices. We joked
way, he finds a stronger connection to the subject than they even know.
about the amount of work we already had to do and the stranger we had also decided to split the cab fare with. Every now and then, if a
Brenman is not defined by his deafness. In any other situation, he is
joke were actually funny, I would hear a chuckle from the front seat.
an average 20-something college student. On my way back from the
He tells me, “Art becomes your life and art becomes your vehicle of
airport, I happened to run into him in the baggage claim. We asked
self-expression.” We pull up to the corner of 5th and Morewood and
each other how our winter breaks were and decided to split a cab.
Brenman steps out of the taxi. As we back out, the driver turns on
The funny thing is, during the entire ride back to cmu, we didn’t say
the radio. “I hope you don’t mind, you guys were being so quiet but I
a single word. Instead, we clicked away feverishly at our Blackberrys, really want to listen to the game.”
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CREAM OF THE CROP
OUR TOP PICKS FROM THIS YEARS LUNAR p h o t o g r a p h e r : v i c t o r n g m a k e u p a r t i s t : y u n l e e a s s i s ta n t s t y l i s t : j e n n i f e r h wa n g
T
HIS YEARS LUNAR GALA WAS A SPECTACLE OF CHAINS, MILE HIGH SHOES, AND WEARABLE CARDBOARD. AFTER MONTHS OF MAKING AND PLANNING, MELANGE SHOWCASED THE CREATIONS OF 22 DESIGNERS, EACH PRESENTING WORK WITH A DISTINCTIVE VOICE. WITH THE HELP OF STYLIST PETER DOLKAS (DRAMA 2011) D’ARTE BRINGS YOU THE LOOKS THAT STOPPED THE SHOW.
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MELODY WEARS DRESS: Allison Tran SEQUINED JACKET: Alana Fusaro
GALA
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LIBBY WEARS DRESS: Sophia Chan and Chi-Chi Chuang
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MELODY WEARS ALL BY Kristin Staab
LIBBY WEARS VELVET PANTS: Kristin Staab RUFFLE BRA: Jennifer Hwang
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LIBBY WEARS DRESS: Efi Turkson
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MELODY WEARS DRESS: Ibrahim Garcia-Bengochea SHOES: Gabriel Jack
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LONG EXPOSURE photographer: josh debner
A SEMESTER ABROAD IN A WORLD AWAY 3,000 MILES AWAY FROM PITTSBURGH WHERE THE CLOSEST THING TO A “MEAL BLOCK” IS A HUNK OF GOVERNMENT-ISSUED BREAD AND INFORMATION IS DERIVED FROM CHALK INSTEAD OF PIXELS, ONE CARNEGIE MELLON STUDENT TRAVELED TO FIVE RURAL PERUVIAN VILLAGES WITH THE ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD PROJECT TO DELIVER MORE THAN 800,000 LAPTOPS TO SCHOOL CHILDREN. WITH A CAMERA IN HAND, ECE SENIOR JOSH DEBNER SPENT A SEMESTER CAPTURING THE DRAMATIC LANDSCAPE AND PEOPLE OF PERU’S COUNTRYSIDE.
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OVERLOOKING a large valley, children in the small town of Colcabamba play soccer before school starts. d’ a r t e m a g a z i n e
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FIRST GRADERS look up at the camera while being taught the alphabet with special programs on the XO laptop
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FRIENDS share a bonding moment in front of their mud-brick bouses in Colcambamba, Peru.
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A BIRDS EYE VIEW of Quichuar, a mountain town that overlooks a large valley. It only has a single road that goes through the small town.
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TWO BOYS race each other to the store after school to buy little pieces of candy for 5 soles (about 1.5 cents.)
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MOTHER AND DAUGHTER sit outside their home with their baby lamb reading a book. Many animals would be included as household pets until they get big enough to survive on their own in the fields.
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LIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS of Peru has its benefits, this is one of the many beautiful sumsets that would set in the valley illuminating the clouds above and below.
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A SCHOOL NAMED TINCO takes pictures with their XO laptops to celebrate their new school uniforms which will be many of their first things with their name on it.
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SECOND GRADE BOYS play in front of the camera with bread they receive as a supplement from the government while at school, called PaPa-Pan (potato bread.)
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BLACK AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN & YELLOW white. black. brown. yellow. these are colors, but also representations of the cultural segments of carnegie mellon. as diverse as the cmu community is, this becomes the general breakdown for everyone’s ethnicity. we simplify unique cultures, form stereotypes, and make judgments. S TO RY BY A N H BU I, E F I T U RK SO N , & U RN A BI SWAS I M AGE S BY V IC TO R N G
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within cmu, there are several cultural groups that draw attention as cliques that are exclusive and close-knit. Among them are the Indian community, the Korean community, and the black community. Their strong presence on campus tends to make their exclusivity more noticeable, but the cultural enrichment they bring to our campus is illuminating. This trade-off is bittersweet and it is from the sentiment of “outside looking in” that makes us build our assumptions. However, members of these different cultural communities are very well aware of the stereotypes levelled against them and they give d’Arte their insights into some of the preconceived notions about their culture. WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER “For me, I wasn’t initially a member of the Indian community. The thing with Indian people is if you know one person, you’re bound to meet other brown people. It just happens. There was this girl on my flight from India. Later on she recognized me on campus, tapped on my shoulder at Gingers to introduce herself, and we’ve been friends ever since.” –Radhika Koyawala WE HAVE CONNECTIONS “Stereotypes are never justified. They don’t apply to everyone. When I came in as a freshman, I only knew people from New Delhi. A month after joining Mayur SASA, I met every brown person. Even if I’ve never met him or her, I still know his or her name from conversations. People on Mayur SASA V i s h a l A g r a w a l a n d A a s h n a S i n g h r e h e a r s e f o r t h e M a y u r S A S A s h o w.
BOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD “WE CLIQUE TOGETHER. WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER. WE DON’T LIKE TASTE OF INDIA. WE DRINK QUITE A LOT. WE ARE CHEAP. WE LIKE SPICY FOOD. WE DON’T
board were really easy to become friends with, once you’re friends with some people, it becomes easier to become friends with their friends.” –Sid Madan Contributions from Radhika Koyawala, Sid Madan, Vidur Murali, Sanil Shah, & Esha Shanbhogue
SPEAK ENGLISH PROPERLY. WE ARE ALL TECH MAJORS. WE ARE NOT PUNCTUAL. WE ARE GOOD AT GETTING WORK DONE. WE HAVE CONNECTIONS. WE ALL BHANGRA. JUST WATCH RUSSEL PETERS. YOU’LL GET ALL THE INDIAN STEREOTYPES FROM HIM.” 32 | d’ a r t e
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SEOUL TRAIN “WE ALL SMOKE. WE ALL HANG OUT WITH EACH OTHER, AND WITH NOBODY ELSE. WE SPEAK KOREAN
ALL THE TIME. WE ARE WELL-DRESSED. WE WEAR EXPENSIVE CLOTHING. WE ARE SKINNY. WE PLAY STARCRAFT. WE HAVE A LOT OF PRIDE. WE SPEAK KOREAN ALL THE TIME.” WE SPEAK KOREAN ALL THE TIME “To a certain extent, I feel that it might be true since some Koreans do fall into [these stereotypical] categories. However, I think it is not necessarily true to assume that all Koreans are like that. I have seen some of these Korean people hang out with non-Koreans on campus. Also, some of those people who seem to speak Korean all the time are actually pretty good in English. I feel that they tend to hang out with Koreans since they like to be in their comfort zones. I don’t think they are trying to be exclusive and hang out with Koreans only. I bonded with some of my Korean friends by watching Korean shows
Tw i n s i s t e r s Ye o n j o o a n d H y e j o o K i m e n j o y a m e a l w i t h f r i e n d s a t a Korean restaurant.
together. Three or four of us would just order in Chinese food and d’ a r t e m a g a z i n e
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watch these Korean shows together in the lounge. Sometimes, we
Carnegie Mellon. You cannot really label the black population as
would go to the gym together to get back in shape and get ready for
representing these stereotypes as a whole because there are many
Spring break/summer.” –Yeonjoo Kim
students who engage in social activities (clubs, organization, parties) with people of other races. A lot of my friends including myself
WE HANG OUT WITH EACH OTHER AND
also have diverse academic study groups. I’d say although you
NOBODY ELSE “Koreans are very banded with themselves
may see “all” of the black people congregated at parties or at spirit
because they are more comfortable with Koreans, and it’s hard to
events... that doesn’t represent how we interact with other people
make friends when you first come to America. We are never forced
of different races on campus. There are still professional, academic,
to interact with people of other cultures. Something I find odd is
and organizational avenues in which black students on campus are
the tabling at the UC. The cultural groups are very divided and
involved. So there’s more to us than meets the eye. I came to be a
they seem difficult to approach. Only friends and members of the
part of the black community at cmu through the ethnic minority
organization seem comfortable. A lot of us met in Korea before
pre-orientation program called origins which is organized by the
coming to Carnegie Mellon. It feels like we’ve known each other for
Carnegie Mellon Advising Resource Center (cmarc). They created
a long time. It changes the effort put into making other friends. I
a great academic, professional, and social haven for ethnic minority
have Korean friends and American friends. They’re rather different from on another but I like them both equally.” –Paul Kim
students (African American, Native American, Hispanic, and
WE ARE WELL-DRESSED “I think some [stereotypes] are
aware, but spirit is actually really diverse. We have students that are
justified. Koreans are really good at Starcraft and a lot of them smoke. But just like all stereotypes there are exceptions. Like I don’t have any designer bags and wear heels to school.” –Sunny Chang Contributions from Paul Kim, Yeonjoo Kim, & Sunny Chang
students of Biracial Heritage). I don’t think the rest of the campus is of Indian, Asian, Caribbean, African, White, and Hispanic descent. This is seen through campus activities such as Multicultural BBQ’s and Activities Fairs, spirit Buggy, spirit Booth, and the spirit Fashion Show.” –Libby Adams
THAT’S THE SPIRIT “WE ALL GOT INTO CMU VIA AFFIRMATIVE ACTION. WE ARE REALLY CLIQUE-Y AND DON’T KNOW MEMBERS OF OTHER RACES. WE ARE ALL IN SPIRIT. WE DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN CAMPUS ACTIVITIES. WE ARE ALWAYS LOUD. WE LISTEN TO HIP HOP MUSIC. WE DON’T GET OUR WORK DONE. WE ARE LAZY. WE ARE ALWAYS LATE.” WE ARE REALLY CLIQUE-Y AND DON’T KNOW MEMBERS OF OTHER RACES “I do not think these stereotypes are justified across the board for the black students at D a n i e l B e l l o m y i n S P I R I T ’s a n n u a l f a s h i o n s h o w t h i s y e a r. 34 | d’ a r t e
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WE ARE LAZY AND ALWAYS LATE “I believe that no
what we know keeps us locked in our well-crafted schemas. We
stereotype is justified as a blanket way of describing an ethnicity,
miss the opportunity to understand our community and thus, we
because every person is unique and has qualities that may be
let our cultural diversity become our cultural divide. Whether or
stereotypical of another ethnicity. Sometimes everyone is loud,
not the stereotypes ring true, Carnegie Mellon students have the
listens to hip hop (whether they like it or not), falls behind on
opportunity to break them and experience unfamiliar cultures.
work, has a lazy day, or overslept. Seeing this instance happen once However, we are all aware that befriending someone new is no is in no way a justification for the stereotype against the entire
simple feat, especially when that person seems completely different
black community nor a justification for stereotyping a particular
from you. However, the joy in attending a university as diverse as
individual.” –Aliesha Jones
cmu lies in what happens when we do step out of our comfort zones
Contributions from Libby Adams & Aliesha Jones
and engage with others. Exploring different cultures is far more that
n
n
n
We all feel comfortable with the familiar, and we naturally gravitate towards people similar to ourselves. Yet by forgoing
grabbing lunch at Taste of India or Asiana. It calls for an open mind and a challenge to oneself to see the similarities and embrace the differences.
relationships with those outside our race in order to stick with
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YOU KNOW HOW you should never judge a book by its cover? You also should never judge a cmu student by their interests, case in point: Carolyn Johnson, a senior Civil
a day in the life of:
THE ONLY FEMALE MEMBER OF ARMY ROTC AT CARNEGIE MELLON p h o t o g r a p h y b y c a r o ly n j o h n s o n
Engineering and Spanish double major from Los Angeles. From her sorority sweatshirt, to her résumé that reads like it belongs to Miss America, it would be hard to guess that in-between teaching Spanish at elementary schools, performing leading roles in Greek Sing, and being Captain of the Varsity Cheerleading team, that Carolyn is a part of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. Her father, a retired Army colonel, went through the rotc program in college, and it was a requirement that his children do the same. Every morning, Carolyn goes to UPitt’s campus for their Army rotc program. Stereotypes would have you think that being a female in therotc would mean you were treated differently than your male counterparts. But Carolyn assures any young women who are interested in the program that, “there is no male or female in the Army, there is only a soldier,” and
INTRODUCING ‘A DAY IN THE LIFE OF’, A
she has “rarely felt less significant because
NEW SECTION WHERE D’ARTE BRINGS THE
of [her] gender.” Even though some may
STORY TO YOU DIRECTLY FROM THE SOURCE.
think that females are less tough, Carolyn
THIS ISSUE WE HANDED THE CAMERA TO
says that her experience with every female
CAROLYN JOHNSON, THE ONLY FEMALE STUDENT AT CARNEGIE MELLON IN THE ROTC AND LET HER TELL THE STORY OF TRAINING TO SERVE HER COUNTRY.
in her program has proven that idea to be completely wrong. Armed with a disposible camera, Cadet Johnson takes you through a week in the Army rotc from her vantage point. Each scene captured offers a candid, yet illustrative glimpse into the skills, strengths, and personal relationships Johnson builds every morning in her military training. –brier avil
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p o rt r a i t : v i c to r n g
a day in the life of:
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a day in the life of:
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a day in the life of:
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THE GREAT ESCAPE photography by v i c t o r n g styling by p e t e r d o l k a s
H
ave you ever wanted to escape your own life; discover something new, something different, something thrilling? it’s every kid’s fantasy to run away and join the circus, enter a ‘fantastical’ place of magic and wonder. at times we all want to abandon our responsibilities, throw caution to the wind as we unleash our free spirit; eager to relinquish our duties, if only for a short while. join our cover girl amanda, as she ventures on her ‘great escape’ leaving high society behind to join the electrifying world of carnival.
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BALANCING ACT TIGHTS: American Apparel BLACK DISCO SHORTS: American Apparel SEQUINED TOP: Byron Lars SHOES: Vintage YSL
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TAMING THE LION DRESS: Byron Lars FISHNET SOCKS: American Apparel 50 | d’ a r t e
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CLOWNING MOMENT STRIPED RED BOW TOP: Byron Lars EVERYTHING ELSE: Vintage d’ a r t e m a g a z i n e
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ENCORE RED STRIPED DRESS:Byron Lars SEERSUCKER J A C K E T: B e t s e y Johnson
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d’parture
MYTHBUSTERS s t o ry b y a n h b u i
THERE ARE A NUMBER of mythical things that students at Carnegie Mellon hear about. There’s plutonium in the fifth basement of Doherty Hall. There are underground tunnels that link the academic buildings. There are moon robots in the Field Robotics Center. There’s no confirming the plutonium or the tunnels, but the moon robots are there. Junior Michael Mackin introduces the rover built for the Google Lunar-X Prize Challenge. The rover sits in a hanger space in the Gates Center next to an abundance of other technological gear. Strangely enough, the robots themselves are not the most impressive element of the Field Robotics Center at CMU.
Diggers project. He followed up by working on a NASA contract to create a thermal management system for lunar rovers, which he then integrated into the Google Lunar-X Prize Challenge rover. He discusses the physical aspects of the rover with expertise. If that wasn’t enough, Mackin has developed a carbon fiber battery cover that has garnered the attention of NASA and Lockheed Martin. Mackin is also working on building a robot that he received a $600,000 NASA grant to create. His personal connection with the work he does extends beyond the more than 30 hours he devotes to the robotics center. “I named the robot Ellen, she’s awesome.” The way meteorologists
It is the students who have found time outside of their classes and
name the hurricanes is the same way Mackin names his robots. “She’s
extracurricular activities to program, weld, and create this technology
the fifth generation.” There is one exception. None of his robots are
that are truly impressive. Mackin has carved a niche for himself here
named after guys. “It just didn’t feel right to work on a dude,” Mackin
among the robotic parts. His passion for the construction and design of
explains. Regardless, his hard work has paid off. This summer, Mackin
robotic parts is evident. Following his freshman year at CMU, Mackin
will be interning with SPACE-X in Los Angeles, a commercial flight
joined the Field Robotics Center team working on the NASA Moon
company. Mythical? Maybe.
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