Spatial Media Group Administrative Instructions

• Welcome to the Spatial Media Group! I hope you had a good vacation, because we have lots of hopefully exciting projects for you to dive into. We will formally start the Spatial Media Group meeting/seminar series in April or May. In the meantime, you will be assigned various reading and projects to get you started.

  Your desks are in the Computer Arts Lab. 328-E or -F (x3464),

  Regarding registration, i expect you to enroll this year in the classes i teach or co-teach, besides a reasonable selection of the other courses. These next couple of years might well be one of your last opportunities ever to take courses just because the subject matter is interesting, so please feel encouraged to fill in holes in your background or indulge some other curiosity. Don't enroll in _too_ many, though, because you'll have the equivalent of one or two courses work from the projects that we'll start. Naturally i am pleased to give advice if you want, but mostly it's up to you. The courses i want you to take this year are listed here.

• Lost-and-found box in the library lounge.
• Don't move or borrow anything, especially including computers, monitors, and equipment in 328-F, without first checking with Prof. Cohen.
• You are expected, assumed, and required to participate enthusiastically in group seminars, including ISSM, any special workshops, and Distinguished Lectures. If you have another class, of course that's fine. But otherwise, except for rare excused absences and emergencies (death in family, etc.), presence and participation (attention, critical thinking, questions, etc.) are absolutely required.

  Regarding meetings with faculty, either group or individual, an appointment is like a promise, so don't break it casually. If you are sick or something, しょうがない, but please let the teacher know in advance of the scheduled meeting. Email is easy, so no excuse not to send. My time is precious, and i don't like to squander it on rude students' irresponsibility. Generally, i have a "zero tolerance" policy regarding unexcused missed meetings.

• Send me something every week. This might be a section of your thesis, a report about something interesting, something you've written for one of your other classes. For those of you taking thesis writing, share with me the assignments that you prepare for that class.
• I generally try to make myself accessible to students, by keeping both outer and internal doors open. Please feel encouraged to share ideas, ask questions, etc. However, i work long days, and especially after lunch, i like to take a nap. If there's a "Do not disturb" sign on the door, please respect unless there is some emergency (important and urgent).
• Try out your card keys on your office door, and tell me if you have any problems. Move your WWW home pages to your new accounts. Expect activities to ramp up quickly!
• Food and drink in the lab, enjoyed responsibly, are fine. Please be considerate using shared resources, like the refrigerator.