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Summer 2008 is the start of something big – and SMU will be there. The final pieces are being moved into place for possible August testing of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which will recreate conditions at the beginning of the universe.

The LHC will be the site of several experiments in high-energy physics, but none is more imposing than the ATLAS Experiment. At about 42 meters long and weighing 7,000 tons, it fills a 12-story space beneath the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

As U.S. Coordinator for the ATLAS Experiment's Liquid Argon Calorimeter, Physics Chair Ryszard Stroynowski and Professors Robert Kehoe and Jingbo Ye are helping to seal the final details on the largest detector in the LHC array and supervising other SMU personnel in the design of computer software interfaces that will control the device, which measures energy deposited by the flying debris of smashed atoms. The SMU crew is also working on data processing for ATLAS' 220,000 channels of electronic signals – an information stream larger than the Internet traffic of a small country.

In addition, the researchers are preparing for analysis of the vast quantities of physics data the detectors will produce. "Out of 40 million events per second, we need 10 events per year," Stroynowski says. "We need to do extensive simulations of known physics to see the tiny deviations we're looking for. It's a very large computing challenge."

Among those entrusted with these tasks is a small army of SMU graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in physics, including Rozmin Daya, Kamile Dindar, Ana Firan, Daniel Goldin, Haleh Hadavand, Julia Hoffman, Yuriy Ilchenko, Renat Ishmukhametov, David Joffe, Azeddine Kasmi, Zhihua Liang, Peter Renkel, Ryan Rios and Pavel Zarzhitsky. Hoffman, Ishmukhametov and Joffe spent a working weekend greeting visitors, answering questions and even giving tours during CERN's "Day of Open Doors" celebration in April. An estimated 53,000 visitors crowded the organization's Geneva campus on the last day the public will be able to see the LHC facilities up close.

At the beginning of May, the areas will be sealed off in preparation for the first round of testing, currently scheduled for August 2008. From then on, the ATLAS Experiment will be controlled remotely by computer.

SMU has hosted alumni gatherings in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Washington, D.C., this fall and spring. View photos from recent events below, and learn more about the May 1 event in Atlanta.

The SMU Athletics Department, in conjunction with the SMU Lettermen's Association, announced the inaugural class of its Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2008 inductees - Forrest Gregg, the late Lamar Hunt, Martina Moravcova and the late Payne Stewart - will be honored at an induction dinner and ceremony on Friday, May 2, at 7 p.m. at the Hotel Palomar. Don Meredith will serve as Honorary Chair.

The SMU Athletics Hall of Fame is a revitalization and broadening of the SMU/Dr Pepper Hall of Fame, which existed at SMU from 1978 to 1986. The Dr Pepper Hall of Fame honored athletes and administrators who played major roles in establishing the Mustang football program. The 35 members of this group will also be recognized at the May 2 event.

"The Lettermen's Association is proud to have played a part in the formation of the SMU Athletics Hall of Fame," said Lettermen's Association president Jim Johnston. "As one of our stated goals, we are committed to maintaining the fine tradition of SMU Athletics, and a Hall of Fame is a perfect way to help preserve our athletic legacies."

"As a department, we really want to recognize the contributions and successes of our former student-athletes," said SMU's Director of Athletics Steve Orsini. "It is only fitting that we have an active Hall of Fame to commemorate their outstanding accomplishments."

A brief listing of the class and their achievements:

• Forrest Gregg ('56) - former Mustang football player, coach and athletic director; member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame;
• Lamar Hunt ('56) - former SMU football player and founder of the Kansas City Chiefs; member of the Pro Football, Texas Sports, National Soccer and International Tennis Halls of Fame;
• Martina Moravcova ('98) - 14-time NCAA swimming champion and Olympic medalist;
• Payne Stewart ('79) - 1989 PGA Champion, two-time U.S. Open Champion and member of five U.S. Ryder Cup teams.

Tickets to the Induction Dinner and Ceremony are available by calling (214) 768-4633.

Labels: athletics, Hall of Fame

By Troy Behrens, Executive Director of the Hegi Family Career Development Center

If you learn nothing else from this article, remember this: Don't negotiate just your salary; negotiate your career development and growth.

Some information that supports this pearl of wisdom is in order. Back in the late 1990s, Jack Chapman wow'ed everyone with his concept of "How to Make $1,000 a Minute". In the go-go '90s, this was a very appropriate way to negotiate. It was all about you – and a dash for the cash!

Employers got wise pretty quickly, and handing out briefcases full of money, perks and benefits became an exception rather than the rule. Now that off-shoring has taken hold, we find ourselves in the backseat, not the driver's seat. Negotiations are no longer wide-open express lanes; they're clogged side streets in rush hour.

Since the pressure is on to earn more just to keep up with the cost of living, to stay sharp to keep ahead of off-shoring threats and to pay off that $150K in student loans, being a savvy salary negotiator is as critical as ever.

Unfortunately, most of us crack under this pressure. In fact, the vast majority of us fit one of these negotiation personality types:

• The pacifier: Avoids conflict at all costs
• The theologian: Is very factual, cold and rigid
• The idle threat: Threatens to retaliate if his or her demands aren't met
• The runner: Backs away at the first sign of disagreement
• The non-believer: Undermines him or herself by lacking confidence
  

If you resemble even one of these typologies, you could use a little brushing-up and skill-sharpening.

We all know that the first step in solving a problem begins with identifying its underlying cause. So, let's briefly look into some common negotiating sins:

• Fear of rejection: Don't be afraid to ask. The worst that can happen is you'll get a "no" for an answer. Most employers expect employees to try to negotiate; it's just good business.
• Lack of knowledge: Don't open your mouth unless you can back it up with dozens of references.
• Applying for lateral or lesser jobs: When you change jobs, move up. Negotiating for a lateral move will get you nowhere.
• Inappropriate timing: Recessions, bad quarterly earnings, a new CEO – all impact your ability to add to your bottom line.
• Talking too much: Be careful not to talk yourself into a hole. State your "wishes" and quietly listen to the reply.
• Demanding too much: Be realistic and humble throughout the process.
• Negotiating with the wrong person: HR managers, recruiters and even some direct supervisors can't and don't have the authority to help you negotiate. Before you jump in, make sure you're talking to the right audience.
• Targeting companies because of prestige: Smaller companies almost always have more room to negotiate salaries and benefits. Marquee corporations won't negotiate because they're doing you a favor with the honor of working there.
• Playing cat and mouse games: Stay away from the game of "Why don't you tell me what an acceptable salary is"! It's insulting. Be open, honest and tactful – you'll get much further.
  

Carmine the not-so-great negotiator
Below is a real-life example about how one person's barriers muddled the negotiation process:

Carmine was about to graduate from a prestigious university. He was hoping that, during his out-of-state interview and corporate tour, he would have an opportunity to field an offer and negotiate his salary.

During the morning coffee and continental breakfast, Carmine met with his host for the day, the college recruiting manager. Amid the excited chatter of 19 other out-of-town candidates, Carmine pulled aside the recruiting manager and said,
"Listen, I don't have any time to waste. Take a look at this (shows eight offer letters from other corporations). You know why I got all of these offers? Because I'm a valuable commodity. My best offer is $75K. If you and your company can't beat that by $10K, I'm walking."

The recruiting manager's next words were: "Let me call you a cab. You can catch the 9 a.m. flight back home if you really hurry!"

Carmine broke at least five of the negotiating sins – and funny story: He tried the same tactic with the other eight places he received an offer, and six of the eight rescinded because of his lack of integrity.

Learn from Carmine's mistakes and:

1. Never discuss salary until a job is offered.
2. Let the employer go first and provide a starting number or range.
3. After the offer is made, silence is golden; never counter immediately.
4. Always provide a well-researched response.
5. Demonstrate your worth by how you can save your employer time, or make and save money.
6. If you can't get the salary you wish, negotiate for long-term growth, training, additional vacation days, conference travel, a promotion plan – invest in the future.
   

Even if the negotiation doesn't work out in your favor, it's still a wonderful experience. Always pay special attention to how you are treated during the negotiation process; it's indicative of the workplace culture. If the employer is secretive, disrespectful or cold, just image how they'll treat you once you're on board.

Labels: career savvy, negotiating, salary