The Alumni Magazine for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (WPI)
Issue link: http://wpialumnimag.epubxp.com/i/406282
Fall 2014 11 W π Ice Bucket Challenge Hits Close to Home at WPI President Leshin calls on community to support ALS research; offers hope through science and assistive technology connections G OMPEI THE GOAT, a couple of robots, and WPI's top brass—including President Leshin—put a WPI spin on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in August, enduring a bracing deluge at Reunion Plaza. The fun and raucous cheering was tempered by a personal connection with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Pointing to the Campus Center, which was recently named in honor of Steve Rubin '74, Leshin said, "Our chairman of the board emeritus, Steve Rubin, was diagnosed with ALS a couple of years ago, and has already taken the Ice Bucket Challenge himself. I have already given in honor of Steve, and would ask all of you to do so, as well, to help him manage, and to help others manage this terrible disease." Leshin continued, "The ALS community has a motto: 'Technology is the cure until medicine proves otherwise.' Here at WPI, we're doing groundbreaking research in both the science and technology to help fght diseases like ALS. We're working on fundamental science to help understand the ways to a cure, but in the meantime we're inventing smart technologies." On display was a robotic wheelchair, just one of many assistive devices designed by WPI students and faculty to offer better mobility and independence to people with ALS and other disabilities. Then came the fun. "So, here at WPI we're doing groundbreaking research, and now we're going to do some research on what happens when a robot and a goat conspire to dump an ice bucket on a president," Leshin jested, as WPI's Oryx robot wheeled onto the plaza. Oryx delivered a bucket of ice to Gompei, who then poured the ice into a bucket held by Team 190, the WPI-sponsored robot used to compete in FIRST Robotics events. Leshin grinned through her robot- actuated dousing, while students poured buckets over the members of the administrative staff. Leshin was challenged to take the plunge by assistant professor of biology and biotechnology Jagan Srinivasan, Worcester Mayor Joe Petty, and—through a chain of university presidents—Tom Rosenbaum of Cal Tech, whom she referred to as "perhaps my friend." The Cal Tech challenge came from MIT, by way of Harvard—"company we're proud to be in," Leshin remarked. She then forwarded the challenge to WPI's SGA and GSO presidents, as well as secretary of the faculty John Sullivan.