'Last Lecture' professor dies at 47

Randy Pausch was not a SigEp, and we missed a good guy there. A professor of Computer Science at Carnegie-Mellon, his "Last Lecture" video and book (the book is listed in the "S&P Recommends" section) were a source of inspiration for many students and teachers - and even those in the 'real world.' Professor Pausch died early Friday at his home in Virginia.

Pausch was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer in September 2006. His popular last lecture at Carnegie Mellon in September 2007 garnered international attention and was viewed by millions on the Internet.

In it, Pausch celebrated living the life he had always dreamed of instead of concentrating on impending death.

"The lecture was for my kids, but if others are finding value in it, that is wonderful," Pausch wrote on his Web site. "But rest assured; I'm hardly unique."
[...]
At Carnegie Mellon, he was a professor of computer science, human-computer interaction and design, and was recognized as a pioneer of virtual reality research. On campus, he became known for his flamboyance and showmanship as a teacher and mentor.

The speech last fall was part of a series Carnegie Mellon called "The Last Lecture," where professors were asked to think about what matters to them most and give a hypothetical final talk. The name of the lecture series was changed to "Journeys" before Pausch spoke, something he joked about in his lecture.

"I thought, damn, I finally nailed the venue and they renamed it," he said.

He told the packed auditorium he fulfilled almost all his childhood dreams -- being in zero gravity, writing an article in the World Book Encyclopedia and working with the Walt Disney Co.

The one that eluded him? Playing in the National Football League.

"If I don't seem as depressed or morose as I should be, sorry to disappoint you," Pausch said.
[...]
"I mean I don't know how to not have fun. I'm dying and I'm having fun. And I'm going to keep having fun every day I have left. Because there's no other way to play it," he said in his Carnegie Mellon lecture. "You just have to decide if you're a Tigger or an Eeyore. I think I'm clear where I stand on the great Tigger/Eeyore debate. Never lose the childlike wonder. It's just too important. It's what drives us."

Well, said. Many of us, myself included, spend far too much time being Eeyore. I think I'll try to be more Tigger from now on.

Oh, yeah, here is the Lecture Video:


'Last Lecture' professor dies at 47 - CNN.com

UI Sig Ep in Critical Condition with Meningitis

Meningitis Latest
Reported by: Amanda Evans/ WCIA 3 News

CHAMPAIGN- We know that one victim was vaccinated... Before she came down with what can be a deadly disease. She is now recovering.

The other victim is in critical condition. The university is looking into that. But we do know tonight.. that the victims are both members of the Greek community.

Doctors were at the Sigma Phi Epsilon house today investigating this latest case. That victim is a recent UI graduate who is a fraternity member there. The people we talked to weren't sure if the victim was vaccinated.

We do know that the first victim was. An Alpha Phi sorority sister says she was vaccinated before coming down with meningitis.

And that's what has doctors concerned because the vaccination can't protect against all types of meningitis. Robert D. Palinkas, MD, McKinley Health Director, " We are not actually pushing the vaccine as an immediate response right now because we are not sure that it would have any type of protective effect and certainly it's effect takes about a month to prevent."

What doctors are doing finding the people who have been in contact with those infected and getting them on an anti-biotic. And the university has plastered campus with flyers warning students to protect themselves.

This couldn't happen at a worse time for the university. . It's hard to keep germs from spreading with that many students crammed on campus for "unofficial saint Patrick's" starting Friday, not to mention students sharing drinks and kissing. Doctors begging students to play it safe this weekend because even though they've been vaccinated it may not do any good

Earlier Post
A Recent University of Illinois graduate is fighting for life just one day after being hospitalized with meningitis. It's the second case to hit campus in just one week.

Now school officials want to protect other students from spreading this potentially fatal disease.

The challenge now is to find out if the two cases are related and make sure the disease doesn't spread any further.

That's why campus officials are hitting the streets posting flyers and posters to get the word out: Don't share drinks. Don't share toothbrushes, lipstick or anything else that has been near someone else's mouth.

They won't to keep students protected because right now, doctors have not ruled out the two cases could be related.

"Obviously in everybody's mind that would be a reasonable concern and they're related in the sense that they have occurred in our campus community and I think that's a relationship we can not ignore," said Dr. Robert Palinkas.

He says we may never know for sure if the cases are connected. So your best way to stay safe is to play it safe. If you have a high fever, headache and stiff neck, you should see a doctor immediately.