ACM: The new marketing organization
Once upon a time ACM@UIUC was an engineering group. They did cool projects ranging from vending machines, to computer animation shorts. Now we’re really a marketing group. Sure, there are still some cool projects going on, but it just doesn’t feel like the stories I’ve heard of the past.
This is probably just me being bitter. I’ve been working on posting flyers for events lately, and it seems like every evening there is some sort of information session or tech talk that we’re hosting. There’s no way I even have time to attend all of the events we host, nonetheless organize them. Top4 has been working to try to encourage more project work, but right now I feel like we’re the kings of corporate event advertising. It doesn’t help that I’m involved with CSGSO, which also has corporate events.
February 28th, 2006 at 4:39 pm
Sigh. It’s so true. The sad part is, this is largely a result of everything we’ve done to streamline ACM. Using a word like streamline to describe improving a group of CS geeks drives home the point. We have so much money now, but no hardcore engineering talent that needs or even wants it. Maybe it’s a micro-example of how ingenuity often dies as companies expand and enter the spotlight of public opinion. Boo.
February 28th, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Yeah, I agree. It has a lot to do with the mindset of those who are really active in ACM. Anthony is one of the biggest driving forces right now, and especially earlier in the year, he was very much about recruiting companies. Sameer has taking up that mantel a bit as well. It’s good that they do, or else nothing would get done, we just need more leadership on the engineering side as well.
I think we still have some of that raw talent, it’s just that people aren’t as hard core anymore. Everyone is too busy with school work to do fun things in which they would learn at least as much as in the classroom. Keenan was a great example. He did a lot of cool projects just because he could, but he’s not around much any more. I’m sure as we graduate a new group will step in that will change the entire face of ACM. They’ll spend all the money, but do cool projects, and the cycle will continue…