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Fall 2009 • Volume 15, Issue 4

Car and driver

Do people need an expensive hybrid vehicle just to run errands around town? DR. MARTIN MORRIS ’77 MSME ’79 doesn’t think so, and that’s what drives the projects he has assigned to several teams of Bradley seniors in mechanical engineering over the past four years.

“The goal is to produce a vehicle that is safe, but is as light and energy-efficient as possible,” Morris explains. Using their own research, plus the findings of earlier teams, the 2009 team of eight seniors made significant progress toward reaching the goal. Their lightweight urban vehicle, or LUV, weighs 410 pounds and can travel more than 50 miles on a single charge. Powered by four lithium ion batteries that weigh 135 pounds, the LUV employs regenerative braking. Instead of being lost, regenerative braking recaptures some of the vehicle’s kinetic energy to be transferred back to the batteries. The payoff is better range and mileage for the vehicle.

Team member RYAN FRANEY ’09 estimates that LUVs could be produced in the $3,000 to $5,000 range. Although the three-wheel prototype could be licensed as a motorcycle, the students cautiously tested it in closed parking lots.

Next year’s seniors in mechanical engineering will continue working on a LUV. A top priority will be making the vehicle even lighter. JESSE MABERRY ’65, retired CEO of Aurora Bearing Co., funds the project.

LUV car group By 2012, electric cars will be more prevalent in America, possibly aided by Bradley students’ research. Teams of mechanical engineering majors have been developing prototype vehicles for their senior project. From left, JIM VOELKER, ROBIN FLICK, JUSTIN COYLE, and JACOB ABU-HANNA discuss their 2009 project with Dr. Martin Morris, their professor and adviser. Other team members included RYAN FRANEY (in car), JEREMY OTT, MATT SINGLEY, and BEN WEINDERT.

Body Project, Late Night BU, and professors receive awards

The annual University Conference was held at the Markin Family Student Recreation Center on August 18, marking the first time the event was staged on campus. New faculty and staff were introduced, and several were honored:

Late Night BU

Food and fun events attract students to the Markin Center until 2 a.m. The Late Night BU program is part of Bradley’s Comprehensive Alcohol Awareness Plan, which showed positive outcomes during its first year. The first Late Night BU of the new school year was staged August 23, and hosted nearly 2,000 students. View photos at bradley.edu/hilltopics/
go/latenightbu.

Visit thebodyproject.
bradley.edu to learn more about the Body Project.

Helen Bartlett Award Bartlett awards were presented to two campus projects — the Body Project and Late Night BU. Given every three years, the Bartlett award recognizes a department or unit that has made the most outstanding contributions to Bradley’s commitment to students. The award is named for Helen Bartlett, a Bradley faculty member from 1897 to 1910, who served as dean of women and head of the department of modern languages.

The Body Project was initiated in 2006 by Dr. Jackie Hogan, professor of sociology and the Project’s coordinator, to help members of the Bradley community perceive a positive body image. Since its founding, the Body Project has grown to include an ongoing peer-facilitated education program, a Web site, and programs promoting healthful body practices. Hogan and MELISSA SAGE-BOLLENBACH ’94 MA ’97, director of the Wellness Program, accepted the award for the Women’s Studies and Wellness programs.

The other Bartlett award was presented to the Division of Student Affairs, Campus Recreation, Student Activities, and the Wellness Program for their collaboration on Late Night BU. Late Night BU is part of the Alcohol Action Plan and serves to provide safe, alcohol-free entertainment on the weekends from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The event was held seven times last year, and as many as 900 students attended each time. Each event offered free food and different activities, such as a synthetic skating rink, a petting zoo, and a Velcro® wall. Michelle Whited, director of student activities; LYNDSEY WITHERS ’07 MA ’08, coordinator of alcohol education and awareness programs; Jessica Titus, assistant director of campus recreation; and Sage-Bollenbach accepted the award.

Caterpillar professor Dr. Emily Gill’s Caterpillar professorship was renewed. This honor recognizes the highest level of scholarship among senior faculty, who have the rank of full professor and are tenured. Each professorship is reevaluated for renewal every five years.Gill is a Caterpillar professor of political science.

First Year Faculty Award Dr. Tony Hermann, assistant professor of psychology, was selected based on student evaluations, peer visitation, course innovation, and instructional improvement. He received a Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in 2002. He was an assistant professor at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and a visiting professor at Tokyo International University and Kalamazoo College before coming to Bradley.