Posted by Chris, Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monster, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.
Posted on 3/16/99 7:45 AM MST
I hate being picky, and hate when people are picky, but I’m going against my better judgement in making this post. The reason is to correct one of the most misunderstood words I’ve ever heard. Here is what I mean (sorry if I sound critical):
Alumnus : singular; just like octopus, cactus, etc.
Alumni: plural; just like octopi, cacti, etc.
It’s amazing that most college graduates don’t realize this (and you figure since those words apply to them, they would get it right).
Please don’t think of me as being critical. Instead, try to think of this message as increasing your awareness so that everyone knows the proper term and we don’t embarass ourselves in front of important people in the future. You know what they say, the sure way to fall out of favor in an interview is to use poor language.
Posted by Dodd Stacy, Engineer on team #95, Lebanon Robotics Team, from Lebanon High School and CRREL/CREARE.
Posted on 3/16/99 1:46 PM MST
In Reply to: Proper Words posted by Chris on 3/16/99 7:45 AM MST:
Chris,
You might consider adding Alumna, singular, and Alumnae, plural, to be gender inclusive. How are the females ever going to feel welcome in the world of engineering? I hate to be picky, too, but we know what happens when we are. Next?
Posted by Chris, Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monster, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.
Posted on 3/17/99 6:10 AM MST
In Reply to: Don’t Forget the Ladies posted by Dodd Stacy on 3/16/99 1:46 PM MST:
I actually thought of that – after I made the first post. A big Oops on my part (I should be ashamed). Thanks for bringing it up.
: Chris,
: You might consider adding Alumna, singular, and Alumnae, plural, to be gender inclusive. How are the females ever going to feel welcome in the world of engineering? I hate to be picky, too, but we know what happens when we are. Next?
Posted by Joe Johnson, Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 3/16/99 5:47 PM MST
In Reply to: Proper Words posted by Chris on 3/16/99 7:45 AM MST:
Okay I think I’ve got a handle on this thing.
I went to the Univerisity of Illinios at Champaign-Urbana.
As you may or may not know, the nick name of my alma mater is “the Fighting Illini”
So… If I understand you correctly, then when my college buddies and I get together for a reunion, we are Illini Alumni, but I by myself am an Illinus Alumnus.
Right?
Joe J.
Posted by Raul, Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.
Posted on 3/17/99 5:27 AM MST
In Reply to: I think I’ve got it 
posted by Joe Johnson on 3/16/99 5:47 PM MST:
Joe, I thought you said before that you went to Purdue? Or, did you go to both?
Raul
: Okay I think I’ve got a handle on this thing.
: I went to the Univerisity of Illinios at Champaign-Urbana.
: As you may or may not know, the nick name of my alma mater is “the Fighting Illini”
: So… If I understand you correctly, then when my college buddies and I get together for a reunion, we are Illini Alumni, but I by myself am an Illinus Alumnus.
: Right?
: Joe J.
Posted by Joe Johnson, Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 3/17/99 6:40 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: I think I’ve got it posted by Raul on 3/17/99 5:27 AM MST:
Raul,
I claim both Purdue and Illinois as my alma maters.
I spent 4 happy undergrad years at Illinois.
I spent 4 1/2 years (~3 happy and ~1.5 miserable as a Purdue grad student.3 happy years as a grad student.
I think that I made the trip in the right direction.
Illinois was a great and free place to be an undergrad. Highly recommended.
Purdue is a grad degree factory. You can only truly appreciate it when you are really there, but it was wonderful to be at a school where a) grad students are not let in unless they are expected to graduate with a degree in a reasonable timeframe and b) there is a sort of peer pressure among profs that they owe it to their students to make sure that they get their degree.
I cannot say enough good things about Purdue as a place to get an advanced degree.
Anyone thinking about places to go for an M.S. or Ph.D in engineering, I’d love to talk to you about it. Seriously, you would be hard pressed to find a better place to go than Purdue.
Joe J.
Posted by Raul, Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.
Posted on 3/17/99 9:46 PM MST
In Reply to: Boilermaker & Illini posted by Joe Johnson on 3/17/99 6:40 PM MST:
Cool. I can claim the same but in reverse. Undergrad at Purdue, Grad at Illinois. I agree on your claims for their excellence.
Raul
: Raul,
: I claim both Purdue and Illinois as my alma maters.
: I spent 4 happy undergrad years at Illinois.
: I spent 4 1/2 years (~3 happy and ~1.5 miserable as a Purdue grad student.3 happy years as a grad student.
: I think that I made the trip in the right direction.
: Illinois was a great and free place to be an undergrad. Highly recommended.
: Purdue is a grad degree factory. You can only truly appreciate it when you are really there, but it was wonderful to be at a school where a) grad students are not let in unless they are expected to graduate with a degree in a reasonable timeframe and b) there is a sort of peer pressure among profs that they owe it to their students to make sure that they get their degree.
: I cannot say enough good things about Purdue as a place to get an advanced degree.
: Anyone thinking about places to go for an M.S. or Ph.D in engineering, I’d love to talk to you about it. Seriously, you would be hard pressed to find a better place to go than Purdue.
: Joe J.
Posted by Susanne Krussell, Coach on team #163, The Quantum Mechanics, from International Academy and Quantum Consultants/Eaton/ITT.
Posted on 3/16/99 6:51 PM MST
In Reply to: Proper Words posted by Chris on 3/16/99 7:45 AM MST:
Okay People,
Amumni is male in gender, Latin, meaning “brought up in the camp”, and “the young of the flock”.
Alumna is female in gender. Usually ignored. So, if you’re going to be bugged by it, how about
a non-gender newish word…alum (singular) or alums (plural), eh?
Susanne Krussell #163 The Quantum Mechanics
Posted by Jerry Eckert, Engineer on team #140 from Tyngsboro, MA High School and New England Prototype/Brooks Automation.
Posted on 3/16/99 10:51 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: Proper Words posted by Susanne Krussell on 3/16/99 6:51 PM MST:
: Okay People,
: Amumni is male in gender, Latin, meaning “brought up in the camp”, and “the young of the flock”.
: Alumna is female in gender. Usually ignored. So, if you’re going to be bugged by it, how about
: a non-gender newish word…alum (singular) or alums (plural), eh?
: Susanne Krussell #163 The Quantum Mechanics
How about using the neuter gender (alumnum (sing)/alumna (pl))?