BITS Herald August Issue 2007

7/28/2019 BITS Herald August Issue 2007

1/8

[VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1] [SEPTEMBER 14, 2007]

ELECTIONS 2007-08

The elections for the Council of Stu-

dent Affairs (2007-2008) were con-ducted on the 1st of September this

year. An unprecedented total of thir-

teen students contested for the four

major posts, leading to a very inter-

esting and chaotic audi debate.

As usual, there were promises galore

- most of which we have heard time

and again. There were a few that

elicited chuckles like the infamous

Gang of Girls concept. And then

there were some downright desperate

ones like the proposal to increase the

number of movies screened (point to

be noted: the Movie Club is inde-

pendent of the CSA).

The elections went very smoothlythanks to the outstanding efforts by

the software developers - Abhishek

Kumar, Shubham Malhotra and Gau-

rav Paruthi and the Election Com-

mission. The results were announced

on the day of the voting itself. The

newly elected CSA members are:

V. G. Kamalesh President

Bala Tarun Nelapatla Vice Presi-

dent

Vinod K Kommineni TreasurerNaga Hareesh Talluri General

Secretary

Elections in BPGC, for some reason,

have always been controversial. Like

in the previous years, this years

elections too had their fair share of

brow raising moments.

The Election Commission initially

barred all those who have been under

the scan of the Disciplinary Commit-

tee, at any point of time, from contest-

ing. This rule had to be revoked be-

cause the DC itself bars students fromcontesting for only one year. The

CGPA cut-off was fixed at 5.5. De-

spite voracious pleas to modify this

rule and even a signature campaign by

some students, the Election Commis-sion did not change its stance.

Unlike last year, all hostels were al-

lowed only one representative each

for cultural activities, sports, mainte-nance and the mess, irrespective of

their composition. This restriction wasprotested against, but to no avail. In

hostels where students from different

batches reside together, the juniors

were allegedly requested to step

aside by the seniors.

Earlier, there was a stir when two stu-

dent members quit the EC in protest

of the manner in which a certain fac-

ulty member was interfering in their

work and the functioning of the Com-

mission.

All said and done, we at the English

Press Club would like to wish the new

Council of Student Affairs good luck

in all its endeavors.

INSIDE

EDITORIAL 2

TETE-A-TETE WITH 3

SAMSUNG

PLACEMENT 4

FEVER

BATTLE OF 5

THE MESSES

COMPLAINT BOX 5

FRESHERS 6

DAY OUT

TIDBITS 7

WEEKEND 8

DESTINATION -

AMBOLI

BOOK REVIEW 8

- HP 7

THE BITS HERALDAn English Press Club Publication


2/8

[THE BITS HERALD] [VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1] [SEPTEMBER 14, 2007]

FROM THE EDITORS DESK

A common phenomenon witnessed in our campus, at the beginning of every year, is

the creation of new clubs. This of course, is accompanied by the renewal of old

(defunct) ones.

We have clubs for almost every kind of activity ranging from various performing arts

to software development. Sometimes, there are two registered clubs doing essentially

the same thing.

Most clubs begin the new year by inducting new members through an induction proc-

ess. In some cases auditions are held and people are selected based on their perform-

ance. They also rope in people based on past experience. Notices are put up. Meetings

are conducted. All in all, there is plenty of enthusiasm to spare.

Fast-forward to a few days before the Test-I. The meetings stop and suddenly every-

thing comes to a standstill. The club and all its activities are not just kept aside but for-gotten. This continues till the end of the semester and sometimes, the year. The clubs

simply become dormant till they are renewed the following year. The renewal some-

times involves a lot of politics with power changing hands and even experienced mem-

bers asked to prove themselves again. Transparency in functioning is lost.

This bleak scenario, however, isnt the case with all the clubs. Some of them have

shown a lot more dedication to their cause. And they have done a commendable job.

Also, this year, some of the older clubs have begun to show signs of responsibility and

are working more professionally than before. So maybe we have reason to be optimis-

tic and look forward to change, this year.

The departmental associations too, often lie dormant. While they have done remarka-bly well in coming up with innovative names, logos and T-Shirt designs, not much

has been seen yet of their technical prowess. The shoddy state of stalls during QUARK

07 and lack of funds for research projects stand testimony to this.

Here too, there is a glimmer of hope. The CSA, this year, is taking departmental asso-

ciations quite seriously. Their first step will be to introduce a common structure for all

of them. The powers and the duties of the leading members will be clearly defined,

thus clearing up the prevalent chaos.

The recent weeks have also seen a lot of regional clubs getting together. This is wel-

come as long as it is in good taste. Regional clubs should serve the purpose of creating

awareness about different cultures and integrating them into a whole rather than justbeing language based conglomerations where regionalism can raise its ugly head.

Extra-curricular activities are as much an important part of a collegians life as are aca-

demics. They are a reflection of smart time management by a person and also serve to

hone his skills in his field of interest. We can only hope that this year, the clubs and

associations work actively in co-ordination with each other and the CSA, to come up

with quality events and activities aimed at making life better for all of us.

The Edit Team:

Krishna B (Ed)

Tanaya S (Ed)

Gowri Thampi

Ankur Kumar

Khushboo S

Megha G

Karunya M

Asmita N

Raleno P

Suramya MG. Srikanth

Sanjana Devaki

B. Pavan Gopal

Anurag Sharma

Design Team

Interview Team

Sponsorship

Team

Coordinators:

Vivek Kumar G

Ankit Goyal

Pratik

Mandrekar

Faculty

Coordinator:

Dr. Joy

Anuradha

Contacts:

epc@bits-

goa.ac.in


3/8

TETE-A-TETE WITH SAMSUNG


Samsung India Software Cen-

tre, Noida, visited our campuson 1st September to recruit stu-

dents from our college. They

selected four students for their

R&D centre. We spoke to Arun,

Jyoti and Saravana from Sam-

sung on what qualities they

looked for in the students and

how did they find the placement

process at our campus.

EPC: What are the skills you are

looking for in the students?S: The student should have ex-

cellent C programming and ana-

lytical skills and should be com-

pletely thorough in digital elec-tronics and microprocessors. We

may also take students interested

in VLSI a few years down the

line.

EPC: What selection procedure

did you adopt?

S: We first distributed a Power-Point presentation which had all

the information required aboutour company. A written aptitude

test of 1 hour duration was con-

ducted. The scores of this test

were sent to Samsung headquar-

ters in Korea. The short-listed

candidates were then called for a

technical and HR interview.

EPC: How relevant is the CGPA

of a candidate? How much im-portance is given to extra-

curricular activities?

S: CGPA is a reflection of a stu-

dents academic performance, so

it is a fair indication of his stand-

ing among his peers. In our se-

lection test, the short-listing was

done only on the basis of the re-

sult of the aptitude test. Also, we

are looking for not just engineers

with sound technical knowledge,

but also people with good com-

munication and team-buildingskills. So extra-curricular activi-

ties play an important role in the

HR interview.

EPC: How are important are the

projects done by the students?

S: The projects are definitely im-

portant as they show the area of

interest and specialization of the

students.

EPC: Can we see Samsung be-coming a PS-2 station in the near

future?

S: Its a bit difficult because ours

is basically an R&D centre with

specific focus on Samsung prod-

ucts. So we might have to share

codes and design patterns which

otherwise give us a competitive

edge over others.

EPC: Have you been to Pilani

campus? How was your experi-ence here?

S: We havent been to the Pilani

campus till now. There was some

problem of clashing of dates at

Pilani. We were informed by the

Placement Unit at Pilani about the

Goa campus. So we decided to

come here first. The experience

was good. The fact that 4 stu-

dents have been selected showsthis. The selection procedure is

solely based on a students per-

formance. Its a standard proce-dure for any campus. So it is

not really dependant on the

reputation or the history of a

particular campus.

EPC: What kind of skills do

you impart to the students in the

training period?

S: The training is of 2 months

duration during which the stu-

dents are briefed on their role in

the organization and technicalseminars to boost their knowl-

edge. During the on-job train-

ing, the students are put in ac-

tual teams and assigned tasks

which is a part of our team

building exercise.

EPC: Anything else you want

to tell us?

S: Since only half of the stu-

dents are at campus in one se-

mester, the companies have tocome twice. It is not very con-

venient for the companies to

schedule a visit in every semes-

ter. It is better if all the students

are together.


4/8

[THE BITS HERALD] [VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1] [SEPTEMBER 14,2007]

PLACEMENT FEVER

Microsoft, Yahoo, NVIDIA, Na-

tional Instruments, John DeereThese are some of the big names

that visited the campus during

placements. The preparations for

the placements had begun way

back in June with Harisudan as

the student coordinator working

on the placement website. A num-

ber of students also volunteered

and helped in the process. A total

of 36 companies visited the cam-

pus. Most of them were software

and IT companies (popularlyknown as bus companies). This

led to a lot of disappointment

among the non-CS/IS students as

many of them hoped to get placed

in core companies.

The placement had started off

with NVIDIA taking in 2 students

after much deliberation. Yahoo,whose arrival was postponed, also

roped in 2 students for a cool pay

package. It also made an offer to

one student who was doing his

PS-2 at its branch. The biggestsuccess, however, was Microsoft -

which generally takes in 1 or 2

people - recruiting as many as 7

students from our college. Ten

students were short-listed based

on an aptitude test (quantitative

aptitude, logical reasoning anddata interpretation) and a techni-

cal test (C/C++ programming,

operating system and database

management). Two rounds of

technical and HR interviews

were held for these candidates.

Subsequently, after a telephonic

interview from Hyderabad, seven

of them were selected.

Sadly, the bus companies took a

large chunk of the students. Thiswas probably because very few

core companies were present.

John Deeres and Essars partici-

pation was a much needed relief

for the mechanical and chemical

engineering students. Fiorano,

Aricent and Exeter brought cheer

to EEE and EnI students.

Some questions still remain un-

answered in the minds of stu-

dents Why 80 companies at

Pilani while only 36 here? Why

has ST Microelectronics indefi-

nitely postponed its arrival?

Why have companies like Info-

sys and Wipro selected very

few students and also made last

minute change in their offered

pay package? Why did CosmicCircuits go back empty handed?

And the list goes on

A letter signed by all the stu-

dents was sent to the VC appris-

ing him of the placement sce-

nario at Goa campus. It is hoped

that advanced preparation, bet-

ter management and proper co-

ordination with the placement

unit at Pilani will surely im-

prove the situation by the timethe next round starts in January.

Once bitten twice shy, as they

say.


5/8


BATTLE OF THE MESSES

Many students prayers were an-

swered this year, when the mess

contractor Mr. Atish Raiker was

replaced in DH-C by Food King

owned by Sarath Babu, former

Bitsian and IIM-A graduate.

The change has evoked a mixed

response. Some find Food King

better; some dont, while of

course, there are many others

who simply do not care. All said,

healthy competition between the

two is always welcome.

A 15-day trial of each mess

helped us decide which food we

like best (dislike least??). After

this month, students now have an

opportunity to opt for either of

the two messes. The maximum

number of people eating in anyone mess, however, will be re-

stricted to 60% of the total.

Those who do not get to eat in

the mess of their choice in the

first half of the semester will be

given priority in the second.

The plan is to ensure that nei-

ther of the dining halls gets

overcrowded.

This system, however, is far

from flawless. Most studentswill have to eat in a mess they

dont prefer, for over half the

semester. And if more than 60%

opt for any one mess, there will

be a few who will get to eat

there for the entire semester. On

what criteria will these few be

chosen? What about the good

number of students who prefer

opting out of the mess? These

are a few questions left unan-

swered

COMPLAINT BOX

With little heed being given to most of students woes, some students believe resorting to humour is the

best way to bring attention to their problems. Here we have some complaints laced with hints of sar-

casm. All of them have been picked up from the hostel complaint registers.

No need for rock music; my fan makes more noise.

Too many ants on the table for no apparent reason.

No hot water from the geyser and no cool water from the cooler at FT3. (Guess they cancel

each other out Eds. :D)

Perennial water problem: More water is available outside the hostel due to the rain!!

Gate-bandh at 11:30: We want freedom!!

Water is leaking from the ceiling. Please act quickly before the room fills up and I drown.

Is anyone listening???

Schedule for today?? No Breakfast, lunch at Atishs, snacks at

Monginis and dinner at Food Kings


6/8


FRESHERS DAY OUT By Anurag Sharma

It was nearly 4.00 a.m. and I rubbed my left forearm again, in vain attempt to ease the "satisfying

pain", still originating from the self inflicted wound. I had nearly pinched away my arm during the

course of last 24 hours, just to ensure that I was not dreaming...I had arrived a day prior to the "admission day" and had ample opportunity to voraciously devour

(with my eyes of course!!) my campus, more so with the Rain GOD sparing me that day.

After the short journey from the airport, the campus rose before our eyes (me and my father) from

NH17-B much like what Hogwarts did for Harry, grand, graceful, green and gorgeous. After securing

a hostel room for me, we took a self tour of the campus and were for the most of our journey, either

open-mouthed with air or beaming happily. The grandeur of the campus lay before us in its full might

and it was with reluctance that we finally called it a night.

The "admission day" was even more exhilarating (and exhausting!!). Hundreds of students, moving

through the corridors, breathed life into the walls. I had butterflies in my stomach; I felt like a child

being introduced to his new playhouse (though I was aware that B.E.(Hons) CS was no play !!) and atthe same time confused with the varied discussions about placements, preferences, faculty...which I

couldn't help but hear from the throngs of anxious parents who had collected. Nevertheless, once I

got my admission slip (after standing an hour in line!!), a sense of joy, relief and exhaustion swept

through me -- I was finally a BITSIAN. For the institute it was just another student, but to me it was

everything

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minute, single tooth X ray among a host of other services.

We keep you smiling for life!

(Please bring this AD along to avail our benefits)
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


7/8


T I D B I T S

EPSILON 07

Epsilon is an intra-college B-Plan competition conducted annu-

ally in BITS-Pilani. This year, thanks to the efforts of the Centre

for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL), our college has been in-

vited to participate.

Around 20 teams each from Goa and Pilani, each team having 3-

6 members, will be selected for the first round. Over a span of

one month, b-plan workshops will be held for these teams to put

their rough ideas into a more polished form. Basic introductory

lectures on business overviews, marketing, finance, etc will be

conducted. They will then have to submit their final proposal, on

the basis of which, six teams will be short-listed.

The short-listed teams will undergo one month of mentorship.Finally, three teams will then be elected winners. They will get a

direct entry into Conquest, the prestigious B-plan competition

organized annually by BITS, Pilani.

NUS - BINGO

The last week of July, 2007,

marked the first ever visit by

the entrepreneurship cell of a

foreign university to OUR

college. Students members of

the Business Incubation of

G l o b a l O r g a n i z a t i o n s

(BINGO) at National Univer-

sity of Singapore (NUS),

spent a day at our campus to

get an insight into the univer-

sitys entrepreneurial activi-

ties.

ELECTIONS IN PILANI

Elections at the Pilani campus were also held on September 1st.

The results:

President CH HARI KRISHNA REDDY

General Secretary KAMATH ARJUN P. (Goa Board Topper)

GEARING UP FOR THE

FESTS

Preparation for both, Waves

and Quark, has already begun

this year. The Spons Club and

The Publicity Club have al-

ready begun work and it is

believed that the remaining

clubs will be formed soon.This year, both the festivals

are expected to be much

grander than their previous

editions. Sounds good to us...

NEW CLUBS

"The Wall Street Club" has

been started in associationwith an identical club in

BITS-Pilani. It aims to con-

duct lectures about stockmarket trading.

The Electronics and Ro-

botics Club aims to teachrobotics to those interested.

YES!!

Youth Empowerment Seminar, a course conducted by The Art

of Living, is proposed to begin in the first week of October. It

aims to provide a platform for students to help them discover

and put to use hidden potential.

C

A

R

T

O

O

N C

O

R

N

E

RAll 3: Ill have the eleven o clock rule removed. Ill


8/8


WEEKEND DESTINATION - AMBOLI

Amboli is a beautiful hill station located at an alti-

tude of 690m, in the Western Ghats. Though it isin Maharashtra, it is a very popular holiday desti-

nation among the people of Goa (including Bit-

sians). This is due to its proximity to the state.

This charming hill station is a 160 km drive from

BITS Pilani, Goa Campus.

At this time of the year, the place is dotted with

numerous waterfalls and a wide variety of flora

and fauna. Bathing in these little waterfalls, high

up on the mountain slopes, is a truly rejuvenating

experience. One cannot but stare awestruck at the

breathtaking views encountered en route to the hill

station.There are numerous roadside eating joints which

offer the traditional Malvanni (Coastal Ma-

harashtrian) food among other cuisines. Places to

visit include Sunset Point & Hiranyakeshi Tem-

ple. One can also go bird watching and trekking.

Amboli can be most easily reached by taxi al-

though buses also go there.

It is an ideal place to break away from the hectic

Bitsian life and chill out with the clouds

BOOK REVIEW - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The wait is finally over for millions of eager fans.

The seventh and final installment of J. K. Rowl-

ing's "spell"-binding series, Harry Potter, is here.

And what a grand finale it is. With a delicately

woven story, iron-clad plot, and magic that only

Rowling can create, this book has not failed to

deliver.

The reader clings on as Harry takes on the task

that Professor Dumbledore has set him - to find

and destroy all of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes

and to kill the Dark Lord. With the help of his

friends Ron and Hermione, and a few clues Dum-

bledore has left him, Harry embarks upon thisdark and difficult journey.

Meanwhile the wizard world is sunk in terror, and

the Ministry of Magic has been infiltrated by the

Death eaters (Lord Voldermort's followers). With

Dumbledore dead and the Order of the Phoenix

greatly outnumbered, people look to Harry Potter

as a symbol of courage and consider him to be the

"Chosen One" to end this terror.

As Harry goes about his seemingly impossible task,

three mysterious objects, christened the "Hallows",

take centre stage and become as significant to the

story as the Horcruxes themselves.

The book ties together many loose ends, and leaves

the reader satisfied, yet intrigued by the beauty of

the plot. Rowling touches upon many moral issues

like the importance of friendship, courage and self-

sacrifice.

Now that the final book has been released, and with

no more Harry Potter adventures to look forward to,

there is a definite disappointment among readers.

But one thing's certain; Harry Potter has cast a spell

so strong that he wont be forgotten among his fans

any time soon.

Documents

BITS Herald August Issue 2007