News in Brief
Penn State Intercom......July 26, 2001

International hospitality

This August, about 1,100 international newcomers will arrive at University Park, some with their families, to live and study. The International Hospitality Council, a nonprofit town/gown organization that is supported by community volunteers, the University Office of International Students and the Centre County United Way, has several programs that provide friendship and support to these individuals.

The council invites faculty and staff participation in these programs. In the International Friendship Program, local residents acting as "host families" are matched with international newcomers for a semester or longer; hosts help orient their international guest to life here by sharing an occasional meal or outing, and by offering friendship and support. In the Conversation Partners Program, locals are matched to an international to provide help with conversational English and cultural adjustment.

For more information about volunteering for one of these programs, call the council at (814) 863-3927, e-mail ihc@ip.psu.edu, or visit the council's office in 222 Boucke Building on the University Park campus.

Broadband security research

An Information Sciences and Technology professor is doing academic research on broadband security.

Galen A. Grimes, who teaches at Penn State McKeesport, is looking for statistical data on what types of attacks are launched against users with broadband Internet connections and on what types of firewalls users have installed. He has set up a Web site -- http://www.mk.psu.edu/faculty/grimes/research/research.htm -- explaining the nature of his research. Users can get information there on sending their log files, which would expedite his research.

Vanpool

Terry is looking for riders from the Tyrone area to van pool. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (814) 863-7816 or (814) 684-0252.

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