Anya Rosentreter – Page 14 – Seidenberg School News

Seidenberg’s Assistant Professor of Information Systems, Darren Hayes, Featured in E-Commerce Times Article

21 September 2013:

“RSA Warns Customers Off Suspected NSA-Tainted Crypto Tools”

In the article linked to above, Seidenberg professor Darren Hayes speaks to the ECT News Network about complications between technologies and security protocols. The topic has been heavily circulated in the media and through academia since humanity’s pronounced dependance on technology and even more so since the recent events concerning the NSA, national security, and privacy of US Citizens. The specific technology discussed in the article is the Dual Elliptic Curve Deterministic Random Bit Generator (Dual_EC_DRBG).

“The Dual_EC_DRBG is a PRNG [pseudorandom number generator] based on the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem, the idea being that finding the discrete logarithm of a random elliptic curve element with respect to a publicly known base point is not feasible. The bigger the elliptic curve, the more difficult it is to find that discrete log.

The problem is that there is a backdoor in the NIST SP800-90 Dual-EC-PRNG standard. This was first discovered by Microsoft researchers Dan Shumow and Niels Ferguson, who discussed their findings at a Crypto 2007 rump session.”

Hayes works alongside many projects in technological cryptology and security and these issues often present themselves as fruitful topics of debate across the globe.

Dual_EC_DRBG or Dual Elliptic Curve Deterministic Random Bit Generator

Computer Science Grads Take On High Starting Salaries

Good news for Seidenberg’s graduating Class of 2013 – a new salary survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has revealed that Computer Science majors can expect a higher starting salary than last year’s graduating class. The increase is an impressive 3.1 percent, making the average starting salary $64,100.

According to the survey, the average salary for Class of 2013 graduates across all disciplines (Business, Communications, Computer Science, Education, Engineering, Humanities & Social Sciences and Math & Sciences) is $45,327, with Computer Science being the third highest paid after Business and Communications. So Computer Science majors going into graduate employment can expect to earn a whopping $20k above the average.
The prospect of receiving a higher starting salary applies to graduates who majored specifically in Computer Science. Other majors in the Computer Science discipline, such as Information Sciences & Systems, didn’t see an increase – but with an average starting salary of $55,200, it’s still a respectable figure well above the average for all disciplines.

Even though 2013 has been a golden year for Computer Science salaries, the different needs of the market mean that next year could be the winner for your major: between 2009 and 2010, the average starting salary for Information Sciences & Systems graduates leapt up by $3,000! So let’s keep working toward our degrees – Seidenberg students are in a great position for a good starting salary, no matter what.

First Week Back to School

We are officially into the Fall 2013 semester of class. This post is to recap all the things that are going on around NYC and Pace for you to enjoy before classes get serious.
First off, it’s Broadway Week for anyone interested in seeing some excellent performances. Broadway Week means all shows are doing a 2 for 1 ticket deal, but it only lasts until the end of the week! Seats are disappearing fast, so grab some before they’re gone!

From left to right, Dr. Richard Kline, Dr. Christelle Scharff, Kalevi Ekman, Dean Amar Gupta, Dr. Jonathan Hill, and professor Bryn Haffey all stand together, prepared for Fall 2013.

Quick note on classes that you may have been to that you’re already dreading. Our advice: drop them and substitute another. You have a few weeks to do this without penalty or before you miss too many hours of the class you may switch into. If you don’t like a professor or the syllabus makes the upcoming weeks seem dreary abort the mission. It’s not worth your time and effort to suffer through terrible classes and there are enough options available for you to switch without mussing your schedule. College is meant to be flexible and enjoyable. Some classes you will eventually have suffer through, but at least ease your pain by waiting until a decent professor comes along.

In Seidenberg news, the Finns have struck again. If you haven’t met our partners from Aalto University (including Peter Tapio who was here during the Summer Scholars Experience), they’ve been around for the last few days and leave this evening, unfortunately. They will be back eventually, so catch them while they are around. They are all a wonderful resource available to learn about project development in many fields.

The aforementioned workshop with Kalevi Ekman was a delightful afternoon. Photos from the event and a video that showcases Kalevi’s lessons on design will be available for viewing on Thursday. He himself is another one of our Finnish partners, also a head professor for the PDP (Product Development Project) program that Seidenberg takes part in. This program is an incredible opportunity for students and also gives students involved the chance to visit Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland.

Lastly, don’t forget that Computing Society meets on Wednesdays and there will be free pizza, just so ya’ know.

Seidenberg Survival Strategies for Freshmen, Part 3

Classes have officially begun, so you might be feeling some of that stress underneath the excitement of starting college. If so, we have more survival tips for your sake. If you’re just now catching on to this trendy survival guide, follow these links to Part 1 and Part 2. And now, without further ado, strategy number 5:

5. G E T T H R I F T Y W I T H T E X T B O O K S

Something you will notice when classes start is that 1) you’re already late on ordering textbooks 2) wow, there are a lot more books to buy than you expected and 3) these books are hella expensive. Instead of ignoring the issue altogether and not ordering books at all (thus creating a larger issue due to the fact that you will need books at some point)*, dig around a little before buying your books from the campus bookstore (sorry, Barnes and Noble). The designated campus bookstore, no matter which school you’re going to, has, can, does, and always will gyp you on book prices. Sure you can sell it back at the end of the semester….for about 2% of what you paid. An easier way to go about book buying is to Google the ISBN number you’ve been given and compare prices. Most often Chegg and Amazon have the best deals on text books. Used books are a godsend and free shipping is easy to come by if you (or a friend) have Amazon Prime (students can get a free 6 month trial, by the way).

Another thing to remember when it comes to saving on textbooks is that older students are probably eager to get rid of books they don’t need anymore. Check out forums or groups online (you’ll find most of those on Facebook these days) to see if anyone has made a post saying they have books for sale. If you can’t find the books you need in other posts, make your own post saying which books you’re looking to buy. This can be a little less reliable, but it’ll probably be the cheapest way when things work out.

* There are times when you will be told to buy a book for a class, but the professor will never mention it again and you will never need it. This usually happens in Gen-Ed/Core classes that everyone must take. Those classes will have an automated system that posts which books are needed, whether or not the professor intends to use them. For these classes, we suggest waiting until you have a syllabus or asking around about the professor you have to see if you’ll be needing the book. Nothing hurts the wallet more than buying a book you’ll never crack, especially when you realize it too late and the book store buys it back for 5$.

6. S A F E T Y

Last but not least, no one wants you to die during your freshman year. Okay, death does not happen all that often, but there are ways to avoid stupid mistakes that could injure or maim yourself and others. NYC is a place that does not cater to the careless or hesitant and keeping a keen eye on your surroundings is essential. First of all, traffic here is unrelenting. Cars, bikers, and pedestrians all think the city revolves around them and in their hasty lifestyles, they do not have time to short-stop each time someone isn’t paying attention. Anticipate the traffic around you to avoid collisions.

Another unavoidable issue for Freshmen is substance abuse. Everyone is exposed to the experimental environment that is Freshman Year of College. If you’re participating, take it little by little. There have been many cases where freshmen try too many things in too little time and their bodies cannot handle it, if you get the drift, here.

NYC is also home to many people who will nick your belongings if you’re not being careful. The issue is blown out of proportion by the media and non-New Yorkers, yes, but it does happen often enough to still be a problem. Some people still go as far as keeping two wallets with them, one empty and one with their necessities. This way, any pickpockets or thieves are likely to take an empty wallet, which is definitely preferable to having all your cards and money stolen. We believe the most important thing is to have caution in crowded areas. Any pickpockets are going to have their eyes on people on the other side of a crowded train, or in front of them on a crowded sidewalk. In the rush that accompanies a large crowd, pickpockets have it easy if you’re not careful. Headphones will make you an easier target. Sunglasses will make you a more difficult target. But overall, being alert is going to be the most effective protection against theft.

This list could go on and on, but the semester has started and you’ll be learning so many new things that only these essentials will be necessary to learn. Hopefully you are all able to wean some sort of wisdom from those of us who have experienced Freshman year and made it out alive and well with good grades and good friends. Most of all we wish you luck with these first few months of the rest of your lives.

Upcoming Workshop for ‘Design Thinking in Higher Education’ to be Led by Kalevi Ekman

“Professor Kalevi Ekman, director of the world-renowned Design Factory at Aalto University, will conduct a workshop on Design Thinking in Higher Education on Friday, September 6, 2013 at the Seidenberg School, at Pace University, 163 William Street, room 236 from 11:00 – 2:30 PM.

The essence of Design Factory is its unique blend of creative, meeting, and social spaces. Design Factory also hosts research projects for industry and nurtures start-up companies in the adjacent ‘Venture Garage’. Aligning the needs of students and industry, Professor Ekman is a leading expert on combining university and corporate resources to create meaningful experiential learning opportunities for students and faculty.”

Finland’s eye for design in educational settings stands out from the rest of the world. Their education systems are internationally renown for being the best; could their designs for educational settings be a major factor in the quality of learning? It is not absurd to think so. Find out for yourself by attending Ekman’s workshop. Space is limited, so reserve a seat via the Eventbrite page.

Aalto University is one that Seidenberg has been partnered with in recent years and one that, on it’s own, stands at the forefront of innovation in technology, design, and much more. Having this relationship with Aalto is highly beneficial for the Seidenberg community and these seminars are a treat to be celebrated. We welcome Professor Ekman and eagerly await next Friday’s workshop!

Seidenberg Survival Strategies for Freshmen: Part 2

In case you missed Part 1 of our Survival guide, have no fear. You can find it here.
If you’re still anxious about starting college, and need more survival strategies, please help yourself to the next few tips for an excellent start to your college career.

3. F I N D S U P P O R T I V E F R I E N D S

One of the most stress inducing factors of starting over in a new place is finding the right friends. In college, however, friends come easily enough in the first few weeks. You’ll always find someone to partner up with while no one knows anyone else. These friendships can be helpful for getting you through the first few weeks, but once everyone starts settling into their niches, those friends might not hang around for one reason or another. Instead of counting on those first-week-friends, how about finding friends who you really connect with instead. These will be the fellows whose company you will continue to enjoy throughout your college career. Choosing wisely can be easier than you think.

To find the people you really connect with, seek those within your major or join clubs, teams, or organizations that you’re enthusiastic about. Start a conversation after one of your first classes about something that came up in class. This will give you a nice break from the usual ‘Where ya from? What’s your major? What classes are ya taking?’ After that, if you both have a free hour or so, grab some food together and make plans to meet up before the next class. Easy.

For those of you who are incoming Seidenbergers, come hang out in the lounge at 163 Williams St (2nd floor). There is always a group of students in the lounge playing games, hanging out, or working on projects. It’s a great way to ease in to the Seidenberg community. Even better, doing this will help you with tip #2, as many of the Seidenberg faculty members interact with the students who hang out in the lounge. You’ll inevitably get to know most of the faculty and students as you spend more time at 163. Easy!

4. G E T TO K N O W N Y C

The big city can be severely overwhelming for the many students who have not grown up in and around it. The only way to get over the whelm is to explore. Initially, it’ll feel expensive, which it is if you don’t know where to go. It can be a lot of fun to go out and walk around without an agenda to find tiny unheard of cafes, boutiques, street performers, or anything else you can think of because NYC has everything you can think of. Obviously, the main tourist spots might hold some attraction for first timers, but going out into the lesser known areas of the city can reveal a whole new side to the culture around you. There are dozens of parks that aren’t Central Park, there are dozens of squares that aren’t Times Square. Each location comes with a unique quality that can’t be found elsewhere. Also, remember that Manhattan is not the only borough in NYC. The other boroughs are rich with things to do that you would never think of if you stay in Manhattan. There’s a lot to do in the city; sometimes it feels like too much. If you can’t think of any one thing to do, don’t be afraid to simplify your experience. You can get a lot out of NYC just by people watching or riding a bike around town.

Aside from wandering around and coming across different things in the city at random, Pace has many events that will cater to your exploratory needs as a freshman. Welcome Week offers a host of events for a low price (if not for free) and here at Seidenberg we are involved in a great deal of things that offer cool opportunities for tours and/or visits of start ups or large companies. Being actively involved in these events is a great way to get to know the nitty-gritty of NYC. These events can introduce you to NYC companies and people that can add to your education and help shape your path towards whichever type of New Yorker you’re trying to be.

The third and final part of Seidenberg’s Survival Strategies will be up next week! Until then, process and begin to embody the tips you’ve been given!