The Fixed Point Property for Posets of Small Width

The fixed point property for finite posets of width 3 and 4 is studied in terms of forbidden retracts. The ranked forbidden retracts for width 3 and 4 are determined explicitly. The ranked forbidden retracts for the width 3 case that are linearly indecomposable are examined to see which are minimal automorphic. Part of a problem of Niederle from 1989 is thus solved

Chain Decomposition Theorems for Ordered Sets (and Other Musings)

A brief introduction to the theory of ordered sets and lattice theory is given. To illustrate proof techniques in the theory of ordered sets, a generalization of a conjecture of Daykin and Daykin, concerning the structure of posets that can be partitioned into chains in a ``strong'' way, is proved. The result is motivated by a conjecture of Graham's concerning probability correlation inequalities for linear extensions of finite posets

The Rhetoric of Mass Incarceration

Professor David Coogan teaches rhetorical theory and criticism and composition, as well as service learning, for the VCU Department of English. For the last ten years, he has also taught and collaborated with writers in the Richmond City Jail, in a program called Open Minds. In his published and forthcoming work on the importance of writing for social and personal transformation – Electronic Writing Centers: Computing the Field of Composition, The Public Work of Rhetoric: Citizen Scholars and Community Engagement (co-edited with John Ackerman), Writing Our Way Out: Memoirs from Jail, and Memoirs of Mass Incarceration: The Rhetoric of Revolutionaries, Witnesses and Survivors (forthcoming in 2017) – Professor Coogan explores ways of finding oneself in the midst of extreme confusion, guilt, social injustice, and searing pain. From his work with writers in prison, he has gathered profound insights into the writing process for those who are often silenced, and has both taught with writers and learned from them as well. In this conversation, he expands on his experiences and describes the nature of this important work

Cal Poly Space Project G-279

The Cal Poly Space Project is an effort on the part of several highly motivated students to deploy a space canister which will examine the effects of microgravity on electroplating and immiscible metals. The experiments will be controlled and monitored by a specialized triple redundancy system developed to defer the possible electronic errors due to uncontrollable factors such as photons from the Sun. With the finalization of the payload design and the near completion of the data control system, the integration phase of the project is anticipated to be completed and the project ready for launching by early 1987. It is hoped that the experiments will lead to new insights in space research and also prove profitable to industry