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On Friday, September 29 at 2 pm in B106 Wells Hall, a panel of MSU'scomputing pioneers will convene to discuss 50 years of computing at Michigan State University. The panel includes the people who built MSU'sfirst digital computer, MISTIC, as well as those who first programmed it. Demand for digital computing was high among MSU's faculty in 1956 when MSU decided to build a clone of ILLIAC, the computer that U of Illinois built, itself patterned after a design by the legendary John Von Neumann and his colleagues at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study. Even old timers will learn from this event. I for one never knew the importance of MISTIC in the design of MSU's Cyclotron. We have a number of people coming from out of town to attend and participate in this event. I've made a nickel bet that we'll more than fill the room. Therefore, it's important that you: 1) RSVP. *Please let us know that you will attend.* There is a reception following the panel, and we do need as good a head count as we can get. Respond to [log in to unmask] or call (517) 355-3600. 2) Spread the word. Please alert anyone in your department who has a yen for computing. 3) *Attend*. Share your memories of using Teletypes and punch cards, and the first time you used Scredit. 4) Come to the Computer Center Open House. We'll have a historic display on every floor of the building, and we're open for visitors from 10 am to 7 pm. The old CC is looking spiffier than it has in years. 5) Tell people to visit the exhibit that ACNS is launching in partnership with the MSU Museum, planned to be available for the several months after Sep 29. 6) See http://computing.msu.edu/50years/ The pioneers panel will include: Dr. Henry Blosser Founder and Director Emeritus, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory Dr. Julian Kateley Professor Emeritus, Computer Science, and Associate Director Emeritus, MSUComputer Laboratory Dr. Glen Keeney Associate Professor Emeritus, Computer Science Dr. Richard Reid Professor Emeritus and Founding Chair, Computer Science Dr. Elizabeth A. Unger Professor, Department of Computing and Information Sciences, Vice Provost, Academic Services and Technology, Dean of Continuing Education, Kansas State University Dr. Lawrence W. Von Tersch Founding Director, MSU Computer Laboratory (Retired) and Professor Emeritus, Electrical Engineering, and Dean Emeritus, College of Engineering /rich PS -- Does anyone have photos of the IBM 3090 mainframe that MSU installed in the 80s? Please contact me personally if you do.