As a student at the University of Iowa, one of my favorite places to study was the Gerard P. Weeg Computer Center. We referred to the building simply as Weeg.
At that time, computers were the size of refrigerators. The building was imposing, with massive pillars and sections of cement inside and out.
Gerry Weeg was known around the world as “a pioneer in the field of academic computing.” [Source: IEEE] During the 1950s and 1960s, he became well known and respected among his colleagues and contemporaries. His academic contributions to the field of computer science were so significant that after he died, the University of Iowa Computing Center was renamed to be the Gerard P. Weeg Computing Center.
A few years after graduation, I returned to Weeg as an employee. The computers were smaller, but there continued to be a sense of wonder at Weeg.
Eventually, the name was changed to ITS, and a significant portion of the teams moved to an abandoned shopping mall in a space previously used for a JC Penny store. The mall, formerly known as the Old Capital Mall, was renamed to University Capitol Center. I’d visited that mall many times when I was younger. The ITS group was just one of many departments in the new UCC.
The transition to a new building and a new name for the department was an adjustment for most of us with a longer history on campus.
The University of Iowa has always been resilient due to the great collaboration between students, staff, administrators, and faculty. I saw this up close when working with ITS. Despite being in a less historically meaningful space, the IT support teams worked together to provide collaborative innovation and support to the entire campus.
Remembering Weeg
It’s important to remember pioneers like Gerard Weeg. Partly as a gesture of respect and appreciation for their contributions, but also because they are still speaking to us today. They still have something to teach. They can still inspire us.
The IEEE group has created a very thoughtful memorial page for Weeg. It’s an example of how he and other academic pioneers could be remembered at the University of Iowa.
Academic Hall of Fame
Gerard P. Weeg is now only a footnote on the new ITS departmental website. A single short entry with no link to any further information about him. [Source: ITS] You need to scroll down the page and look next to the entry for 1978.
Those who have made significant contributions to sports at the University of Iowa are memorialized and appreciated through the Hall of Fame. We should create something similar for those who have contributed academically to the University of Iowa.
Perhaps there could be an Academic Hall of Fame for the University of Iowa to have ongoing recognition of those who have gone before and helped make the University such as success.
Some departments and colleges have pages to honor past and present award winning staff. A centralized University of Iowa Academic Hall of Fame could link to pages like these, and where no pages exist, they could be created.
In the same way that the sports hall of fame is broken down into categories, an academic hall of fame could list campus departments and areas of specialty, as well as a complete alphabetical directory.
Most universities will regularly refer to accomplished and famous graduates, past and present, as a way to promote the university. This is an additional benefit of providing an academic hall of fame.
An accompanying blog and/or newsletter could focus on current achievements.
Until then, perhaps we can all do something to help others appreciate academic pioneers who have served us all.
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