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Name and Liaison to Which Team
Michael Hay, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Men's Lacrosse
What I like about being a Faculty Liaison
I look forward to getting to know the student-athletes on the team. I also hope to learn about their experience at Colgate and find ways to incorporate that into what I do in the classroom.
An influential person in my career
Prasad Jayanti, my algorithms professor in undergrad. A great teacher who really turned me on to computer science.
An idea or invention I wish I had thought of
I wouldn't be a card-carrying computer scientist if I didn't say the the Internet. I also would be remiss if I didn't follow this up with some jibe about Al Gore having all of the good ideas.
Favorite hero
That would be my uncle. He was a huge role model for me growing up. He taught me to tinker with stuff, ask questions, explore the arts, and be unafraid to express my emotions.
Favorite sports memory
Ha. I loved playing sports but was never very good at them. A memory that stands out was a cross-country race in high school where I went neck-and-neck with another guy for the last mile of the race, with things really heating up in the last 200 yards. I pulled ahead at the last second and came in, like, 66th place and left this guy to wallow in 67th place. Celebrate the little victories!
Favorite memento
On my desk, I have an opisometer (full disclosure: I had to look up the name for this obsolete little gadget that you can use to measure distances on maps). I love maps and exploring, and it was given to me by a family friend who knew that.
Favorite music type, singer or group
While I don't listen to them much anymore, I would lying if I didn't admit that my favorite band for a 20-year stretch of my life was Pearl Jam. Not that you asked, but my favorite music memory was from my grad school days in Massachusetts, when Pearl Jam held a 3-day concert outside Boston in which they played every song they've recorded. I went with the best man from my wedding and it was, well, epic.
Favorite book
I remember really enjoying
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. More recently, I read
Crum by Lee Maynard and loved that.
Favorite movie
The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Favorite quote
When I teach introduction to computer science, I tend to rely on Alan Perlis' many epigrams on programming. Here's a couple that apply not just to computer programming but to anything involving design:
"Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it." – Alan Perlis
"Everything should be built top-down, except the first time." – Alan Perlis
