\section{Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) List for SIPB}

{\bf Q.} What is a prospective?

{\bf A.} A prospective is someone who has an interest in becoming a
member of SIPB.  In other words, it is someone who is interested in
helping the computer-user community of MIT.

{\bf Q.} What is the SIPB?

{\bf A.} According to the Bylaws, SIPB is a General Committee of the
Undergraduate Association of M.I.T.  The full name of this committee
is the Student Information Processing Board.

{\bf Q.} What is the purpose of SIPB?

{\bf A.} According to Article II, Section I of the Bylaws, the
principal purpose of the SIPB is to provide the M.I.T. community with
improved access to computational facilities.  Primarily, this will be
focused on students who do not readily have access to other computers
on which to further some desirable purpose.  The secondary purposes of
the Board include: serving as a spokesman for undergraduates to the
Faculty and Administration in computer-related topics, functioning as
an information center for undergraduates interested in the various
computers known to the SIPB and in other topics in computer science or
computing at M.I.T., as well as conducting, managing, and supporting
experiments run by students to advance the techniques of organization,
planning, and administration of access to computers.

Less formally, we try to help out anyone who uses computers at M.I.T.
We do this by answering questions, providing services, and writing
cool software.

{\bf Q.} How should a prospective act?

{\bf A.} It is a common saying that prospectives get membered about
the time when everybody thinks they are members anyway.  So, I guess
this means that you should act just like a SIPB member.  This means
that you should answer the phone, try to answer questions, and eat a
lot of Chinese food.

{\bf Q.} Can I log in?

{\bf A.} Yes.  You are a prospective member, so go right ahead.

{\bf Q.} Should I log out if a SIPB member wants to use the machine?

{\bf A.} No.  But remember that while logged in in the office, you
should be doing member-like things: answering the phone, handling
walk-ins, developing software, harassing kretch, writing
documentation, etc.

{\bf Q.} What is the meaning of FTGOS?

{\bf A.} FTGOS stands for "Furthering The Goals Of SIPB".

{\bf Q.} Is there a place for communication between prospectives?

{\bf A.} Yes, there is a mailing list called sipb-prospectives.  This
list has contains both some members and some prospectives.  The use of
this list varies over time.

{\bf Q.} Can I get on the sipb mailing list?

{\bf A.} You can get on the general sipb list, which is a question and
answer forum.  However, you cannot get on sipb-members, sipb-staff, or
other such lists.

{\bf Q.} How do I go about starting a project for the SIPB?

{\bf A.} Just Do It.  Speak up during a meeting.  If anyone mentions a
project they are working on, volunteer to help if the topic interests
you (and if you need help, don't be afraid to ask.)

{\bf Q.} How do I get a copy of the minutes?

{\bf A.} The minutes exist in world-readable form in the directory
/afs/sipb.mit.edu/admin/minutes.

{\bf Q.} What are the main things that SIPB does?

{\bf A.} SIPB provides many services beyond answering questions for
users.  These services include maintaining NetNews, providing space
for multiple discuss meetings, running servers for IRC, hearts, and
mboggle, and many others.

{\bf Q.} How can I learn about News administration?

{\bf A.} Ask us in person for this one.

{\bf Q.} What is the difference between associate members and active
members?

{\bf A.} According to the Bylaws, "Full membership in the SIPB is open
to all students of the M.I.T. community; associate membership is open
to anyone."

So, simply put, active members are students; associate members are
mostly old folks.  Most, but not all, associate members were at one
time active members.

{\bf Q.} These Bylaws you keep mentioning, where can I find them?

{\bf A.} Well, unless someone has viciously ripped them down, they are
posted on the bulletin board by quiche.  (Don't know which machine is
quiche? I suggest you find out.)  Take some time to read them.  They
may answer many of your questions even better than this FAQ.  There is
also a copy in /afs/sipb/admin/text/constitution.

{\bf Q.} How do I become a prospective member?

{\bf A.} If you're reading this, you probably are already a
prospective member.  So, now, to make it official, get yourself added
to the members\_and\_prospectives list, and come to a meeting to get
your name in the minutes.

{\bf Q.} Why do I want my name in the minutes?

{\bf A.} So that SIPB members have an official record to show how long
you've been hanging around.  It is important to have this information
when nominating prospectives for membership.

{\bf Q.} How do I become a member?

{\bf A.} First, you get nominated, then you get elected.  If all goes
well, you will then be a member of the SIPB.

{\bf Q.} How do I get nominated?

{\bf A.} First and foremost, show up at meetings.  When you have
attended four, you are eligible for nomination.  Additionally, get to
know the membership.  People need to get to know you to nominate you.
When you are in the office, make a point of introducing yourself and
getting to know people.  Finally, get involved in SIPB projects.
Nothing is more likely to get you nominated than showing yourself to
be a useful and productive member.  Once you have been nominated,
there will be an election at the next meeting at which quorum is
present.  You will be asked questions, the membership will consider
your nomination, and hopefully, you will be elected.

{\bf Q.} When are the meetings?

{\bf A.} Meetings happen every Monday night at 7:30pm in the SIPB
office.

{\bf Q.} Do I need to know C?

{\bf A.} No, you don't need to know C.  (perl is nice, though) In
fact, you don't need to know anything in particular.  Much more
important is a desire to learn things and help other people learn
things that you know.

{\bf Q.} Can I answer the phone?

{\bf A.} Yes, in fact you are encouraged to answer it.  Try to be
courteous and to help the caller as much as you can.  If you can't
answer their questions, then see if anyone else in the office can.
For many prospectives, a typical conversation may proceed... "Hello,
SIPB." -"Can you help me with <blah>" "No, but one second and I'll see
if anyone in the office might be able to" All the better if you can
answer the question, but you're not expected to.

{\bf Q.} How do I get a CokeComm account?

{\bf A.} Talk to or email the Coke Pusher.  For more information on
what is involved with having a CokeComm account, read the poster on
the Coke fridge in the back of the room.

{\bf Q.} What about zephyr?

{\bf A.} Yes, sipb members do use zephyr.We use instance sipb for
announcements. The class 'sipb' is used for social and random
conversation, saving the more public instance for more technical
discussion. The conversations for the class are all kept on an
instance. For example, zwrite -c sipb -i www. In this way the
conversations are easier to keep track of.  We discuss everything from
bugs in our code to where we're eating dinner tonight.  So, do it.

{\bf Q.} Where can I find out more?

{\bf A.} Just ask someone.  Anybody in the office, member or
prospective, will be happy to answer your questions.  There is also
more information in the office manual.  The most online recent version
is currently in \verb#/afs/sipb/project/doc/office_manual#; read whatever
sections you're interested in!  If you have more in-depths questions
about what SIPB members do, try the file prospectives.tex.

