Courage, like fear, is catching.

--Joseph Weizenbaum

Last month, somebody told us that Joseph Weizenbaum, a leading developer of artificial intelligence and a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), had died. For those of us who worry about the responsible and humane use of computers in our society, this news was most unwelcome, and we decided to dedicate this issue to him in remembrance of his humanitarian work in the field of computers. We were both happy and relieved to find out last week that those rumors about Joseph Weizenbaum's death were false, that he is very much alive, and that he continues to study and teach at MIT. We decided to dedicate this issue to him not in remembrance of his past accomplishments, but for his continuing efforts to advance the responsible use of computer technology to better our world.

Born in Berlin, Germany in 1923, Weizenbaum attended Wayne University for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees, and in 1955, just three years after becoming a U. S. citizen, he began working as a systems engineer at General Electric's Computer

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Developing Lab. In 1963, Weizenbaum accepted the position of visiting associate professor at MIT where he extensively researched several computer-related topics including natural language understanding by computers, artificial intelligence, the structure of computer languages, and the social implications of computers and cybernetics. But Weizenbaum, who is known best for his research in artificial intelligence, is a humanist at heart, and it is his work in this area that we believe speaks most articulately to our readership. Weizenbaum continues to go beyond empirical data to consider the ramifications that computers have on society and education. He not only has helped to develop the technology behind computers and artificial intelligence, but he also has explored the humanitarian considerations that should accompany all technological developments. He has analyzed the impact of computers on individuals and their lives and has encouraged other researchers to join him in this endeavor. Weizenbaum urges his fellow scientists to take responsibility for the technology that they develop, to stand up against inhumane use of that technology, and to encourage others to do the same so that "every human being has available to him or herself all material goods necessary for living in dignity." Joseph Weizenbaum's vision, words, actions, and writings can serve to admonish, encourage, and challenge us as we develop and implement new technology in our composition classrooms. Following his example, we can strive to use our knowledge to buildup rather than tear down, to help rather than harm, and to encourage rather than disparage our students. As Weizenbaum encourages us, "let us think about what we actually accomplish in our work, about how it will be used, and whether we are in the service of life or death." So enjoy the panorama of interesting and valuable work in this issue, and let it remind us of our responsibilities as professionals to our professions, to our students, and to our world.