Moscow University Investigates Claims
Moscow State University, one of Russia's most prestigious schools, has opened an investigation into accusations by students that teaching standards and living conditions in one of its academic departments have been severely eroded, students and university officials said in recent days.
Twelve Percent Admitted To Class Of 2011
The size of the freshman class will increase next year, which is admittedly good news for the 12,443 applicants to the Class of 2011. Nearly 60 more students were admitted this year, but because the number of applicants also increased, the acceptance rate fell to a record-low 12.3 percent for the Class of 2011.
NY Attorney General To Sue Student Loan Company in Civil Suit
Andrew M. Cuomo, New York's attorney general, announced Thursday that he planned to bring a civil lawsuit against a student lending company for deceptive business practices, accusing it of paying colleges and universities to steer student borrowers toward its loans.
Holmes/Wyne Elected UAP/VP in Landslide
With voter turnout up 11 percent, Martin F. Holmes '08 and Ali S. Wyne '08 won the Undergraduate Association elections for president and vice president in a landslide victory.
MIT Pistol Team Claims National Championship
Here's something to brag about over spring break: MIT students have better aim with a pistol than their counterparts at the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine Academies.
Cal State Faculty Could Soon Go on Strike
Faculty members of California State University, the nation's largest four-year university system, overwhelmingly authorized a strike on Wednesday after nearly two years in which they and the administration failed to negotiate a contract succeeding one that expired in July 2005.
British Police Arrest Three in Connection With '05 Bombings
The British counterterrorism police seized three men on Thursday for offenses related to the bombings in the London transit system on July 7, 2005, in which four suicide bombers killed themselves and 52 passengers.
Melting Away the Winter
Fairly tranquil weather is in store for the first weekend of the spring season in Cambridge. We will be under the influence of a high pressure system today and tomorrow, keeping skies clear and temperatures seasonal. A developing low pressure system will skirt to our south on Saturday night and Sunday, potentially close enough to give us some light snow or rain showers. However, it is most likely that we will just see an increase in cloud cover.
More U.S. Soldiers Deserted Than Was Earlier Reported
A total of 3,196 active-duty soldiers deserted the Army last year, or 853 more than previously reported, according to revised figures from the Army.
Shorts (right)
As mayor of New York City, Rudolph W. Giuliani became the favorite Republican of gun control advocates.
Residents Hold Out as Egyptian Govt. Evicts Hundreds of Peasants
The Egyptian authorities have evicted hundreds of peasants from this village in southern Egypt because their mud brick houses, which have sat atop some of the world's most treasured and ancient tombs for centuries, were leaking sewage onto priceless antiquities.
Edwards Says Presidential Bid 'Goes On' Despite His Wife's Breast Cancer
John Edwards, the North Carolina Democrat, said Thursday that his wife's cancer had returned, but that his bid for the presidency "goes on strongly."
Shorts (left)
Trade negotiations between the United States and South Korea have failed to narrow gaps on issues like agriculture, automobiles and textiles, leaving them for next week, negotiators said Thursday.
Pentagon Chief Gates Sought Early Guantanamo Shutdown
In his first weeks as defense secretary, Robert M. Gates repeatedly argued that the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had become so tainted abroad that legal proceedings at Guantanamo would be viewed as illegitimate, according to senior administration officials. He told President Bush and others that it should be shut down as quickly as possible.
MOVIE REVIEW ★★★ ½ The Epitome of Epic
3<i>00</i> is like watching low budget pornography: you know that it's terrible and generally degrading to the human race, but you can't help loving it. A lot.
CD REVIEW 'Neon Bible' Catalogues Faith Unrewarded
In the liner notes to the Arcade Fire's debut album, <i>Funeral</i>, there's a remark on how the band was mindful of "the irony of their first full length recording bearing a name with such closure." It's an aspect of the title not hard to notice on your own, but I saw it as only being half the story behind the title and the album.
CONCERT REVIEW The Shins Bring Boston to Its Knees
Fresh off their new album release, <i>Wincing the Night Away</i>, The Shins are in the midst of a whirlwind tour, and last Thursday they graced Boston with their presence. I was lucky enough to witness this, and what follows is a (mostly) accurate representation of what went down. Interviewing fans leaving the venue, I gathered the following: the show was "fucking awesome," "really great," and "smokin'."
CONCERT REVIEW MITSO Performance Shines With Exuberance
During my time at MIT, I have learned that the best thing to do on a Friday night is to grab some friends and go to a MITSO concert, which is possible about twice a term. When I got to Kresge last Friday, I was delighted to see a large audience that apparently felt the same way despite the surprisingly inclement weather. Under the baton of conductor Paul M. Biss, MITSO again delivered an uplifting performance, featuring the all-time favorites Grieg's "Peer Gynt Suite" and Stravinsky's "Firebird." The program also included Beethoven's "Symphony No. 1" and Mozart's early masterpiece, the cantata "Exsultate, Jubilate", with soprano Elisabeth Hon G, winner of the MITSO concerto competition.
Volleyball Wins in Four Games; Sets Records for Digs, Blocks
MIT men's volleyball lost the first game to Johnson & Wales University Wednesday night at Rockwell Cage, but calmly and methodically won the next three for a 26-30, 30-25, 30-22, 30-28 victory.
MIT Women's Lacrosse Beats Keene State 9-6, Flynn Leading Scorer
The MIT women's lacrosse team beat Keene State College 9-6 on Tuesday for their first win of the season.
