MIT Police Accused Of Using ‘Excessive Force’ in 2006 Arrest
A Waltham, Mass. resident is suing the MIT Police for “excessive force” and violations of his constitutional rights during his Feb. 2006 arrest.
Kagame Talks About Impact of Technology in Developing Africa
The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, was welcomed with a standing ovation to a packed Kresge Auditorium as he addressed the MIT community yesterday as a guest speaker for the Compton Lecture Series, talking about the “Imperative of Science and Technology in Accelerating African and Rwandan Development.” Examples of how mobile phones have helped empower Rwandans and enable entrepreneurship as well as the challenges that have yet to be met filled Kagame’s talk. He also asked the MIT community to take part in the effort to help develop countries like Rwanda through innovation and technology.
Biodiesel@MIT Secures Location for Storing Processor to Make Biofuels
After months of simmering on MIT’s back burner, Biodiesel@MIT’s project may finally get cooking. At last, the club has found a location for its biodiesel processor, and soon MIT SafeRides and Tech Shuttles may run on fuel made from dining halls’ used vegetable oil.
Private Consultants Help Navigate College Admissions Process
What may be the largest high school senior class ever in the United States is applying to college this fall. And thousands of students will look beyond their high school guidance counselors to help them get into the schools of their choice.
Pell Grants Said to Face a Shortfall of $6 Billion
Battered by a worsening economy, college students are seeking federal financial aid in record numbers this year, leading Bush administration officials to warn Congress that the most important federal aid program, Pell Grants, may need up to $6 billion in additional taxpayer funds next year.
Senator Kerry Wins Decisively in Mass. State Primary Tues.
Senator John F. Kerry won a decisive victory Tuesday night against Edward O’Reilly, carrying almost every Massachusetts city and town in the first Democratic primary challenge the incumbent has faced in 24 years.
In Short
An energy debate between the Obama and McCain campaigns, hosted by the MIT Energy Club and Energy Initiative, will be held Oct. 6 from 7:30–9:30 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium. The debate will feature former CIA Director James Woolsey for McCain and Jason Grumet, executive director of the National Commission on Energy Policy, for Obama.
LaVerde’s Discontinues 24 Hr. Service, Closes at Three
As of this term, LaVerde’s will no longer be open 24 hours on weeknights and will close instead at 3 a.m.. There are no plans for any alternative late-night food service on campus since it’s not certain there would be enough student demand to make it viable.
Shorts (left)
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne told a House committee on Thursday that he might fire employees in the agency that collects oil and gas royalties, a week after the department’s inspector general reported extensive ethics abuses there.
Shorts (right)
An agreement to extend the U.S. military mandate in Iraq beyond this year — near completion only a month ago — has stalled over objections by Iraqi leaders and could be in danger of unraveling, according to Iraqi and Bush administration officials.
Jittery Investors Strain Money Market Funds
For the second time in a week, a multibillion-dollar money market fund has been forced to take extraordinary steps to deal with sudden cash withdrawals by nervous institutional investors.
Iran’s President Says He Opposes Israel, Not Israelis
The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, took the unusual step on Thursday of explaining that while he strongly opposed the state of Israel, his hostility did not extend to the Israeli people.
For Rivals, Financial Crisis Poses On-the-Fly Tests
The financial crisis has turned the race between Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama into an audition for who could best handle a national economic emergency.
Two Regulators Move To Limit Short Selling
Traders who have sought to profit from the financial crisis by betting against bank stocks were attacked on two continents Thursday.
Sunny and Mild Days Ahead
September continues to live up to its expectation of being a month of calm, pleasant weather (don’t worry skiers, it’s only three months until snow). The next seven days look to be filled with sunshine, except for a few clouds here and there. High temperatures Sunday will be in the mid 70s, but otherwise highs will be in the low to mid 60s through the beginning of next week. Tropical activity in the North Atlantic is quiet for the moment, though we may see the development of a storm off the coast of Africa or in the Caribbean early next week.
Textbook Procurement Issues:
For a university that makes it seamless for students to get health insurance and dental insurance, and for a university that ensures there’s an on-campus barber shop and optical center for our convenience, MIT cannot seem to make it nearly as seamless or convenient for us to get the textbooks we need.
Reimagining Energy
Almost 70 years ago, as Germany invaded France, President Franklin D. Roosevelt received an urgent visit from Vannevar Bush, then chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics and formerly vice president and dean of engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Start Speaking Already
A new poll says that 85 percent of Americans want our presidential candidates to debate science issues. I found this statistic on the website of a somewhat botched initiative, Sciencedebate 2008, which, despite its catchy title, has not had much luck convincing the candidates to clearly and contemporaneously voice their views on what should be near and dear to the hearts of most MIT students: science.
No. 6 Leaves the IFC
This year’s eventful rush came to a surprising conclusion with the decision of the No. 6 Club, MIT’s fourth oldest fraternity to disaffiliate with the Interfraternity council (IFC) and become an Independent Living Group (ILG).
Residence Exploration
“Your dorm selection is going to be one of the most important decisions of your undergraduate life of MIT. More than the facilities, it’s the people around you that matter, and it’s important to find the right kind of people you would like to stay with.”
EXHIBIT REVIEW Organic Forms and Exploding Stitching
Nicholas Hlobo’s exhibit at the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston) opens with a sign blaring the words “Momentum 11” and a sculpture that seems to be emerging from a white wall. At first glance, it is as if a hole has been ripped into the wall, and the white peeled away to reveal black charred rubber, tethering off into multi-colored ravines winding their way across the white wall.
EXHIBIT REVIEW Concealed Ancestry in Modern China
Today’s photographer is often faced with the challenge of either maintaining the purity of black and white photography, or embracing the current culture of digital practices. Julio de Matos, in his exhibit entitled <i>Fading Hutongs</i>, at times seems to have inadvertently exempted himself from this rigid classification. While deep inspection of his digital color prints clearly reveals his medium, his subject matter lends a black and white <i>feel</i> to any casual observer.
MIT Cycling Takes Division Two National Collegiate Track Title
The MIT Cycling Team captured the Division II team omnium at the National Collegiate Track Cycling Championships held last week in Colorado Springs. The MIT team of six riders — Jason A. Sears G, Michael L. Garrett G, Anthony J. Schrauth G, Yuri Matsumoto G, Katherine S. Lovejoy G, and Martha W. Buckley G — came from behind to edge out DePauw University 687-608 and capture the team omnium.
GAME OF THE WEEK MIT Football Overpowers Massachusetts Maritime Academy in First Home Game
DeRon M. Brown ’10 rushed for a career-best 251 yards and two touchdowns to lead MIT football to a 42-14 victory over the Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Saturday. Brown followed up last week’s electrifying performance with the second-highest single-game rushing total in school history while the Engineers improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2004.
Julia N. Roberts ’10 Strikes Twice To Lead Women’s Soccer Past Emerson, 2-0Women’s Volleyball Tops Clark, 3-1Wentz and Arumugam Named NEWMAC Runners of the Week
Midfielder Julia N. Roberts ’10 scored twice midway through the second half and the Engineers’ defense locked down Emerson’s attack as MIT women’s soccer secured a 2-0 victory at Roberts Field on Tuesday.
Tim Chin Takes Third Place at Recent Trick Pool Shot Competition
With a click and a blur of colors and motion, the table suddenly clears, like a magic trick, and the crowd cheers. The magician’s name is Timothy E. Chin G. In addition to being a graduate student at MIT, he is renowned as one of the top pool trick shot artists in the world after recently winning third place at a prestigious tournament in New Jersey. This winter, Chin will compete for the world championship in artistic pool in Atlanta, Georgia.
