Questions raised over 2030 in FNL
Unlike previous iterations, the faculty newsletter (FNL) from November/December had several clear themes. It outlined a number of issues, including a faculty commentary of the MIT 2030 plan that covers concerns about faculty involvement and where academics fits into the plan, the report of the Stellar next-generation pilot on the blackboard platform, and updates on the committees for graduate admissions and undergraduate orientation. The MIT 2030 initiative was announced by MIT President Susan J. Hockfield last year as a vision of MIT for the future; in terms of how current real estate will be used and what new developments may occur. The opening editorial, written by the FNL editorial board, criticizes the MIT Investment Management Company’s (MITIMCo) role in the development of the plan. It stated that although they are positioned to evaluate the financial implications of the plans for future use of MIT real estate, they are “not in a position to balance the financial implications of long-term planning with the future academic needs of MIT.”
UA President Miramonti resigns
Undergraduate Association President Allan E. Miramonti ’13 announced his resignation in a campuswide email last Wednesday, citing his need to “refocus” on academics and well-being. Miramonti’s vice president, TyShaun Wynter ’13, assumed the presidency immediately.
Gaggle cops 132nd Managing Board elections
“You’re probably wondering why I gathered you all here outside the student center,” said Aislyn “Museum of Science” Schalck ’13, the new Chairman of The Tech. “There is a crazed serial killer on the loose, and you four are the only ones I can fully trust to help me in my investigation. I have determined that none of you could possibly be the killer.”
Shorts (right)
BRUSSELS — The European Commission said Monday that it would continue charging airlines for their greenhouse gas emissions, despite an announcement from China that its carriers would be forbidden to pay without its permission.
Ski slopes barren as lack of snowfall continues; Boston to stay temperate
This season of below average snowfall looks to continue through this week. Computer models indicate no threat of significant snowfall over the next 7 days. This is not good news for skiers and boarders who wouldn’t mind a little fresh powder. These conditions are in stark contrast to last year. According to the National Weather Service, the average depth of snow in ME, NH, VT, and upstate NY is currently 9 inches, which is 16 inches less than last year.
Shorts (left)
BERLIN — After weeks of protests, Romania’s prime minister resigned Monday, the latest European leader to fall victim to a mood of public outrage over austerity measures and stagnant growth.
Europe’s banks reluctant to aid companies in need of cash
LONDON — European governments are not the only ones struggling with debt — so are some of the region’s companies.
Obama imposes freeze on Iran property in US
WASHINGTON — The White House moved to tighten sanctions against Iran on Monday because of the country’s suspect nuclear program, freezing all property of the Central Bank of Iran, other Iranian financial institutions and the Iranian government in the United States.
For both parties, a twisted path to financing a campaign
WASHINGTON — It is one of the most convoluted arrangements in Washington for complying with campaign finance laws — and that is saying something.
US closes embassy in Syria as mayhem escalates
BEIRUT — The United States closed its embassy in Syria on Monday and withdrew its staff in the face of escalating mayhem that U.S. officials blamed on the Syrian government’s unbridled repression of an 11-month-old uprising.
The problems with the presidents
The Tech has covered the extremely high rate of attrition in the Undergraduate Association (UA) previously, with Senators and members of Exec resigning in droves. In fact, this was one factor that drove the UA to restructure itself this past semester, in hopes of preventing such large-scale resignations in the future. It is ironic that the first individual to resign under the newly formed government is the UA President (UAP) himself, who spent the fall working on the solution.
Sound and fury, signifying nothing
In his brief campaign for the presidency, Rick Perry uttered quite a bit of nonsense. Between the numerous debate gaffes, the self-contradiction of his hard-money populism, and, in his desperate endgame, the obscene groping for the support of social conservatives, Texas Rick was an inestimable source of I-winced-so-hard-I-laughed-style humor. I thought he was just as entertaining as Steve Carell’s character on The Office…so long as I could avoid stumbling over a grim reminder that Mr. Perry was running for real-life leader of the free world, not running a paper company in an NBC sitcom.
Sensitivity for Cynthia
Recently Cynthia Nixon, one of the stars on Sex in the City, has been under fire among the lesbian, gay, and bisexual communities for saying that she had chosen to be gay, as she noted in an New York Times interview:
CORRECTIONS
A Feb. 1 article incorrectly stated that the total applications received by MIT for the Class of 2016 increased by 1 percent from the previous year. MIT received 18,088 total applications this year, a 5.84 percent increase from the 17,090 applications received last year.
Hackers on stage
Anyone who has been on an MIT campus tour has seen the pictures of great hacks of the past. Study here for a year, and you’re sure to see a hack with your own eyes. Yet despite the knowledge that hackers are fellow students, the people that crawl between the walls and pull high-tech pranks remain a mystery to most. In Hack, Punt, Tool, hackers take center stage in a story steeped in MIT mythology. This new musical is written, scored, and orchestrated by MIT students. For those who have ever wondered who was behind the abduction of the Caltech cannon or the many creative alterations to the dome, this is the show for you.
MIT falls to Harvard, 3-1
The MIT Men’s Volleyball team, ranked sixth nationally, fell to Harvard last week in a close game, 3-1.
MIT prepares for NEWMACs
The top-10 battle between No. 6 MIT and No. 7 Amherst lived up to its billing on Jan. 28 at the Z-Center on the MIT campus. With a dramatic victory in the final event, the 400 free relay, MIT came out on top by a score of 153-144. With the victory, MIT improved its dual meet record to 8-0 this season.
Men’s basketball beats Wheaton, Springfield
Last week was quite successful for MIT men’s basketball. Individually, the team’s leading scorers, Noel Hollingsworth ’12 and James D. Karraker ’12, both reached the 1,000-point career milestone. As a team, the Engineers pulled away with an easy victory against Wheaton on Wednesday and a tough victory against Springfield on Saturday to reach 20 victories total for the season. The team was also featured in Sports Illustrated, along with No. 1 Middlebury, in an article focusing on the success of the two teams athletically and academically.
Events Feb. 07 - Feb. 13
Events feb. 07 – feb. 11 Tuesday (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) Daylight Simulation in Design — 7-431 (The Long Lounge) Wednesday (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) Spacewar! Turns 50: MIT Celebrates Its Earliest Computer Game — Outside 32-123 (4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.) How the Ionosphere of Mars Works — 54-915 Friday (12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.) The Darwin-Lincoln Birthday Forum: A discussion of Darwin, Lincoln and the struggle for human equality — Killian Hall (2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.) Taking Inventory of the Universe: Exploring the Mystery of Dark Matter with the MiniCLEAN Experiment — 26-414 (Kolker Room) Saturday (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) TechTalks 2012: A series of short lectures by prominent figures in the tech industry — 10-250 Monday (12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.) Music Author Book Release: Seeking the Infinite by Dr. Frederick Harris — 14E-109 (Lewis Music Library) (8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.) Vicky Chow, Bang on a Can All-Stars pianist Cage Recital — Killian Hall Send your campus events to events@tech.mit.edu.
