Sophomore impersonating Reif in email says classes are cancelled due to Swartz-related threats
A fake email that appeared to be sent by President L. Rafael Reif addressing all of MIT was sent to all MIT dorms at 1 a.m. this morning, announcing that all classes would be cancelled for Wednesday, March 20, due to “threatening requests” regarding the Swartz case. The email followed a letter from Reif yesterday morning to the MIT community laying out the Institute’s plans for releasing evidence from the Swartz case.
Plans for releasing Swartz evidence
In a letter this morning, MIT’s president announced plans to make requested Swartz-related evidence public, with names redacted to “protect the privacy and safety of those members of our community.” However, much of this information is already publicly known and has been published by The Tech and the New York Times, among others.
Body in Charles identified as Joe Gage
A body found in the Charles River last Thursday was identified Friday as that of a 32-year-old South End man who went over the rail of the bridge on Jan. 1. Although investigators did not officially release the name, the man had been previously identified as Joe Gage by a memorial on the bridge.
IAP Subcommittee report proposes minor changes
“One overarching message emerged from student and faculty feedback: ‘If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,’” the report reads. The IAP Subcommittee of the Faculty Policy Committee has released its final report following a “thorough review of IAP and its evolution in the last 40 years,” as stated in its charge. The report contains 10 recommendations in response to seven questions the committee was asked to consider, as well as an additional recommendation regarding campus community during IAP.
New clues in 1990 Gardner art heist
The FBI said Monday that it believes it knows the identity of the thieves who stole 13 paintings 23 years ago from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, one of the most infamous art heists in history.
UA VP candidate withdraws
This year’s Undergraduate Association Presidential/Vice Presidential election took a surprise turn late Sunday night, when UA VP candidate Johnathan Kongoletos ’14 emailed out to several dorm lists announcing his withdrawal from the UA VP candidacy at 11:21 p.m., under 10 hours before online voting opened at 9 a.m. yesterday morning. At that time and throughout the day, both of the tickets — Sidhanth P. Rao ’14/Devin T. Cornish ’14 and Cory D. Hernandez ’14/Johnathan Kongoletos ’14, for UA P/VP — still appeared on the ballot at vote.mit.edu.
Reif’s letter to the MIT community
I am writing to explain an important step that MIT has decided to take relating to the Aaron Swartz situation. Since this action affects members of our community, directly or indirectly, I want you to hear about it from me.
Shorts (right)
Adrian Nastase, the former Romanian prime minister, will be released early from prison after serving nine months of a two-year term for corruption, a Bucharest court ruled Monday.
Use of generics produces a drop in drug spending
Spending on prescription drugs nationwide has been slowing for years because of the increasingly widespread use of low-cost generics. But in 2012, something unheard-of happened: Money spent on prescription drugs actually dropped.
Shorts (left)
Saying that “gay rights are human rights,” Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former secretary of state and potential 2016 presidential candidate, has endorsed same-sex marriage.
11th-hour Cyprus bailout incites turmoil in Europe
BRUSSELS — The plan to rescue the tiny European country of Cyprus, assembled in overnight talks in Brussels, was itself the product of European dysfunction and has left financial regulators, German politicians, panicked Cypriot leaders and a disgruntled Kremlin thrashing out a bailout package that left virtually all the parties outraged.
In Vatican, infallibility is no guarantee of clout
VATICAN CITY — An Italian industrialist tried to curry favor by donating $100,000 worth of truffles. A Mercedes-Benz executive hoped for an audience to suggest improvements to the Popemobile. But in the final years of the papacy of Benedict XVI, others sent very different messages, desperate for the pope’s ear.
Winter storm precedes arrival of spring
A coastal storm will bring a wintry mix of precipitation to New England today on the last full day of winter. The precipitation will begin as snow in the early morning hours, and continue through sunrise. Snowfall will be moderate to heavy at times, leading to an accumulation of 3 to 6 inches through mid-morning. At that point, the precipitation will change briefly to sleet (falling ice pellets), before changing over to a cold rain for the remainder of the day. While the changeover to rain will likely lessen the hazard associated with this winter storm, the early snowfall could put a damper on the morning commute. At the time of this writing, the National Weather Service had issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Boston/Cambridge area, which was to be in effect until 11:00 a.m. today.
Republicans reflect on 2012 performance in blunt report
WASHINGTON — In a sweeping self-critique of the party’s 2012 election efforts, Republican leaders on Monday unveiled a set of proposals aimed at convincing younger voters, ethnic minorities and women that they have a home in the party, even if they do not agree with all of its positions.
CORRECTIONS
A café review in Friday’s issue listed the incorrect hours for Tatte Cambridge. It is open Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
MIT baseball team opens the 2013 season with a win Friday
After seeing its first three games of the season erased by bad weather, the MIT baseball team finally got the 2013 season started Friday afternoon with a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference game at Clark University. Eben J. Bitonte ’15 led the game off with a home run and Kiel L. Jindra ’14 did not allow a hit in six innings, striking out eight as the Engineers held the Cougars to just one hit in a 4-1 victory.
SPORTS SHORT
Last year, the Engineers won the NEWMAC championship, and as a result, they are ranked 22nd in the nation this season. Vynnie J. Kong ’15 leads the team in singles victories with 12, while last year’s NEWMAC Player of the Year Lauren C. Quisenberry ’14 is second with 11. The team starts their season March 24 against Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Whale watching in New Zealand
It’s 12:30 a.m. My PhD advisor is at my bunk-side. “Julie,” he says, “we got one of the tags, and we can hear the other. You’re up.”
With tenure but not without troubles
As chair of the Undergraduate Association Student Support Committee and as part of continuing efforts to have open discussions about mental health on campus, I approached Professor Belcher about sharing his story in a public forum. He graciously obliged with this moving account. For me, Professor Belcher’s piece is a reminder that mental health challenges do not discriminate — they can strike any person at any stage of life, but they need not be debilitating.
Without a “higher power,” how did life start?
Ask A-theist is a new column by Aaron Scheinberg, an atheist, and Stephanie Lam, a Christian, which uses contrasting worldviews to explore questions and misconceptions about philosophy and religion. This week, Aaron chose a question from your submissions. Send us the burning questions you have always wanted answered by an atheist or Christian (or both), and we’ll tackle them!
Events Mar 19 - Mar 25
Events mar. 19 – mar. 25 Tuesday (5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.) Due Diligence: An Impertinent Inquiry into Microfinance book presented by author David Roodman — E25-111 Wednesday (5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.) Staging Shakespeare from Kabul to the Globe, Corinne Jabert Lecture — 14E-304 (6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.) TalkBack 360: Science on Trial, community discussion — MIT Museum Thursday (7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.) Women Take the Reel presents First Person Plural — 4-163 (8:30 p.m.) Technology Policy Students Society Canadian Culture Night — NW30 Friday (7:00 p.m.) MIT Anime Club Bring Your Own Anime showing — 3-133 Send your campus events to events@tech.mit.edu.
IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME: Counting my blessings
Did you know that faculty at some schools believe Greek life can be life-threatening? At the Northeast Greek Leadership Association (NGLA) conference in Hartford, Connecticut, which I attended a few weeks ago, I heard a fellow Greek from another university talk about meeting with a student life administrator at his school. This administrator opened their conversations by citing stories about men and women on other campuses who were injured or died at fraternity events, and made very clear her mindset that Greek life was dangerous to students with her introductory anecdotes.
