Interphase EDGE hit with declined enrollment for current cohort amidst student speculation of broader trends
Student enrollment for the 2024 Interphase EDGE program has reportedly declined to around 30 students, according to student sources.
Majority of interim student suspensions stemming from on-campus pro-Palestinian protests lifted
23 different students received these suspensions; over the following weeks, they engaged in what they described as stressful, demoralizing meetings with representatives of the administration while continuing to engage in increasingly escalated process action, in a weeks-long review process that ultimately saw many of these sanctions lifted.
Israeli and Jewish students celebrate community and culture amidst pro-Palestinian protests
In the final weeks of the semester, Israeli and Jewish students came together on a number of occasions to celebrate community, culture, and identity in the aftermath of pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
After the firehose: the Class of 2024 reflect upon their time at the Institute amidst commencement celebrations
On May 31, the Institute’s Class of 2024 gathered at Killian Court for the Undergraduate Ceremony, part of three day commencement proceedings. 1099 undergraduates received their diplomas.
MIT administration releases results from 2024 Quality of Life survey
On June 5, the Office of the Provost released the results of the Quality of Life 2024 Survey. Open to responses from faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars and students, the survey was open for a month between February 15 and closed on March 19. 11,746 students and employees from both the Institute’s campus in Cambridge and the Lincoln Laboratory responded in total for 43% response rate. Undergraduates responded at a rate of 38%, a slight increase from the response rate two years prior of 35%.
UA shares report regarding UROP student experiences
In an email to the undergraduate community on May 22, the MIT Undergraduate Association (UA) released the “Final Report on the MIT Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.” Paul Irvine ’24, UA Chair of Public Affairs (UAPA), stated that the report, which was written by himself, Lindsay Bolino ’24, Enoch Ellis ’26, Miguel Buitrago ’26, and Haylea Brock ’27, is a compilation of what the UA has learned regarding the student experience with undergraduate research at MIT.
Barnhart PhD ’88 announces formation of the Future of the Arts at MIT Committee
In an email to the MIT community on June 3, Provost Cynthia Barnhart PhD ’88 announced the formation of the Future of the Arts at MIT Committee to “advise the Institute on new ways to envision the place of the arts in our community.” Course 8 (Physics) Professor Peter Fisher PhD ’88 will chair the committee. Members of the committee include several MIT faculty and individuals from outside of the Institute, including Paola Antonelli, curator of design at the Museum of Modern Art and Paul Ha, director of the List Visual Arts Center.
Mostly clear skies to send off the graduates
A high pressure ridge will replace a mid-level trough to bring us lots of sunshine Friday and into the weekend. Some stray showers may slightly soak the ground on Thursday morning, so watch where you’re stepping as you enter for commencement! After that, lots of sunshine and relatively mild temperatures will carry us into the weekend while we celebrate the rest of the graduates.
MIT holds OneMIT commencement ceremony
The Institute held its OneMIT commencement ceremony today on May 30. Noubar Afeyan PhD ’87 gave the commencement address and MIT President Sally Kornbluth delivered the charge to the graduates. Chair of the MIT Corporation Mark P. Gorenberg ’76 presided over the ceremony. The proceedings were disrupted by protests led by a pro-Palestinian contingency and pro-Israeli supporters.
Rifts amongst faculty laid bare in closed-door meetings amidst interim student suspensions and heightened campus tensions
Publisher’s Note: The two faculty meetings described in this article on May 15 and May 17 were held in executive session as closed-door discussions. The information presented is a synthesis of several interviews held with attendees of the meeting and other individuals familiar with the situation. These accounts were corroborated by additional documentation obtained by The Tech.
MIT Office of Minority Education to be potentially renamed and undergo organizational changes
A meeting between the MIT Office of Minority Education (OME) and OME-affiliated students took place on May 9. Diep Luu, Associate Dean of the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Director of the Undergraduate Advising Center (UAC), and Interim Director of the OME presented future directions for the OME. A Q&A session followed.
Physics Professor Or Hen speaks out on campus protests and student conduct
Editor-in-chief’s note: This piece touches upon the ongoing war in Palestine, including associated acts of rape and killing.
MIT Commencement Ceremonies features OneMIT Ceremony for Class of 2024
Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2024 will take place on a three-day span from Wednesday, May 29, through Friday, May 31. Similar to proceedings at the 2023 commencement, all graduates are invited to attend a 90-minute OneMIT ceremony on Killian Court at 3 p.m. on Thursday May 30.
Mostly clear skies to send off the graduates
A high pressure ridge will replace a mid-level trough to bring us lots of sunshine Friday and into the weekend.
Institute remember military service members on Memorial Day
In an email sent to the MIT community on May 24, Interim Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate and Graduate Education and Course 16 Professor Daniel Hastings SM ’78 PhD ’80, called for the community to “salute the Amercians who have given their lives in defense of our nation.”
Two MIT alumni charged in $25 million cryptocurrency heist
Anton Peraire-Bueno SB ’24 and James Peraire-Bueno SM ’21 SB ’19 were taken into federal custody on May 14. They were charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, and are accused of stealing about $25 million in cryptocurrency from the commonly used Ethereum blockchain.
Eleven MIT undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni win Fulbright fellowships for 2024-2025
Eleven MIT undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni won Fulbright fellowships for the 2024-2025 cycle. According to a press release from MIT News, MIT has been a “Fulbright Top-Producing Institution for five years in row.”
May 15 open faculty meeting celebrates faculty and holds amendment votes
The May 15 monthly faculty meeting included the presentation of the James R. Killian Jr. Faculty Achievement Award, the results of votes on the J- grade modifier and a proposed amendment to the Faculty Newsletter (FNL) policies, and the elections for Faculty Chair and other committees.
In Memoriam: David Lanning PhD ’63
David Lanning PhD ’63, Professor Emeritus of Nuclear Science and Engineering, passed away on Apr. 26 at the age of 96.
In Memoriam: Jerome Connor ’53 SM ‘54 ScD ‘59
Jerome Connor ’53 SM ’54 ScD ’59, Professor Emeritus of Civil & Environmental Engineering, passed away on Mar. 31. Connor was an alumnus of the civil engineering department and taught as a tenured professor at the Institute for nearly six decades.