Reif discusses his vision of MIT’s next Chancellor, seeks student input
Two weeks ago, President L. Rafael Reif announced that Eric Grimson PhD ’80 would be stepping down from his Chancellorship to take on the new role of Chancellor for Academic Advancement. Prior to serving as the Chancellor, Grimson headed the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from 2005 to 2011. The Tech sat down with Reif to discuss his visions for the next Chancellor and Grimson’s new role in fundraising.
Unofficial results for Cambridge municipal elections released
In the aftermath of Election Day this past Tuesday, the Cambridge Election Commission has released the preliminary results for the city council school committee elections. According to these numbers, which do not include provisional and overseas ballots, four new city councillors and two new school committee members may be elected when the official numbers are reported on November 15.
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MIT’s Daniel Kleppner was among nine individuals named as laureates by the Franklin Institute on Monday. Kleppner was awarded the 2014 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics “for many pioneering contributions to discoveries of novel quantum phenomena involving the interaction of atoms with electromagnetic fields and the behavior of ultra-low temperatures,” according to a Monday press release published by the Franklin Institute. Kleppner, who is the Lester Wolfe Professor Emeritus of Physics at MIT, conducts research in atomic physics. In addition to his Benjamin Franklin Medal in Physics, he is also the recipient of the 2006 National Medal of Science and the 2005 Wolf Prize.
IN SHORT
Student group space allocation applications are due on Monday, Nov. 11 to the ASA. In addition, applications for new student groups are due next Friday, Nov. 15 at http://web.mit.edu/asa/start/index.html. The deadline to submit applications to the ASA’s Large Event Fund (LEF) and the Assisting Recurring Cultural and Diversity Events (ARCADE) fund is Sun, Nov. 24.
Fifth week flags issued
This semester, 144 freshmen, or 12.9 percent of the Class of 2017, were issued fifth week flags. The proportion of recipients is down from almost a fifth of the Class of 2016 last year. Fifth week flags exist as part of an early warning system to encourage students to reevaluate their study habits.
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The Graduate Student Housing Working Group was formed to “focus on how we might best house our graduate students” according to the May/June faculty newsletter. In August, the group’s chairman Professor Phillip L. Clay wrote in an email to The Tech that the group planned to “issue a report in October.” However, Dean for Graduate Education Christine Ortiz, a member of the group, wrote that the group is “still deliberating” and offered no updates in an Oct. 28 email to The Tech.
Pelosi visits C-Mod, PSFC layoffs delayed
U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi visited MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) Thursday, where she learned about MIT’s fusion experiments performed on its tokamak Alcator C-Mod, according to MIT News. The experiment faces an uncertain future and may fail to receive federal funding in FY 2014.
Kendall design team assembled
MIT’s East Campus Steering Committee has selected the next group in charge of advancing the development of the Kendall Square area. The group will collaborate on a study of the property, which will develop into a long-term strategy for development for the area, and in particular the balancing of meeting commercial, residential, and academic needs, according to the MIT News Office.
Coursera to create ‘learning hubs’ outside the US
Coursera, a California-based venture that has enrolled 5 million students in its free online courses, on Thursday announced a partnership with the U.S. government to create “learning hubs” around the world where students can go to get Internet access to free courses supplemented by weekly in-person class discussions with local teachers or facilitators.
Assembly limits of Boston FSILG residences to be re-evaluated
Students and alumni of MIT’s fraternities, sororities, and independent living groups (FSILGs) gathered on Oct. 24 for a meeting regarding the temporary restriction on large events in Boston FSILG residences, which are to remain until the assembly limits of each residence could be evaluated. Boston FSILG residences are applying for updated assembly permits and are restricted from having events that exceed the occupancy of their houses until the permits have been issued — effectively, a ban on parties and other large events at the residences.
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Billionaire Carlos Slim Helú promised to donate $74 million to the Broad Institute Monday, according to the Boston Globe. His donation will fund genetic research based on the DNA of Hispanics and other non-Europeans, the Globe reported. “I try to support this kind of project — that is for the interest of everyone in the world, but with some focus in Mexico and Latin America,” Slim told the Globe.
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Voters will choose next Tuesday, Nov. 5, the next mayor of Boston, who will either be Marty Walsh or John R. Connolly. Incumbent Mayor Thomas Menino is not running for reelection.
Undergraduate alumni survey results released
The Office of the Provost recently released the results of the 2013 Undergraduate Alumni survey on its website. The office administers the survey periodically to gather information about undergraduate alumni who have been out of college for at least five years. Previous surveys occurred in 2005 and 2009.
Grimson to lead future fundraising
After more than two and a half years serving as Chancellor of MIT, Eric Grimson PhD ’80 will step down to fill the new role of Chancellor of Academic Advancement. President L. Rafael Reif outlined the position as the head of a new fundraising campaign in the Oct. 22 announcement.
Troubled launch for site
WASHINGTON — Ten days before HealthCare.gov opened for business, Marilyn Tavenner, the relatively obscure federal bureaucrat whose agency oversaw the creation of the troubled online insurance marketplace, had a bad omen. It was a Sunday, and her mobile device was on the fritz, forcing her to go into the office.
Peter Fisher named new head of Department of Physics
Last week, Professor Peter H. Fisher was named the new head of the Department of Physics. His five-year term will begin on Nov. 15. Fisher succeeds Edmund Bertschinger who left his position as department head in July to become the Institute Community and Equity Officer. Since then, Thomas J. Greytak has been serving as an interim department head. Fisher has been a faculty member at MIT since 1994. He currently teaches 8.033, a course on special and general relativity.