New toolkit a Rosetta stone for MIT’s vernacular
Who was MIT’s president during World War I? How many graduate resident tutors (GRTs) are there? What’s the difference between “Course” and “course”? What are the Pantone colors for the MIT red and gray logo?
IN MEMORY OF Omar Khalidi, MIT librarian, dies at age 57
Omar Khalidi, who worked at the MIT Libraries from 1983 until last month, died Monday after being struck by a train at the Kendall Square MBTA station.
Legislators mull Internet freedom, privacy measures
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers examining the Federal Trade Commission’s recommendation for a “do not track” mechanism to restrict the monitoring of Internet users said they supported stricter safeguards for consumer privacy, but raised questions on how the system would work.
Water shutdown forces emergency closing
Students returning from their Thanksgiving break on Sunday were greeted by orange, yellow, and white signs plastered on the doors of the student center announcing that the building was without water and functioning restrooms. Bathrooms were cordoned off with tape.
Wiretaps used in fraud, trading cases
WASHINGTON — Secret, court-approved wiretaps put in place more than two years ago are now being used by prosecutors in a widening inquiry of securities fraud and insider trading involving hedge funds and consultants that provide industry research, according to court documents and interviews with people close to the investigations.
In response to complaints, tweaks made to dining
Dean for Student Life Chris Colombo and the House and Dining Advisory Group (HDAG) updated the dining plan yesterday with lunch options as well as a cheaper $2,500 plan to appease upperclassmen wary of mandatory dining.
Death at Kendall
At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Monday, a 57-year-old male MBTA passenger fell onto the tracks and was killed by an inbound Red Line subway train, according to The Cambridge Chronicle. As of 10 p.m. last night, the identity of the victim has not yet been released by MBTA officials. It is not known if the victim is affiliated with MIT.
An American in Peru, out of prison after 14 years and living with regret
LIMA, Peru — In the words of Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, archbishop of Lima, granting parole to Lori Berenson has made a “mockery” of the nation. Julio Galindo, Peru’s top anti-terrorism prosecutor, says Berenson, a New Yorker convicted of collaborating with a Marxist rebel group, remains an “irascible” threat to society.
Drawn from an elite club
The selection of Xerox CEO Ursula M. Burns as commencement speaker marks the fourth time in five years that MIT has chosen a member of the MIT Corporation, raising the question: How are final speakers are chosen?
In cancer research, a new target: tumors’ fuel line
For the last decade cancer drug developers have tried to jam the accelerators that cause tumors to grow. Now they want to block the fuel line.
Tang trial delayed again
Anna Tang’s trial has stopped in mid-stream, because an expert for the prosecution has changed her mind. The trial won’t resume before mid-August.
Tang trial starts: Styke testifies
Wolfe B. Styke ’10 testified Friday on the opening day of Commonwealth v. Anna Tang, the trial of the former Wellesley student who stabbed Styke in his Next House dormitory room in October 2007.
Obama Visits Research Laboratories, Speaks at MIT
President Barack Obama commended MIT for its “extraordinary energy research” and urged America to take leadership in cleaner technologies in a speech today at Kresge Auditorium.
At Logan, delays are imminent
Flying home for Thanksgiving? Better pack your patience. You can expect long lines and new security measures at Logan Airport this week.
Anti-piracy bill stalls in Senate amid controversy
On Nov. 19, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Combating Online Infringements and Counterfeits Act (COICA), which allows the government to use court orders to shut down websites thought to infringe on copyright. Also known as S.3804, COICA was introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy on Sept. 20 as an attempt to prevent the spread of piracy websites.
Course 6/7 joint major proposed
A bachelor’s degree in computer science and molecular biology was proposed by the Departments of Biology and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at the Nov. 17 faculty meeting. At the faculty meeting, Eric L. Grimson PhD ’80, head of the EECS department, said that the EECS faculty “basically unanimously endorsed” the proposal. Commentary at the meeting was so positive that at the end of the discussion, MIT President Susan J. Hockfield asked, “Anyone else want to join the love-fest?”
New twist in stem cell lawsuit
In the latest update in the stem cell lawsuit, Sherley v. Sebelius, James L. Sherley now has to contend with the opposition of his own employer, the Boston Biomedical Research Institution.
Research suggests online TV viewers may be willing to tolerate longer commercial breaks
Viewers of television shows on the Web have grown accustomed to 15- and 30-second commercial breaks — a fraction of the time given for commercials on traditional TV. Would they accept TV-style ad loads?