What’s down with Town Gown
Every year, some of MIT’s most important administrators stand before the people of Cambridge. The City, which is largely defined by its universities, asks that Harvard, MIT, Lesley University, and Cambridge College give annual public Town Gown reports about what each institution has been doing for the last 365 days and what the future has in store. Because in a city of slightly over 100,000 people, it’s no small wonder that some of the nation’s largest, richest, and most influential schools have a big impact on how this town works.
Former varsity sports, profiled
In April 2009, faced with over $400,000 in budget cuts, MIT’s Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation (DAPER) cut eight varsity teams — Women’s and Men’s Gymnastics, Women’s and Men’s Hockey, Golf, Alpine Skiing, Wrestling, and Pistol. The move saved DAPER nearly half a million dollars in expenditures annually, but caused outcry across campus and lost MIT its status as one of only two schools in the nation with 41 varsity sports — the other being Harvard. Within the course of a day, these teams went from established varsity programs to groups with indeterminate futures. And although the club sports moratorium was lifted to allow the seven cut teams without club analogues (a club Women’s Hockey team existed at the time of the cuts) to continue, the transition was not going to be easy — from losing athletes to competing in a new league, the new club teams had a lot of work ahead of them besides raising money and resolving management issues.
Ghana Justice visits Sloan
The Chief Justice of Ghana, Georgina T. Wood, gave a talk on Tuesday about the legal situation in Ghana and Africa. Wood was hosted by the MIT Sloan Africa Business Club, who invited her to be their spring speaker.
Ian A. Waitz named new Dean of Engineering
Ian A. Waitz, head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Course XVI) was named the new Dean of Engineering on Tuesday. Waitz succeeds Subra Suresh ScD ’81 as Dean, who left MIT to direct the National Science Foundation last September, and current Interim Dean of Engineering Cynthia Barnhart PhD ’88. He will assume his duties as Dean this Monday, February 7.
MIT and Harvard announce joint library initiative
Today, MIT and Harvard libraries announced a joint initiative that marks a future of greater integration between their collective resources. Goals of the new plan include enabling reciprocal book requests, increasing access to digitized information, and sharing of physical resources between the two universities.
From the Editor
At the beginning of 2010 we saw the tail end of a budget crunch that was quelled by swift, but resonable cuts. Though we are out of immediate danger, the crisis birthed many longer-term plans that will shape the Institute for years to come.
$24M donation breathes life into Ashdown
After a donation of $24 million from Fariborz Maseeh ScD ’90 in September 2010, Ashdown House (W1) will rise again as Maseeh Hall this fall. The new dorm space will allow the undergraduate population to grow by about 200 students over the next three years.
Two fraternities suffer setbacks in 2010
Fraternities had a rough year in 2010: Over the course of 365 days, MIT saw one fraternity suspended and another sued, later reaching a six-figure settlement.
Dining ignites campus controversy
Few topics caused as much tension on campus in 2010 as the ever-changing House Dining Plan, scheduled to go into effect Fall 2011. In March 2010, the Division of Student Life (DSL) formed the House Dining Advisory Group (HDAG), committed to the creation of a new dining plan with the hope to eliminate the $600,000 deficit from House Dining and to offer more options for student dining.
Budget cuts target jobs, Athena printing, student life
In late 2009, MIT announced its plans to save $130 million over the next two years. This past year marked a major move in the implementation of the recommendations made by the Institute-Wide Planning Task Force, a group charged to recommend budget-cutting activities across all departments and divisions at MIT.
MIT affiliates embroiled in Wikileaks fiasco
MIT often finds itself connected to stories of national and international significance, and 2010 was no exception. Wikileaks, an organization which publishes leaked documents online, found itself in the middle of a global political firestorm after publishing documents detailing American operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and later diplomatic cables from U.S. embassies the world over. The alleged leaker responsible for handing over these documents to Wikileaks? Bradley Manning, an Army private who had visited Pika in summer 2009 and came again to MIT in January 2010.
Year brings new HASS requirements, plans for 6/7 major
The efforts of various academic task forces over the past several years have led to major changes in MIT’s curriculum, including the introduction of Course 20 as Biological Engineering in 2006 and the elimination of double degrees in 2009. This year, these changes continued with the implementation of a new HASS system, and a new degree program combining Courses VI and VII that will begin accepting students next fall.
Varsity cuts, 18 months afterwards
“It was the hardest decision I ever had to make in a leadership role.”
Gates calls for final push to end polio
NEW YORK — On Monday, in a Manhattan town house that once belonged to polio’s most famous victim, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Bill Gates made an appeal for one more big push to wipe out world polio.
US pushes nuclear energy, but its projects lag
WASHINGTON — In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama proposed giving the nuclear construction business a type of help it has never had, a role in a quota for clean energy. But recent setbacks in a hoped-for “nuclear renaissance” raise questions about how much of a role nuclear power can play.
Looking in-depth at orientation plans
Following the Undergraduate Association emergency meeting last week, several student groups have responded in an effort to preserve Residential Exploration (REX) during next year’s orientation. While final changes to Orientation have not yet been confirmed, a reduced schedule could lead to timing conflicts, which could cut back on available time during the REX period. The final scheduling decision rests with Chancellor Phillip L. Clay PhD ’75, and will be made by mid-February, according to Julie B. Norman, Senior Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Academic and Advising Programming.
The Tech’s Year in Review
History gives perspective. Knowing how things have changed over time can powerfully inform how things will be. At a time when MIT, and the world at large, is facing the continued pressure of a new financial reality, it helps to look back to understand how we got to where we are today.
REX drastically shortened
Dozens of undergraduates comprised a passionate audience at yesterday evening’s emergency UA meeting, called in response to the proposed shortening of Orientation by the Office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming. Elizabeth C. Young and Julie B. Norman, associate dean and director, respectively, of the UAAP, discussed the planned changes to Orientation, including the re-scheduling of Advanced Standing Exams (ASEs) and the extension of Freshman Pre-Orientation Programs (FPOPs), but most discussion centered around the proposed reduction of Residence Exploration (REX) from three days to one.