Cambridge Bomb Squad Inspects Burton Third’s Concrete ‘Bomb’
On Friday morning, a dormitory hall’s publicity stunt bombed.<br> The Cambridge Bomb Squad responded to a heavy concrete block painted to look like a cartoon bomb, advertising the annual Dance Till You Drop party held by the Burton Third Bombers.
Burton Third Bombers’ Statement
We, the students of Burton Third, wish to issue a sincere and full apology for the events of the morning of April 24, 2009, for which we accept full responsibility. We understand that our actions have resulted in significant havoc for the Spring Weekend Committee, MIT Police, and community of Cambridge, and we regret wholly our failure to anticipate such an outcome. The offending object (a large concrete and sand “bomb,” modeled after the floor insignia and painted with the letters “DTYD XL” in black and orange) was created solely as a Hack to advertise an event to be held the same night. We did not intend to convey any threat or danger to the community. We pledge our full cooperation to the MIT police and administration to address any concerns pertaining to this issue.
MIT Avoids Norovirus; Campus Police Conduct Routine ‘Well-Being Checks’
<i>This occasional feature follows up on news stories long past their prime. In this edition: a contagious stomach bug misses the Institute but strikes close to home for one campus leader; don’t be alarmed if the police come knocking — they might just be checking that you’re OK; and a Walker Memorial bathroom has now been getting the same anti-gay graffiti for five years.</i>
Pistol & Gymnastics Among Eight Varsity Sports To Be Slashed
Eight of MIT’s 41 varsity sports will be cut at the end of the academic year — alpine skiing, golf, men’s and women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s ice hockey, pistol, and wrestling.
2.007 Prof Gets Big Screw
Prof. Daniel D. Frey PhD ’97 received the Institute Screw on Wednesday afternoon, with $1128.51 in proceeds from the fundraiser going towards the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
Annual Baker House Piano Drop Commemorates Spring Drop Date
A 500 pound piano played its last song yesterday evening after it was launched off Baker House’s roof during the annual Piano Drop, which commemorates the spring term deadline for dropping classes.
News Briefs
MIT will offer an energy minor this fall, pending faculty vote on a interdisciplinary council to govern the new minor. The energy minor will require six subjects, including one in each of three categories: energy science, the social science of energy, and energy technology and engineering.
Life Placed On Hold: Visa Delays Present New Hurdles for International Students
When Shuo Chen applied for a new U.S. visa from her home country on Dec. 18, she was expecting to receive it in time to return to MIT at the beginning of January. However, after turning in her application to the U.S. embassy in China, she was told that her application could take up to eight weeks.
Campus Preview Weekend Draws Record Crowd, Awesome Weather
This weekend, a record number of prospective freshmen are expected to arrive at MIT for this year’s Campus Preview Weekend. Over a thousand students from all over the world will gather for a nonstop 72-hour experience involving over 640 events.
Varsity Sports To Be Cut After CPW, Before May
As administrators of MIT’s athletic department continue to deliberate on which of MIT’s 41 varsity sports will be cut, student athletes have little to do but wait for the decision, which is expected before the month’s end.
For Years, IS&T Has Monitored Network Data Without Policy
Since 1999, Information Services and Technology has been collecting information about campus network traffic without an official policy governing how it may use or store the data.
Technical Details of IS&T Monitoring
IS&T is collecting two data feeds that contain information about network traffic. Pages on IS&T’s web site show that one data feed comes from external-rtr-2, one of four routers that are responsible for handling network traffic that is entering or leaving the campus. The device uses a SPAN port, which is Cisco’s system for making a copy of all traffic on a router.
Communication Requirement Sees 15% Cuts, Not 5%
The department in charge of the Communication Requirement will experience over a 15 percent decrease in its budget this year, according to Daniel E. Hastings ’78, dean for undergraduate education. Administrators are now discussing how to implement the cuts, which may involve staff cutbacks.
Prospective Freshmen Looking Forward to the Weekend
Interviews compiled by Claire Nieman ’13. Photos by Andrew T. Lukmann G.
Police Log
<i>The following incidents were reported to the MIT Police between Mar. 21, 2009 and Mar. 31, 2009. This summary does not include incidents such as false alarms, general service calls, or medical shuttles.</i>