In Short
The faculty will move to simplify the humanities degree requirement by eliminating the humanities, arts, and social sciences distribution (better known as HASS-D) at the faculty meeting tomorrow (Wed., 10-250, 3:30 p.m.). The faculty will vote next month on the proposal to be introduced tomorrow, which would replace the HASS-D requirement with a simpler three-category distribution. Freshmen starting in fall 2010 or fall 2011 would be affected. The meeting is open to all. See http://libraries.mit.edu/faculty-minutes.
Students Abduct Tim The Beaver, Demand Sports Teams Spared
Proving once again that nothing is safe in this economy, MIT’s mascot Tim the Beaver was kidnapped Saturday afternoon. The kidnappers, who said they were pressured to action while varsity sports at MIT were being threatened, demand that students’ voices be heard and are seeking a guarantee that all 41 varsity sports are kept at MIT for at least one more year.
Urgency of Climate Change, New Research Emerges at MIT Forum
A sense of urgency pervaded Monday’s clean energy forum, which was sponsored by the MIT Energy Initiative and featured a who’s who of energy and climate change policy. The forum was moderated by Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), who is co-authoring legislation designed to tackle technologically and politically difficult global warming and clean energy issues.
Alum Will Fix Hubble For the Last Time
John Grunsfeld ’80 was sitting in an astronomical meeting in Atlanta in January of 2004 when he got a message to come back to headquarters in Washington to talk about the Hubble Space Telescope.
Police Log
<i>The following incidents were reported to the MIT Police between Jan. 16, 2009 and Mar. 21, 2009. This summary does not include incidents such as false alarms, general service calls, or medical shuttles.</i>
ASA Election Results
The Association of Student Activities elected officers for the 2009–2010 term at their General Body Meeting last night in 34-101. Current ASA member Rachel E. Meyer ’10 defeated Jessie Q. Li ’10 by a landslide for President. Current president Keone Hon ’11 defeated Li and Nicole D. Teague ’11 in the election for Treasurer. Secretary and Graduate Member elections were unopposed.
Monday’s Big Screw Totals
Candidate Charity Amount Chancellor Philip L. Clay PhD ’75 Local homeless shelter $20.36 Pierre F. J. Lermusiaux (2.005) American Cancer Society $10.99 Dan Frey (2.007) United Cerebral Palsy Ass’n $5.25 Richard D. Berlin III (Campus Dining) Project Bread $4.69 David W. Miller (Course 16) AIDS Action Committee $4.36 Albert R. Meyer (6.042) MIT Community Service Fund $2.16 Richard M. Dudley (18.440) Jimmy Fund $2.00 Karen A. Nilsson (Residential Life) Project Bread $2.00 Christopher C. Cummins CM ’93 (5.03, 5.05) Save the Harbor, Save the Bay $1.46 Anette Hosoi (2.001, 2.006) To be determined $1.00 Tong Chen (Course 21F) To be determined $0 Alexander Mitsos (Course 2) Big Sisters Boston $0 Total $54.20
Alumni Donations Shrink
The total monetary value of alumni donations to Institute’s largest alumni giving funds has decreased. Although about the same number of people are giving, they’re giving less money.
News Briefs
MIT has fired Joseph D’Amelio, the MIT Police Officer arrested for drug trafficking in mid-March, MIT announced on this week.
Colleges Set Degree Standards
In the first American effort of its kind, universities and colleges in Indiana, Minnesota and Utah are starting pilot projects to make sure that degree programs in their states reflect a consensus about what specific knowledge and skills should be taught.
MIT Will Eliminate Some Varsity Sports
Faced with a staggering budget cut, MIT’s athletics department is preparing to relinquish the Institute’s claim to the most varsity sports of any university by cutting some of those sports.
Provost Reif Talks Budget, Asks For Input at UA Senate Meeting
At last night’s Undergraduate Association meeting, Provost L. Rafael Reif talked about MIT’s relative financial stability and said that he will not “micromanage” budget cuts.
Plummeting Home Prices Mean New Headache for Parents Paying Tuition
Parents of college-age children used to be able to count on home-equity loans to help pay tuition, but this is no longer the case with housing values sliding and the mortgage market imposing much tighter restrictions on loans.
ASA Event Funding Results
The Association of Student Activities has released the Spring 2009 allocations for the Large Event Fund (LEF) and ARCADE (Assisting Recurring Cultural And Diversity Events).
15% Discount Offered To MIT Departments By Supplier Digi-Key
Electronics supplier Digi-Key has recently agreed to provide a 15 percent discount and free second-day shipping to MIT departments, though students might get the discount for personal use as well.
Bennie, Delano Elected as Next UA President, Vice President
Michael A. Bennie ’10 and Margaret K. Delano ’10 were elected Undergraduate Association president and vice-president, respectively, in a landslide victory last week. Bennie and Delano garnered just under half of all first-place votes, nearly tripling the vote count of runner-up Ryan W. Jackson ’10 and Thomas W. Hay ’10.
D’Amelio Out on $75,000 Bail
<span class=update-ear>Updated: 12:23 A.M.</span><br>Joseph D’Amelio, the MIT Police Officer arrested for drug trafficking on Sat., March 14, has been released on $75,000 bail. He is under house arrest with electronic monitoring, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s spokesman Jake Wark.