Decrease in High School Graduates Will Increase College Admission Rates
High school seniors nationwide are anxiously awaiting the verdicts from the colleges of their choice later this month. But though it may not be of much solace to them, in just a few years the admissions frenzy is likely to ease. It’s simply a matter of demographics.
Fin. Aid Boosted; No Tuition For Families Earning Under $75K
MIT announced on Friday that students whose families earn less than $75,000 per year — approximately 30 percent of the student body — will no longer pay tuition. To cover these and other new policies, MIT’s financial aid budget will rise to $74 million, a $7 million increase over last year’s budget.
MIT Names MacVicar Fellows For Excellence in Undergrad Teaching
Five MIT faculty members were named MacVicar Fellows for their excellence in undergraduate teaching last Friday during this year’s MacVicar Day, a celebration which recognizes contributions to undergraduate education at MIT. The program began in 32-123 with a lecture on science education by Nobel Laureate in Physics Carl E. Wieman ’73. The lecture was followed by an MIT faculty reception hosted by President Susan Hockfield at Gray House, where the five fellows were announced.
Student Triumphs Despite Socioeconomic Pressures
Eric Delgado is what those in research call an outlier — an anomaly, a deviation from the typical.
Profs Debate Merits of Tasty Pancakes, Yummy Pastries; No One Wins
Mob psychology, a conversation with an intelligent computer, and audience participation all numbered among the tactics used by six MIT professors Wednesday evening at MIT Hillel’s Sixth Annual Latke vs. Hamentashen Debate.
Follett Is Fourth MIT Student To Star in ‘Beauty and the Geek
Another “Beauty and the Geek” season is about to begin, and another MIT contestant is ready to show off his talents.
American Universities Create Partnerships in Saudi Arabia
Three prominent American universities the University of Texas at Austin, the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University — are starting five-year partnerships, worth $25 million or more, with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, a graduate-level research university being built in Saudi Arabia.
Robert M. Wells ’08
Robert M. Wells ’08 was sociable and perseverant, always interested in making friends and focusing his — and their — full efforts into new things.
Univ. of Kentucky Is Struggling to Squelch Net Rumors
Prof. Jeremy D. Popkin returned to his office at the University of Kentucky on Feb. 19 after teaching a lesson about Vichy France in his course on the Holocaust. During its 30 years on the curriculum, the class has grown perpetually popular, with 60 applicants vying for half as many seats. The university has even created a Judaic Studies program.
J. Mark Schuster PhD ’79
J. Mark Schuster PhD ’79, a professor of urban studies and planning who helped develop the field of urban cultural policy and who earned the respect of his peers, died on Feb. 25 as a result of complications from melanoma, according to the MIT News Office. He was 57.
Random Hall Celebrates Its 40th Birthday With an Eclectic Party
If the candles on the dome didn’t make it obvious: Random Hall is officially over-the-hill.
Differences Between East and West Discovered in People’s Brain Activity
East is East and West is West, and the difference between them is starting to turn up even on brain scanners.
Robert M. Wells ’08 Dies After Fall From Delta Upsilon Room
Robert M. Wells ’08 died Saturday morning after a five-story fall from the Delta Upsilon fraternity house. His death, which has been characterized as accidental by friends and family, is under investigation. Wells was 22.
$30,000 Awarded to Graduate Student for Bacterial Innovation
Timothy K. Lu G is a prize-winning killer. To be more precise, on Wednesday, he won the $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Student Prize for Inventiveness for developing methods to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The prize will support research that aims to contain one of the deadliest threats known to biologists.
Fifteen Apply to Serve as W1 Founders
Fifteen applications for the W1 “founders group” were received by Tuesday’s deadline, and the group’s student membership will be selected by Friday.
Next House Housemasters Medard, Simmons Will Leave at End of Term
Next House housemasters Muriel Medard ’89 and John Simmons ’90 will leave the post at the end of the 2007–8 academic year to focus on their family.
Police Log
<i>The following incidents were reported to the MIT Police between Jan. 10, 2008 and Feb. 26, 2008. This summary does not include incidents such as false alarms, general service calls, larcenies, or medical shuttles.</i>
Sherley’s Discrimination Claim Rejected
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has denied employment discrimination claims by former professor James L. Sherley, who left MIT on June 30, 2007 after an unsuccessful hunger strike to have his tenure case re-examined, according to documents provided to <i>The Tech </i>by Sherley.
People Illogically Keep Options Open, Says MIT Professor Ariely
The next time you’re juggling options which friend to see, which house to buy, which career to pursue — try asking yourself this question: What would Xiang Yu do?