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?
FCC May Limit Companies’ Slowing of Web Traffic
The head of the Federal Communications Commission and other senior officials said Monday that they were considering taking steps to discourage cable and telephone companies from discriminating against content providers as the broadband companies go about managing heavy Internet traffic that they say is clogging their networks.
Cancer Bldg. Groundbreaking Scheduled
Groundbreaking will be held on Friday, Mar. 7, 2008 for a new building to house the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, which will bring together scientists from the Center for Cancer Research and other research groups. The building will be located on Main Street between Building 32 and Building 68 and will be completed in December 2010.
A Cappella Groups Agree On Studio
One year after a contentious debate about the terms offered by the Logarhythms for sharing their recording studio, MIT a cappella groups have agreed to another two years under the same terms as before. Campus a cappella groups have found other ways to obtain more recording time, including building their own makeshift studios and using off-campus studios.
Late-Night Appearance Brings Prominence To 8.02 Instructor Fisher
“It’s like a drug,” said Physics Professor Peter H. Fisher, referring to the 14 minutes of fame he got in a recent appearance on NBC’s Late Show with Conan O’Brien.
Stanford University Expands Its Financial Aid Into Middle Class
Stanford University on Wednesday became the latest prominent university to expand financial aid well into the middle class. It announced that students from families earning less than $100,000 a year would not be charged tuition.
P/D/F Option Proposed For Graduate Students At Feb. Faculty Meeting
Professor of Biology Stephen P. Bell presented a motion at Wednesday afternoon’s faculty meeting that would allow graduate students to take subjects on a Pass/D/Fail basis, similar to the option currently available to junior and senior undergraduates. The motion will be discussed and voted upon at the March 19 faculty meeting.
Legendary Blackjack Analysts Alive But Still Widely Unknown
Blackjack has been on a hot streak lately, glamorized in best-selling books like Ben Mezrich’s “Bringing Down the House” and its upcoming movie adaptation, “21,” both chronicling the exploits of MIT teams that took the casinos for millions in the 1990s. How they beat the odds and made a small fortune in the process has become the stuff of pop-culture legend.
MIT Drafts Response To Senate Inquiry On Endowment, Tuition
MIT is compiling data to respond to the Senate Finance Committee’s request for information about the school’s endowment, financial aid, and tuition rates.
Louis Menand III
Even among college professors and the politically passionate, Louis Menand III was notably unabashed.
Removing Pass/NR Improved Freshman Grades, CUP Reports
Freshman grades have improved since the change from pass/no record grading to A/B/C/no record grading in the spring term, according to a report released last month by the Committee on the Undergraduate Program. But sophomore grade point averages for both fall and spring terms have remained constant since the change.
Third Eye Blind Set to Rock At Spring Weekend Concert
Third Eye Blind will be the main act in the Spring Weekend Concert to be held on April 25 in the Johnson Athletic Center. The alternative rock band was the favorite choice in a survey of over one thousand undergraduates, garnering a 76 percent approval rating. Jimmy Eat World and Akon ranked second and third, respectively.