Suresh Becomes the New Dean of Engineering; Magnanti Steps Down
Subra Suresh PhD ’81, professor in the Department of Material Science and Engineering, was appointed as the new dean of engineering in June, effective July 23. Suresh replaced Institute Professor Thomas L. Magnanti, who was dean since 1999, according to the MIT News Office.
Missing Alumnus Found Dead in National Forest
The body of Cambridge resident Edgar R. Gonzalez ’04 was found in Grout Pond in Stratton, Vt. on July 29. Gonzalez had been missing since July 7 when he became separated from his group while hiking during a camping trip in the Green Mountain National Forest.
Joseph F. O'Connor
Joseph F. O'Connor, Draper Laboratory's retired vice president of human resources and administration (1981-1994) and secretary of the Corporation (1994-2005), died June 11 of cancer at the age of 77.
Pritchett Dining Closes, Preferred Dining Fee Is Rolled Back to $300
Pritchett Dining will not reopen this coming fall, according to Richard D. Berlin III, director of Campus Dining. The discontinuation of Pritchett Dining, a response to a student-led plan for improvement of east campus dining options, was announced in conjunction with the decision to rollback the semester fee for Preferred Dining to $300 for the coming fall.
Affiliate Housing Construction Begins; $30 Million Committed
Construction has begun on 303 Third Street near Kendall Square, the site that will house MIT's University Residential Community, the result of over four years of planning by various members of the MIT community to provide affordable housing to those with institutional affiliations close to campus.
Police Log
<i>The following incidents were reported to the MIT Police between May 21 and June 18, 2007. This summary does not include incidents such as false alarms, general service calls, larcenies, or medical shuttles.</i>
Faculty Promotions
The Executive Committee of the MIT Corporation approved the promotion of the following faculty members, effective July 1.
Prof. Sherley Locked Out Of BE Laboratory After June 30 Deadline Passes
James L. Sherley, the African American associate professor who went on a 12-day hunger strike in February to protest his tenure denial, met the end of his appointment last Saturday, June 30. Sherley, who worked for the Biological Engineering Department, faced locked doors when he attempted to work in his laboratory after June 30 in an effort to resist the deadline.
E. Cary Brown
E. Cary Brown, a leading expert on fiscal policy and the economics of taxation and a member of the MIT economics faculty for more than 60 years, passed away on June 8. He was 91.
RIAA Files Lawsuit, Eight Targeted For Infringing Copyright
The Recording Industry Association of America has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against eight defendants at MIT, according to Massachusetts District Court filings.
News Briefs
MIT has formed a new Security & Emergency Management Office, effective this month with the start of the new fiscal year. With a staff of three, the office will coordinate campus security policies as well as provide assistance with security questions and advice on installing security systems.
Drink Coffee, Have Fun, and Don’t Forget to Count Your Blessings
<i>Below is the text of outgoing Graduate Student Council President Eric G. Weese’s address to the graduates of 2007.</i>
News Briefs
Information Services and Technology has updated MIT’s spam filtering software to support “allow” and “deny” lists for the “To:” field of e-mails. The lists override the regular spam scoring, and permit all messages to or from a given address to be classified as non-spam (allow lists), or all messages to or from a given address to be classified as spam (deny lists). Prior to Wednesday, June 13, allow and deny lists only supported the “From:” field. The new feature does not operate on the “Cc:” header.
Ryan M. Davis ’10
Ryan M. Davis ’10, an energetic and vibrant student with a passion for chemistry, died on May 26 in the Mount Holyoke Range after being missing for nearly two months. He was 20.
Newly Elected Members of the MIT Corporation
The MIT Corporation elected the above members at its quarterly meeting on Friday, June 8. All memberships are effective beginning July 1. From then, the Corporation will consist of 70 members, 20 of which are life members and eight of which are ex officio. An additional 34 individuals are life members emeritus, who can participate in meetings but do not having voting privileges.
We Survived! Graduates Urged to Use Powers for Good, Not Evil
<i>Below is the text of Class of 2007 President Susan Shin’s address to the graduates during Commencement on June 8.</i>
More Successful Apps: 81 Percent of Summer UROPs Find Funding
As of the end of the Spring Term, 335 out of the 469 students who applied for direct summer funding from the Undergradute Research Opportunities Program received funding, according to Melissa J. Martin-Greene, staff associate in the Academic Resources Center. An additional 10 percent of the applicants were funded through non-UROP sources, such as UROP faculty and special departmental funds.
Speakers Challenge Graduates: Only You Can Save the World
Over 2,000 students received degrees last Friday during MIT’s 141st Commencement in front of approximately 10,000 guests, including members of the 50-year reunion Class of 1957.