“ESP is imploding”: Crises, overhauls, and cancellations plague Educational Studies Program into the fall semester
Publisher’s Note: The information presented in this article is a synthesis of several interviews held with current and former members of ESP alongside extensive internal and external documentation reviewed by The Tech. These accounts, and references to consequential incidents and executive-level decisions made that underscored the group’s current state of affairs, were corroborated by documented information—such as meeting reports and internally-circulated records, emails, and private text messages among members—obtained by The Tech.
Fall Weather Starting!
Happy October! Overall, a pretty mid upcoming weather scope, matching the start of midterms season. With the start of the Fall, high temperatures are solidly in the 70s range and low temperatures are in the 50s, but are expected to drop further in the coming weeks. Enjoy the warmer weather before we plunge into the long, dark Boston winter!
MIT Health offers annual campus flu clinic
The clinic will take place in Walker Memorial from Monday Oct. 7 to Thursday Oct. 10 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
MIT begins the new Music Technology and Computation Graduate Program
On Sept. 27, MIT announced the launch of the Music Technology and Computation graduate program.
MIT Police Department releases 2024 security and fire safety report
The total number of criminal offenses decreased from 29 in 2021 to 23 in 2023.
Into uncharted territory: The Coalition for Palestine and the challenges of a student movement entering its sophomore year
As the fourth week of fall semester approaches and students have begun to lock in their calendars and schedules over the coming months, an unexpected calm takes hold. Coming from the heels of the most chaotic spring semester in recent history—as the ongoing Israel-Hamas war continues to shake up communities nationwide—many had expected the fall semester to have begun the same way the previous one ended: conflict and pandemonium.
The Ig Nobel Prize ceremony returns to MIT for the first time in 20 years
On Sept. 12, the 34th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony took place at MIT’s 10-250 lecture hall. Founded in 1991 by Marc Abrahams, the Ig Nobel Prize awards unusual and humorous scientific research that “first make people laugh, then make them think.” The 34th annual ceremony awarded ten prizes across a diverse range of topics, from the efficacy of fake medicine to mammals that breathe through their anuses. The theme of this year’s ceremony is Murphy’s Law, a saying that if something can go wrong, then it will go wrong.
Ten elite universities settle for disclosed amount in financial aid lawsuit; MIT not among them
Ten elite universities settle for disclosed amount in financial aid lawsuit: MIT not among them
Kornbluth highlights progress made by the Institute in a call for giving
Kornbluth highlights progress made by the Institute in a call for giving
In memoriam: Albert ‘Al’ Zesiger ’51, the namesake of the Zesiger Center
In memoriam: Albert ‘Al’ Zesiger ’51, the namesake of the Zesiger Center
President Kornbluth outlines Institutional priorities for the new year
President Kornbluth outlines Institutional priorities for the new year
In advanced standing: 2024 ASE results
The notoriously difficult 5.111 chemistry Advanced Standing Exam pass rate climbed 7% from two years prior
In Memoriam: Mathieu Le Provost
Mathieu Le Provost, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, passed away unexpectedly on July 30 in France. Joining MIT in 2023, Le Provost was a member of the Uncertainty Quantification Group under Professor Youssef Marzouk. Previously, Le Provost received his PhD in mechanical engineering from UCLA in 2022 and was advised by Professor Jeff Eldredge. According to the Uncertainty Quantification Group website, Le Provost’s research interests focus on “exploiting structures of forward and inverse problems to develop robust and scalable methods.”
30 first-year students receive FYRE offers, an all-time low
30 first-year students had successful moves, which is the lowest number ever since 2017.
Institute launches the Center for Nuclear Security Policy following a $45 million donation
MIT’s Security Studies Program will begin a Center for Nuclear Security Policy following a $45 million gift from The Stanton Foundation. The Security Studies Program, founded in 1976 as the Defense and Arms Control Study Program, is a joint program between the MIT Center for International Studies and MIT Political Science.
Silver for Eldracher ’22 ‘25 at the Paralympic Games in Paris
Emelie Eldracher SB ’22 ’25 captured a silver medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in the Mixed PR3 Coxed Four rowing for Team USA. Eldracher was the coxswain in a boat composed of athletes from Williams, Tufts, the University of Virginia, and Temple.
Sunny Start to the School Session
The sun shines down on Killian Court, welcoming MIT students back for another year of learning! Whether it's one of your first days at MIT, your last first week of class ever, or just another work week, the cooler temperatures (75 °F / 23 °C high) and bright sunshine will make for some excellent pictures. The winds are in the 10s mph, so hold onto your hats! This weekend, as the temperatures cool further, the chance of precipitation increases, so take advantage of the nice weather before the storm of the semester picks up.
Course 6-7 curriculum restyled as explosive rise of machine learning takes hold in academia
Early this month, the Registrar’s Office published an updated MIT Bulletin for the 2024–2025 academic year and introduced significant modifications to course curricula for numerous departments, including Course 6-7 (Computer Science and Molecular Biology).
Duane Boning appointed as the new Vice Provost for International Activities
MIT has announced the appointment of Duane Boning as the new Vice Provost for International Activities (VPIA), effective September 1 of this year. Boning, a long-standing member of the MIT community and the Clarence J. LeBel Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, will oversee the Institute's global engagements and policies. Boning's appointment is seen as a continuation of MIT’s commitment to fostering international partnerships that address global challenges.
State police respond to road rage shooting near Sailing Pavilion
On August 18 at around 5 p.m., state and city police swarmed an intersection of Memorial Drive near the MIT Sailing Pavilion in response to an incident that has since been labelled a “road rage shooting.”