Dean of Engineering explains his decision to step down
Ian Waitz, dean of the School of Engineering, announced in a Feb. 14 email to the school community that he will step down as dean Jun. 30. In an interview with The Tech, he discussed the ups and downs of his time at the school, along with his plans for the future.
UA delays spring elections after commission chair resigns
The decision to change the election timeline was reached by UA councillors over email, an unusual step taken after the UA’s March meeting was cancelled.
MIT students to help shape Democratic party platform in Massachusetts
A party delegation from a region encompassing MIT is revived after three years of inactivity.
Add date, Atlas, housing, gear repair
Add date is Friday. This is the last day to add classes, change classes to sophomore exploratory or junior/senior P/D/F, switch from listener to credit, and drop half-term subjects.
Energy career fair, add date, and student group funding
The MIT Energy Career Fair is today from 7 to 9 p.m. in Lobdell on the second floor of the student center.
MIT's chief legal officer offers insights on joint amicus brief
Following the executive order barring entry to the U.S. from several countries, MIT filed an amicus curae brief to provide the court with perspective on how the ban affects institutions of higher learning.
CRISPR patent ruling has little impact in laboratory setting, MIT researchers say
Researchers maintained that the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s Feb. 15 decision giving the Broad Institute the go-ahead on editing eukaryotic genomes with CRISPR had little impact on their research.
MIT's Volpe site development to bring together Kendall Square community
Affordable housing, sustainability, business, and scientific research are among the top priorities for MIT’s Volpe Center redevelopment project. The project will include significant renovations to the Kendall Square MBTA station and the construction of 300 additional housing units, some of which will make up a new MIT graduate residence hall, replacing Eastgate.
Trump rescinds directive allowing transgender people to choose bathroom
President Donald Trump on Wednesday rescinded protections for transgender students that had allowed them to use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity, overruling his own education secretary and placing his administration firmly in the middle of the culture wars that many Republicans have tried to leave behind.
At DataRescue, students collaborate to protect vital government data
DataRescue Boston at MIT, a day-long hackathon focused on preserving federal data at risk of manipulation or removal by the Trump administration, took place Saturday in Walker Memorial.
Fast-forward to spring
Today’s temperatures will be more than 20°F (11 K) warmer than normal for this time of year, as winter meets its premature demise in much of the United States. It has been a week since the high temperature observed at Boston’s Logan Airport was colder than its climatological normal, and today’s warm weather would be more suited for mid-May than for late February. This anomalous warmth is part of a pattern that has generated springlike weather over the East and the South, causing temperature records to be broken at many sites in those regions. Anomalously warm weather is forecast to continue for at least two more weeks east of a line running roughly from Texas to Wisconsin. With the first day of astronomical spring less than a month away, the prospect of a return to winter is becoming increasingly unlikely.
Minor completion forms, recycling questions, and student-faculty dinners
The deadline for final-term seniors to submit minor completion forms is tomorrow. There is a $50 late fee.
EVACUATED!
W20 shut down last night after a sewer line main may have broken, causing water to back up into the building and flood the loading dock.
The Engine announces new president, seeks startups to fund
MIT’s startup accelerator and venture capitalist fund The Engine selected experienced Boston entrepreneur and investor Katie Rae as its president and CEO Tuesday, according to an MIT News release.
Hearing postponed for student arrested for unlicensed firearm possession
The second hearing for Angel De La Cruz, an MIT senior arrested last month for unlicensed possession of firearms in his dorm room, has been rescheduled to Mar. 13, according to his lawyer, Kristin Weberg. The hearing was originally to take place Feb. 13. De La Cruz is currently being held in custody without bail.
ASA accepting applications to new student groups again
The moratorium imposed on new student groups by the Association of Student Activities has ended, meaning students can once again register new clubs. After a semester of not recognizing new groups due to understaffing and an outdated application system, the ASA has resumed the recognition process as originally planned.
Broad Institute will retain CRISPR patents, ruling says
The Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will retain potentially lucrative rights to a powerful gene-editing technique that could lead to major advances in medicine and agriculture, the federal Patent and Trademark Office ruled Wednesday.
Volpe meetings, gallery opening, ring premiere, and President's Day
There is no class Monday for President’s Day, and Tuesday will feature a Monday schedule. Enjoy the long weekend!
Planner creator petitions administration for support
A petition appeared on the site urging the MIT administration to better support the service.
Barnhart announces new location for dorm
Chancellor Barnhart named the West Garage parking facility (W45) as the most favorable location for the construction of a new undergraduate dormitory.