Senior House is last to receive an RLAD
After several years of negotiations between residents and MIT administrators, Senior House has now become the last dormitory to get a Residential Life Area Director.
Suspect charged with murder after shooting
On Monday, Roosselin Altidor of Medford was arraigned on a charge of murder for the Aug. 12 shooting of 31-year-old Rasaun Nichols near MIT’s campus.
Fall housing to debut gender-inclusive opt-in
Beginning this fall, all undergraduate and graduate dormitories will offer gender-inclusive housing.
New curriculum offered for students doubling in 6-1 & 8
The Department of Physics and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science have recently announced changes to the curriculum for undergraduates double majoring in Electrical Engineering (Course 6-1) and Physics (Course 8).
Institute a possible host of fencing, archery in the 2024 Olympic Games
MIT is being considered as a possible venue for hosting sporting events during the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, which the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced Thursday would be held in Boston if the United States is chosen to be the host country.
Parents Weekend policy reignites dorm security talk
Dormitory security procedures during Parents Weekend have rekindled undergraduate resentment toward new security policies implemented at the beginning of the semester.
New FSILG policy allows use of some roof decks this term
The Interfraternity Council, the Association of Independent Living Groups Board, and the AILG Facilities Committee have instated a new policy regarding approval for roof deck usage at fraternities, sororities, and independent living groups (FSILGs), overriding the existing prohibition of roof deck use.
Addresses, phone numbers to be taken down from online directory
By the start of the fall semester, MIT students’ permanent home addresses, term phone numbers, and term addresses will no longer be displayed in the online MIT people directory.
Hockfield compensated $1,721,597 in 2012
MIT’s highest-compensated employee in 2012 was outgoing President Susan J. Hockfield, who received a total compensation of $1,721,597, according to MIT’s most recent tax filings. This is an increase from $1,199,877 in 2011.
IFC reinforces roof deck rules while limits stand
Faced with the possibility that assembly limits imposed on MIT’s Boston fraternities in October 2013 may continue through Rush week this September, the Interfraternity Council doubled down last week on a prohibition of the use of roof decks at all MIT fraternities in an attempt to ease tensions with the city of Boston.
East Campus Housemasters to retire at end of the semester
Thomas J. and Kate Delaney, the East Campus (EC) Housemasters, are stepping down from their roles at the end of this semester. Kate Delaney, a lecturer in the Department of Literature, and Tom, a lecturer in Comparative Media Studies / Writing, have been Housemasters for EC since 2006. The Delaneys will be retiring at the end of this semester.
Early Sophomore standing numbers released
This year, 316 freshmen were offered early sophomore standing. This is 28.4 percent of the class, an increase from last year’s 25.9 percent. Additionally, 158 students chose to accept early sophomore standing so far, up from 134 acceptances last year.
The new faces of the GIRs: makeovers in biology, chemistry
In Fall 2013, alterations and additions to the General Institute Requirement (GIR) classes offered students more options and new mediums for learning. The Department of Biology introduced two new Introductory Biology classes, 7.015 and 7.016, as well as incorporated online learning from edX into 7.012. Additionally, 3.091 (Solid State Chemistry) piloted an entirely new course format that strongly integrated the use of online learning materials into the structure of the course.
Dahleh is ESD acting director
Munther A. Dahleh has been named the acting director of the Engineering Systems Division (ESD). He began his new position on Dec. 1, stepping down from his previous position as Associate Department Head of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), which David J. Perreault has been appointed.
Gender-inclusive policies expanding
MIT Residential Life & Dining is planning to initiate gender-inclusive housing policies across campus, expanding upon the implementation of such a policy in Random Hall and Senior House. Students opting for gender-inclusive housing would be able to room with people of different genders and gender identities, which would be ideal for students who have preferences about the gender identities of their roommates.
Underclassmen Giving Campaign raises over $8000
The Undergraduate Giving Campaign (UGC) ended on Nov. 1, raising a total of $8674.82. The UGC collects donations from freshmen, sophomores, and juniors for one week per semester to fund Expedition Grants from MIT’s Public Service Center, which support undergraduate public service projects abroad.
Peter Fisher named new head of Department of Physics
Last week, Professor Peter H. Fisher was named the new head of the Department of Physics. His five-year term will begin on Nov. 15. Fisher succeeds Edmund Bertschinger who left his position as department head in July to become the Institute Community and Equity Officer. Since then, Thomas J. Greytak has been serving as an interim department head. Fisher has been a faculty member at MIT since 1994. He currently teaches 8.033, a course on special and general relativity.
More freshmen vote in election
The Undergraduate Association announced the results of the 2017 Class Council elections in an email to the class on Friday night, after a week of voting. The freshman class elected Liana R. Ilutzi ’17 as president, Sophia Liu ’17 as vice president, Pragya Tooteja ’17 as treasurer, Larkin V. Sayre ’17 as secretary, Frederick O. Daso ’17 and Nicole Lu ’17 as publicity chairs, an Evan C. “Charlie” Andrews-Jubelt ’17 and Mohamed H. Kane ’17 as social chairs.
Vice President for Human Resources plans to retire
MIT’s Vice President for Human Resources Alison Alden has announced her plans to retire in the spring of 2014. Alden began working at MIT in 2007 and has made substantial contributions to MIT’s HR department. Israel Ruiz, Executive Vice President and Treasurer, is “grateful to Alison for her seven years of exceptional service to MIT.”