The languages of science and faith
You don’t use the Bible to learn about any quantitative theory, England explained, “because that’s not the language that it’s speaking.” However, it understands scientific reasoning, and it’s interested in the human experience, and how we as ordinary people understand what is alive and not alive.
Phi Sigma Rho sorority inducts new members
MIT’s colony of the Phi Sigma Rho sorority joined the Interfraternity Council as a probationary member Oct. 11 this past fall. The sorority inducted its new candidates this past weekend.
Henry Kissinger speaks at College of Computing celebration
In the talk, Kissinger argued that machines aren’t governed by ethical or philosophical norms. “Right now, technology is way ahead of the humanists,” said Kissinger during the talk. “You have science … without having a philosophical framework within which to put [technology].”
MIT to launch $1 billion College of Computing in September 2019
“The college has been created, but it has not been designed,” Susan Silbey, chair of the faculty, said in a faculty meeting Wednesday.
Tom Friedman speaks about the optimism that comes with technological advancement
Tom Friedman, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, spoke at MIT’s Compton Lecture Oct. 1 about his most recent book, ‘Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations.’
Freshmen in Senior House: Pilot 2021
The Pilot 2021 program will include cooking kits for $2,500 a year, in-house exercise classes, and “career exploration” programming.
MIT team debates MCI Norfolk inmates on the opioid epidemic
The debate centered around the resolution: “pharmaceutical companies should be held criminally responsible for their role as contributors to America’s current opioid crisis.” The Norfolk inmates conducted research without internet access.
Paul Gray, MIT’s 14th president, dies of Alzheimer’s
“He is the iconic president of MIT because he was made out of pure Institute clay, as an undergraduate, graduate, professor, and academic leader.”
School of engineering to pilot interdisciplinary course roads
Dubbed “threads,” this new course structure aims to provide an alternative to the existing format of majors, minors, and concentrations. Central themes of the two threads to be introduced this fall include "real world robots" and "gut on a chip," respectively.
Healthy Minds Study survey data informed 2016 Senior House decisions
The Healthy Minds Study (HMS) survey, administered to students in 2015, linked each participant’s responses to their dorm. The survey included questions about illegal drug use and mental health. However, survey participants were not informed that their residence information would be linked to their responses.
Anantha Chandrakasan, EECS professor, appointed Dean of Engineering School
Anantha Chandrakasan, professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, was announced as the new Dean of the School of Engineering in an email sent out to MIT June 23.
Relocated New House students debate opportunity to reside in Senior House next year
Several New House houses were offered the chance to move into Senior House last week – including iHouse, Desmond, and La Casa.
Administration decides to resettle Senior House residents, citing “unhealthy behavior” during last year’s turnaround period
Senior House will be mostly depopulated, and will instead house students in Pilot 2021, a new program for freshmen focused on “academics, personal development, and wellbeing.” Current residents will need to go through a “selective” application process in order to live in the dorm next year.
Students, alums respond to Senior House depopulation and Pilot 2021
Current students and community members respond
Tim Cook speaks at MIT Commencement
Over 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students received their degrees at MIT commencement June 9.
Courses 6 and 14 form a new joint major
Students can now declare a joint major in computer science and Economics. The 6-14 major was approved in a faculty meeting May 17, and the major requirements appeared on the course 6 department website in June.
DUSP students call for boycott of campus dining provider
MIT No Aramark, an MIT campaign launched, started circulating a petition to the MIT community last week calling on encouraging the MIT to join the national movement to boycott Aramark, aMIT’s food supplies for Verde’s (?) and (?).
Class council budgets to remain private
While the majority of the UA Council members present voted to require all Class Council budgets to be published to undergraduates, the majority of Class Council members present voted against public transparency of the budget.
Health insurance for graduate students with dependents to increase
MIT Medical insurance rates for grad students with spouses and dependents are set to increase by 9.4% next year, 5% higher than the increase for other students.
Bail hearing postponed again for MIT senior arrested in January
A hearing to determine whether Angel De La Cruz would receive bail was postponed until next Monday, May 1.
Bail granted to MIT senior arrested for unlicensed possession
At a previous hearing Jan. 13, De La Cruz was denied bail after being ruled “dangerous.” This week’s hearing revised the ruling, declaring Angel not “dangerous.”
Brunch and beats
Beat Brasserie, situated in Harvard Square, offers live jazz music to accompany weekend brunches. The atmosphere is perfect for someone who wants aesthetics of a jazz bar, but isn’t yet over 21.
UA presidential candidates face off in debate
The Tech hosted a public debate between the UA presidential candidates April 14 at 8 p.m. in the lobby of W20.
Faculty gives green light on joint 5-7 major
New degree could appeal to pre-med and biotech students.
MIT pilots “Day Of Action” to encourage service
A hackathon-style service-oriented event called Day of Action will take place April 18 (a school holiday) with lectures and workshops running from 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
UA president and VP campaigns commence
Candidates for this year’s elections for UA president and vice president are Sarah Melvin ’18 & Alexa Martin ’19, Daysi Gomez ’18 & Liz Cox ’18, and Malte Ahrens ’18, whose VP candidate is set to be confirmed by the UA Election Commission next week.
DSL to search for new dining provider, seeks student input
The search for a new dining provider, guided by responses from the student survey and feedback from Envision, a consulting firm engaged by DSL, will begin in May. A new vendor is projected to be selected by fall 2018.
MIT announces new administrative position to facilitate diversity
MIT has created the new position of Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Community Involvement. Gustavo Burkett, the current director of student involvement at Boston College, has been chosen for the role.
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.
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.
MIT Stop Our Silence presents The Vagina Monologues
The Vagina Monologues began with a lively discussion of what vaginas are called in different majors. “In course 6, they call it the ‘Big O’.” “In course 12, they call it the ‘black hole.’
Open Mind :: Open depicts student artwork on mental health
The Open Mind :: Open Art exhibit, which opened on Feb. 16, seeks to “celebrate neurodiversity” - and acknowledge various states of the mind, including depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders.
Planner creator petitions administration for support
A petition appeared on the site urging the MIT administration to better support the service.
Tales of misunderstood witches
The illustrations in A Monster Calls are enchanting – colorful and mystical, like the illustrations out of your favorite children’s book.
Senior Gift boycott gains ground, sparks debate
Update: This article was updated on Dec. 6 to include an additional statement by Chancellor Cindy Barnhart.
MIT encourages students to “hack” the library
A report published last Monday by MIT’s Task Force on the Future of Libraries encouraged members of the MIT community to “hack the library” in an effort to reinvent the modern research library.
Faculty committee recommends a computational thinking GIR
A committee of faculty across departments recommended a 12-unit “computational thinking” requirement for all undergraduates, which would cover programming basics.
MIT Campaign for a Better World reaches $2.9 billion
The MIT Campaign for a Better World has raised $2.9 billion of its $5 billion goal since the campaign officially launched May 6.
Late-night live music ban at Senior House may shorten Steer Roast
The MIT Police Department informed Senior House last month that it would no longer be allowed to run live outdoor music events past 11:30 p.m.
Decrease in drug and alcohol violations, increase in reported rapes, MIT Police reports
A student igniting a poster in a common area and another student tossing a flaming pillow in a dumpster were just two causes of fire reports made to the MIT Police in the past three years, according to the 2016 Annual Security and Fires Safety Report.