BU Launches $1.8 Billion Plan to Expand Faculty
Boston University officials outlined an ambitious 10-year, $1.8 billion strategic plan Thursday to add 150 professors, dramatically lower the school’s student-faculty ratio, and pour money into salaries to allow BU to vie for the nation’s top professors.
$160 Million Raised In Campaign So Far Campaign to Raise $500 Million in Total
Since its launch in 2006, the Campaign for Students has raised $160 million out of the targeted $500 million over five years.
Advocacy Group Pushes Colleges to Limit Credit Card Offers to Students
Andrew Shapransky, a freshman at Vassar, says that even if credit cards are as common as pizza among college students, “I have no intention of getting one.”
FutureBOSTON Project Invites Open Dialogue Regarding City
With world-class universities, innovative young companies, and a vibrant arts community, Boston is no slouch at attracting talent. But FutureBOSTON, an urban development project and competition organized by MIT, insists that the city can — and must — do better.
Group Hosts Gambling Lecture‘Bringing Down the House’ Author Is One of Three Speakers at Forum
Approximately 75 people attended the Technology & Culture Forum at MIT lecture, “Gambling: Face to Face or interface?” held Wednesday evening in 10-250. The lecture featured bestselling author Ben Mezrich, famous for his novels about the MIT Blackjack Team.
News Briefs
Sewage problems struck Burton-Conner late Monday evening, Oct. 15, resulting in a temporary water cutoff. According to the Information Services and Technology 3DOWN status page, a resultant drain leak damaged network infrastructure at Burton-Conner, leaving the dormitory without Internet access.
Shorts (left)
It was the longest-running and most successful show in the Bronx in decades, running from 1996 through 2007 and stretching into October every season. By the end, it was playing to sold-out crowds almost nightly, and there were moments of magic that may never be repeated.
Shorts (right)
James D. Watson, who shared the 1962 Nobel prize for deciphering the double-helix of DNA, apologized “unreservedly” on Thursday for comments reported this week suggesting that black people, overall, are not as intelligent as whites.
Presidential Veto Stands; Child Health Insurance Fails in House
The House on Thursday upheld President Bush’s veto of a bill to provide health insurance to 10 million children, but Democrats vowed to send it back to him next month, with minor changes, in the belief that they could ultimately prevail.
Returning Opposition Leader Met With Bombs in Pakistan
Two bombs exploded Thursday just seconds apart and feet from a truck carrying the returning opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, narrowly missing her but killing scores of people and bloodying a triumphal homecoming after eight years in exile.
Contractors Injure Three Iraqis Protecting American Employees
A man lost his eye and two other people were wounded when private security contractors fired into a crowded taxi as it approached their convoy of sport utility vehicles in northern Iraq on Thursday.
Deadly Staph Infections Prompt Concern in American Classrooms
When the football players here at Sherwood High School were not getting the message about washing their uniforms and using only their own jerseys, the school nurse paid a surprise visit to the locker room.
Nominee for Attorney General Faces Difficult Questions on Interrogations
President Bush’s nominee for attorney general, Michael B. Mukasey, declined Thursday to say if he considered harsh interrogation techniques like waterboarding, which simulates drowning, to constitute torture or to be illegal if used on terrorism suspects.
October Never Felt So Good
Just when you thought fall had arrived in the form of cool daytime temperatures and downright chilly nights, the thermostat is getting bumped up again. To recap, this month started off very much above normal, followed by a period of nearly normal highs and lows. Now a second surge of warmth looks to cement October 2007 as quite an anomalously warm time in Boston. Specific to the next several days, a southerly wind flow will bring our weather from the warm southeast United States, an area that has been baked dry this year. Speaking generally though, there is just not much cool air available in any direction right now. Air coming straight from Canada the last week or so has only served to cool temperatures to climatologically average levels. Looking even farther north, temperatures are running about 10 degrees above average in regions like Alaska.
Corrections
The Oct. 16, 2007 news article “Two Nobel Prize Winners MIT-Affiliated” incorrectly stated the affiliation of the Institute for Advanced Study, where economics Nobel winner Eric S. Maskin is a professor. The Institute for Advanced Study is not affiliated with Princeton University, though both are located in Princeton, N.J.
Letters to the Editor
Likening world opinion to a friend, Ali S. Wyne ’08 (“Anti-Americanism in the New Century,” Oct. 16, 2007) concludes that “Under the Bush administration, we have turned our back on our most dependable friend.”
THEATER REVIEW A Close Shave With Murder
As the longest running play in American theater history, “Shear Madness” is an outrageously funny, interactive “whodunit” murder-mystery whose topical humor and shameless innuendos leave the audience roaring with laughter. Though the play is currently in its 27th year at the Charles Playhouse, each performance is kept fresh with improvisation, an abundance of references to current popular culture, and an excellent sense of humor.
INTERVIEW Through the Artist’s Eyes
The Darjeeling Limited” is the latest film by director and writer Wes Anderson. The movie chronicles the emotional and spiritual journey of three estranged brothers reuniting in India. (For a review of the film, see <i>http://www-tech.mit.edu/V127/N45/darjeeling.html</i>.)<i></i>
Sports Shorts
The Tech cross country teams competed well amid bright fall foliage at the Plansky Invitational this past weekend, earning first and second place in the men’s and women’s races, respectively.
Women’s Soccer Beats Wellesley; Ludlum Sets Record for Goals
Forward Amy S. Ludlum ’08 scored the 51st goal of her career to ignite the women’s soccer team to a 4-1 victory over Wellesley College. Fittingly, Ludlum’s finish occurred on Senior Day and marked the most career goals by a player in the history of the men’s and women’s programs.
Undefeated Volleyball Takes Down Wellesley; Best Season Since ’83
In a battle of undefeated women’s volleyball teams in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference, MIT emerged with a 30-28, 30-25, 30-23 win over Wellesley College on Tuesday night. The victory lifted the Engineers’ ledger to 26-1 overall and 7-0 in conference play and also extended their winning streak to 22 consecutive matches.
