DormCon President- Elect Discusses W1 Integration, Dining
Last night, the Dormitory Council, which represents residents from undergraduate dormitories, elected next year’s officers. In the upcoming year, DormCon may be at the forefront of many important decisions, including the development of W1 and continuing debate over mandatory dining plans.
Selective Korean High Schools Prepare Students for Top American Colleges
It is 10:30 p.m. and students at the elite Daewon prep school here are cramming in a study hall that ends a 15-hour school day. A window is propped open so the evening chill can keep them awake. One teenager studies standing upright at his desk to keep from dozing.
Members of MIT Baseball Team Conduct Research on Safety Equipment Materials
With the first game of a late March doubleheader scheduled for noon, members of the MIT baseball team and a Rawlings representative meet at 8:30, gathering in a back corner of the school’s Aero/Astro hangar. Lefthanded reliever George M. Vasquez ’08 stands behind an air cannon, launching baseballs at a mannequin wearing a chest protector. Righthanded starter Jay M. Turner ’08 records electronic sensor data each time a ball makes contact.
Class of 2010 Celebrates Delivery Of Rings at Moakley Courthouse
Roughly 700 members of the Class of 2010 descended upon the Moakley Courthouse in downtown Boston for a posh evening last Saturday to celebrate the delivery of their Brass Rats. According to Laura E. Aust ’10, Chair of the 2010 Ring Committee, the event cost around $55,000.
In 6-3 Vote, Supreme Court Upholds Indiana Voter ID Law
The Supreme Court upheld Indiana’s voter identification law on Monday, concluding in a splintered decision that the challengers failed to prove that the law’s photo ID requirement placed an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote.
Gaza Mother and Children Killed in Israeli Operation
A Palestinian mother and her four young children were killed in northern Gaza on Monday during an Israeli operation against militants there, and a dispute quickly arose over exactly how they had died.
Austrians Recoil at Case of Incest in Cellar Dungeon
With his Mercedes-Benz and the rings on his fingers, Josef Fritzl looked every inch a property owner, neighbors in this tidy Austrian town said Monday. Even when running errands, they said, he wore a natty jacket, crisp shirt and tie.
Ex-Prosecutor Tells of Political Urging by Pentagon on Detainees
The former chief prosecutor here took the witness stand on Monday on behalf of a detainee and testified that top Pentagon officials had pressured him in deciding which cases to prosecute and what evidence to use.
Rising Petroleum Prices Fail to Prompt Increase in Refinery Output
As oil prices soared to record levels in recent years, basic economics suggested that consumption would fall and supplies would rise as producers drilled for more oil.
Shorts (left)
Four U.S. soldiers were killed by rocket or mortar attacks in Baghdad on Monday, a day after a dust storm blanketed the city and provided cover for fierce shelling of the fortified Green Zone and assaults on American and Iraqi forces.
Shorts (right)
The Indian prime minister described the widespread practice of aborting female fetuses as a “national shame” Monday, and called for stricter enforcement of laws devised to prevent doctors from helping parents to avoid the birth of unwanted daughters.
Blip-in Rain
After 14 straight days of mostly sunny skies, dry conditions, and warm weather (remember that?), the streak came to an abrupt end yesterday. It was the longest such streak since mid-March 2006. While yesterday’s steady light rain was just a nuisance, today’s moderately heavy rain likely will dampen spirits (and the bottom of pants for that matter). The rain will last through the lunch hours, and by early evening, the last water droplets will likely come to an end.
Multiculturalism May Erode Strength Of Western Values
Amal Dorai G mischaracterizes my letter from last week. Far from saying that we should accommodate the intolerance of other cultures, I was posing a question — how do we reconcile our liberal society (here I use “liberal” in its classical sense) with respect for multicultural diversity, when some of our own values, such as respect for the rights of homosexuals, conflict with those of other cultures? Do we dare to assert the superiority of civilized Western liberalism over the medieval puritanism which still persists in some parts of the world today? Dorai seems to think so, and his letter suggests that it is ridiculous to think otherwise — he believes it is “ludicrous” to accommodate another culture’s bigotry.
Letters to the Editor
Whose idea was it to give far more page space to Baker House’s Piano Drop than the UA presidential elections? Last time I checked, two broken pianos don’t have a say in whether I have to eat in a dining hall or if incoming freshmen get their choice of living groups. The UA may not be the most well-liked group on campus, but without a doubt it is one of the most influential and their elections (which determine who represents me and the entire undergraduate community to the administration) deserve a bit more attention. At least we know that if Baker House decides to drop the UA Exec Board off a roof, everyone will hear about it.
Men’s Track and Field Captures Eighth Straight NEWMAC Title
The men’s track and field team secured seven individual victories en route to its eighth consecutive New England Women’s and Men’s Conference Championship. Stephen A. Morton ’10 was the only athlete in the meet to win two events, as the super sophomore captured the top spot in the 100-meter dash and long jump. The women’s track and field fell short in defending its first-ever conference title, finishing third overall.
Lady Engineers Finish Spring Season in New York With Close Losses
The women’s tennis team hit a rough patch last week to close out their season, barely losing to both Skidmore College and Vassar College. MIT played Skidmore first on Saturday. First up were the double matches, where even a twisted ankle wouldn’t slow down Karina N. Pikhart ’09 and her partner Melissa A. Diskin ’11. After hitting a winner, Pikhart scared her teammates as she stumbled and twisted her ankle. After taking a bit to recover, she got up and continued playing. The duo went on to win the match 8-6, making it clear that one can never underestimate these Lady Engineers, even when injured.
Brouhaha Rhythm
Those of you who know me particularly well know that I was born and raised in suburbs just about all of my life. Consequently, my time here at MIT is my first time living in a major metropolitan area for any extended period of time. Bearing that in mind, I have to say, it’s been an interesting experience. Boston and Cambridge may not be quite so urban as Los Angeles or Coruscant (we can see the Boston sky), but I’m working my way up to the full-fledged city experience.
It’s A Big, Big World
I firmly believe that knowing a city requires exploring it by foot. Fortunately for me, one of my class’ first activities in Buenos Aires, Argentina was a downtown walking tour. This tour completely altered my first impression of a city with a European look and feel, which was formed by a bus ride. Walking on sidewalks and approaching buildings and graffiti up close uncovered a characteristic that was truer of the city: one of political charge and change.
