Alumni Donations Shrink
The total monetary value of alumni donations to Institute’s largest alumni giving funds has decreased. Although about the same number of people are giving, they’re giving less money.
News Briefs
MIT has fired Joseph D’Amelio, the MIT Police Officer arrested for drug trafficking in mid-March, MIT announced on this week.
Colleges Set Degree Standards
In the first American effort of its kind, universities and colleges in Indiana, Minnesota and Utah are starting pilot projects to make sure that degree programs in their states reflect a consensus about what specific knowledge and skills should be taught.
MIT Will Eliminate Some Varsity Sports
Faced with a staggering budget cut, MIT’s athletics department is preparing to relinquish the Institute’s claim to the most varsity sports of any university by cutting some of those sports.
Shorts (left)
Frank Ricci has been a firefighter here for 11 years, and he would do just about anything to advance to lieutenant.
CIA to Close Its Overseas ‘Black Site’ Prisons
The CIA said Thursday that it would decommission the secret overseas prisons where it subjected al-Qaida prisoners to brutal interrogation methods, bringing to a symbolic close the most controversial counterterrorism program of the Bush administration.
U.S. Navy Tracks Somali Pirates and Their American Hostage
The Indian Ocean standoff between an $800 million U.S. Navy destroyer and four pirates bobbing in a lifeboat low on fuel showed the limits facing the world’s most powerful military in dealing with a booming pirate economy in a treacherous patch of international waters.
Shorts (right)
Tens of thousands of protesters marched through the streets of this capital city on Thursday bearing signs and chanting slogans against President Mikheil Saakashvili, who took office five years ago with promises of a progressive, pro-Western government.
British Anti-Terror Chief Resigns Over Photograph
Britain’s most powerful counterterrorism police officer resigned Thursday, a day after being photographed holding a document marked “SECRET” that outlined details of a major anti-terrorism operation. The resignation is the latest embarrassment for the Metropolitan Police Service, which is also being investigated for its handling of, and possible responsibility for, the death of a passer-by during protests at last week’s G20 meetings.
Investors Cautious Even As Bank Predicts Record Profits
As one of the most dizzying bear market rallies in Wall Street history enters its second month, a nagging question faces investors: Is the stock market making real progress, or merely glossing over deeper problems in the U.S. economy that will trigger a new wave of losses?
To Gain Amnesty, Mugabe’s Lieutenants Use More Violence
President Robert Mugabe’s top lieutenants are trying to force the political opposition into granting them amnesty for their past crimes by abducting, detaining and torturing opposition officials and activists, according to senior members of Mugabe’s party.
Take It Easy On the Meteorologists
Who knew being a meteorologist could be such a dangerous job? In Brazil, a forecaster who predicted a big storm that never materialized was threatened with a six month prison term. In Peru, a local TV weatherman who failed to predict a flash food was taken away by a furious mob and lynched in retaliation. Although such unreasonable or violent displays are unheard of domestically, meteorologists often take the blame for what are perceived as bad forecasts through vindictive calls or e-mails.
UA Update
Before the general proceedings, Senate hosted Provost L. Rafael Reif. The Provost spoke regarding the ongoing efforts to trim the Institute’s budget. Unlike most other institutions of higher learning, Provost Reif noted that MIT did not have a budget deficit the year before the recession hit, and as a result, it is feasible for MIT to make the budget cuts slowly—over the course of three years instead all at once. The Provost hopes that this will enable MIT to come out of the ordeal stronger and more efficient because of the cuts. He likewise ensured that MIT’s goals, such as academic and research standards, are still being held in high regard, despite the financial hold.
Saving Our Sports
Last August, I had no idea MIT had a pistol team. I didn’t even know that pistol was a collegiate sport. “Pistol?” I asked. “You mean like guns?” Coming from a high school whose prime directive in making policy was to avoid lawsuits, it had never occurred to me that a college would allow 17 and 18-year olds to handle firearms. But, in fact, MIT has a thriving pistol team which has captured two national championship titles in the past four years.
Sports: ‘Irreplaceable’ not ‘Unsustainable’
As MIT’s Head Men’s Gymnastics Coach (ninth year), I am not interested in varsity athletics. I am interested in varsity athletics at MIT, specifically because the combination is such a rare one. The number and variety of our varsity programs, the values I have always felt to be surrounding athletics at the Institute, richly complement academic pursuits, and for the greatest number of students possible. At least this is how it’s been. I understand that DAPER must make deep budget cuts — an unfortunate result of the current economic crisis and climate. But, I am concerned that the slated cutting of varsity programs, and a leaner, meaner DAPER, means that less-skilled student-athletes and so-called non-athletes will be shut out of MIT varsity athletics, along with the rare educational experience it affords. And, as this pushes forward with speed, I am concerned that not enough people know about this, especially our alumni/ae. We should be careful; forty-one varsity programs is an Institute gem. Varsity athletics at MIT should serve the best and the brightest students and not just the best and brightest athletes. And, I would feel exactly the same way, be writing exactly the same words, if MIT Men’s Gymnastics was not likely to be cut…
Letters to the Editor
“A Broken Model for Energy Change — Our Current Energy RD&D Isn’t Working” by Gary Shu is an excellent article. The author well pinpointed fundamental problems in the energy field, which I have observed from my own work experiences in the industry and DOE national lab. The bottom-line issue for implementation of any energy efficient or alternative energy technologies is cost. Breakthrough technologies and tenacious development work are needed to bring down the cost of all the nice clean or alternative energies and make them competitive with existing options (largely fossil fuel-based). It seems that the energy research in this country has gone through ups and downs with the oil price so far. A long-term energy technology strategy and highly competitive R&D programs are really needed to come up with hard core technologies and create high value jobs.
‘Believe in Your Financial Future!’
The impacts of the financial recession have finally trickled down to the everyday working man. Everywhere online I see articles blaring offers such as “How to save your family $50 every day” and “10 Things We Overpay For.”
Corrections
A caption in Tuesday’s paper about the Association of Student Activities LEF & ARCADE allocations misleadingly stated that the ASA “forgot” to spend $25,000 last year. According to Treasurer Shan Wu G, the ASA thought the money was unavailable because of miscommunication with the Office of the Dean for Graduate Education, which provided the funding. Both the ASA and the Dean’s office were going through leadership transitions.
RESTAURANT REVIEW Across the Atlantic in Under Fifteen Minutes
The Cambridge restaurant scene is blessed by the presence of a vibrant Portuguese community clustered around Inman Square and South Somerville, about a half hour stroll from MIT’s campus. The flavors of Portugal are splendidly rich with many dishes showcasing the nation’s top quality seafood and meats in hearty sauces crafted from fine olive oil, garlic, and a variety of earthy spices and herbs.
CONCERT REVIEW Through the Ages
One could learn a lot performing with the <i>Oriana Consort</i>. Certainly, one could learn a lot attending one of their concerts. Conductor Walter Chapin’s copious program notes exuded the author’s obvious excitement for both music and ensemble, and his interest was well transmitted — reading Chapin’s notes provided the distinct impression of attending a music history course; an engrossing excursion through the past with bits of history being performed.
CONCERT REVIEW Wild, Deep, and Danceable
Sharam Tayebi of Iranian-American Grammy award-winning DJ and dance music production duo Deep Dish got Bostonian clubgoers to make some wild moves on the dance floor at his <i>Get Wild</i> tour and CD release party at nightclub Rumor last Thursday.
CONCERT REVIEW A Weekend with The Bad Plus
What better way to spend my 21st birthday weekend than with my favorite band, The Bad Plus. The time-shifting, genre-bending trio celebrated songs from their new release, <i>For All I Care</i>, as well as old tunes (and some new, but unreleased ones as well) at Berklee Performance Center on Friday, April 3rd, and at Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton on Saturday April 4th. The trio, consisting of Reid Anderson (bass), Ethan Iverson (piano), and David King (drums), have been playing the majority of their shows with vocalist Wendy Lewis, who joined the band on <i>For All I Care</i>. On both shows this weekend, they began with a traditional trio set, and then brought Lewis out for the second half.
Sports Shorts
Four second-half goals proved to be the difference as MIT defeated the University of Massachusetts Boston, 9-6, in non-conference men’s lacrosse action on Tuesday. Ernest I. Park ’12 paced the Engineers with four points on a goal and three assists.
The Tech’s Athletes of the Week: David Iba ’09 and Brian Wee ’12
The No. 2 doubles tandem of David E. Iba 09 and Brian J. Wee 12 were voted the NEWMAC Men’s Tennis Doubles Team of the Week following a pair of victories in both of their outings last week. Against nationally-ranked No. 27 The College of New Jersey, the duo defeated their foes, 8-6. Iba and Wee then topped their Springfield College counterparts, 8-0.
Take Back the Night
This week is Sexual Assault Awareness Week at MIT. I would like to encourage everyone to not only go to events, but to think about what an event like this means.
