Corrections
The caption for the Tuesday’s photo of the women’s rugby game misstated the final score. MIT won 50-19 against Wentworth Institute of Technology, not 43-9. Because of a scorekeeping error, the official score at the time the game ended was 43-19, but the correct score is 50-19.
Campus gets 21st century makeover
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Not so long ago, the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was a hodgepodge of bunker-like academic buildings, converted World War I-era factories, parking lots and even an occasional Quonset hut. But a 10-year development plan, nearly complete at a cost of $1.4 billion, has set a new mood — avant-garde — with 10 buildings by architects like Frank Gehry, Steven Holl and Fumihiko Maki, as well as a revamped streetscape.
Men found guilty of hate crime in death of Latino immigrant
WASHINGTON — A federal jury found two young Pennsylvania men guilty of a hate crime on Thursday in the 2008 beating death of a Mexican immigrant. The verdict was welcomed by Hispanic organizations, which saw the trial as a national test case for the treatment of Latinos.
MIT to strengthen ties to China
The MIT-Greater China Strategy Working Group has released a report setting forth guidelines and recommendations for the future of MIT’s relationship with mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The Working Group was chaired by Victor Zue, Professor of EECS and Director of CSAIL.
Stem cell appeal brief filed
The U.S. government filed its appellant’s brief before the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia yesterday in the stem cell case, <i>Sherley v. Sebelius</i>.
What kind of dining do students really want?
If the UA bill successfully halts the new dining plan, UA senators will use surveys to find what students want specifically. For example, if students want breakfast, the UA will examine if either a large, hot breakfast or a quick breakfast offering will be preferred by students, Wang said.
Tang trial restarts in December
Anna L. Tang, the former Wellesley student who stabbed Wolfe B. Styke ’10 in October 2007, is set to go to trial in December.
UA seeks to halt new dining plan process In emergency session, students express dissatisfaction at mandatory dining
At an emergency meeting Wednesday night, the Undergraduate Association (UA) unanimously passed a bill urging Chancellor Phillip Clay “to intervene by halting” the approval process for the new dining plan. The bill, 42 U.A.S E1.1, argued that the process by which the plan was developed was not transparent, respectful, thorough, or fair.
Shorts (left)
Enough Tea Party-supported candidates are running strongly in competitive and Republican-leaning congressional races that the movement stands a good chance of establishing a sizeable caucus to push its agenda in the House and the Senate, according to a <i>New York Times</i> analysis.
Shorts (right)
The local-and-sustainable food movement has spread to the nation’s largest retailer.
Rescued miners showered with gifts, vacation offers
SAN JOSE MINE, Chile — Most of the 33 rescued miners were still in a hospital about an hour away Thursday. But when they feel stronger, they may return to lives filled with gifts, rich offers to tell their stories and opportunities to see the world.
Weather
A low pressure system that was located yesterday in the Carolinas will move up the Atlantic coast today, bringing with it rain, high winds, and plunging temperatures. While temperatures will be in the high 50s (°F) this morning, the passage of the cold front associated with this storm will cause temperatures to drop sharply throughout the day, eventually falling into the lower 40s (°F) by early evening. Combined with rain and gusty winds, deteriorating conditions will make for rather miserable weather this afternoon and evening.
U.S. uses attacks to nudge Taliban toward a deal, break stalemate
KABUL, Afghanistan — Airstrikes on Taliban insurgents have risen sharply here over the past four months, the latest piece in what appears to be a coordinated effort by U.S. commanders to bleed the insurgency and pressure its leaders to negotiate an end to the war.
Administration seeks stay of ruling that halted ‘Don’t Ask’
WASHINGTON — Saying it will appeal a ruling striking down the law that bans gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the U.S. military, the Obama administration Thursday asked the federal judge who issued the ruling for an emergency stay of her decision.
Targeting of ‘closed’ professions alarms some Greek workers
ATHENS, Greece — Antonios Avgerinos, 59, a retired army pharmacist, always wanted his own pharmacy here. And why not? Greek law ensures that pharmacists get a 35 percent profit on all drugs sold, even over-the-counter medications.
Global warming not worth the fight
Global warming is real. It is predominantly anthropogenic. Left unchecked, it will likely warm the earth by 3-7 C by the end of the century. What should the United States do about it?
Letters to the Editor
Editor’s note: This is an open letter addressed to President Hockfield.
Evanescent evidence — where’s the beef?
In a self-righteous screed published in <i>The Tech</i> on October 1st, the Executive Board of the Interfraternity Council (IFC) purported to clear up the “facts” concerning the expulsion of Phi Beta Epsilon (PBE) due to alleged hazing. The Executive Board of the IFC apparently wants the MIT community to believe that Review Boards of the IFC Judicial Committee know hazing when they see it, based on the definition in Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 269, Section 17. That would be a more compelling argument if the MIT IFC Policy for Risk Management properly quoted the definition of hazing, shown below with annotations for correcting the Policy’s version to the actual statement of the law from the web site of The 186th General Court of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (i.e., the Massachusetts state legislature):
It gets better
In an ideal world, the “It Gets Better” campaign would not need to exist. In an ideal world, we would not see teen suicide reports happening weekly. In an ideal world, every child would grow up happy and healthy.
FILM REVIEW The boy who doesn’t get the girl
Maybe you didn’t get the girl, and just can’t move on. Or the project you poured your soul into didn’t go as well as you had hoped. All the deadlines and pressures are winding up that knot of anxiety in the pit of your stomach, and you just can’t find any release. As MIT students, we’ve all been there. But what happens when it all becomes too much?
CONCERT REVIEW Turn of the century glory
Mahler’s second symphony, the “Resurrection,” holds its place among a handful of symphonic works that will necessarily end in a standing ovation. This is no mystery: Mahler’s symphony is the logical extension of Beethoven’s gargantuan Ninth, the<i> “</i>Ode to Joy,” in scope, Mahler’s second symphony more than doubles the number of performers in Beethoven’s work in both orchestra and choir; Mahler’s work extends the choral sections across two independent movements and the use of orchestral recitative far beyond Beethoven’s work. In content, while Beethoven text is an exhortation to brotherhood and peace, Mahler’s text is somehow more personal, more aligned with modern aesthetics — a call for personal growth and achievement, a prayer for personal actualization, a spiritual resurrection.
FILM REVIEW The birth of Facebook
In the week and a half it has been since the release of <i>The Social Network</i>, I have raved about the movie to everyone I know, yet I hesitate to say anything too substantial about the movie itself. It is best seen with fresh eyes and no expectations — except, of course, the expectation to be entertained by a movie about one of the defining developments of our generation. Most people who haven’t seen it yet refer to it as “the Facebook movie,” and while it is indeed about Facebook (which, let’s be honest, provides a good enough reason to go watch it), it is, above anything else, an excellent film, already dubbed “the best movie of the year” by numerous critics.
IN MEMORY OF Joan Alston Sutherland
It’s difficult not to dwell in mid-century American nostalgia in remembering Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, who almost single-handedly ushered in a revival of bel canto opera. But so much more; the Australian dramatic coloratura soprano, dubbed as La Stupenda after her 1960 performance of Händel’s Alcina, was known for her magnificent flexibility and technique, her incredible range and her devotion to the performance as an organic whole. Dame Sutherland passed near her home in Montrieux, Switzerland on the evening of Sunday, October 10, at the age of 84. She is survived by a husband, son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.
Tech staff split 4-2 for Yankees to win
Four teams remain the MLB Postseason. In the American League, the New York Yankees swept their Division Series against Minnesota with ease to advance to the Championship Series. Their opponents, the Texas Rangers, recovered from two straight losses at home to win Game 5 against the Tampa Bay.
Tech staff unanimous: Phillies will win
The Giants, like the Rangers in their series against the Rays, were opportunistic in their series victory over the Braves, capitalizing on seven Atlanta errors in three close victories. As much as any baseball fan, I appreciate the attitude and the effort of teams like the Rangers and the Giants. Vladimir Guerrero swiping home while the Rays weren’t looking during Game 5 was one of my favorite moments of these playoffs thus far. However, all the spunk, grit, and luck in the world are not going to close the gap between the Giants and these Philadelphia Phillies. At the end of the regular season, Roy Halladay noted that playing on a contending team like the Phillies “was fun, but it’s only going to get funner.” In the spirit of Doc, I’ll say that the Giants have already enjoyed their funnest times.
Upcoming Home Events
Friday, October 15 Rifle vs. John Jay, Mass. Maritime, Wentworth, Rose Hulman 5 p.m., DuPont Range Women’s volleyball vs Bates College 7 p.m., Rockwell Cage Sunday, October 10 Rifle vs. John Jay, Mass. Maritime, Wentworth, Rose Hulman 9 a.m., DuPont Range Women’s volleyball vs. UMass-Boston 11 a.m., Rockwell Cage Women’s soccer vs. Mount Holyoke College 1 p.m., Steinbrenner Stadium Women’s volleyball vs. Lebanon Valley College 2 p.m., Rockwell Cage
