PBE suspension terms changed by MIT
MIT and Phi Beta Epsilon (PBE) released a joint statement today stating that they have resolved several issues that were raised last fall regarding PBE’s suspension from the Interfraternity Council (IFC). On Sept. 21, 2010, PBE was given a four-year suspension by the IFC for violating no-tolerance policies on hazing in PBE’s new member program.
Maseeh Hall Application Stats
Percentage of ApplicantsGenderMale47%Female53%Class Year201446%201328%201224%20112%Dining statusFrom dining dorm70%From non-dining dorm30%
MIT not submitting bid for New York tech school
MIT will not submit a bid of interest in response to the New York City Economic Development Corporation’s invitation to partner with the city to build a graduate school of applied science and technology. Patricia Richards, director of media relations at MIT, said that though the Institute has no current plans to apply, MIT considers New York’s initiative to be an important step: “We’ve spoken to them about being helpful to the effort, and they’ve been receptive,” Richards said.
MacGregor, EC open for summer
This summer, East Campus and MacGregor will be open for MIT undergraduate housing. This marks the second summer of MIT’s efforts to consolidate students into fewer dorms to reduce costs.
10th US archivist to talk at convocation
John S. Reed ’61 (chairman of the MIT Corporation), David S. Ferriero (10th Archivist of the United States and former associate director of MIT Libraries), and Phillip L. Clay PhD ’75 (senior advisor to the president and former MIT Chancellor) are among the notable speakers selected to talk at the Next Century Convocation on April 10. The event, in honor of MIT’s sesquicentennial, will be held at the Boston Convention Center. According to the MIT150 Convocation invitation, “[these speakers] exemplify the qualities [MIT] values.” The announcement adds that “they can speak to these themes and the importance of MIT’s role in setting an example for the nation and the world.”
Amid continued opposition, dining vendors narrowed to three
The Evaluation Committee for the new House Dining program is currently looking at three vendors — Aramark, Sodexo, and Bon Appetit — for overseeing the new system. The Evaluation Committee is composed of students from all of the dorms with dining halls — Baker, McCormick, Next, Simmons, and the Phoenix Group. All three vendors already operate different aspects of dining at MIT.
No summer in sight; cold spring in store
After a week of relatively clear weather, the clouds will return this afternoon and will stick around at least through the weekend. Temperatures should rise into the 40s, which will feel balmy compared to yesterday and this morning. Don’t get too used to it, though — long-range forecasts are predicting a much colder spring than we had last year.
Egypt’s generals stumble in new leadership role
CAIRO — Egypt’s ruling military council answered a long-standing demand of the protest movement by forcing the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq on Thursday, but the fitful pacwe of change has left all sides more anxious than ever about the rocky transition ahead.
Judge who ruled against health care law allows it to proceed
A federal judge in Florida stayed his own ruling against the Obama health care law Thursday, allowing the act to be carried out as the case progresses through the courts of appeal and on to the Supreme Court.
Obama says Col. Moammar Gadhafi ‘must leave’ Libya now
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama demanded Thursday that the embattled Libyan leader, Col. Moammar Gadhafi, “step down and leave” immediately and said he would consider a full range of options to stem the bloodshed there, though he did not commit the United States to any direct military action.
Gold rush stemming from high prices fuels Colombia’s conflict
CAUCASIA, Colombia — Officers pored over intelligence reports describing the movements of two warlords with private armies. Then the helicopters lifted off at dawn, carrying an elite squad armed with assault rifles to the newest front in this country’s long war: gold mines.
Shorts (right)
PARIS — The European Union’s banking regulator said Thursday that it would start a new health check of banks Friday and would publish the results in June.
Shorts (left)
ATLANTA — Newt Gingrich on Thursday became the first major Republican candidate to begin raising money for the 2012 presidential race, but he stopped short of declaring his candidacy until he finishes delivering paid speeches this month and distances himself from a web of business ventures that would interfere with a campaign.
Harvard University says it will allow the ROTC back on campus
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Nearly 40 years after Harvard expelled the Reserve Officers Training Corps program from its campus, university officials announced Thursday that they would officially recognize the Naval ROTC.
Mitch Daniels for president
The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is not typically a place where speakers challenge their audiences. CPAC is a three-day pep rally, a conservative Woodstock, a forum for, as Ronald Reagan once said during a speech there, “dancing with them who brung you.” It is a celebration of conservatism, rather than a serious reflection on its future. A slick politician would take the opportunity to pander to the army of conservative organizers and activists that populate the conference, rather than delivering Cassandra-like predictions.
ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE 83rd annual Academy Awards recap
The Academy Awards: a night of fashion, entertainment, extravagance, and above all, excellence. While this year’s show — held last Sunday night at 8:30 p.m. — was bursting to the seams with three of these four, it fell disappointingly short on the entertainment front. Anne Hathaway and James Franco, a Best Actor nominee himself, added little spontaneity and even fewer laughs as younger, more “hip” hosts — albeit not without a lack of effort on Hathaway’s part. Her enthusiasm was well placed, but Franco’s spacey demeanor and an overall lack of good jokes far outweighed any true entertainment value. (I mean, did he really have to walk out in a dress?)
MOVIE REVIEW A mix of black comedy and realism
If You Are the One II is Xioagang Feng’s sequel movie to If You Are the One, which was released in 2008 and became immediately popular in China. The movie is a formidable sequel in an industry where most follow-up movies tend to fall short of expectations. It is filled with emotionally subtle passages, well-placed irony and sarcasm, and elements of black humor that serve as a personal but painful reflection of what we all feel. A dark-humored romantic comedy, the movie does not conclude with a Hollywood ending. Instead, it is a reminder that human relationships are full of complications and unanswered questions.
CONCERT REVIEW Smiling and dancing the night away
Suspicious smells, beanies, floral dresses, flannel shirts, and quite a lot of plaid surrounded me as I walked into Paradise Rock Club. The light-hearted venue was small, which meant that wherever I stood, I would actually see Dr. Dog as a group of musicians, rather than tiny 125-decibel-generating figments in the distance. It felt personal. The ticket was cheap. Such are the benefits of liking an obscure band.
Fencers compete at NEIFC
Battling injuries, missing teammates and youth, the MIT Men’s and Women’s Fencing teams placed third overall in the combined results at this weekend’s New England Intercollegiate Fencing Championships (NEIFC) at Mount Holyoke College. The men’s three weapons combined for a fourth place finish in the 12-team field, while the Tech women were third in the final rankings of 15 women’s schools.
Volleyball beats Elms College
William B. Evans ’14 registered a match-high 11 kills and five aces in MIT’s 25-12, 25-18, 25-17 victory over Elms College in a North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) New England Division men’s volleyball match on Tuesday night. With the win, the nationally-ranked No. 13 Engineers improved to 19-5 on the year and 12-0 in conference play.
Upcoming Home Events
Friday, March 4 Men’s Volleyball vs. Emerson College 5 p.m., Rockwell Cage Men’s Volleyball vs. Lasell College 7 p.m., Rockwell Cage Men’s Tennis vs. New York University 8 p.m., Carr Indoor Courts Saturday, March 5 Women’s Tennis vs. New York University 9:30 a.m., Carr Indoor Courts Men’s Volleyball vs. Mount Ida College 10:30 a.m., Rockwell Cage Men’s Tennis vs. Stevens Institute of Technology 1 p.m., Carr Indoor Courts Men’s Volleyball vs. Emmanuel College 3 p.m., Rockwell Cage
